North Hobart coach Richard Robinson in tears as he tells players he was standing down

After three years of pain and gain, North Hobart coach Richard Robinson has resigned, with the Dees hope to send him off with a win over Clarence today. READ WHY ‘BEAR’ IS LEAVING >>

North Hobart's outgoing coach Richard Robinson with his family at yesterday's announcement – wife Heather, son Billy, 1, and daughter Rosie, 4. Pic James Bresnehan

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NORTH Hobart is on the hunt for a new senior coach after Richard Robinson resigned in tears telling the players he was standing down from his “dream job” after training on Thursday night.

Known as “Bear”, the 42-year-old North Hobart stalwart’s final match at the helm will be the club’s last round TSL home-and-away match against Clarence at Richmond Oval today.

Having started his playing career at North Hobart as a skinny kid in 1994, “Bear” said it was an excruciating decision to give up the job, although he will stay on as assistant to the next coach, who may be an internal appointment.

“It was a dream job,” Robinson said.

“I remember as a 16-year-old walking to the [New Town] bike track with Robbie Devine, and 20 years later you’re coaching the club you’ve grown up loving.

“I’ve lived a dream.

“And I said to the boys if you want to coach a footy club as great as ours, do everything you can to have that opportunity.”

Round 6 TSL match between Glenorchy v North Hobart from KGV. North Hobart coach Richard Robinson addresses his team at quarter time. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A plasterer by trade, Robinson said work commitments, on top of coaching, had finally gotten the better of him.

“The day the boys eventually win a premiership cup, hopefully I will get to drink out of it,” Robinson said.

“Whoever is the next coach, I wish him the best of luck.

“I will continue to support the club on this journey because I am fully-invested in these players and it was hard to tell them I was not going to be their senior coach.”

North Hobart president Craig Martin gave Robinson abundant praise for taking the Demons from an uncharacteristic slump to finals contender, bursting at the seams with emerging talent.

TSL North Hobart at quarter time during the game against the Tigers at North Hobart Oval. Picture Chris Kidd

“He has played a pivotal, critical role in the rebirth of the North Hobart Football Club,” Martin said.

“When he took over in November 2017, we had 12 players at our first training session.

“Have a look at the situation we are in today — we’ve got a list of 70 and there has been strong improvement in each of the years he has coached, he cares deeply for the players and we are now positioned where we could still play finals if thing go our way tomorrow.

“It’s all thanks to Richard’s stewardship that we can now challenge for finals and a premier in years to come.”