Soccer-'Worn out' Deans to quit as coach of A-League strugglers Newcastle

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Newcastle Jets coach Craig Deans said on Thursday he would be stepping down at the end of the A-league season, "worn out" by a campaign in which his side has managed only four wins from 24 matches.

The Jets, who won their only Australian championship title in 2008, are bottom of the 12-team league with all hopes of the playoffs long gone.

"From my perspective, it's a case of being worn out with the situation of being the head coach here," Deans said in a statement on Thursday.

"The last 18 months or so have been pretty tough and you put on a brave face every week and try and put a positive spin on everything but that takes a toll as a person. I think it’s best I make the decision and we make the change."

A long-time club servant, Deans took over as caretaker when Welshman Carl Robinson departed for Western Sydney Wanderers last October and was awarded the job permanently on a two-year contract in February.

"I've had a chat with the club about staying on in another capacity but that's still a few weeks away," Deans added.

The Jets, who were rescued from bankruptcy by a consortium of other A-League team owners in January, got their first win in 15 matches by beating high-flying Central Coast Mariners 2-0 on Tuesday.

That win left the Jets only one point behind Melbourne Victory in the standings with the chance of avoiding the wooden spoon in their last two matches.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)