Jason Demetriou is to leave Cougars at the end of the season and head home to his native Australia, with Paul March named as his successor from next year.


Player-coach Demetriou, hugely respected in the game after seven years' outstanding service at Wakefield, was appointed at Cougar Park in December 2010 and enjoyed outstanding success in his debut campaign.


He guided Cougars to promotion with a stirring victory over Workington in the Co-operative Championship 1 play-off final at Warrington last October.


That allowed Demetriou to attract a clutch of former Super League stars to the club during the winter, including ex-Wakefield team-mates Semi Tadulala, Sam Obst, Michael Korkidas and March.


Despite an inconsistent campaign, Demetriou’s men remain on course to make the play-offs and there has been unmistakeable progress under his watch.


The club said in a statement: "Head Coach Jason Demetriou is going back to Australia at the end of the season, so the club wishes him and his family the very best for the future and every success.

"A special thanks to him for the professionalism and success he brought the club.

"The club is pleased to announce that we have agreed terms for Paul March to take over the Head Coach role for the start of next season.

"The existing management team will support him and we hope the supporters will welcome Paul into his new role in 2013."

Cougars currently lie sixth in the Championship and are not in action again until they host Dewsbury next Sunday.