Coach Neil Henry to leave Raiders

Raiders coach Neil Henry will leave Canberra at the end of the year.

There has been intense speculation that Henry would quit the club and return to North Queensland as head coach where he served four years before taking on his first top level NRL job at the Raiders.

A statement from the Raiders did not confirm where Henry would be heading at season's end.

"Canberra Raiders coach Neil Henry will depart Canberra at the end of the 2008 season, after coming to an agreement with the club today," the statement said.

Raiders chief executive officer Don Furner said he would have preferred Henry stay.

"The board agreed not to stand in Neil's way and decided he would remain coach of the club until the end of the 2008 season," Furner said.

"Neil has agreed to see out the rest of the season and will remain head coach of the Raiders until October 31 this year."

Henry said the decision was tough.

"This has been the most difficult decision I have (had) to make," said Henry, who had been contracted through to the end of 2009.

"I am grateful for the opportunity that the club has given me, I'm relieved the decision is out of the road, and we're now focused on beating the Titans this weekend."