Kevin Moore to coach Bulldogs from 2009

The Bulldogs have confirmed the NRL's worst kept secret by appointing Kevin Moore as their coach from next season.

Moore has signed on as coach for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, taking over from the long-serving Steve Folkes, who announced last week he would not be re-applying for the position at the end of the season.

The club also appointed former Bulldogs premiership winner Jim Dymock as an assistant coach.

Moore, son of Bulldogs great Peter Moore, has worked as an assistant under Folkes for the past seven years and said he felt he was ready to take the next step in his coaching career.

"Obviously I've got a long association with the club that dates back to 1983 when I started playing and then moved into coaching," Moore said.

"I've spent the last four or five under the tutelage of Steve Folkes and that's been a great learning curve for me.

"I feel like I'm ready for it, I've had a really good apprenticeship which I think is critical for coaches these days given the scope of the job.

"I love this club, I'm passionate about the club and I'm looking forward to next year."

Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said the Bulldogs would keep faith with Folkes until the end of this season despite having both Moore and Dymock ready to assume their positions.