A tearful Brian Noble has quit as Bradford Bulls boss but insisted: "It's not been me that has brought this about."

The coach was expected to be named as Wigan's new coach this afternoon having yesterday ended a lifelong association with Bradford.

His painful decision to leave came when hours of last-ditch talks with chairman Peter Hood and chief executive Gareth Davies failed to result in a clear pathway forward.

The troubled trio met at Odsal yesterday lunchtime after a week of speculation regarding Wigan's interest in their man and underlying issues which had split the club in two.

Noble has been at loggerheads with Davies but Hood brought all three together to try and resolve their differences in a final attempt to persuade the club's figurehead to stay.

But Noble, 45, emerged from the meeting admitting it had been futile and he was destined for the JJB Stadium.

Asked why he was leaving the Super League champions for bottom-of-the-table Wigan, he replied: "For a new challenge.

"I've been here for 11 years as a coach and maybe some people on the board were tired of my voice.

"It's an exciting time for both Bradford and hopefully for Wigan. I've got many, many friends here at Bradford and will continue to have amongst the fans and everyone else.

"I have left the football department in what I think is a terrific state, health wise and in terms of the playing staff who I think can go on and win both trophies this year."

The Bulls are lying in third spot on the back of Easter wins over Leeds and Huddersfield and face a Powergen Challenge Cup clash with St Helens next month.

Noble has led them to five successive Grand Finals since taking over in 2000, winning three titles, three World Club Challenges and the Cup.

He added: "I've also left them with a terrific young coach who I presume they are going to appoint in Steve McNamara, who has proved his worth over the last 12 months to me.

"While I may be leaving now, I always anticipated leaving the reins to Steve. Steve knew that and the board knew that."

McNamara, 35, is set to become the youngest coach in Super League when the Bulls confirm his promotion but there is still mystery surrounding why and how such a legendary figure as Noble has managed to depart in such bizarre circumstances.

The club insists it did it all it could to keep the Great Britain chief while Noble was reluctant to discuss in depth the real reasons behind his departure.

But, drained after a week of soul-searching and clearly emotional at the prospect of walking away for a final time, he continued: "It's the hardest decision of my life but I've always lived my life stood up or tried to and tried to do the right thing.

"Sometimes I've got it wrong but in the main with my career at Bradford I've managed to get it right, to say the right things and do the right things. I haven't deviated from that.

"It's not been me that has brought this about. I've had 11 fantastic years. If you are going to write a script for anybody, this... your home-town club... it's brilliant.

"It's been a great rollercoaster of emotions at Bradford as a player and as a coach.

"I learned a lot in my formative days as a coach under Brian Smith and Matthew Elliott and we've had a lot of success.

"It's something I could never had dreamed of and I am and will always be a proud Bradfordian."

No-one at Odsal was willing to comment at this stage on the situation regarding Noble.

Wigan, who are four points adrift at the foot of the Super League table, targeted Noble after sacking Ian Millward last week.

Former Warriors coach Denis Betts said: "Something needed to be done and they've gone after the best British coach in the country.

"Brian is someone who has got a track record of being able to make things right and sort out problems."