West Coast have confirmed that favourite son John Worsfold has resigned as coach of the AFL club.

Worsfold told the Eagles of his decision on Thursday.

“John realised he didn’t have the energy, the passion, the enthusiasm and the motivation to keep going,” Eagles chairman Alan Cransberg told reporters in Perth.

Just last Saturday, Worsfold was confident of earning a new two-year deal with the club.

But his team’s diabolical end to the year, in which they lost their last three games by a combined 214 points, seems to have brought about Worsfold’s downfall.

The Eagles started the year as a premiership fancy, but finished 13th after managing just nine wins.

Worsfold had been coach of West Coast since 2002, leading the club to eight finals campaigns and the 2006 premiership.

He also captained the club to two flags during his glittering 209-match playing career.

Cransberg described Worsfold as a legend of the club and said his contribution would still be remembered in 100 years.

“While it’s sad for us, it’s obviously an opportunity for us to build the next part of our future,” Cransberg said.

“He felt from his point of view, it was the right time to move on and he felt the club was well positioned to put a new coach in place.”