Former Canberra and Manly halfback Michael Monaghan says he has mixed feelings over his appointment as co-caretaker coach of Catalans Dragons.

Monaghan and fellow assistant Jerome Guisset have been placed in temporary charge of the Super League team following the French club’s decision to part company with head coach Laurent Frayssinous on Monday.

Monaghan, 37, who joined the Catalans backroom staff after retiring as a player at the end of the 2014 season, and ex-Wigan and Warrington forward Guisset will be in charge for the first time when the Dragons go to Salford on Friday before hosting Hull in Perpignan on Monday night.

“I’ve got mixed feelings,” Monaghan told a news conference in Perpignan.

“On the one hand Laurent gave me an opportunity to get into coaching when I retired as a player and to see him go is really disappointing.

“On the other hand, I’m excited that me and Jerome get an opportunity to put our stamp on the club, although we don’t need to come in and change everything.

“That’s not really our job, that is just to simplify things, make it easy for the players to go out and play well.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge. It’s a big responsibility the club have put on the two of us and we’re looking forward to trying to do right by them.”