Former Newcastle premiership-winning captain Paul Harragon was put in charge of retooling the Knights NRL playing roster following the resignation of football manager Mark Sargent.

Harragon and Knights media manager Stephen Crowe will jointly fill the role of football manager from Monday, with a decision on a fulltime replacement for Sargent to be made at a later date.

Sargent walked out on the Knights, sinking the club to an all-time low. They are still without a win this season, without a major sponsor, and now without a football manager.

"Newcastle Knights are going through an unprecedented tough time on and off the field, but that's all part of the game," Harragon said.

"When it is tough like that, it's when you want to be involved."

Sargent and Knights coach Michael Hagan were hauled before the club's board on Monday night following the duo's comments that the Knights would perish without improved staff resources and player facilities.

The Knights are currently without a fulltime physiotherapist and rehabilitation officer to help treat injured players due to a lack of funds.

With the move to appoint an overburdened Harragon, who already has media commitments with Channel Nine, a role on the Knights board and is chairman of the football committee, it appears staff resources are being stretched even further at Newcastle.

When asked how much time he would be spending on contract negotiations, Harragon said:

"Any spare time I've got. Obviously Channel Nine, and I've got other commitments, is my job.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP