THE coronation of ‘King Keiron’ will give champions Saints continuity as they seek to build on the work put into place by departing boss Nathan Brown.

It was no surprise when former club captain Keiron Cunningham, a Saints legend on the back of 17 trophy-laden seasons wearing the red vee, was handed the head coach’s baton after three years of serving his apprenticeship as an assistant.

Monday’s announcement came 21 years to the day since the number nine signed on the dotted line a week shy of his 17th birthday – and the one-club man is delighted to be getting the keys to the door of the top job.

Cunningham explained that the handover will be seamless, given how closely he worked with Brown and even revealing that he had a big hand in helping select his former boss for the Saints role.

He said: “It has not come as a shock that they have offered me the job and knew they had earmarked me at some point to be head coach at St Helens.

“I had already agreed another two years as assistant and was comfortable sitting and learning more off Nathan.

“I have worked closely with Nathan and had a heavy involvement with the way we play.

“I have looked after our attack for the past two years and done that very successfully.”

Although the positions of his back room staff are yet to be finalised, Jamahl Lolesi will remain as assistant coach.Cunningham explained that it was not simply a case of continuing the good work of his former boss - but explained his own role in creating the the way the past two years at Langtree park have mapped out.

“ I helped choose Browny as a coach and said to Eamonn ‘this is where we are lacking and this is what we need’.

“Nathan was the man for the job, two years ago he was going to go home and we managed to snare him. For me he has helped to clear the decks and build a good squad – we have been there along the way.

“It was always going to be a tough job to follow Nathan Brown but I feel I am a good person, I have a lot of humility and am the right man for this job and I am looking forward to leading the side,” Cunningham said.

As a player Cunningham did his best to do his talking on the pitch rather than through the media, but the new job dictates a different approach.

And not only was the new coach visibly excited and happy with his new job at Monday’s press conference, over the course of a couple of hours he articulated his pride, hopes and vision for the future.

For years Saints fans have craved for ‘one of us’ to be leading the club with passion – but he understands more than most that leading on the pitch is different to leading others from the gantry.

He said: “Towards the end of my playing career I was adamant that I was going to be a head coach.

“But I was never going to rush into it. I have seen too many great players dip their toe in and fail, so I always wanted to be ready when I did it .

“I feel that is where I am at now. It’s opportunity knocks in 2014 and I am going to open the door.

“I have been working 12 hours a day and some people don’t see that – they maybe see me as a past player who has been given the job as a favour.

“That is not what I am about – I think I have earned my stripes.

“I have the support of the staff and the board and the senior players and am relishing it.”