McKay says he has taken the Pirates as far as he could

The Australian told BBC Radio Cornwall that it was in the club's best interests to get a new coach.

"Without a ground and an infrastructure to have Premiership rugby or any rugby higher... I feel we've progressed as far as we can go," he said.

But McKay feels the side will continue to be a force in National League One.

"I think we've firmly established ourselves in the top four clubs over a period of the last three years and I'm sure we'll do it again this year as well.

"Pretty much we're punching above our weight or thereabouts and I'm very proud of that and the people of Cornwall should be as well."

606: DEBATE Can the Pirates succeed without McKay?

But without the realistic prospect of a Premiership infrastructure McKay says there is little hope of keeping the best players at the club.

"In the last three years we've lost nine guys to Premiership, Celtic league and international rugby. I'm sure this year again we will lose our best players."

McKay was close to former Pirates president Dickie Evans who resigned earlier in the month and McKay thinks he had also felt he couldn't take the club any further.

"Dickie's left the club in very good shape financially and structurally. He's done a tremendous amount of work to make things possible.

"I think he himself feels as though he's helped facilitate to take it where it is and it's time for other people to rally and take up the baton," he said.

MCKAY'S PIRATES CAREER Led Pirates to 3rd place in National League One in 2005-06 Won the 2006-07 National Trophy Pirates finished fifth in National League One in 2006-07

McKay says he has no job lined up at the moment and is keen to get the chance to coach at the highest level.

"I've been coaching 14 yrs it's what I do and what I love and what I want to improve on and get better at. This will give me a chance to look at that and find the best way forward for my coaching developmen,t" he said.

He says the decision was not taken lightly and he will miss the Cornish Pirates and their supporters.

"There's good people there. The best thing is the branding of the Cornish Pirates and the people of Cornwall. There's so much support here which is fantastic and I've met some wonderful people here."