Adam O’Brien is expected to announce his departure from the Newcastle Knights when he fronts the media in a press conference scheduled for 10am Thursday.

It will be shown live on Fox League, channel 502. Alternatively, you can follow along in our live blog below.

It comes amid reports O’Brien and the Knights agreed to a mutual termination earlier this week following a dismal campaign which has the club sitting second last with two games left.

O’Brien has two years remaining on his contract, however it’s understood that he feels there’s nothing more he can do with the current roster and as such initiated the split.

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The 47-year-old, who is said to be in relatively good spirits, informed the playing group on Wednesday of his departure.

“I would say it’s very much an amicable split. I wouldn’t say it’s an ugly divorce or anything in that regard,” News Corp journalist Dave Riccio said on NRL 360.

“Talking to the Knights powerbrokers today, I believe Adam O’Brien will go to the presentation night. They wanted to end as well as possible to which he will finish the last two games of the season.

“We all believed that it was in train as far as Adam’s time coming towards an end at the Knights and finally today they’ve reached a resolution.”

In the six seasons O’Brien has been at the helm he’s led the Knights to four finals series’. However it seemed the speculation around his future — particularly over the last couple of years — has never gone away.

Riccio believes that what’s changed though this time round is that O’Brien has had enough and genuinely needs a break.

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“I think firmly over the last three-to-four weeks, the spirit within the side as far as their fight… if you think back six to seven weeks ago they were defending very well as a football team, but over the last couple of weeks the air is slowly coming out of the balloon,” he said.

“I think there’s a realisation from Adam O’Brien too that come Round 1 next year in Las Vegas, if he is still in that hot seat, guess what the headlines are — it’s all about how the Newcastle Knights start.

“I think that he’s decided that enough is enough. I think there’s a genuine element of fatigue here as a head coach and it’s time for him to take some time out of the game.”

So far it’s been one of the more civilised splits in the game, which Fox League’s Dan Ginnane believes reflects well on O’Brien.

“I think it’s an honourable, dignified exit,” he said on NRL 360.

“He could’ve waited and waited and forced them to sack him to get the full payout. But I think this is a great way to go in that he does it himself and there is no hostility.”

The Knights informed media on Wednesday night that O’Brien will hold a press conference on Thursday morning.

It came after the club cancelled its regular player media opportunity and O’Brien’s original captain’s run coach media opportunity, which was scheduled for Saturday.

Roosters assistant Justin Holbrook is said to be in the mix to replace O’Brien, as well as current Knights assistant Blake Green.

Follow O’Brien’s press conference in our live blog below. Can’t see it? Click here.