Laidley on Tuesday informed Kangaroos' president James Brayshaw he no longer wanted to coach the club, after six and half seasons at the helm.

He said the job of taking North to their next premiership was beyond him, indicating the club's limited resources over the years had worn him down.

Laidley's decision came just as North had begun a review of the coaching position.

"I've been speaking to (wife) Jo and the kids and (manager) Ricky (Nixon) for a considerable amount of time," Laidley said.

"Knowing the planned review was coming up now, I sat down last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday ... and by the time I had finished yesterday afternoon it became patently obvious to me it was time to move on and for Dean Laidley to continue to further his career and (to pursue) things he wants to do in his life."

Laidley, 42, is the second AFL coach to quit this month, after Terry Wallace stood down from the Richmond position on June 1.

North assistant coach Darren Crocker will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the 2009 season.

Laidley coached North in 149 games for 72 wins, 75 defeats and two draws and took the Kangaroos to the finals in 2005 and 2007-08.

He said he had aimed to win a premiership by 2007 but the Kangaroos fell short that year when they were beaten in the preliminary final by Port Adelaide.

Laidley said he had first considered leaving the club after it was knocked out of last year's final series and had been contemplating doing so for much of the season.

He said he wanted to stay in the AFL but would take time to decide if he wanted to pursue another coaching job or work in a football department position.

Laidley denied he was abandoning the club and the players, but admitted the team was surprised when he told them of his decision on Tuesday morning.

Brayshaw said he was also surprised, but did not try to talk Laidley around because he knew the decision was final.