John Cartwright has expressed feelings of betrayal and disrespect following his exit from Hull FC, which was announced without prior explanation. The club revealed on April 7 that Cartwright's tenure as head coach would come to an end after the current Betfred Super League season.
Despite the surprise announcement, Cartwright has not received an explanation for the decision. In a statement to reporters, he said, 'The club decided to part ways with me at the end of my contract, invoking a six-month termination clause. That's all I know. I've asked for a reason, but I'm still waiting for an explanation.' Cartwright, who took the reins at the MKM Stadium in 2025, led the team to a seventh-place finish, their highest since 2020.
He emphasized his commitment to the team, saying, 'I'll continue to do my job to the best of my abilities, and my bond with the players remains unbroken.' The news of his departure came as a shock, especially given the team's current ninth-place standing in the Super League, with three wins and four defeats from their first seven matches. Cartwright stated, 'I was taken aback by the decision. If we had lost six games in a row, I might have expected some concern, but there was no indication of this.'