"We have had a couple of gos at talking Dean out of it and I just thought from the tone of his voice and the dialogue that we'd had over a six-month period then I knew that this time it was what he wanted to do," Brayshaw said at a press conference at Arden Street on Tuesday.
"We'd had discussions along the way where Dean had said: 'I don't know whether I am the man, I don't know whether I can take this group any further, I'm not sure whether its time I went a different direction and you did too'.
"At that time we sat down and discussed it and said, 'I think you're doing really well and the things we are working on are coming together'.
"On this occasion I just got a very strong sense."
Laidley stood down from his position as senior coach at North Melbourne on Tuesday morning, bringing to an end his six-and-a-half years and 149 games at the helm.
He admitted he almost walked away after the Roos lost the elimination final to Sydney Swans last year but finally made up his mind that his future wasn't at North at the weekend after reviewing what he initially wanted to achieve when he started the job in 2003.
"I sat down last Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and went through it all," Laidley said.
"And what I did I went back to my initial presentation at the footy club and by the time I had finished yesterday afternoon it became patently obvious to me that it was time to move on for Dean Laidley to continue to further his career and for things he wants do with his life."
Laidley said his set his sights on a premiership in 2007 when he started at North.
"We fell short by seven days of making a grand final."
Since then, the Roos have cleaned out a fair few players and the current list was a fair way off challenging for the premiership, he said.
That was also a strong influence on his decision to resign at this time.
Laidley said times had not always been easy at Arden Street but the club had an exciting future.
"There was a lot of love and not a lot of money," Laidley said. "But we had a super time doing it."
Brayshaw said Laidley would be remembered a great North person.
"Dean's influence on this club has been immense," Brayshaw said. "He is a premiership player, a seven-year coach and most importantly a respected and greatly admired North Melbourne person.
"He leaves here with everyone attached to this club's appreciation for the incredible work he has done."
North Melbourne is currently undergoing a review of coaching, which was slated to conclude before round 16.
But Laidley's decision buys them a bit more time.
The Kangaroos were preliminary finalists in 2007 and made the top eight again in 2008, but have struggled with injuries and consistency this season, winning just four games to sit 12th on the AFL ladder.
