WHEN Neil Craig first vowed to walk away from Adelaide when he felt he was no longer the right person for the job, his remarks were met with scepticism.

It was a noble thought, but nobility isn't a trait commonly associated with coaches or athletes at top-level sport, or prominent players in any big business where ideals can sometimes take a backseat to egos, money and self-interest.

Craig's involvement in the decision that saw him tear up his contract and become a permanent member of staff, who could quit or be terminated with "the flick of a pen", at West Lakes at the start of the season should have been the first indication he would remain true to his word, but still the cynics remained.

After all, he had the full support of the board, which in this case wasn't to be interpreted as a death knell for his coaching career, and it was obvious his new-look team was in a redevelopment phase, even though his mantra of maintaining high standards of performance meant he was reluctant to admit it.

Pressure on Craig had been mounting since the club failed to live up to its own expectations of a top-four finish in 2010, and had increased following the Crows' failure to rebound quickly from the disappointment as expected this season.

Adelaide's 103-point loss and record-low score against St Kilda on Friday night was demoralising, and made the jungle drums beat louder but the reality is Craig could have survived the hefty defeat.

The board remained committed to allowing the club's longest-serving coach to, at least, see out the season. And the players, although frustrated by the constant scrutiny from the media and backlash from a growing number of their own supporters, maintained he had their support.

In the end, it was Craig who decided enough was enough, and not for his own sake, but for the good of his players and the club.

"I don't want to leave," Craig admitted at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

"There's no doubt in my mind with the information I got from the playing group that I hadn't lost the playing group … but it's bigger than that.

"We live in a world where there's constant scrutiny.

"The pressure builds and it's now time to try and relieve that pressure, so our guys can actually perform on what I'd call a clean slate.

"It's not a relief for me because I love doing the job … but hopefully, there'll be a release on the football club."

Despite being an expert in modern sports science and regarded as an innovator, Craig upholds old-fashioned values... like nobility.

He preaches and practices hard work and loyalty, having been asked by the players to scale back his workload at one point, and ruled out being the senior coach of another AFL club some years ago.

He's an intelligent, but no-frills former SANFL footballer from country South Australia, who is rarely spotted in anything other than footy shorts, a T-shirt and socks pulled up to his knees even in the middle of winter.

He dusted off his club-issued suit and tie for the press conference on Monday, but the sight of his exposed ankles below his fraction-too short pants supported the suspicion the suit wasn't pulled out of the wardrobe often.

He loosened things up at the press conference and kept his emotions in check by cracking a few jokes at the expense of head trainer Vinnie Del Bono and development guru Alan Stewart, and at the same time offered the public a rare glimpse into the jovial character that exists behind the serious 'game-day' face he presented to the cameras throughout his seven-year tenure.

"I'm a funny man," he said, smiling at his players.

The emotion in the room was such that you had to remind yourself why he was leaving.

Flanked by Steven Trigg, who stood by his embattled coach so steadfastly he was criticised, and chairman Rob Chapman Craig's unbelievably good relationship with the club hierarchy in a time of crisis was obvious.

"You've got to understand how strong these guys stood by me," Craig said of the pair.

"It's been a sensational club. It's been fantastic to me."

Trigg returned the compliment, saying he was "in awe" of Craig's ability to handle the pressure-cooker environment that surrounded him for most of the season.

But it's results that matter first and foremost in this industry, and with only 13 wins from his last 38 matches Craig's resignation was accepted.

He leaves the club without having achieved the ultimate success of winning a premiership, or reached a grand final.

He got close, having exceeded expectations to lead Adelaide to consecutive preliminary finals in 2005 and 2006 only to lose to bogey team West Coast on both occasions.

The Crows reached the finals again in the next three seasons, but never progressed past the second week, losing close games against Hawthorn and Collingwood in heartbreaking fashion.

"If, but, maybe, could've, nearly … didn't," he said of the finals defeats that tarnished his once-brilliant home and away season record.

"I understand all that, but in the end it's about the scoreboard. When it all boils down you're either good enough or you're not."

Craig's decision to resign, although sad, won't be challenged.

It's accepted the time was right for him to leave, but Trigg said the former fitness coach deserved "enormous credit" for the manner in which he had departed.

"In putting the club first and having no personal indulgence … there's probably no better accolade to have," he said.