PHIL GOULD has urged St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown to forget about seeing out the season and quit the struggling Dragons now - for the sake of his health and reputation.

"I can't understand why Nathan would want to continue in the job," Gould, the most successful coach in State of Origin history and a two-time premiership winner, said last night.

"I really feel for him, because it's an awful position to be in. The club didn't support him in front of his players. They made a decision to go with another coach for next year, and if I were Nathan, I would have walked the moment they did that.

"The situation Nathan is in is untenable. Whatever level of morale is there among the team at the moment is obviously not conducive to them playing well, judging by their form, and that's not necessarily the coach's fault. He didn't sack himself.

"There has been no indication from the club that Nathan will be employed in any assistant's role under Wayne Bennett, so if they don't want him next year, why stay? If what the Dragons produced against the Bulldogs on Saturday night is going to be their form, he'll do himself more harm than good by staying.

"It would only hurt his reputation and his wellbeing. It will run him down and do his head in, if it keeps up. I can't see why he would want to work in that sort of environment."

St George Illawarra were awful against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, falling behind 30-6 before losing 30-18. It was the fourth successive loss for the Dragons and their fifth in six games. Winless South Sydney are the only team below them on the competition table.

The club's chairman, Warren Lockwood, said there were no plans to end Brown's tenure early in favour of a caretaker coach until Bennett took over next year. "He is contracted until the end of the year and he will see it out," Lockwood said yesterday.

Asked how he felt about the way the team was playing, Lockwood replied: "I don't want to make any comment about that."

When it was suggested he would be less than thrilled with the display against the Bulldogs, Lockwood said: "That's up to you [to comment on the team's form]. I don't want to say any more."

The Herald understands Brown has recently sought the advice of people in the game whose opinion he respects, asking them what they thought was the best way for him to shape his future with a view to returning to the NRL as a coach.

Options include trying to get a job coaching in England first or seeking an assistant's role in the NRL. On the St George Illawarra front, former representative star Jason Smith has been mentioned as a possible assistant to Bennett.

Brown's supporters say he has what it takes to be a successful coach, but claim he suffered by being put in charge of St George Illawarra when he was just 29. Gould believes Brown has something to offer, but says he needs to make a tough decision.

"I gave the same advice to Brian Smith when he was told he would no longer be the Parramatta coach after the 2006 season," Gould said. "Brian tried to persevere, but before the season was halfway over, he realised it wasn't the way to go and resigned.

"He had a break and then got the Newcastle job, and look at how well he is going now. The situation Nathan is in isn't good for him and wouldn't be good for anyone else. He has nothing to gain by staying there.

"I've talked a lot of football with Nathan. I know he knows the game. It won't be easy for him to get another start, but I've seen lesser coaches bob up again. He needs to concentrate on his future now."

There has been speculation Brown could resign this week, but those who know him reckon he will stick it out - even if the Dragons continue to struggle.