Broncos great Allan Langer has emerged as a shock contender for a Brisbane coaching job in the wake of Wayne Bennett's resignation.

Bennett has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the 2008 after 21 seasons and six premierships at Red Hill.

The Broncos board "reluctantly" accepted Bennett's request for an early release from his contract, which was to have ended after the 2009 season.

Speculation has already began to mount about a possible successor, with Canberra coach and Maroons assistant Neil Henry a candidate if he can get an early release from the Raiders.

But a club source told brisbanetimes.com.au that the lack of coaches off contract in 2009 meant former halfback Langer may be considered in an interim position along with current assistant Ivan Henjak.

Langer, who is based in Caloundra, told brisbanetimes.com.au that Bennett travelled up the coast to meet him last week - and he wouldn't rule out a coaching role with his former club.

"Anything can happen between here and then. He's still got the job this year," Langer said.

"The Broncos are always at your heart, so if anything did come up you'd have to have a serious think about it."

If Brisbane suffered a poor start to the season, flagging results and the friction between Bennett and the Broncos board could see Langer and Henjak involved earlier than scheduled.

Langer played 258 games in the number seven jersey for Brisbane and is considered one of the greats of the club. He retired at the end of 2002 after a career that also included 34 appearances for Queensland and 21 Australian caps.

The source described the relationship between Bennett and Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen as "very tense" and said Bennett's silence when given a life membership of the club at last season's presentation night was the final straw.

"There is no love lost between the pair now. Wayne only comes in when he really has to. It's a very tense football office at the moment.

"The board have simply had enough of Wayne's antics in recent times - his failure to make an acceptance speech at last year's presentation night when awarded life membership sealed his fate."