AFL personality and former Knights player Matthew Johns made a shocking admission on his radio show yesterday when he revealed he had once been offered the coaching job at Newcastle and turned it down.

Johns said he had been offered the position half way through the 2000 season and was told by the club he would not be staying on as a player the following season.  

He said he had been very tempted by the offer but believed he'd made the smart decision not to take it on.

The Knights chairman at that time - Michael Hill - has refused to make any comment on Johns' revelation.