OSAKA (Kyodo) Hanshin Tigers manager Akinobu Okada, who has offered to step down after his team missed out on this season's Central League title, reiterated his intentions on Tuesday to leave his post.
Okada, 50, told club owner Shinya Sakai in a meeting that he will not be returning. Hanshin had been hoping to persuade Okada not to quit but he appears firm in his decision.
"If we had won the league title I had planned to continue but the result was we didn't win, so I only feel I have to take responsibility for that," Okada said.
Okada will be in charge for the Climax Series getting under way in the first stage against the Chunichi Dragons on Saturday and also if his team advances to the Japan Series, but he has denied the possibility of remaining at the helm for next season.
Okada said he plans to offer his advice in finding a suitable new manager for the team. "I know the best about what is going on with the team. We have to move in the right direction," he said.