Sacking Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson will have consequences
MELBOURNE officials cleared the way for Stephen Kearney to join Parramatta yesterday as frustrated fans of the Eels took to the internet to vent their fury at the treatment of sacked coach Daniel Anderson.
Parramatta supporters dominated chat rooms and websites to voice their displeasure at the decision to terminate Anderson's contract with one year left to run. A large majority took aim at chairman Roy Spagnolo and his board.
Spagnolo swept to power 18 months ago with a promise to deliver success to a club which had craved it since the last of its four titles in 1986. Instead, he was under fire yesterday for the decision to remove the coach less than a year after Anderson took the club to the grand final.
Had the Eels not faced Melbourne, which fielded a side way over the salary cap, Anderson would in all likelihood have guided the club to a premiership. Not that those credentials mattered to the current board as they made the decision to end Anderson's tenure a year ahead of schedule, leaving supporters and players in a state of shock.
The backlash was so severe that some supporters are already eyeing next year's board elections -- to be held in April -- to remove the current directors.
If the elections were held tomorrow, Spagnolo and his board would be gone. Fortunately for them, they have seven months to save their positions and restore order to a club in disarray.
"You can't help but feel a little (bit responsible)," Eels five-eighth Daniel Mortimer said.
"We definitely didn't play our best this year. Maybe if we played better for Ando he would still be around.
"Unfortunately we don't really have any input on the decision. I hope to see him around. I am sure all his relationships with the players are strong. Unfortunately it's not up to the players.
"He has been a major player in my development so far. I have a lot to thank him for. That's why I would have liked to see him have another year."
Mortimer also called on officials to end the damaging leaks which emanated from the club this season. The situation became so dire that at one point senior players spoke to management in an attempt to plug the leaks.
"It does get a little bit disappointing when you pick up a newspaper or hear news and see that happen," Mortimer said of the leaks.
"You think, why wasn't I told about this. Unfortunately there is a leak at our club. It's not the best feeling to have around the club when anything you say can be leaked."
Kearney, who is also coach of New Zealand, is expected to be named as Anderson's replacement within days.
Storm chief executive Ron Gauci said he had spoken to Kearney about the Parramatta job but was yet to be contacted by the Eels.
He confirmed the Storm would not stand in Kearney's way should he want to join Parramatta. The worry for Kearney and any other coach is that the board has set the bar high with its decision to sack Anderson, who has guided teams to two NRL grand finals and enjoyed much success in England.
Clearly, anything less than a finals berth is a ground for sacking.
"If the circumstances are right, and Stephen approached us to head in that direction as something he really wanted to do, he has been a good servant to the club," Gauci said.
"I'm sure it's something we can resolve if it was something Stephen wanted to do."
