fmd Bigfella, ofcourse he'll call a press conference he's the CEO and I wouldn't take that comment seriously as it's only part of the gamesmanship involved by 2 clubs to bluff Manly into, paying overs him.
Fact: DA and DA alone will have the initial say on who will represent this club on the field.
Fact: once DA sounds out who he wants, then he with General manager of football operations, Andrew Hill and football Manager, Phil Moss will begin negotiations on the players manager..
Fact: fitsgerald will ultimately agree with the terms and conditions and sign off on the contract with the Chairman.
is that clear?
Fact: if disgruntled supporters start complaining about retention DF will put the blame straight on to the coach (as per his 2KY morning show interviews during the last Brian Smith years).
Fact: where possible DF will give the impression that a well performing player was his signing (as per his performance in the 2GB box in the Dragons-Eels game last year when he strolled in to the box live on air after Finch set up a try; strangely he wasn't to be seen following the seven charge downs which followed).
I reckon i have posted about thirty times in the last few times examples of Fitzgerald doing both of the above.
No doubt what you described above is the standard operating procedure but there is no dubting the fact that DF will manipulate public perception of that process to his advantage.
And of course DA will technically have no real control over who represents the club next season as the playing roster was entirely filled before his appointment. Which is one reason most of us wish 2010 was around the corner.