Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/phones-run-hot-to-halt-manly-exodus-20111008-1lesk.html#ixzz1aDLMyRsv
MANLY chairman
Scott Penn and chief operating officer
David Perry spent yesterday desperately making contact with their NRL squad as they try to prevent the club from falling in a heap following
Des Hasler's defection to the Bulldogs. They were working the phones feverishly, trying to shore up player support - which may be a futile act, given the players' love for Hasler. It's been suggested to me some players are reluctant to speak to Perry face-to-face, so phone calls with Penn also working the same angle have been the only way to go. As revealed in this column last week, up to five Manly players have get-out clauses in their contracts. Hasler was super-keen to extend his deal last season and do a deal until the end of 2014. There were three occasions when he was prepared to re-sign - but each time the deal wasn't sealed. The board knocked him back and
Max Delmege was also against the idea of extending Hasler's deal. From what I've been told, Penn had been pushing to sign Hasler all along. Hasler has been telling people that the current set-up with two owners can't work and that was a major reason for his departure. The sacking of
Peter Peters was another major factor.
Geoff Toovey may be everybody's first pick as the next Manly coach when Hasler joins Canterbury, but it will be foolish to discount NSW Origin coach
Ricky Stuart. Amazingly, Stuart was not interviewed for the Bulldogs job, even though their boss,
Todd Greenberg, said on several occasions he was one of a number of candidates.
The Dogs' loss could turn out to be the Sea Eagles' gain.________________________________________________________________
That last part was pretty amusing. Is there anyone here who would prefer Ricky Stuart to coach their team over Des Hasler, least of all Manly fans?
