. PARRAMATTA has made its decision on a head coach -- finally.
But the man to be given the job, strongly tipped to be former coach Jason Taylor, cannot be officially named until the finer points of his contract are nutted out.
"I've still got some things to work through with the board. I want to get it done soon," the Eels' newly appointed chief executive Scott Seward said last night.
"The issue now is terms and conditions, length of the deal . . . But we are pretty much there and ready to go. We have to ensure the person we're making the offer to is happy with it."
Taylor, who last weekend helped the Sydney Roosters to a 13th NRL premiership as assistant to head coach Trent Robinson, was in charge of the Eels in 2006 after Brian Smith walked out.
Taylor told The Weekend Australian he could not comment but hoped a decision would be made in the next few days.
He also would not be drawn into rumours that the club's star signing for next season, recently returned Mormon missionary Will Hopoate, was having second thoughts about fulfilling his Eels contract if Taylor were appointed coach.
Hopoate made his NSW Origin debut and won a premiership ring with Manly in 2011. "I haven't had any conversation there as yet," Seward said when asked if he had spoken with Hopoate's management.
"They haven't made any contact with me, so I've heard nothing official that there's any issue." Taylor looks to have trumped Brad Arthur, who also coached the Eels for seven games after Stephen Kearney was sacked in the 2012 season. Arthur is a former assistant to Craig Bellamy but currently works with grand finalist Manly under Geoff Toovey.
It was rumoured Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp wanted Arthur but three other directors wanted Taylor.
Last night Seward would not discuss if the coach-in-waiting had unanimous board backing. "I have a very clear belief that what happens in the boardroom should stay in the boardroom," Seward said.
"And every board member is united in trying to make the Eels a better place."
Parramatta has finished with the wooden spoon for two years in a row.
The Eels are the only one of the 16 NRL clubs without a coach signed for next season.
Pre-season training with the players not involved in the World Cup is scheduled to begin on November 7, or in less than a month.
The coaching dramas came to a head when Ricky Stuart exercised a get-out clause last month to cut short his time at the Eels. He lasted 12 months into a three-year deal.
He was appointed Canberra head coach four days later.
The 2014 coach will be the seventh appointed in a decade.
Seward said the appointment of a football general manager was also imminent. "When we get the deal done, we'll announce it. Whether that's before the head coach, at the same time, or after is unknown at this stage."
