. NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson has given an undertaking he will fulfil his commitments at the coming World Cup before joining Parramatta in the newly created role of general manager of football.
The Eels are expected to confirm Jason Taylor as their next coach on a two-year contract and there is speculation they may also announce the appointment of Anderson, although he has told NRL officials he is yet to finalise a deal with the club.
Fairfax Media has learnt that Anderson's departure was a major talking point at last Saturday's Col Pearce Medal presentation for match officials, which was won by Shayne Hayne, and there is some discontent among the ranks of the game's whistle-blowers as he is on the three-man panel with David Waite and Stuart Cummings to appoint referees at the World Cup.
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Anderson is also due to visit NFL and NHL headquarters in North America to investigate whether the bunker system used by video referees in American football and ice hockey can be adapted to the NRL, but it is understood that task may now be given to someone else if he returns to Parramatta.
Eels sources say Anderson's appointment on a four-year deal was finalised more than a week ago, but others have said he had discussed terms for the job with Parramatta officials but was yet to receive a formal offer.
Anderson has advised the Eels he would not be available to start until after the World Cup final at Old Trafford on November 30.
''The way things are at Parramatta you would never be sure of anything until you had it in writing,'' one source said.
However, it is understood the Eels have finally made a decision on the coaching job made vacant by Ricky Stuart's decision to exercise an exit clause in his contract to join Canberra after just one season.
They will announce Taylor as the man to lead them off the bottom of the premiership ladder. His appointment comes a week after the Parramatta board voted 3-2 against a recommendation by chairman Steve Sharp to give the job to Manly assistant Brad Arthur.
Taylor finished his playing career at the Eels and was a member of the 2001 grand final team before spending five years in the club's coaching ranks.
He was an assistant to Roosters coach Trent Robinson this season.
