JOHN Cartwright has emerged as a surprise target for Parramatta, with speculation last night that the Gold Coast coach had already agreed to terms with the Eels.
Cartwright, the Titans' foundation coach, is contracted to the club until the end of 2016. However, since he joined the Titans in 2007, the club has made the finals only twice.
It has been lean pickings since qualifying for the 2010 preliminary finals, with the club collecting its first wooden spoon in 2011 and finishing 11th last season.
A spirited win over minor premiers the Sydney Roosters in round 25 was promising but the Titans missed the finals after finishing in ninth position this year.
Cartwright would be a good fit for the Eels, having grown up in western Sydney and played at Penrith. His father, Merv, was a pivotal figure in the development of the Panthers, and John played in the inaugural premiership winning-side in 1991.
Parramatta has been on the lookout for a new coach since Ricky Stuart announced he was cutting short his three-year deal after one season to join Canberra.
The Eels have been linked to plenty of candidates, including referees boss Daniel Anderson, outgoing North Queensland coach Neil Henry, former Eels coach Brian Smith and former Souths coach Jason Taylor.
Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp confirmed yesterday he had held preliminary discussions with Smith over his interest in returning to the club next season.
Sharp, who is in the throes of interviewing coaches to replace Stuart, revealed the club would implement a new structure, part of which would see the appointment of someone to oversee the football operations.
He confirmed he had spoken to Smith about the possibility of filling that role, although it is understood others are also under consideration for the position.
Sharp said he hoped to complete the new appointments by the end of next week as the club looks to strengthen its football department and avoid a repeat of the past two disastrous seasons, collecting only the wooden spoon.
Asked about speculation linking the club with Smith, Sharp said: "I have spoken to Brian. There is no deal done or anything but it's that style of person we want with that sort of background in setting up structures.
"That's a starting point. But I'm not saying Brian will get the job. The club will look at all the candidates and make the right decision. They are all very, very good."
Smith coached Parramatta for a decade before parting ways with the club in 2006. He subsequently went on to coach Newcastle and the Roosters, taking the latter to the 2010 grand final before being sacked at the end of last season.
He spent this year working as a defensive coach with the Brumbies, who lost the Super 15 final to the Chiefs.
Since Smith walked out the door, the Eels have churned through six coaches in seven years.
Among those to come and go was Taylor, now an assistant at the Sydney Roosters but among the favourites to be appointed as the Eels' new coach.
Henry was considered the early frontrunner for the job but interest appears to have cooled.
Newcastle assistant Rick Stone and Manly assistant coach Brad Arthur have also been mentioned, although both have been linked with the job in Townsville.
The Eels' annus horribilis continued yesterday when forward Mitchell Allgood pleaded guilty to the charge of mid-range drink driving after the team's Mad Monday celebrations.
The case was adjourned until December 18 although the club conducted an internal investigation and fined Allgood.
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