. JOHN Cartwright has told the Gold Coast he has had no contact with Parramatta, but the Titans coach is understood to be unhappy the club offered an assistant's role to former North Queensland coach Neil Henry without his knowledge.
The Australian revealed yesterday that Cartwright was being targeted by the Eels to fill the coaching position recently vacated by Ricky Stuart, even though he is contracted to the Gold Coast until the end of 2016.
Titans founder Michael Searle returned from overseas yesterday and was spotted soon after having coffee with Cartwright. It is believed their relationship has been strained by an open-ended offer from officials that was made to Henry to join the Titans coaching staff as an assistant.
Henry was in line for the Canberra job before it went to Stuart and has also been linked to Parramatta, but it is understood that the Eels' interest on the former Queensland State of Origin assistant coach has now cooled.
Other names mentioned for the position include former Parramatta coaches Brian Smith, Jason Taylor and Daniel Anderson, but there is speculation a deal has already been reached in principle with Cartwright.
The Titans coach is believed to view the offer to Henry as a possible threat to his own position. He joined the club as its inaugural coach in 2007 but has made the finals only twice in seven years.
The club has underachieved in the past three years - including a wooden spoon in 2011 - and Cartwright might not see out the rest of his contract if the Titans struggle again next season.
It is believed the only impediment to the deal is the fact that Cartwright was born, raised and played for Penrith - the Eels' arch-rivals.
Cartwright's late father, Merv, was also a pivotal figure at the Panthers, admitted into the competition in 1967.
Recently appointed Titans chief executive Graham Annesley, who was in his second day in the job yesterday, said he had met Cartwright to address the speculation linking him with the Eels.
"John is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2016 and I've spoken directly to him this morning and he's assured me that he's had no discussions with Parramatta regarding their coaching role," Cartwright said.
"It was a very amicable discussion. I wasn't confronting him. He's very aware he's got another three years on his contract to run."
Annesley confirmed the club had undergone a review after missing out on the finals for the third straight season but maintained there was nothing sinister behind the decision in relation to Cartwright's future at the club.
"There has been a review of the football department that was instigated here before I started," Annesley said.
"That process is not completed yet but it's nearing completion.
"But it's not about John Cartwright's job. It's about the support structures around him and I expect that process to be finished within the next few weeks."
Meanwhile, in Townsville an announcement on Henry's replacement is said to be imminent.
The Australian understands that with the second round of interviews complete, Roosters Under 20s coach Paul Green, Manly assistant Brad Arthur and former Knights head coach Rick Stone have all impressed with their presentations.
