It's the most undesirable job in the NRL, but Parramatta coach-in-waiting Brad Arthur wants to stay at the Eels for a decade while rebuilding the club from the ground up.
Arthur is expected to be named Eels head coach within the next 48 hours, inheriting a club that has 'won' the past two wooden spoons and operates under an acrimonious board that has seen six coaches come and go since 2006.
But the 39-year-old, who was caretaker coach at Parramatta for six games in 2012 before taking an assistant's role at Manly this year, believes the Eels' future is brighter than people think and he wants to be part of a long-term fix.
His appointment is expected to be ratified by the board on Tuesday with an official announcement made later this week.
Arthur exclusively told Sportal: "I want to be a career coach. I'm not going there for three years, I want to go there and be a coach for 10 years.
"I think the club has got a bright future. I do rate their roster. It's got a lot of potential.
"There are some good young kids coming through and some new players coming in.
"You just need to believe in them and show some good leadership and be nice and aggressive with your coaching style.
"I'd like to think I could do something with Parramatta."
Arthur is also undeterred about the in-fighting at the club, declaring: "I don't want to run the club, I just want to coach.
"That will be fine. You can't let that worry you. All you can do is go there and coach and that's all I want to do."
Arthur's expected appointment continues a trend of NRL clubs gambling on younger coaches untried at the top level or with little experience.
Trent Robinson won a premiership in his first year at the Roosters, while grand final opponent Geoff Toovey is just two years into his coaching career.
Michael Maguire has enjoyed considerable success at Souths and the Cowboys have given Paul Green his shot next year.
Arthur enjoys a terrific reputation among those who have worked under him and admires what Robinson managed to achieve in his debut season.
"Trent's got the respect of his players and has managed his players well," he said.
"He's got a good list of players but you've got to bring them together and he's done a really good job of it.
"It's impressive what he's done."
