Brad Arthur and Jason Taylor the only genuine candidates left in race for Parramatta Eels coaching job
Dean Ritchie
The Daily Telegraph
October 09, 2013 12:00AM
PARRAMATTA chairman Steve Sharp has publicly endorsed Brad Arthur to become new Eels coach, admitting though some board members want Jason Taylor.
The club’s board is due to meet in the next 24 hours to discuss the coaching dilemma, with a decision expected soon after.
Arthur and Taylor are the only two genuine candidates, Sharp personally backing Arthur over Taylor, the Roosters assistant coach.
There could be further bloodshed in the Eels boardroom if Sharp is somehow overruled.
Sharp has called on fellow directors to support him and sign Arthur, the former Eels interim coach and current Manly assistant coach.
"I believe the club should be coached by Brad Arthur in 2014," Sharp told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.
"I think he is the right fit for our club.
"Some people out there think ‘JT’ (Taylor) should be coach but I would like to think the club can show some unity and get behind the chairman."
Asked were those ‘"people" actually board members, Sharp said: "Yes. I want Parramatta to become as successful as possible as quick as possible.
"The coach is the last piece of the jigsaw and Brad fits the bill.
"We will be having a board meeting and I will be putting on the table that Brad should be coach."
Asked what would happened if rolled in the boardroom, Sharp said: "It would be back to the drawing board.
"We won’t be discussing anyone else other than the recommended candidate."
Sharp said he must receive support from his new board.
Parramatta has been searching for a new coach over the past three weeks after Ricky Stuart left for Canberra.
"The members elected me chairman because of what I can bring to the football side," Sharp said.
"We have done our due diligence. Brad brings experience and success from clubs with a winning culture.
"He commands discipline and has the respect of the players. I have concerns about the club’s discipline and that needs to be addressed.
"I am quietly confident."
Arthur said after Sunday’s Grand Final that he wanted to coach Parramatta for the next decade.
“I want to be a career coach," he said. "I think the club has got a bright future. I do rate their roster. It’s got a lot of potential."
Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne recently told The Daily Telegraph the playing group wanted a rookie coach, like Arthur.
"We would prefer a junior coach - a bloke that is looking for his first crack," Hayne said.
"I think we need our opinion heard."
Parramatta have claimed the past two wooden spoons.
