Parramatta are set to appoint a general manager of football before a coach after the board voted against chairman Steve Sharp's insistence that Brad Arthur be given the job.
In a move that has sparked suggestions Sharp's position is untenable, Eels directors voted 3-2 against the recommendation that Arthur be appointed as the club's next coach.
Although the board was not asked to make a choice between Arthur and Jason Taylor, it is believed the directors would vote the same way if the proposal was put to them again.
Fairfax Media was told Taylor was the most impressive candidate in interviews but Sharp is understood to be opposed to the Roosters assistant coach getting the job.
It has even been suggested players and staff were told on Friday that Arthur would be appointed before Taylor had his final interview.
However, the appointment of the next Eels coach requires a majority of the directors' votes and Arthur did not have sufficient support at Tuesday night's lengthy board meeting.
As a result, newly appointed chief executive Scott Seward is understood to be focused on appointing a general manager of football until the stand-off in the board room is resolved, with Cronulla assistant Peter Sharp among those linked to the job.
The rift among directors sparked speculation Arthur may withdraw and remain at Manly as Geoff Toovey's assistant, but Fairfax Media was told both he and Taylor were still interested in the job, despite knowing they did not have the support of the full board.
Meanwhile, Pirtek, which split its long-time association with the Eels when the wooden-spooners demanded more money from the company, has bought the naming rights for Parramatta Stadium.
When former Eels chief executive Ken Edwards demanded early in the season that Pirtek increase its $1 million a year sponsorship to $1.5 million, the firm ended what had been a long-term and, seemingly, successful relationship.
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