Elliots Risky Business Part Two

[Dave Q]

Greetings fellow Elliot and Panther fans.

I know we are not meant to have memories in rugby league, but I recall the circumstances of Elliot's recruitment earlier this year. An interesting question arises.

As we know, Lang was upset as Elliot had been recruited behind his back. Lang told us that he was promised that he would be consulted before the club recruited anybody else. He told the whole of Sydney as well.

The club's explanation at the time appeared to be that they had to snare Elliot as sson as possible and that there was no time to consult with Lang.

On that basis, you would think that the club had minutes or seconds to make its decision.

But over at another forum, one of my hero's, Andrew Farrell interviewed Elliot and Elliot said that he chose the Panthers as they were a beacon etc etc, On that account, I gathered that he had options and the time to consider the Panthers offer as opposed to others.

If he had time to consider it, why didnt the club take the opportunity to tell Lang? Or alternatively, has Elliot just presented us with a feel-good line in his initial interview?

In the long run, it doesnt matter as its over now and Elliot and his restructuring is now firmly in place.

But can someone clear this up this apparent inconsistency for me?

And in what circumstances is it reasonable for a club to maintain a curtain of secrecy over these sensitive appointments. Never, Sometimes, Always?

In the final part of this series we will examine player recruitment.

 

[BxTom]

That is only your assumption. As he stated, it was a great chance to coach a great club - that clearly argues that it wasn't a hard decision to make. Why are you so interested in bringing down the Panthers??? Get over it.


Tom.

 

[*Sandy*]

John Lang got over it, maybe one day the bunny supporter will too. We can live in hope Tom.

 

[Dave Q]

Nice analysis guys, straight to the wrong conclusion.

 

[Bob]

Lang was in Alice Springs with the Panthers for a pre season trial.Elliott was all but confirmed for the Newcastle job when they put talks on hold to talk to another coach. Elliott was upset by this and pulled the pin on Newcastle.When it became obvious he wasn't going to Newcastle Glen Matthews contacted him, offered him the Panthers job, faxed him a contract, got the signed contract back all in half an hour. No time to fly to Alice Springs to talk to John Lang.
I applaud Glen Matthews for doing this as we have played like a stale football side for a couple of seasons now and it was clearly time for a change.
Dave as for your question "If he had time to consider it, why didnt the club take the opportunity to tell Lang? Or alternatively, has Elliot just presented us with a feel-good line in his initial interview" I remember Elliott saying at the time his daughter wanted to go to uni so he was looking at getting out of Canberra so the move to Sydney and coaching a club like Penrith with one of the largest junior leagues in Australia would of been a relativly simple descision.

 

[Dave Q]

Lang was in Alice Springs with the Panthers for a pre season trial.Elliott was all but confirmed for the Newcastle job when they put talks on hold to talk to another coach. Elliott was upset by this and pulled the pin on Newcastle.When it became obvious he wasn't going to Newcastle Glen Matthews contacted him, offered him the Panthers job, faxed him a contract, got the signed contract back all in half an hour. No time to fly to Alice Springs to talk to John Lang.
I applaud Glen Matthews for doing this as we have played like a stale football side for a couple of seasons now and it was clearly time for a change.
Dave as for your question "If he had time to consider it, why didnt the club take the opportunity to tell Lang? Or alternatively, has Elliot just presented us with a feel-good line in his initial interview" I remember Elliott saying at the time his daughter wanted to go to uni so he was looking at getting out of Canberra so the move to Sydney and coaching a club like Penrith with one of the largest junior leagues in Australia would of been a relativly simple descision.

That was both a tremendous and fascinating post Bob, I genuinely appreciate your sharing of that with us.

I was wondering what your thoughts are on why the club thought to replace Lang in the first place?

Theres a lot more going on that a new coach-was the restructuring either Penrith's or Elliot's idea or a shared vision?

 

[110kgpantherpower]

There a quite alot of valid thoughts on why Johnny was astouded.

Was it because of the fall from success since 03 was the club wanting to go a new direction that either lang wasnt wanting to take them or was thought to be unable to take them.

Though all of us have thoughts and reasons for the sudden departure only penrith management have the answers and its safe to assume what we have been given so far is all we are going to be given.

 

[Dave Q]

Yeah I was considering Bob's post and I note that in Bob's account, Matthews contacts Elliot so I think its safe to assume that Elliot was already well and truly established in Matthews mind as a potential successor.

Hes not going to call Elliot unless he had it in his mind that Lang was already surplus to requirements (providing a good replacement could be found I suppose) bearing in mind that Matthews acts for the club ( as opposed to himself).

Maybe this is what Lang was really fired up about. The thought was there in Matthews (the club's) mind to bone him but the act was not yet done. Surely Lang must have had a glimpse that this was coming beacuse he hadnt been secured.

I guess Matthews might not have wanted to tell Lang in case Elliot was not secured and Matthews and the club may then have felt it in their best interests to offer Lang another year. Things werent critical at the time and Lang can coach footballers and knows how to win grand finals.

If Bob is right, Lang couldnt be too upset on the speed of the Elliot contract.

You could just imagine such a discussion:

Beeep Beeep Beep

Matthews: Hi, John well I, well I have some news for you
Lang: Yeah
Mathews: it seems we got word that elliot will sign, hes in a hurry and I have the contract here, I'm standing by the fax and..
Lang: Youre joking
Matthews: I am just calling because I promised to consult you in the event that..oh could you just hang on john..
Lang: Eh?
Matthews: Well thanks for taking my call John. See you.

Beeepp.

In all seriousness, I doubt whether Lang could have made any representations effective enough to have himself re-appointed and the club has to put what it considers to be its own interests first and foremost.
Coaches are not self-employed, there is a limit to their mighty powers.

If Lang was the reserve coach failing an Elliot signing, as unpleasant as it was, maybe the club did the right thing by its members and fans as difficult and uncomfortable a course of action that it was.

If he was at Souths, he would have been sacked, paid out and then promoted!

 

[110kgpantherpower]

Your right dave however lang i think would have been happy to step aside yes it costs him a 1st grade coaching position and some income however i beleive john would have been happy to do what was best for the club in as quite as possible way.

I dont think john wanted a fuss made over the decision and well it was done quickly but smoothly so now we just see if it was the right move.