Read Dean Ritchie in D/T: more sense than some comments on this web site..
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/4a6cf33d21e937a2d4e71be3dfa25c41
Penrith boss slams Wayne Bennett link, critics as pressure mounts
DEAN RITCHIE, EXCLUSIVE, The Daily Telegraph
Penrith chairman Dave O’Neill has made the extraordinary claim that the Panthers board took just two seconds to reject signing veteran coach Wayne Bennett.
The revelation came as O’Neill threw his considerable support behind under-pressure coach Ivan Cleary, stating: “I believe in what he is doing.”
When asked by The Daily Telegraph whether Penrith officially sought Bennett, an agitated O’Neill said: “It’s a whole heap of bullshit.”
O’Neill also took aim at his club’s critics.
“Where were they 20 years ago when the place was broke and $100 million in debt and couldn’t afford the bills?’’ he said.
“No one cared but you lose a few football games and everybody wants to cut the head off a snake. I don’t get it.”
In an explosive interview, O’Neill declared:
● Penrith never wanted Bennett;
● Cleary would front the board on May 29, where he is expected to be grilled over his team’s performances;
● The board was “filthy” at the season’s results yet remained staunchly behind the players;
● Former coach Anthony Griffin was sacked entirely on the recommendation of former general manager of football Phil Gould;
● Suggestions Ivan Cleary was signed to entice son Nathan into remaining at the club were “bullshit”; and
● An eight-man retention and recruitment committee had been implemented to prevent a Gould-like situation where one powerbroker made all decisions.
James Maloney and the Panthers crashed to another disappointing loss at the weekend. Picture: Getty Images
BENNETT LINK
O’Neill was irate at talk the Panthers had formally approached Bennett.
“There was never, ever a deal to the board or senior management regarding Wayne Bennett coming to this club,” he said. “It was a throwaway line from Phil Gould in a conversation with the executive that he could possibly get Wayne Bennett here for a couple of years. That was it.
“It was never, ever put to the board, never, ever put to senior management regarding a time frame, a dollar figure, absolutely nothing. I never saw a piece of paper with a deal on it.
“I took it to the board when we were discussing Ivan Cleary and we talked about a back-up plan. I told them Gus had a throwaway line about getting Bennett and the board took about two seconds to say ‘no way in the world, not interested’.
Penrith never wanted Wayne Bennett, according to Dave O’Neill. Picture: AAP
“Our back-up plan if Ivan couldn’t get a release — which we weren’t quite sure about at the time — was Cameron Ciraldo. That’s 100 per cent. I’ve got a lot of respect for Gus but the whole rubbish about Wayne Bennett having a deal at Panthers is a load of crap.
“The board gets dirty when we hear we could have had Bennett over Ivan. It’s a whole heap of bullshit.
“Whether they like me or not, I don’t care. Everything we are doing here is in the best interests of this club.”
CLEARY THE AIR
O’Neill also hit out at talk Ivan was signed to ensure Nathan, the NSW Origin halfback, remained.
“We never bought Ivan here to keep Nathan Cleary,” O’Neill said.
“Nathan was totally in Gus’s hands. It was never, ever mentioned in any conversation with Ivan.
“Nathan was done well and truly before Ivan. I will put my hand on my heart — never once when I spoke to Ivan Cleary was anything mentioned about Nathan staying. There is no way in the world we targeted Ivan to keep his son.
“Everyone on the board are business people who make decisions without emotion. We never made a decision to hire a coach to keep his son. That’s a load of bullshit, garbage. There are certain people that don’t want Ivan to succeed, too.
The Panthers have backed under-pressure coach Ivan Cleary. Picture: Richard Dobson
“We went through every coach — and Gus was involved, don’t worry about Gus — in Super League, every coach that wasn’t employed, every coach that was employed. We might not have got Ivan.
“I asked Ivan a simple question. ‘Would you consider coming back to Penrith?’ I never went there with a contract to sign. It was a simple question and it escalated from there. Once it got out it was untenable (at Wests Tigers).
“Let’s face it, the Hook (Griffin) and Gus thing was untenable. We sacked Hook on the recommendation of Gus.
“It wasn’t pleasant. He was a good family man but we just had a change of direction. It was an unsavoury time.”
TROUBLED TIMES
Wests Tigers thumped Penrith 30-4 last Friday night, conceding a point a minute for the first quarter of the match as the Panthers crumbled to a seventh loss in nine games.
Fans are complaining bitterly on social media, further angering the club.
“What the fans have to realise is, they might not be happy with us, but we are doing everything we can in the best interests of this club for long-term sustainability,” O’Neill said.
“No one is happy with how we’re playing. But we have to stick by them. That’s the roster Ivan has. He never bought one player to the club.
The Panthers were hammered by Wests Tigers on Friday night. Picture: Getty Images
“We’re not in the position we had hoped. I feel it more than anybody. It takes me three days to get over a loss. But we believe in what we are doing and we will get there.
“I appreciate what the fans are saying but we’ve just got to knuckle down, trust our systems and hope we come out the other end.
“I have 100 per cent full support of Ivan, I believe in what he is doing.
“We have reacted and put in a retention committee. Everything goes to the committee, nothing is done one-out.”
The committee includes O’Neill, Cleary, Ciraldo, Brian Fletcher, Greg Alexander, Jim Jones, Matt Cameron and the club’s chief financial officer John White.
