Is the Club being split by Zorba's Sacking ?

[mikail-eagle]

Just asking after reading some of the reactions of some fans and of former legends of the club.

This is the latest one
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/eagles-biggest-fan-boycotts-final-over-zorba-saga/

Eagles' biggest fan boycotts final over Zorba saga

ON Saturday there will be one notable absentee from the Sea Eagles finals clash with North Queensland - the club’s unofficial 18th man, Alex Ma.
The 18-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer, who has not missed a single Sea Eagles game for four years, has decided to boycott the match in protest at Monday’s axing of the club’s iconic media man and close friend Peter Peters.
Alex’s mum Louise said Zorba had had a massive impact on her son’s life.
“Alex was born with severe cerebral palsy and if it was not for Peter Peters’ love, support and mateship he would not be walking today,” she said.
“He would not be training daily in a gym and just about to complete his Circ3 certificate making him the first mainstream personal trainer with his degree of disability. Zorba not only changed the life of my son but also the life of my family.”
Mrs Ma said her son took the news about Peters’ sacking hard.
“Zorba rang Alex to prepare him for the news because he didn’t want him to hear it publicly,” she said. “He just said to him, “I’m a hard old bugger, I’ll get through this.”
“Alex took it badly - he started crying. “Then he said to me ‘I’ve decided not to go, Mum’.”
Mrs Ma said Alex - a much loved Manly Daily tipster - hoped his protest would send a message to those responsible.
“He felt like it was the only thing he could do for his mate,” she said. “Hopefully people will listen and realise how many people’s lives Zorba has affected.”
Alex has been one of the most touching stories in rugby league in recent years and the Sea Eagles players have adopted him as a member of the team.
His protest comes as key sponsor AAA Radiators threatened to withdraw its $200,000 year contract following the events of the past week. And it is not only Alex taking a stand against the controversial sacking of Peters.
The company’s owner, Tony Nahabedian, said the club did not need such distractions in the lead up to the finals.
Coach Des Hasler is privately furious that the club has been split down the middle as he tries to prepare his team for a tilt at the premiership in coming weeks.
Sea Eagles chief operating officer David Perry said this week Zorba would be made redundant under a corporate restructure and that the club was headed in “a different direction” to make it more financially viable.


And than there have also been the likes of Fulton, Arko & Krillich who haven't like the decision .

 

[mikail-eagle]

And heres another one;

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/n...ter-zorba-peters/story-e6frfgbo-1226130870849

Loyal Manly Sea Eagles member Jeff Collerson furious over dumped legend Peter "Zorba" Peters
By Jeff Collerson

THIS is an open letter to Manly Sea Eagles management from Jeff Collerson, a News Limited journalist since 1968 but a Sea Eagles fanatic since 1951.
"As a member of the Sea Eagles football club (membership No.1061) and of the Leagues Club for 36 years (No.13221) I am sending back my tickets and severing all ties with the club following the shameful decision to axe Peter Peters.
I began following the Sea Eagles as a six-year-old in 1951, when Ken Arthurson was halfback.
My 14-year-old brother Barry and I would trek from our home in Harbord watching our beloved Manly-Warringah play at venues like Henson Park, Pratten Park and Cumberland Oval.
We queued for hours outside the Sydney Cricket Ground to snare tickets to Manly's grand final appearances and during the mid-1950s and early 60s watched with pride as our cousins, George Hugo and Bill Denoon, played in the maroon and white.
Over the years I believe five legends, through their enthusiastic efforts on and off the field, have emerged from this club.
They are Ken "Arko" Arthurson, Bob "Bozo" Fulton, Cliffy "Napper" Lyons, Steve "Beaver" Menzies and Peter "Zorba" Peters. What right have these officials, who have no real history or affiliation with the club, to punt a Manly icon like Zorba?
I suspected there was a hidden agenda when Peters was stood down for his innocuous "you're a good sort" remark and I've been proved right. At this stage I won't be attending another Manly game, although I reserve the right to change my mind if I can sit on the Brookie hill with Zorba."

 

[zombie jesus]

Zorba and his News Ltd mates getting it out there.

 

[ceagle]

Zorba is not bigger then the club.

 

[Sea_Eagles_Rock]

I've been fairly neutral about Zorba for a long time. He copes a fair bagging on many forums at times. Sometimes fairly, other times unfairly. He does some good things and some not so good things. I've only met him a couple of times and do not have the right to a 'personal' opinion of him for what he does for those around him. Nor is it relevant to his termination.

I respect him as a former club legend and think he has served the club exceedingly well for a long time. Like any business though, a business decision has been made and he has accepted the decision and moved on. Well on the outside anyway. I hope that is truly the case and he isn't pulling strings.

I respect the clubs decision to go a new direction and hope it works out. I do not agree with the pressure being applied by other club legends. At some point everybody needs to move on. It brings in fresh ideas and a different perspective.

I heard earlier in the week Zorba would still be involved in the club at some level. I'm happy with that as a fan.

Extortion over this event will not get him re-instated. Only time and evidence the decision was the wrong one will make that happen.

Please, if you are involved in or support the club, put your support behind the team so we can give this season every chance we can to win. Despite what has happened, we can still win the title if the support is behind the team.

 

[CC_Eagle]

Zorba is not bigger then the club.

Literally, maybe.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Hope this is distracting the boys .....

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...W8_Igx&usg=AFQjCNGndK-UMB-qC7BErbczyhmbPgqr7Q


Fallout from Peters sacking widens

Manly’s decision to sack media manager Peter Peters has claimed another victim, with former player Ben Kennedy ending his association.
Kennedy has joined Manly’s greatest player, Immortal Bob Fulton, and icon Ken Arthurson in giving the Sea Eagles a spray after Peters was made redundant following his gaffe to a Sky News reporter.
‘Zorba’ Peters told journalist Megan Barnard she was “a good sort” as a group of Manly officials and Glenn Stewart left the judiciary last week.
Peters has had a 40-year association with the Sea Eagles as a grand final-winning player and official, and is close with coach Des Hasler and the current playing group.
He played 73 games for Manly and has worked as a commentator of 2GB and 2KY. Peters is also related to chairman Scott Penn.
Club management has denied that Peters’ comment was the sole reason before his departure.
Kennedy told The Daily Telegraph that Peters was the “heart and soul of Manly”, and said the fans and the sponsors “have to stand up here”.
“They must get stuck into the club and these officials and have their say,” he said.
“Some of these pen-pushers behind this are unsighted. They wear their suits and think they own the joint. They lap it up when you win but aren’t anywhere to be seen when times are tough. Do they have any idea about football?
“Not everything is about money. They have to re-think this decision.”
Fulton, a former teammate of Peters, said on Tuesday that the decision “stinks of being agenda-driven”.
“The faceless men should show some guts, put their hands up and not hide behind new chief operating officer David Perry, who has been in the job for five minutes,” he said.
“This issue isn’t needed as the team looks forward to winning another premiership. It will split the side wide open and if David Perry wants to go down this track, he will have to wear the ramifications of getting the supporters, the team and majority of sponsors offside.”
Kennedy, a former NSW and Australia forward who was named in Manly’s team of the century, said “I love Des Hasler and the boys but Manly has lost me forever”.
“One hundred per cent,” Kennedy said.
“I am absolutely heartbroken. Zorba has lived and breathed and bled for Manly over 40 years. This is an absolute disgrace.”
Peters will finish his role at Manly following the NRL grand final on October 2.

 

[Patorick]

How will Dean Ritchie and co get their Manly news now?

Think of the children...

 

[Scarves]

I love Zorba but I'm glad this has all died down too. When all is said, the aim is for our club to still continue forward and upward. The 42 points in the 2nd half is testament to the players resolve and that of the coaching staff. Zorba is a massive fan of the club and his loss is an emotional one. Let's be honest, Zorba would want the fans to stay the course, not hand in memberships and throw the toys out of the cot.

I love Manly, not only do I want to see raging success on the field, I'd like our great club to be a genuine powerhouse off it as well. Let's hope that this is the Perry plan, he's there to do a job, let's rally for our own, keep itt together, support the decisions and kick the other teams to buggery. That's the Manly way.

 

[drago brelli]

Split! You should be rejoicing that the club has finally come to its senses and sacked him. He's from another era.