In demand: ormer Origin and premiership-winning coach Phil Gould. Picture: Adam Head Source: The Daily Telegraph
PENRITH powerbrokers have hatched a plan to install Phil Gould as a coaching director next season.
The Sunday Telegraph has learned that the Panthers have discussed the move with Gould, who has been acting as a senior counsel for chairman Don Feltis since before the sacking of Matthew Elliott.
And the Panthers may be ready to announce their new coaching structure within the next 48 hours, with a strong push for current assistant Steve Georgallis to be made head coach with Gould as coaching director.
Gould and Feltis share a 20-year association, dating back to 1991 when Penrith won the premiership with the pair as coach and chief executive.
Initially, Feltis sought Gould's advice on how best to repair an organisation widely regarded as the NRL's sleeping giant.
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But after Tim Sheens rejected a $2.5 million four-year offer to return to Penrith, the Panthers want Gould.
Georgallis, Steve Folkes, Ricky Stuart, Terry Matterson and Mick Potter are all under consideration as head coach.
But Gould is the top target as coaching director, with the new head coach to report directly to him.
Gould met with Panthers powerbrokers in Penrith as recently as last Thursday as part of his continued role as an unpaid advisor.
Panthers chief executive Michael Leary was tight-lipped last night.
"There's a lot of people that have applied for the job but we're keeping everything confidential at this point in time," Leary said.
"I'm not going to mention any names because I can't at the moment.
"I'm hopefully going to get through this list quickly and get to the naming of a coach next week.
"For the benefit of our players and players who are off contract, we want to outline the direction of the club."
Pressed on Gould, Leary said: "I'm not going to comment."
Penrith are desperately seeking an experienced coach with a proven track record who can completely overhaul and revamp the club's greatest strength - its 8000-strong junior nursery.
With strong ties to current board member Greg Alexander and fellow Channel Nine identity Mark Geyer - both coached by Gould in the 1991 premiership side - the Panthers may succeed where other clubs have failed.
North Queensland attempted to entice Gould into a coaching director's role last season and St George Illawarra approached him in March. Both missed their man.
Any deal for Gould to return to Penrith would be contingent on him being able to balance his Channel Nine and other media commitments.
The latest twist in the Panthers' search for a coach comes after The Sunday Telegraph revealed seven days ago that a group of former Penrith players were considering running a rival boardroom ticket to challenge for control of the club.
Frustrated at the lack of results since winning the 2003 title, the ex-players intend to wage war against the current board at the November elections if they fail to deliver what they deem to be the infrastructure needed to stop the rot.
Snaring Gould would be viewed as a major coup for the current board.
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