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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...or-tearing-club-to-pieces-20111109-1n7og.html
Irate Sea Eagles legends lash out at Hasler for 'tearing club to pieces'
DES HASLER attended the grand final winners' media conference after his team's victory over the New Zealand Warriors and stated: ''I am at Manly for next season.''
He was careful with his words - in a matter of days he would announce to the players he was signing with the Bulldogs for 2013.
Since that announcement the cracks that were appearing have led to the deep canyon which greets the club this morning.
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Hasler appears to have lost many friends at Manly.
One of them is Ken Arthurson, the godfather of the club, who yesterday said he had lost all respect for the coach, not for moving to Belmore but for shattering the Sea Eagles.
He accused Hasler of breaking his promise that he would not do so.
''It's one thing to leave the club and go somewhere else - I don't object to that. But to decimate the place that you're leaving, to tear it to pieces, that's another thing,'' the long-time Manly official said.
''The thing that disappoints me the most is that Des gave me an assurance that he wouldn't do that. But he's broken his word and I'm terribly disappointed with that.
''He's always held my respect, but that's diminished.
''For him to assure me he wouldn't do anything to decimate the place, or to pull it to pieces - and he's obviously done so, there's irrefutable evidence - he's just broken his word.
''I spoke to him when I learnt that he was leaving, I rang him and said: 'Des, if it was up to me I would sack you immediately because I'd be concerned that you'd try to induce players to leave the club.'
''He said: 'No, no, I wouldn't do that.' I'm enormously disappointed because I've been good friends with him for a lot of years. It's beyond the pale. Manly's done a lot for that bloke, they really have. Whatever accolades he's had, he's got from the Manly club.
''It's been bloody good to him over the years. For him to do what he's done, it's just devastated me.''
What Hasler has done is poach staff to take with him to the Bulldogs, more than a year out from what has been pencilled in as the coach's first day on the job at his new club.
Noel Cleal, the renowned recruitment manager, is said to have agreed to join the Bulldogs on the same day as Hasler. Hasler has also taken other staff with him.
Some at the club have wondered how officials allowed key players to have clauses in their contracts which enabled them to depart should Hasler decide to leave, when it was Hasler doing much of the negotiating with them. Others are less surprised by Hasler's actions, but no less critical than Arthurson.
''Everybody knows Des,'' club legend Max Krilich said.
''Des only worries about Des. He is a very mercenary person. He doesn't care about Manly; he only worries about himself.
''Des has done a fantastic job for the club. You can't get away from what he's done for the club.
''But he's one person. What always comes before him is the club. I don't think Des thinks that.''
When contacted by the Herald last night Hasler declined to comment on the story.
So who let this fester? There are many opinions, which themselves highlight the fractures at the club.
The thing no one can deny is that the sight of the Sea Eagles turning on the premiership-winning coach so soon after he helped them to grand final success is a remarkable one.
Hasler has blamed the board and there are many who say the factional infighting has led his departure, even though the money he was offered by the Bulldogs sweetened the deal.
The chairman of the leagues club, Bob Reilly, has come in for criticism in some quarters, as has the new chief operating officer, David Perry. But so has the chairman,Scott Penn, who is said to have taken ownership of the negotiations with Hasler.
Manly's board has been split for many years. The bitter fighting led to the departure of the club's saviour Max Delmege, who yesterday said he was prepared to fight his way back onto the board.
''Why are they doing this to the supporters again?'' Delmege asked, in reference to the club's internal bleeding after their 2008 triumph.
''The supporters, once again, are suffering after a grand final win.''
However, this is different to 2008. The difference is that for the first, brutal time, the infighting has filtered through to the team itself, through its coach.
After the champagne of October 2, the hangover seems to be killing the Sea Eagles.
DES HASLER attended the grand final winners' media conference after his team's victory over the New Zealand Warriors and stated: ''I am at Manly for next season.''
He was careful with his words - in a matter of days he would announce to the players he was signing with the Bulldogs for 2013.
Since that announcement the cracks that were appearing have led to the deep canyon which greets the club this morning.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Hasler appears to have lost many friends at Manly.
One of them is Ken Arthurson, the godfather of the club, who yesterday said he had lost all respect for the coach, not for moving to Belmore but for shattering the Sea Eagles.
He accused Hasler of breaking his promise that he would not do so.
''It's one thing to leave the club and go somewhere else - I don't object to that. But to decimate the place that you're leaving, to tear it to pieces, that's another thing,'' the long-time Manly official said.
''The thing that disappoints me the most is that Des gave me an assurance that he wouldn't do that. But he's broken his word and I'm terribly disappointed with that.
''He's always held my respect, but that's diminished.
''For him to assure me he wouldn't do anything to decimate the place, or to pull it to pieces - and he's obviously done so, there's irrefutable evidence - he's just broken his word.
''I spoke to him when I learnt that he was leaving, I rang him and said: 'Des, if it was up to me I would sack you immediately because I'd be concerned that you'd try to induce players to leave the club.'
''He said: 'No, no, I wouldn't do that.' I'm enormously disappointed because I've been good friends with him for a lot of years. It's beyond the pale. Manly's done a lot for that bloke, they really have. Whatever accolades he's had, he's got from the Manly club.
''It's been bloody good to him over the years. For him to do what he's done, it's just devastated me.''
What Hasler has done is poach staff to take with him to the Bulldogs, more than a year out from what has been pencilled in as the coach's first day on the job at his new club.
Noel Cleal, the renowned recruitment manager, is said to have agreed to join the Bulldogs on the same day as Hasler. Hasler has also taken other staff with him.
Some at the club have wondered how officials allowed key players to have clauses in their contracts which enabled them to depart should Hasler decide to leave, when it was Hasler doing much of the negotiating with them. Others are less surprised by Hasler's actions, but no less critical than Arthurson.
''Everybody knows Des,'' club legend Max Krilich said.
''Des only worries about Des. He is a very mercenary person. He doesn't care about Manly; he only worries about himself.
''Des has done a fantastic job for the club. You can't get away from what he's done for the club.
''But he's one person. What always comes before him is the club. I don't think Des thinks that.''
When contacted by the Herald last night Hasler declined to comment on the story.
So who let this fester? There are many opinions, which themselves highlight the fractures at the club.
The thing no one can deny is that the sight of the Sea Eagles turning on the premiership-winning coach so soon after he helped them to grand final success is a remarkable one.
Hasler has blamed the board and there are many who say the factional infighting has led his departure, even though the money he was offered by the Bulldogs sweetened the deal.
The chairman of the leagues club, Bob Reilly, has come in for criticism in some quarters, as has the new chief operating officer, David Perry. But so has the chairman,Scott Penn, who is said to have taken ownership of the negotiations with Hasler.
Manly's board has been split for many years. The bitter fighting led to the departure of the club's saviour Max Delmege, who yesterday said he was prepared to fight his way back onto the board.
''Why are they doing this to the supporters again?'' Delmege asked, in reference to the club's internal bleeding after their 2008 triumph.
''The supporters, once again, are suffering after a grand final win.''
However, this is different to 2008. The difference is that for the first, brutal time, the infighting has filtered through to the team itself, through its coach.
After the champagne of October 2, the hangover seems to be killing the Sea Eagles.
