Former grand-final coach Brian Smith has recommended Wests Tigers employ a head of football as pressure mounts on Mick Potter to keep his job.
Potter has two games to show he has the support of the playing group before the joint-venture's board meets on July 31 to discuss the coaching situation.
Smith spent five weeks at the club recently to review the Tigers' football operations from a grassroots level upwards, but he was not engaged to examine Potter’s credentials. However, the underlying feedback to Smith from various people within the Tigers was a lack of communication from the NRL coach.
Smith – who was coach while Potter captained St George to a 1993 grand-final loss – has not made any recommendations about Potter’s future. Just six weeks ago, Potter was close to receiving a two-year contract extension but the club’s performances have fallen away in recent weeks, and any extension now is unlikely as relations between the coach and senior players sour. Fairfax Media understands that poor communication between Potter and the players has resulted in growing discontent among the players.
It is understood Tigers boss Grant Mayer will meet with the playing group on Friday in a bid to clear the air about any misgivings the players have about Potter.
There is a concerted push from the players for assistant coach Todd Payten to be promoted to the head role from next year. Like Potter, Payten is off-contract at the end of this year, while fellow assistant David Kidwell is contracted until the end of next year. Payten and Kidwell were added to the NRL staff this season.
Had Potter made the top eight last year he would have been given an automatic contract extension and pay rise, but that deal lapsed when the Tigers struggled, winning just seven games to finish second last on the premiership ladder in his first year as coach of the club. However, a top-eight finish this year could still save Potter.
Mayer said the Tigers had sought “independent input” surrounding the club’s coaching position.
“Running concurrent to the push to the finals is the board’s decision on our coaching structure and head coach for 2015,” Mayer wrote to Tigers’ members on Thursday. “We’ve had independent input to this process and a number of players and staff have been consulted.
“The results of this review have highlighted many areas to address and we will do so privately and without public comment. These decisions will not be rushed and will be made with the best interests of Wests Tigers in mind.
“We understand that people want to know what is happening at the club but please know that delicate and important decisions like this should not be influenced by any external sources.”
The Tigers – who host the in-form Bulldogs on Sunday – have a growing injury ward and James Tedesco, Braith Anasta, Liam Fulton, David Nofoaluma are all sidelined.
Potter joins Gold Coast Titans mentor John Cartwright, who also faces an uncertain future, while St George Illawarra and Newcastle continue their search for a coach.
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