The Sydney Roosters are on the verge of sacking Test coach Ricky Stuart, and paying out the final year of his contract.
We can today reveal head honcho Nick Politis last week put all senior positions at the football club, including the entire coaching staff, under review.
Rumours swept football circles last week that club powerbrokers were desperately trying to convince former champion five-eighth Brad Fittler to take over Stuart's job in partnership with Channel Nine's Phil Gould.
Fittler has been reluctant to accept the role because of his friendship and respect for Stuart.
We're told he will be offered the first grade coaching job with Gould returning as director of coaching.
We contacted Stuart to ask him about the rumours yesterday but he declined to comment.
When we approached Politis yesterday, he confirmed Stuart's job is under review.
"We're running a business and not a very successful one at the moment. We're second last. Other than that, I've got no comment to make."
Another source told us: "There is definitely something happening with Brad Fittler.
"Everyone at the football club was told last week that all positions are under review."
If Politis cannot convince Fittler to take on the job, the Roosters have few alternatives. Outgoing Penrith coach Johnny Lang, who played for the Roosters in the 1980 grand final, is an option but an unlikely one.
Whatever happens, Politis has decided that missing the semi-finals for two years in a row is unacceptable and that the club is in need of a new coach and new direction.
The one thing that hasn't changed is that the man who knifed Stuart is one of Politis' closest friends, and the same cold-blooded person who callously worked behind the scenes to have the previous coach Graham Murray sacked as well.
