Why the Eels won't cut their losses with coach Steve Kearney
James Hooper
The Sunday Telegraph
March 17, 2012 11:00PM
PARRAMATTA powerbrokers will not sack coach Stephen Kearney due to a contract loophole that would force them to pay out a $450,000 golden handshake.
Despite compiling the worst strike rate of any coach in 52 years at Parramatta, new chief executive Bob Bentley has opened negotiations to sign Kearney long-term.
And under the terms of a three-year contract negotiated by previous CEO Paul Osborne, Kearney will be paid out one year's salary in full should the Eels terminate him.
The Sunday Telegraph understands Parramatta officials view this as a waste of money and are manoeuvring to extend his deal but remove the full payout clause.
"All of that is between Bob Bentley and (Kearney)," Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo said.
"That's all been ongoing since Ossie was here, but there's nothing concrete.
"At the end of the day, he has got a contract until the end of next year and I don't think that he's going anywhere, unless someone does a Des Hasler to us.
"Obviously, at this stage, he's not in a hurry to sign and we're not either."
Not since captain-coach Ron Lynch won four games out of 22 in 1970 has a Parramatta coach compiled a worse winning percentage than Kearney, who had six wins, one draw and 19 losses from 26 matches going into last night's game against North Queensland.
Aside from the spotlight on the Eels due to the marquee signings of Chris Sandow and Willie Tonga, Parramatta must also juggle an ageing roster, with senior stars Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke Burt, Ben Smith, Shane Shackleton and Justin Poore all unsigned for next year.
Bentley confirmed he intended to open extension talks with Kearney over the coming months and stressed the coach's job was safe no matter the results.
"All I've said to Steve is it's on the agenda for discussion, but we haven't actually sat down and spoken about it," Bentley said.
"We believe he's the right man to take the club to the next level and across the board we're trying to do everything that we can to achieve those results.
"I know we've lost a lot of games and people are calling for his head, but there's a lot of footy yet to be played.
"From a coach's point of view, it's more about putting the right systems and structures in place that are going to give you long-term success.
"It might not win you a grand final every year, but it certainly should have you among the top four or the top eight each year."
Bentley said that senior players and one-club servants Hindmarsh and Burt will be given the latitude to make a call on their futures.
"We haven't yet sat down and discussed their futures, but it would be nice for them to come and sit down with us and make their own decisions," Bentley said.
"We owe it to them to let them tell us when they feel it's time to either end their careers or go around again."
The alarm bells sounded last week for 245-game Eels veteran Burt, who was axed to Wentworthville before being recalled for last night's match against the Cowboys.
