DES Hasler's coaching position at Manly is the subject of intense speculation again with suggestions he could move to the Bulldogs before the start of next season.
Only his extremely tight relationship with the Manly Sea Eagles players has stopped Hasler from pushing for an early release.
Manly part-owner and chairman Scott Penn denies it's an issue "at this stage", but my information is that others on the Sea Eagles' board have been talking about it.
While Hasler is the ultimate professional and will give his full attention to the premiers next year, he will obviously be dealing with the Bulldogs behind the scenes on player recruitment and other planning issues.
The same as Wayne Bennett did with the Knights this year while continuing to remain in charge of St George Illawarra.
Bennett even spent an entire day in Newcastle planning for 2012 in the week leading up to the Dragons' knockout semi-final against the Broncos.
It later emerged he had been dealing with the Knights management and Rick Stone for a couple of months while his Dragons were in a form slump.
This sort of manoeuvring and strategy planning for a future employer would not be tolerated in any other business.
When a head honcho makes the decision to switch camps, it's common sense that he or she leaves immediately.
Penn told me during the week it was a situation Manly would be monitoring.
"Des is under contract to Manly for another year and at this stage he'll be our coach until the end of the season," Penn said.
Others at Manly are not so sure. The board is still fractured, with directors working in different directions over the future ownership and the coaching situation.
Those on the board opposing Penn's view on Hasler are concerned for their own positions, with hostile members still furious that the two-time premier coach wasn't signed up earlier this year.
They feel they will lose their jobs at the next football club elections if the changeover to Geoff Toovey is not a smooth one.
The Bulldogs management and senior players are aware of Manly's predicament and that their directors are wavering.
But chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out making an offer to buy out the final year of Hasler's contract.
"We're operating business as usual," Greenberg said, "but if anything was to happen from Manly's end we'd obviously be accommodating for whatever Des wants to do."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/whats-the-buzz-manly-sea-eagles-coach-des-hasler-could-switch-to-the-canterbury-bulldogs-before-the-season-starts/story-e6freye0-1226180271532
Only his extremely tight relationship with the Manly Sea Eagles players has stopped Hasler from pushing for an early release.
Manly part-owner and chairman Scott Penn denies it's an issue "at this stage", but my information is that others on the Sea Eagles' board have been talking about it.
While Hasler is the ultimate professional and will give his full attention to the premiers next year, he will obviously be dealing with the Bulldogs behind the scenes on player recruitment and other planning issues.
The same as Wayne Bennett did with the Knights this year while continuing to remain in charge of St George Illawarra.
Bennett even spent an entire day in Newcastle planning for 2012 in the week leading up to the Dragons' knockout semi-final against the Broncos.
It later emerged he had been dealing with the Knights management and Rick Stone for a couple of months while his Dragons were in a form slump.
This sort of manoeuvring and strategy planning for a future employer would not be tolerated in any other business.
When a head honcho makes the decision to switch camps, it's common sense that he or she leaves immediately.
Penn told me during the week it was a situation Manly would be monitoring.
"Des is under contract to Manly for another year and at this stage he'll be our coach until the end of the season," Penn said.
Others at Manly are not so sure. The board is still fractured, with directors working in different directions over the future ownership and the coaching situation.
Those on the board opposing Penn's view on Hasler are concerned for their own positions, with hostile members still furious that the two-time premier coach wasn't signed up earlier this year.
They feel they will lose their jobs at the next football club elections if the changeover to Geoff Toovey is not a smooth one.
The Bulldogs management and senior players are aware of Manly's predicament and that their directors are wavering.
But chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out making an offer to buy out the final year of Hasler's contract.
"We're operating business as usual," Greenberg said, "but if anything was to happen from Manly's end we'd obviously be accommodating for whatever Des wants to do."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/whats-the-buzz-manly-sea-eagles-coach-des-hasler-could-switch-to-the-canterbury-bulldogs-before-the-season-starts/story-e6freye0-1226180271532
