JUST four days out from the club's opening semi-final, Manly is in chaos after their controversial decision to oust veteran official Peter Peters.
The drama keeps mounting at Brookvale before Saturday night's semi-final against the North Queensland Cowboys with:
•* A well-known Sydney company poised to withdraw its annual $200,000 sleeve sponsorship;
•* Revelations Leagues Club and football club chairman Bob Reilly told Manly Sea Eagles godfather Ken Arthurson just last week Peters' job was safe - before Reilly then supported Peters' demise;
•* Talk that Peters will remain deputy chairman of Manly Leagues, somehow working alongside chairman Reilly.
•* Confirmation disgruntled club sponsorship and merchandise manager, Kieran Houlahan, responsible for more than $5 million in revenue, quit last week.
•* An admission from new chief operating officer, David Perry, who has been in charge for just over three months, accepted responsibility for pushing out Peters, a Manly man of 40 years standing.
•* News the club will shortly announce an annual loss of up to $1.4 million.
•Perry yesterday denied to the The Daily Telegraph that Peters was "stabbed in the back."
"Absolutely not," Perry said.
Then asked did he play a role in the drama, Perry said: "I played a role and I take accountability. Absolutely. Part of my mandate was to make some hard decisions. Not everyone is going to be happy with them."
Reilly was refusing to return calls where he could explain to irate Manly fans his conversation with Arthurson and then his backflip to support Peters' redundancy. Arthurson was unavailable yesterday.
But the drama is set to continue with AAA Radiator Specialists - Manly's sleeve sponsor - poised to pull out their cash injection.
"They shouldn't have done this to Zorba," said AAA Radiator Specialists owner Tony Nahabedian. "You don't do this to a loyal person of 40 years. It is very disappointing. We are considering dropping out.
"We're looking at our options."
The club's three owners will soon be forced to dig deep again to overcome a $1.4 million loss for the year.
On the field, there are also rumblings. It is known the Stewart brothers, Brett and Glenn, are angry with the decision. The pair, and their father Barry, are particularly close to Peters.
One Manly player said yesterday: "The playing group is shattered. Zorba is a huge part of this club. He is always there for us with advice. The place won't be the same without him."
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler added: "Like most sports, timing is everything, it was impeccable wasn't it? He (Peters) has been here a long time but the chief executive has given his views and the board's views ... no more questions on that.
"Let's talk footy."
Houlahan walked after being refused financial assistance to promote the club's brand. Houlahan was respected among the club's sponsors after 10 years in the position.
Manly Immortal Bob Fulton added last night: "Twenty four hours on and the faceless people responsible for the decision that was thrust on David Perry are still in hiding."
Perry said the club - or "business" as he calls it - needs to be more financially viable.
But one Manly source said: "If the club needs more money, why the hell would you sack the poor old media manager. It's just as excuse."
Manly fans will blame this eruption on the club's board should the Sea Eagles crash out of this year's finals. Peters was not commenting yesterday.
The drama keeps mounting at Brookvale before Saturday night's semi-final against the North Queensland Cowboys with:
•* A well-known Sydney company poised to withdraw its annual $200,000 sleeve sponsorship;
•* Revelations Leagues Club and football club chairman Bob Reilly told Manly Sea Eagles godfather Ken Arthurson just last week Peters' job was safe - before Reilly then supported Peters' demise;
•* Talk that Peters will remain deputy chairman of Manly Leagues, somehow working alongside chairman Reilly.
•* Confirmation disgruntled club sponsorship and merchandise manager, Kieran Houlahan, responsible for more than $5 million in revenue, quit last week.
•* An admission from new chief operating officer, David Perry, who has been in charge for just over three months, accepted responsibility for pushing out Peters, a Manly man of 40 years standing.
•* News the club will shortly announce an annual loss of up to $1.4 million.
•Perry yesterday denied to the The Daily Telegraph that Peters was "stabbed in the back."
"Absolutely not," Perry said.
Then asked did he play a role in the drama, Perry said: "I played a role and I take accountability. Absolutely. Part of my mandate was to make some hard decisions. Not everyone is going to be happy with them."
Reilly was refusing to return calls where he could explain to irate Manly fans his conversation with Arthurson and then his backflip to support Peters' redundancy. Arthurson was unavailable yesterday.
But the drama is set to continue with AAA Radiator Specialists - Manly's sleeve sponsor - poised to pull out their cash injection.
"They shouldn't have done this to Zorba," said AAA Radiator Specialists owner Tony Nahabedian. "You don't do this to a loyal person of 40 years. It is very disappointing. We are considering dropping out.
"We're looking at our options."
The club's three owners will soon be forced to dig deep again to overcome a $1.4 million loss for the year.
On the field, there are also rumblings. It is known the Stewart brothers, Brett and Glenn, are angry with the decision. The pair, and their father Barry, are particularly close to Peters.
One Manly player said yesterday: "The playing group is shattered. Zorba is a huge part of this club. He is always there for us with advice. The place won't be the same without him."
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler added: "Like most sports, timing is everything, it was impeccable wasn't it? He (Peters) has been here a long time but the chief executive has given his views and the board's views ... no more questions on that.
"Let's talk footy."
Houlahan walked after being refused financial assistance to promote the club's brand. Houlahan was respected among the club's sponsors after 10 years in the position.
Manly Immortal Bob Fulton added last night: "Twenty four hours on and the faceless people responsible for the decision that was thrust on David Perry are still in hiding."
Perry said the club - or "business" as he calls it - needs to be more financially viable.
But one Manly source said: "If the club needs more money, why the hell would you sack the poor old media manager. It's just as excuse."
Manly fans will blame this eruption on the club's board should the Sea Eagles crash out of this year's finals. Peters was not commenting yesterday.
