Read the article below and answer the question:
"If Manly lose all sponsorship how will it be replaced, given the reason Penn first made an issue of this is Delmege could not afford a $200,000 back payment?"
WHAT must Manly's players be thinking? Just when they have won a few games and fans are feeling good about their football team, another off-field stoush threatens to drag everyone back down.
Manly is a club in revolt - and there are no attempts to hide it any longer.
And it is likely to cost them $5million if the fractured board sacks chief executive Grant Mayer at what will be a spiteful board meeting this week.
Major stakeholders and jersey sponsor Penn Sports yesterday told The Sunday Telegraph they would review their deal with the club if Mayer was axed by a faction led by Max Delmege.
And major sponsor Quantum Energy Technologies last night joined jumper sponsor Mack Trucks in claiming they, too, would consider withdrawing their money if Mayer goes.
Quantum's deal is worth $800,000 a season, Penn's sponsorship contract is valued at $250,000 a year - not including the money they inject as co-owners - while Mack Trucks tip in $300,000 a season.
Staff have also threatened to strike if Mayer leaves. It's hard to believe this club won last year's premiership and head to the Gold Coast today after back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Mayer last night said he would not be pushed out and vowed to fulfil his contract, which runs until October 31.
In a dramatic day for Manly, it can be revealed:
Mayer was told to compile a comprehensive business plan six weeks ago but was informed he was unwanted six hours before he was due to present the paper at a May 14 board meeting;
Manly's board voted 5-2, led by the Delmege faction, to play two games at Gosford in 2010 and 2011, despite Mayer and the Penn family recommending all matches remain at Brookvale;
Mayer and officials Peter Peters (media manager) and Wayne Honeywood (financial controller) worked three months without pay in 2007 while the club stabilised its financial position.
Club chairman Scott Penn, whose company has given Manly $2.5million, was adamant Mayer's contract must be extended or the club's financial position could be parlous.
"We would have to review our future funding (if Mayer is dumped),'' Penn said.
"Grant was asked to present a three-year plan to ensure Manly's on-going success and he did a brilliant job. Those wanting him out have no alternate plan. Grant Mayer is the best in the business and the other stakeholders have not given one tangible reason why he should be let go. It is very difficult working in these circumstances. It is entirely political. On what grounds do they want him out?''
Quantum Energy managing director Phil Sidney was also shocked to hear about Mayer's likely demise. "We don't want to be at an unstable club. We have no political agenda, we just want stability and we certainly don't want any boardroom disputes,'' Sidney said.
"Grant and Des (Hasler, coach) have kept Manly afloat. If Grant goes, we would look at our sponsorship deal. Grant has a good business mind and we negotiated with him. He was one of the reasons we chose Manly. We haven't seen any brief or reason why Grant should do. I'm surprised there is talk about his job.''
A smaller sponsor, Reilly and Sons Food Services, were also deeply concerned.
Steve Reilly said: "It's got to stop otherwise the club will end up like Cronulla. It's a joke. The officials can't keep looking over their shoulders every day.''
Penn and Delmege have two votes each on the board, while the remaining three directors - Phil Dean, Kerry Sibraa and Peter Bryant - hold the balance of power despite injecting little or no money.
Manly Leagues Club chairman and football club president Bob Reilly has the support of Dean, Sibraa and Bryant and allegedly wants Mayer out.
The five directors think Mayer will quit this week - a date for a board meeting has not been set - but he will refuse as Manly's boardroom dramas continue to flame.
"The board want me to go and I was told as late as last week by Max Delmege that it is nothing personal, but I am a political casualty and nothing would save me,'' Mayer said.
"But I've got a wonderful staff and they have made it clear they don't want me to leave unfinished business.
"If they are willing to put their hands up and support me then I can't walk away. Scott Penn has been a rock with me in difficult times and he's urged me to continue. So I am staying until they can legally push me out the door.''
