BLOW THE WHISTLE

Seibold set to be sacked unless he takes million dollar payout

THE Broncos will sack coach Anthony Seibold at the end of the season, unless he accepts a payout to leave immediately.

Seibold will not survive an end-of-season performance review, with his future to be taken out of his hands if the embattled coach rejects a $1 million-plus severance package to depart Red Hill in the coming days.

Seibold’s management and Broncos chairman Karl Morris are involved in high-level negotiations, which began last Friday, to end his tumultuous stay at the club, with three seasons left on his five-year deal.

Negotiations have been cordial to this point, which is to be expected, given the Broncos’ hierarchy has respect for Seibold and sympathy for the family issues and social media attacks which have made his life so stressful.

The Broncos are endeavouring for Seibold to leave honourably and have tabled a seven-figure deal for the 45year-old to agree to a termination before Friday night’s clash against the Roosters.

But if Seibold opts to reject the offer and dig his heels in, which he has every contractual right to do, it will merely be a stay of execution.

The Broncos do not tolerate bottom-four finishes and Seibold’s dismal record – 14 wins from 40 matches for a 35 per cent success rate – will give him no bargaining power if he soldiers on toward a post-season review.

Not even five consecutive wins to finish the season will alter the view of Broncos heavy-hitters, who are intent on a new coaching face to drive a revitalisation of the NRL’s richest club in 2021.

Tensions between Seibold and Broncos bosses reached the crossroads last week, when the Brisbane coach sought private assurances from the board that he would be in charge next season.

Brisbane’s executive could not give him that certainty, expediting discussions between Morris and Seibold and the club’s subsequent payout offer.

It is understood that Seibold was underwhelmed with the offer and will simply continue honouring his contract unless Broncos hierarchy raises the severance-package bar in the coming days. Brisbane chiefs believe there is no middle ground left for Seibold in the closing five weeks of the season.

He either leaves the club immediately or stays the full five-match journey, where his future will be reviewed at the end of the season, leading to his inevitable sacking.

There is no way of redeeming a winter from hell in which the Broncos have won just three of 15 games.