Taylor joins race for top Manly job

JASON Taylor has emerged as a bolter to take over from Trent Barrett as Manly coach.

Manly chief executive Lyall Gorman confirmed yesterday that a new coach, as well as a full reform of the football club structure, would be in place when pre-season training begins on November 5.

It leaves the club little time to make some huge decisions, while also struggling to reach a legal resolution with Barrett.

Barrett’s current assistant John Cartwright remains favourite to claim the top job following Michael Maguire’s withdrawal because of similar concerns to Barrett – relating to the club’s lack of resources.

Gorman would not comment on which coaches were in the running when contacted yesterday, although he said more than two contenders were alive in the race.

Former Gold Coast Titans mentor Neil Henry is the other one with proven head coaching experience whose name is being tossed up.

Henry was the Dally M coach of the year at Canberra and instrumental in putting together the premiership-winning roster at North Queensland.

Taylor is believed to have put up his hand after previous head coaching stints at Parramatta, South Sydney and Wests Tigers, where he had an overall success rate of 43.6 per cent in 140 games.

Taylor was the attack coach for premiers Sydney Roosters this year.

Meanwhile, Parramatta yesterday vowed to stick solid with coach Brad Arthur despite the Eels’ disastrous year.