No one driving Manly’s coach
THE confusion continued at Manly when the NRL club’s two head coaches were expected to start work yesterday – but neither showed up.
As of Sunday night, outgoing coach Trent Barrett had planned to turn up for work at the Sydney club’s Narrabeen headquarters.
He didn’t arrive for what was supposed to be his first day back from holidays.
Instead, it’s understood Barrett was in meetings with his legal representatives after further legal letters were exchanged with the club over the weekend.
Incoming coach Des Hasler heard Barrett may be at Narrabeen yesterday morning so he didn’t appear either to avoid any embarrassment.
While adamant it isn’t personal, Hasler has made it abundantly clear he does want Barrett around Manly headquarters as he serves his 12month notice, having resigned last July.
Well-placed sources claim Hasler has been strongly urging Manly CEO Lyall Gorman to fix the problem so he can get on with coaching.
Gorman wasn’t at Narrabeen yesterday either.
News Corp yesterday waited at Narrabeen in vain all morning for either Hasler or Barrett to arrive.
Several members were of Manly’s coaching staff were there – strength and conditioning trainer Don Singe, head trainer Alex Ross, physio Andre Rickenbach and media manager Wayne Cousins.
While the team isn’t due back until early next month, one player, Curtis Sironen, was at the club yesterday, completing some sprint work after ACL surgery earlier this year. But no coaches.
The doors to Manly’s football offices were closed most of the morning.
Manly co-owner Scott Penn would not comment on the issue last night.
The Sea Eagles rejected a payout request from Barrett just last week and the matter could still end up in court.
Barrett and Manly continue to circle each other for possible breaches of contract.