The Manly board should fall on their swords

Manly is a basket case at the moment next year might be a revoling door for players going to the dogs because they have got these stupid clauses in their contracts and some members on its board will be lucky to be there when they get the boot.

Well, Scott, I'm not going to question your proof, but this is proof that Hasler claims has not been presented to him.

Isn't it ridiculous that elements of the Board wanted to impose KPIs on Hasler and were also hell-bent on reducing his perceived influence? Arguably Manly are the second worst resourced club in the competition yet under Hasler they have the competition's longest streak of appearing in finals football, two Premierships in four years and arguably more had it been a level playing field (hint Melbourne Storm). What KPIs and control could these administrators bring to the table to better that?

That arrogance finally catching up?

very well said sea eagle of brisbane

I don't feel sorry for Manly. Their supporters should show some gratitude to the NRL for allowing their basketcase club to play in the top-flight competition. Hasler made the right choice getting out of a basketcase club that has overachieved..

I cannot believe the Cowboys let Cherry-Evans go. His father was part of the Cowboys' recruitment when he was a junior. The Cowboys didn't take any notice of the father when he pointed out his son's talent. Not the first time the Cowboys have let talented juniors go down south.

Apaway Manly should have signed Des early no doubt, but Des was out of line in poaching while he was still Manly coach. Apaway, dont even think that he didnt as I know for a fact that he did as do the Board. I have proof and I am sure they have as well otherwise they would not have made the gutsy call, even if it was an easy one. I disagree about Toovey doing it tough now. I think now that Des is gone, Geoff can focus on the job at hand and things can improve. The big problem was Des still hanging around which is no longer a problem. Cant wait till the Bulldogs play the Sea Eagles.............................

Matt F Fulton did not sign him correct... but Fulton contacted him... agreed a price and when to the management and said sign this guy.. That he had signed for the Dogs was out the same night as the final ... the dogs never said no ... However you are right it was David Perry not Penn who had the issue, posted in haste... ... he should go...

Just adding to my previous posts ... Penn has totally stuffed up... and needs to go...

I'm not saying categorically that Des wasn't tapping up staff, I don't know. I'm saying that there's no evidence for this and all those Manly greats are spouting opinions. They haven't produced any evidence at all, in fact one of Krilich or Arko (I'm pretty sure it was Arko) said that he had spoken to Des and was taking him at his word that he wasn't tapping up coaches/players. They are perfectly entitled to do voice their opinions but lets not confuse opinion with fact. They may well be right but until the full story comes out I will reserve judgement on that. As tempting as it is to blindly believe everything my footy club, or people related to it, says as gospel its not always the best strategy. On your son, had you bought him a puss he may have been tigers fan, or a Geelong AFL fan! If only Sea Eagles were easier to obtain!

Even though I am a Manly supporter, I agree with you. Sadly, he thinks that he comes before the Club. Unfortunately he is utterly wrong. He even told the Board not to book in to the same Hotel as the team when we go over to the World Challenge to England. I think arrogant is a light word, the bloke is an absolute self indulgent pr*ck. I cannot imagine he would tell the same thing to the Bulldogs or any other Boards in a million years. You are dead right, the players made him look good, now he claims that it is all his achievement.

Hassler is an arrogant knob. He thinks he is god's gift to coaching and the NRL. Let's see just how great he really is when he does not have the team to make him look good anymore. I could have coached Manly to a premiership, just look at the roster they had.

MattF, I have to admit that I made a big mistake twenty years ago. I bought a dog (boxer, I think) to my son when we lived in Sydney. Now my boy is a Bulldogs supporter and has the same line as you: I always think I am right and unless he agrees with me, we always argue. (I know that I should have bought a puss, terrible mistake it was on my part). Anyway, ex ARL supremo, Ken Arthurson, ex Manly and Aussie captain Max Krilich, ex Manly owner Max Delmege getting info from friends and other reliable people that Hasler is constantly ringing staff and players about moving over to the Dogs, they all wrong. YOU are right, they are just ‘guessing’. When everyone knows in League circles that Bennett, Brian Smith and Co taking they staff with themselves when they change Clubs, there is no need ‘guessing’. It is fact. Obviously they discuss it together, it is fact. So why don’t you believe all these people with a combined League experience of 150 years (and my 30 plus too) that this is the truth. You can have the last word, the Doggies my second favourite team anyway, hope they will have a good team with Dessy.

Not exactly sacking a premiership coach, but there was a fairly recent AFL example of one not being reappointed. Hawthorn coach Allan Jeans was hospitalised during the 1988 pre-season, and stood down on medical advice. Alan Joyce (not the Qantas bloke) took the reigns as caretaker in 1988 and guided the Hawks to the premiership. But with Jeans given the medical all-clear, Jeans took over again in 1989. (and took the Hawks to another title). Joyce coached Hawthorn again in 1991 after Jeans retired and later coached the Western Bulldogs. Had Collingwood got up in this year's AFL grand final, we would now have what would have surely been a unique instance in which both the AFL and NRL premiers were not at their club the next season.

Whilst being a Dogs fan I'm not exactly impartial there's a few things missing here. DH was made manly coach in 2004. Cleal also joined in 2004. Whether DH signed/recommended him I'm not 100% sure but Fulton didn't sign Cleal. Peters was the media manager for Manly and had nothing to do with the coaching staff (you could also argue that Cleal was in recruiting, not coaching though they are closely related.) DHs assiatants were picked by him, as are any coaches assistants. The Bulldogs announced DH's signing a week after Manly won the competition. Whilst the deal was apparently agreed earlier, it was agreed to put off the announcment until after Manly had finished their season (had they have lost in week 2 or 3 it would have probably been anounced earlier.) That's pretty stock standard with these types of things. As for the apparent post-season negotiations I'm not sure if that was Hasler going to Manly for an offer (which qwould be very strange given he had already signed with the Dogs) or if it was Manly giving Des a late offer and Des saying no (which would make more sense.) I don't know how long each board member has been on the board for (I'd imagine they'd vary) but the Manly CEO David Perry was hired in May 2011 and it's well known that he and DH didn't get on. DH apparently got on very well with the previous CEO Graham Lowe. For what it's worth Penn is the part-owner and board member, not CEO. Did he really leave because he didn't get on with the powers higher up or just because of money? I don't know. The only person who really knows is DH

I saw them on Fox Sports. No evidence, just opinions and he said/he said scenarios. I notice how you blindly believe them over Hasler. Strange that..... Was it Krilich or Artho that also said that Des told them he didn't try to poach any staff? And that they had no evidence to doubt him? Hasler has said he never tried to poach staff. Cleal came out and said Des never tried to get him to sign with the Dogs and that he and Greenberg did a deal independently. Was it because he wanted to follow Des? Definately. Did Des tap him up? Maybe, maybe not. Prove it. The Bulldogs are well within their rights to chase these staff. Now that he is out of contract, so is Des. So what if he left for more money (though some reports at the time stated that he could have earned more money under Manlys upgraded offer.) Wouldn't you leave our job if you were offered substantially more money, especially if you and your boss didn't see eye to eye? If Manly were so confident that Hasler did breach his contract why did they ask the Bulldogs to pay out his contract for 2012? Could it be that they are worried that they don't have the sufficient proof and were worried they would have to pay him out? Though now that his contract is terminated he can talk to any Manly player/staff. member he likes. I didnt realise that in order to "add to the conversation" I had to blindly agree with everything you say. I will note this in future.

The whole thing is a mess and like anything of this order it was not as i see it totally one sided... I agree Manly should have signed DH earlier in the year... I do wonder what demands were being placed by both sides... That DH got a better offer signed it and left is his choice ... but no team has ever won a grand finale with hopeless management … that Manly have been so successful over recent times reflects a well-run club… It was obvious that the CEO Scott Pen & DH had issues over what went on at the club… who was right and who was wrong is not open to debate as only a few would know… But what is true is DH did not put the coaching team together… Bobby Fulton got Noel Cleal, Peter Peters had been at Manly for years.. meaning many of the appointments at Manly and many of the off field decisions made by the club were right otherwise they would not have been as successful… None of this takes away from what a great job DH did, but it is also foolish to assume it was DH and DH alone who achieved this. What does irk me is the taking everything good at Manly you can lay your hands on and drag it to the new club… that is sad… Also it would appear that DH had signed before the GF and the dogs were only too happy to come out within minutes of the GF and tell the world… So why go tho with the new contract talks when he had already signed… Scott Pen by insisting on what we will never know mid-year, and firing PP for reasons according to Pen not related to the good sort remark, got DH to the point where he said enough is enough… for that Scott Pen should struggle to keep his job… but to openly drag or attempt to drag everything that was good at Manly largely set up by the Manly club does not sit well with me… the dogs also played a strong power game that one day may come back to haunt them…

Matt F, read what Max Krilich said: 'Des is always Des, does not care about Manly, loves the money as No.1 issue in his life.' Something, along these lines. You are just arguing, not adding anything to this conversation. Des spat the dummy, simple is that. Watch what Delmege and Arthurson said on Foxtel videos. Hasler thinks himself above the Club, the success blinded him. Tried to poach players and stuff from Manly. Are you a relative of him? Do you think is that legal? What a feral act by Hasler, try to break a Club which made him famous. Dog act.

They didn't do too badly to make the 8 given Stewart and Williams missed the whole season (Stewart obviously missed almost all of '09 as well.) They were like two very handy new signings this season (though Williams missed the finals.) Foran and Cherry-Evans were quite good finds and developed quite well under Hasler and he clearly got on very well with the players. You could easily turn your line around and say "if you kake 3 GFs in 5 years, your coach must be doing something right." Manly were sitting quite nicely in the top 4 when Des wanted to renegotiate so it's hard to believe that the board were really questioning his future. I won't criticise Toovey. He hasn't even coached a game yet and could turn out quite well, but it's pretty obvious that Manly have, off-field, been off the rails since they won the competition. The board hasn't handled this situation very well. I still expect Manly to play finals, probably make top 4 and from there anyone can win the comp. Tthe board is up for re-election this season aren't they? I don't think many of them will survive. You would know more about them then I would but didn't the board look a lot different a few years ago? Haven't most of them, and the CEO, only been in for 12 months or so? I could be completely wrong there though.