Arthur tells Foran to put himself first

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has told Kieran Foran to do what’s best for himself amid rumours he could turn his back on the Eels to stay with Manly.

Foran has expressed disillusionment with the club after problems arose with the $4.8-million contract he signed three months ago.

The Eels had been hoping Arthur’s close relationship with the Kiwi star would help them salvage the deal.

But Arthur says he’s told Foran to put loyalty aside.

“I have spoken to him and told him it’s not about me … he needs to do what’s best for himself,” Arthur told MMM radio on Thursday.

“I wouldn’t ask him to come to our club if I didn’t think it was the right decision for him.”

Arthur said the reasons Foran wanted to move to Parramatta hadn’t changed.

“I’m confident, without getting ahead of ourselves, that Kieran still wants to join this football team,” he said.

The Eels have lurched from crisis to crisis in recent months, including being hit with a salary cap breach and the axing of chief executive Scott Seward.

The Eels’ fifth chief executive in as many years, Steve Sharp, on Wednesday apologised to fans, saying they had fallen victim to “self-serving individuals” seeking to destabilise the club.

But Arthur said the “bleak” picture being painted was worse than reality and good results were on the way.

“We’ve got a really good, young, very coachable playing group,” he said.”

“The people at the moment who are running the club are very passionate … and trying to put the club first.”