Hasler was controversially stood down by Manly's board on Wednesday over a series of alleged “serious breaches” of contract.
Hasler is accused of enticing staff to Canterbury while under contract to Manly.
Hasler denied the allegations, however the Manly board claim to have evidence to the contrary and after meeting on Friday terminated his contract
“We believed he has been actively involved in taking staff to the Bulldogs,” Manly chairman Scott Penn said.
Hasler, 50, was contracted to the Sea Eagles for 2012.
However with the announcement he will join Canterbury in 2013 and defection of key staff members the Sea Eagles board has opted to oust Hasler for assistant coach Geoff Toovey.
Toovey said he did not expect his relationship with Hasler to be tarnished as a result of the incident.
Toovey, who spent five years as an assistant under Hasler, will take the reins as head coach 12 months sooner than expect having been named as Hasler’s successor for 2013.
“From a playing group perspective they are very comfortable with Geoff,” Penn said.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done but it should be a seamless transition.”
Hasler has an “anti-poaching clause” in his contract that covers all staff and players however having been officially released Hasler is free to join the Bulldogs.
Hasler is expected to join the Bulldogs next week where Jim Dymock will revert to being Hasler’s assistant despite being named coach for 2012.
Hasler enlisted the services solicitor Danny Eid when he was initially stood down and may follow through with legal action against the Sea Eagles.
“We hope not but it’s his decision,” Penn said of the possibility of further action taken by Hasler.
Penn confirmed that the Manly board contacted Canterbury to seek whether the club had any interest in moving Hasler to Belmore a year earlier than expected.
“We did speak to the Bulldogs just to see if there was an appetite there,” Penn said.
“It was reported we offered him to them but that wasn’t the case.
“Having not spoken to Des, it was not our place to offer him.”
Penn said he makes no apologies for attempting to allow Hasler to defend back-to-back premierships however when the board got wind of foul play they had no choice but to act.
Hasler took control of the Sea Eagles in 2004 with his eight-year tenure coming to a bitter end ironically on Remembrance Day.
Des Hasler has issued a detailed statement addressing his shock sacking by Manly.
Des Hasler’s statement in full
I have not acted in any way improperly. Despite three requests being made to the Chairman of the Board of Directors since I was stood down on Wednesday of this week, I have still not been provided with any proper particularization of what it is that I am supposed to have done.
In fact, the Board’s lawyers did not even have the courtesy to respond to my most recent correspondence. It would have been simple, had the allegations had any substance at all, to provide me with the information to which I am legally entitled.
One of the allegations contained in the Breach Notice was that I had “disparaged the Board”, yet when I met with the Chairman on 10 November, the day after the Notice had been issued, he told me that he wasn’t pressing that.
The fact that the Chairman, and the Board, have been unable to provide me with the information to which I am entitled, along with the fact that one of the allegations which was made was withdrawn by the Chairman less than 24 hours later, provide the clearest possible indication that the allegations made against me are without any foundation whatsoever.
It would have been a very simple exercise to tell me how it is that I am supposed to have acted improperly.
I first approached the Board of Directors about my contract in late 2010. At that time I was contracted to the Club until the end of season 2011 but with an option for season 2012.
However, I proposed that I be provided with a new contract to allow me to remain at the Club until at least the end of season 2014 but the Board of Directors flatly rejected my proposal and expressed a desire to wait pending the team’s performance in season 2011.
Earlier this season, in about April, I was approached by the Board to discuss my contract. However, by June this year I had no firm offer from the Club and in these circumstances I exercised the option to allow me to remain at the Club for season 2012.
The negotiations continued in the course of which I continually expressed a desire to remain at the Club beyond season 2012. Quite apart from my own personal desire, it was obviously important to have stability at the Club so as to attract prospective signings and to re-sign players.
Players want to know who is going to coach them. I was told by the Club that my salary for 2012 would not be substantially increased over and above what I was paid for season 2011 and no agreement which was acceptable to me could be reached in relation to my salary for 2013 and 2014.
I then approached the Chairman of the Club and in view of the Club’s inability to provide a satisfactory offer for seasons 2013 and 2014, I sought a release from the exercise of my option for season 2012.
The Chairman informed me that no release would be granted and that if necessary, the Club would litigate the matter.
It was in these circumstances that I negotiated with the Bulldogs to become the Head Coach for seasons 2013, 2014 and beyond.
I have known Ken (Arthurson) for a long time but I don’t think that it is at all helpful to comment upon what he and others have said. I know in my own mind that I have not acted improperly.
Ken and the other Manly greats who have commented are obviously not directly involved and not aware of the facts. Whether they choose to accept what I say or not is a matter for them.
The Manly Board have unlawfully terminated my contract and I will be seeking further legal advice regarding my remedies in relation to that unlawful conduct.
As for my immediate future, I will be speaking with Todd Greenberg over the next few days. I am obviously looking forward to coaching at the Bulldogs.
I wish to thank the players and staff at Manly who have shown me great loyalty and support, particularly over the last several weeks. I wish them the best.
Because of the possibility of litigation in the immediate future, I will not be making any further comment.
FACTBOX ON OUTGOING MANLY SEA EAGLES COACH DES HASLER AND INCOMING COACH GEOFF TOOVEY
DES HASLER
Playing Career
Position(s): Halfback, Hooker, Five-eighth
Clubs: Penrith, Manly-Warringah, Hull, Western Suburbs
First grade appearances: 287
Premierships: 2 (Manly 1987, 1996)
Representative appearances:
NSW: 13
Australia: 12
Coaching Career
Manly 2004-2011
Record: 130-90-0 59.1%
NSW (assistant) 2003
Achievements
* Coached Manly to NRL premierships in 2008 and 2011
* Coached Manly to World Cup Challenge title in 2009
* Coached Manly to 7 NRL finals series (2005-2011) in 8 years as head coach
GEOFF TOOVEY
Playing Career
Position(s): Halfback, Hooker
Clubs: Manly-Warringah, Northern Eagles
First grade appearances: 286
Premierships: 1 (Manly, 1996)
Representative appearances:
NSW: 16
Australia: 13
Coaching Career
Manly (assistant) 2004-2011
Subscribe in a reader
No comments:
Post a Comment