News 15/1: Hagan to sign with Eels?

[thanrldiva]

Newcastle Knights coach Michael Hagan is reportedly set to sign a $900,000 deal to coach Parramatta from 2007.

The club's board told Hagan on Friday that 2006 would be his last season in charge of the Knights and he has been linked with a move to the Eels since meeting with the club's officials last month.

The Sunday Telegraph has reported the deal is worth $300,000 a season.

"It is an option I'd definitely consider taking up," said Hagan.

"Parramatta are a strong club, they have a good playing roster and part of the attraction is the resources and new infrastructure that we haven't quite had at Newcastle."

"I have been offered a deal by Parramatta, but I don't want to elaborate. I'd rather concentrate on my job with the Knights."

Hagan had thought he might have two more years with the Knights and wanted to keep coaching regardless.

"There's no ill-feeling with the Knights. I'm excited about the season ahead and I will see out my term," he said.

Meanwhile, sacked Brisbane Broncos assistant coach Kevin Walters said he would be interested in coaching the Knights.

"If Newcastle are interested, I wouldn't knock them back."

"I've picked up a lot from Wayne Bennett in the 15 years I have know him and now is the time to put that to use, as well as my ideas."

"The Knights have a very exciting young team and it's a league-made town. Working with 'Joey' [Andrew Johns] is certainly an attraction," he said.

 

[jamesgould]

I wanted to stay with Joey: Hagan

I wanted to stay with Joey: Hagan

Blue day: Michael Hagan, far right, at training on Friday with some of his players. The Newcastle board had just decided the coach would part company with the Knights at the end of this season.
Photo: Simone Depeak

By James MacSmith and Andrew Webster
January 15, 2006

DUMPED Newcastle coach Michael Hagan has revealed he wanted to stay at the NRL club for at least a further three seasons, until superstar captain Andrew Johns retires.

The Knights board told Hagan on Friday that his contract would not be renewed beyond this season.

Hagan and Johns led the Knights a premiership in 2001 and the coach is disappointed his association with the champion halfback will be cut short, as Johns has extended his contract with Newcastle until the end of 2008.

"I was looking forward to continuing to work with Andrew Johns until he ends his career, and it's disappointing that isn't going to happen now," Hagan said.

"I have worked with him for six or seven years and not a lot of people get that opportunity, so I am grateful for that. But to see him finish his career at the club would have been the preference and it's unfortunate that isn't going to be the case."

Johns has been troubled by continual problems with a knee injury that required surgery last month and doubts remain whether he will play out the next three seasons.

But Hagan said he was happy with his champion playmaker's preparation for this season. Himself a former Newcastle captain, Hagan is upset at the way the year has started.

"It was made very clear to me that I won't be working here beyond this year and now I need to consider what that means for the future," said Hagan, who took over the first grade job in 2001.

"I need to have a good look at things and talk them over with my family and decide what is best for us.

"What has happened was probably expected, so I did see it coming. But that doesn't make it any less disappointing. The board didn't give me any specific reason and it will be hard not to be here, given the club is putting some things in place that would have given a fair bit of assistance moving forward."

Speculation is rife that Hagan is set to sign with Parramatta, who have told Brian Smith he is no longer wanted after this season, a move Hagan did not rule out.

He said he hoped to have his future beyond 2006 sorted out before the start of the season.

"It is something I will discuss with my family about how we would manage a move," he said. "But there are only 15 jobs in the NRL and it would be a great opportunity to coach at a club as strong as Parramatta."

Hagan said he had spoken to his players about how to deal with the situation and would continue to do so this week. But he said he wouldn't ask them to rally around him as he prepared for his final year with the Knights, who finished with the wooden spoon last season.

"I'm not looking for anyone to do that," he said. "We've still got a pretty good group of players, we're excited about the year ahead and certainly give ourselves a chance.

"It's the last year we will have as a group. Brian Carney is only here for one year, it might be Craig Smith's last year, and there are a number of players who have decisions to make on their futures. I hope what has happened doesn't have an impact on this season."

From: http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/i-wanted-to-stay-with-joey-hagan/2006/01/14/1137119006227.html

Axed coach's $900K windfall
By Peter Badel
January 15, 2006

MICHAEL Hagan is a fortnight away from agreeing to a $900,000 deal to succeed Brian Smith as Parramatta coach in 2007.

Hagan all but confirmed he would take up the Parramatta job as Broncos legend Kevin Walters declared his interest in launching his NRL coaching career at the Knights - the club Hagan is leaving.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that after months of interest in Hagan, the Eels intensified their pursuit by tabling a three-year deal before Christmas.

The deal, which is understood to be worth $300,000 a season, came in the wake of talks between Hagan and Eels supremo Denis Fitzgerald.

And Hagan yesterday gave the strongest indication he would accept the Parramatta job after being informed by Newcastle management on Friday that this season would be his last in charge of the Knights.

"It (the Parramatta job) is an option I'd definitely consider taking up," Hagan said. "Parramatta are a strong club, they have a good playing roster and part of the attraction is the resources and new infrastructure that we haven't quite had at Newcastle.

"I have been offered a deal by Parramatta, but I don't want to elaborate. I'd rather concentrate on my job with the Knights."

Parramatta chairman Alan Overton last night refused to comment on the prospect of the club striking a deal with Hagan.

But Newcastle's decision to sever ties is sure to accelerate talks and Hagan's appointment at Parramatta is expected in the next fortnight. Hagan, who delivered the Knights a premiership in his maiden year as coach in 2001, said he had no plans to stop coaching.

"My initial thought was to continue in my role here for a couple more years, but that is not happening now and there are only so many coaching jobs available," Hagan said. "There's no ill-feeling with the Knights. I'm excited about the season ahead and I will see out my term."
With the Hagan issue resolved, the Knights will begin the search for his successor.

In dire financial straits just eight months ago, Newcastle is now cashed-up following a recent $4 million sponsorship deal involving advertising tycoon John Singleton and will not baulk at paying top-dollar for their new coach.

Walters, dumped as Wayne Bennett's assistant at the Broncos in September, last night said he would relish an opportunity at the Knights.

"If Newcastle are interested, I wouldn't knock them back," he said. "I've picked up a lot from Wayne Bennett in the 15 years I have known him and now is the time to put that to use, as well as my own ideas. The Knights have a very exciting young team and it's a league-mad town. Working with 'Joey' (Andrew Johns) is certainly an attraction."

From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17821050-23214,00.html

And last of all, news on Tony Butterfield giving up his job, and maaaybe Matthew Rodwell taking over!

Butts going out on a high note with big plans for cap
By Andrew Webster
January 15, 2006

THE identity of rugby league's next major powerbroker could be revealed this week - and he will immediately walk into a crucial negotiation period for the game's elite.

Rugby League Professionals Association board members will meet tomorrow to discuss applications for the chief executive's position, which Tony Butterfield vacates on February 1.

Butterfield will remain on the RLPA board until elections in June and will help his replacement ease into the hot seat.

With a new collective bargaining agreement to be nutted out this year - and $500 million from a new broadcast deal in the equation - the salary cap will be atop the new chief's agenda.

Butterfield says the cap should be raised from $3.3 million to $5 million. NRL boss David Gallop has said there is no way this will happen.

"This is a massive year," Butterfield said. "The challenges are unique and unprecedented.

"My replacement is obliged to take directions from the board. And while the board's core view is to build on the success of the softer HR infrastructure, the core issue is the salary cap and the funding that is available.

"It is sustainable to reach the $5 million mark for the cap. I've not heard any club come out and support that. Privately, many of them are."

Butterfield said there has been widespread interest in the chief executive's position. He has received applications from across the country, as well as from New Zealand.

He refused to name names, but revealed that several former high-profile retired players had applied.

It is understood former Queensland coach Graham Lowe and halfbacks Matthew Rodwell and Jason Ferris are among the candidates.

"They're all good applicants," Butterfield said. "It's a matter of the board deciding the pros and cons of having someone with recent rugby league experience compared to the other requirements of the business.

"We could get someone who has experience in negotiation but has no football experience. It's a difficult one and one the board won't be taking lightly."

With new revenue streams coming into the code - including on-line rights which are still to be determined - the new boss has a raft of issues to deal with, Butterfield said.

An increase in the salary cap is the RLPA's main concern, but Butterfield said setting a higher minimum wage for players outside the top 25 was something he had already discussed with Gallop.

"It would be great for players like Andrew Johns to pick up all the money," he said. "But, realistically, a full-time squad uses about 35 professionals a year. Only 25 of them are guaranteed minimum payments.

"Let's hope the young players who come up aren't playing for a Mars bar and a can of Coke.

"If they play with someone like Trent Barrett, they deserve to be treated like professionals."

Butterfield hinted that the RLPA would be seeking a longer period for the next agreement, possibly five or six years.

"It's in everyone's interests that the NRL and RLPA lock down a long-term deal," he said. "The game now has predictable income. There's potential for us to solidify our position. There's a predictable future."

Negotiations between the NRL and the RLPA need to start before April and be completed by October.

From: http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/b...g-plans-for-cap/2006/01/14/1137119005967.html