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Penrith coach John Lang says he is disappointed the Panthers broke a "pact" in signing a new coach behind his back but vows the move won't destabilise the NRL club's premiership campaign.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Dumped-Panthers-coach-Lang-disappointed/2006/02/20/1140284001027.html
Dumped Panthers coach Lang disappointed
February 20, 2006 - 7:05PM
Penrith coach John Lang says he is disappointed the Panthers broke a "pact" in signing a new coach behind his back but vows the move won't destabilise the NRL club's premiership campaign.
Canberra coach Matthew Elliott signed a three-year deal with Penrith late last week after accepting a last-minute approach from Panthers CEO Glenn Matthews.
Matthews had promised to consult Lang, who is off contract after this season, before approaching rival coaches, but went back on his word by signing Elliott after Newcastle's interest in him had cooled.
Lang said he would have no problem working alongside Matthews this season but admitted he was "disappointed" by the betrayal.
"I've had an extremely good relationship with Glenn, I've held him in very high regard and that's why I was so disappointed he didn't keep up our little pact," Lang said.
"We'll get on fine. I'm disappointed in him, I told him that, but that's life. Nobody's perfect.
"In the end it's his decision and that's the bottom line. I'm not going to ask him why he thought that or whatever, it's irrelevant.
"He's the CEO and that's his role.
"I've got no dramas. I get paid very well to do this job and if they decide they want to pay somebody else, that's their call."
Matthews, who paid tribute to the tremendous work done by Lang at the Panthers, said his only regret was conducting the negotiations behind his back.
"I certainly promised John I would talk to him first, but things just happened so quickly," he said.
Lang, who took the Panthers to their second premiership in 2003, refused to concede his career was over but ruled out applying for the vacant Newcastle or Canberra roles for next year.
"I'll just see what happens from there, I won't be seeking jobs," Lang said.
"I've been in this game for 13 years and I'm sure if anyone is interested they can get a hold of my number.
"If somebody is interested you talk to them, that's why I came down (from the Sharks) and spoke to Roger (Cowan) about this job.
"I've got to like them, they've got to like me and if they do you can come to an agreement and away you go.
"People make it complicated, I think it's really simple."
"I like to give fate a bit of a nudge when I can," he added.
Asked if he still had more to offer as a coach, he replied: "I'd like to think so.
"You should get better every year if you don't lose your drive and before senility sets in.
"I'll coach while somebody will give me a job and while I still have the drive and enjoyment of it."
While some of his players were "a bit stunned" when he broke the news to them on Sunday in Alice Springs, Lang said he wasn't surprised by the decision.
"Nup, I wasn't shocked," he said.
"Where there's smoke there's fire. I've had a few blokes ringing me up and asking me about my job and I hadn't heard anything from the club, so I wasn't shocked.
"I'm just going to do the best job I can here and I think we can have a very good season."
The veteran mentor said he had no hard feelings towards Elliott.
"I hope Matt retains his job to keep him out of my hair a bit longer," he joked.
"I have absolutely no ill feelings toward Matthew Elliott, he's a career coach.
"He's been offered a job and he's accepted it, I've got no dramas at all."
© 2006 AAP
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Dumped-Panthers-coach-Lang-disappointed/2006/02/20/1140284001027.html
Dumped Panthers coach Lang disappointed
February 20, 2006 - 7:05PM
Penrith coach John Lang says he is disappointed the Panthers broke a "pact" in signing a new coach behind his back but vows the move won't destabilise the NRL club's premiership campaign.
Canberra coach Matthew Elliott signed a three-year deal with Penrith late last week after accepting a last-minute approach from Panthers CEO Glenn Matthews.
Matthews had promised to consult Lang, who is off contract after this season, before approaching rival coaches, but went back on his word by signing Elliott after Newcastle's interest in him had cooled.
Lang said he would have no problem working alongside Matthews this season but admitted he was "disappointed" by the betrayal.
"I've had an extremely good relationship with Glenn, I've held him in very high regard and that's why I was so disappointed he didn't keep up our little pact," Lang said.
"We'll get on fine. I'm disappointed in him, I told him that, but that's life. Nobody's perfect.
"In the end it's his decision and that's the bottom line. I'm not going to ask him why he thought that or whatever, it's irrelevant.
"He's the CEO and that's his role.
"I've got no dramas. I get paid very well to do this job and if they decide they want to pay somebody else, that's their call."
Matthews, who paid tribute to the tremendous work done by Lang at the Panthers, said his only regret was conducting the negotiations behind his back.
"I certainly promised John I would talk to him first, but things just happened so quickly," he said.
Lang, who took the Panthers to their second premiership in 2003, refused to concede his career was over but ruled out applying for the vacant Newcastle or Canberra roles for next year.
"I'll just see what happens from there, I won't be seeking jobs," Lang said.
"I've been in this game for 13 years and I'm sure if anyone is interested they can get a hold of my number.
"If somebody is interested you talk to them, that's why I came down (from the Sharks) and spoke to Roger (Cowan) about this job.
"I've got to like them, they've got to like me and if they do you can come to an agreement and away you go.
"People make it complicated, I think it's really simple."
"I like to give fate a bit of a nudge when I can," he added.
Asked if he still had more to offer as a coach, he replied: "I'd like to think so.
"You should get better every year if you don't lose your drive and before senility sets in.
"I'll coach while somebody will give me a job and while I still have the drive and enjoyment of it."
While some of his players were "a bit stunned" when he broke the news to them on Sunday in Alice Springs, Lang said he wasn't surprised by the decision.
"Nup, I wasn't shocked," he said.
"Where there's smoke there's fire. I've had a few blokes ringing me up and asking me about my job and I hadn't heard anything from the club, so I wasn't shocked.
"I'm just going to do the best job I can here and I think we can have a very good season."
The veteran mentor said he had no hard feelings towards Elliott.
"I hope Matt retains his job to keep him out of my hair a bit longer," he joked.
"I have absolutely no ill feelings toward Matthew Elliott, he's a career coach.
"He's been offered a job and he's accepted it, I've got no dramas at all."
© 2006 AAP
