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Bellamy's phone call to back rookie
The Sunday Telegraph A LONG-DISTANCE phone call to Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald from the NRL's most influential coach, Craig Bellamy, ...
Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,24551485-5003409,00.html
Bellamy's phone call to back rookie
By David Riccio
October 25, 2008 11:00pm
Eel or no Eel ... Shane Flannagan has expressed his interest in the Parramatta job. / The Sunday Telegraph
A LONG-DISTANCE phone call to Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald from the NRL's most influential coach, Craig Bellamy, has boosted Shane Flanagan's bid for the Eels' head coaching position.
As the Parramatta board strives to recover from the resignation of Michael Hagan on Tuesday, the battle has come down to Daniel Anderson and the well-credentialled Flanagan.
Flanagan expressed his interest to Fitzgerald on Wednesday.
Less than 24 hours later, Fitzgerald accepted an unknown number on his mobile phone to discover Bellamy, on a working holiday in the US, backing Flanagan.
"Craig called Denis to support Shane's qualifications,'' Flanagan's agent John Fordham said.
"Getting an acknowledgement from a coach with credentials like Craig Bellamy would have to have immense value.''
Flanagan, the current Sharks assistant coach, has worked closely with Bellamy in recent years.
The pair were assistants to Australian coach Ricky Stuart in 2007 and Flanagan acted as Bellamy's right-hand man for NSW during this year's Origin series.
"I appreciate Craig's gesture, but it's definitly not something I asked or requested him to do,'' Flanagan said.
"I'm certain the decision makers at Parramatta will look well beyond votes of confidence as such and look more at what someone can bring to the club.''
Having spent 10 years as both a player and lower-grade coach at Parramatta, Flanagan is believed to have support within the club. Several influential figures at the Eels are adamant Flanagan, a known disciplinarian, will provide the shake-up the club needs.
It's likely Flanagan will meet with Fitzgerald next week, before Anderson returns in early November to pitch his own claims.
Other candidates for the job, current Eels assistant coaches David Fairleigh and Matt Cameron, will begin picking up the pieces of a poor 2008 season when the Parramatta playing group resumes training tomorrow.
Despite receiving the blessing of Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron to apply for the position, Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney's focus on the World Cup is likely to go against him.
The Melbourne Storm assistant said he is unwilling to consider anything other than steering New Zealand's cup campaign.
Bellamy's backing of Flanagan - and not Kearney - is evidence the former Kiwi international is content to continue his career in Melbourne.
Fairleigh, Cameron, Kearney and former Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes, who registered his interest during the week, are all likely to be overlooked for either Anderson or Flanagan.
The Sunday Telegraph A LONG-DISTANCE phone call to Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald from the NRL's most influential coach, Craig Bellamy, ...
Source: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,24551485-5003409,00.html
Bellamy's phone call to back rookie
By David Riccio
October 25, 2008 11:00pm
Eel or no Eel ... Shane Flannagan has expressed his interest in the Parramatta job. / The Sunday Telegraph
A LONG-DISTANCE phone call to Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald from the NRL's most influential coach, Craig Bellamy, has boosted Shane Flanagan's bid for the Eels' head coaching position.
As the Parramatta board strives to recover from the resignation of Michael Hagan on Tuesday, the battle has come down to Daniel Anderson and the well-credentialled Flanagan.
Flanagan expressed his interest to Fitzgerald on Wednesday.
Less than 24 hours later, Fitzgerald accepted an unknown number on his mobile phone to discover Bellamy, on a working holiday in the US, backing Flanagan.
"Craig called Denis to support Shane's qualifications,'' Flanagan's agent John Fordham said.
"Getting an acknowledgement from a coach with credentials like Craig Bellamy would have to have immense value.''
Flanagan, the current Sharks assistant coach, has worked closely with Bellamy in recent years.
The pair were assistants to Australian coach Ricky Stuart in 2007 and Flanagan acted as Bellamy's right-hand man for NSW during this year's Origin series.
"I appreciate Craig's gesture, but it's definitly not something I asked or requested him to do,'' Flanagan said.
"I'm certain the decision makers at Parramatta will look well beyond votes of confidence as such and look more at what someone can bring to the club.''
Having spent 10 years as both a player and lower-grade coach at Parramatta, Flanagan is believed to have support within the club. Several influential figures at the Eels are adamant Flanagan, a known disciplinarian, will provide the shake-up the club needs.
It's likely Flanagan will meet with Fitzgerald next week, before Anderson returns in early November to pitch his own claims.
Other candidates for the job, current Eels assistant coaches David Fairleigh and Matt Cameron, will begin picking up the pieces of a poor 2008 season when the Parramatta playing group resumes training tomorrow.
Despite receiving the blessing of Melbourne Storm chief executive Brian Waldron to apply for the position, Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney's focus on the World Cup is likely to go against him.
The Melbourne Storm assistant said he is unwilling to consider anything other than steering New Zealand's cup campaign.
Bellamy's backing of Flanagan - and not Kearney - is evidence the former Kiwi international is content to continue his career in Melbourne.
Fairleigh, Cameron, Kearney and former Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes, who registered his interest during the week, are all likely to be overlooked for either Anderson or Flanagan.
