Coffs Harbour trip reveals how far Gus Gould, Ivan Cleary relationship had deteriorated
PHIL Gould and Ivan Cleary spent last weekend in Coffs Harbour. They did they make contact as most footy club bosses and their head coach would do on a trip away.
PHIL Gould and Ivan Cleary spent last weekend in Coffs Harbour.
Not once did they did they make contact with each other as most footy club bosses and their head coach would do on a rare trip away.
Both were on the mid-north coast supporting their children at the National Oz Tag tournament.
The fact they remained apart over three days is the best illustration of how far their relationship has deteriorated in recent times.
Cleary was staying at the Novotel resort at the northern end of town. Gould was in Sawtell, ten minutes away. They didn’t even exchange a phone call. And now we know why.
Your columnist spotted Cleary at the Novotel swimming pool at 11am on Friday where he was enjoying a quiet beer with friends and other Oz Tag dads.
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He looked the most relaxed I’d ever seen a man renowned for his intensity and dour appearance.
Monday was a different story from the moment Gould marched into the office of Panthers chief executive Warren Wilson at 2pm to reveal the results of his own end-of-season review with the findings and recommendation that the coach had to go.
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There were a number of issues discussed.
● Cleary’s decision to dump his assistant coach Trent Barrett because he was in negotiations with Manly. Gould had wanted him to stay instead of him being put on gardening leave.
● That a number of issues of player ill-discipline had not properly been dealt with.
● Also a number of senior players had lost confidence and belief in the coach which could affect contract negotiations for the 2017 season.
With the full backing of Wilson and chairman Brian Fletcher, Gould was given the green light to sack a man who was once one of his closest friends.
He phoned Cleary straight after the meeting and told him they needed to talk. Not over the telephone, but face to face.
Cleary arrived at the club not long after 3pm. And the fifth year of his five-year contract was terminated. Your columnist has known for some time of the falling out between Gould and Cleary.
A month ago I sent Gould a text message while he was on a business trip in England suggesting the coach was unhappy at the Penrith Panthers.
This is our exchange.
Buzz: Hi Gus is everything OK with Ivan.
I keep hearing he might not be at Penrith next year.
Gus: He is fine — tough year for him.
Buzz: Does that mean he’ll stay. I’m told he got a bit shitty about the prolonged Baz Barrett talks/job at Manly
Gus: Not at all — none of that affected anything that happened at Penrith.”
And that was it.
Fast forward a few weeks and a man who 12 months ago was Dally M coach of the year is now unemployed, proving yet again that rugby league coaching is the toughest business of them all.
Originally published as Coffs Harbour trip reveals how far Gus Gould, Ivan Cleary relationship had deteriorated