Panthers coach Ivan Cleary had final say on Phil Gould’s redundancy

When the Penrith board asked Ivan Cleary whether Phil Gould’s position should be made redundant, the Panthers coach finally had what he wanted: total autonomy and freedom from the shadow hanging over him.

Cleary has his retribution after Gould sacked him in 2015. Image: Gregg Porteous

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Ivan Cleary was summonsed to a high-powered Panthers board meeting on Wednesday and asked whether Phil Gould’s position should be made redundant.

Cleary said it should.

The large shadow hanging over Cleary had finally gone — and the Panthers coach wasn’t about to allow the board appoint another overlord.

Cleary wanted Gould — and the executive general manager position — gone. The coach wanted, and now had, total autonomy over football operations.

The Daily Telegraph learned Cleary told directors: “There’s no need to replace him — all the structures are in place.”

And with that, Gould’s tumultuous nine-year tenure at Penrith was over.

LISTEN! Matty with Paul Kent and James Hooper dissect the spin behind Phil Gould’s exit from the Panthers and reveal just how one match at Parramatta’s new stadium has completely changed the Sydney rugby league scene.

It was another clear example of the power Cleary now wields at Penrith — power Gould once had.

The Panthers board approved Gould’s redundancy request, the confidential details to be sorted and settled by early next week.

It is understood Gould is on close to $800,000 a year and had three-and-a-half years on his five-year contract.

Gould told The Daily Telegraph at his local shops at Yowie Bay where he visited an ATM he was “feeling good”.

“No future plans at the moment just letting the dust settle,” he said.

“Everyone around me has been good, came as a shock to a few but it’s the right time”

Gould has time on his hands to consider his next move. Image: Matrix Media Group

There was a suggestion the club may reject the redundancy offer and ask Gould to work — and earn his pay — in other areas at Panthers away from football. That didn’t eventuate.

Panthers group CEO Brian Fletcher said Gould was “highly paid”.

“The matter was discussed this morning with coach Ivan Cleary to see his thoughts on the matter. Did he think, in his opinion, the position was redundant? Did it need filling?,” he said.

“Ivan was of the opinion that the job has been done. They have worked together until now and I have always seemed them get on OK and so forth. Gus just thinks there is no need for the position. Gus is highly paid too so we don’t need to be paying somebody money if that position is not there.

“All the work, according to Phil, has been done, all the pathway structures are in place and there’s no need to fulfil that position any further.”

Penrith CEO Brian Fletcher stuck to the story of mutual agreement. Image: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Cleary will explain his side of the drama when fronting his weekly pre-game media conference at 8.30am Thursday ahead of Friday night’s match against South Sydney at Panthers Stadium.

Penrith junior rugby league pathways official Matt Cameron will now head up football operations — a job one level below the position Gould held.

Gould and Cleary could not coexist at the club, according to insiders. With his power eroding, Gould was aware his role was diminishing and that Cleary had total control over football.

Coach Ivan Cleary now has total control of the Panthers’ football side. Image: Toby Zerna

Asked did Gould interfere with football operations, Fletcher said: “It was never Gus’ intention to coach the side. Ivan has a five-year deal. Ivan, plus Peter Wallace and Cameron Ciraldo, they’re the coaches. Gus was there for the structure of the pathways.

“Gus always thought after five years he would see his position redundant. He is still here now after eight years in that position. Gus was giving signs in the last month that his job might be completed. He was having another look and another review.

“All of a sudden over the weekend, he said: ‘My time is done’. He has been here a long time.”

Cleary has his retribution after Gould sacked him in 2015. Image: Gregg Porteous

Gould lost a power struggle at Penrith with Fletcher, Cleary and chairman Dave O’Neill working closely. Cleary and O’Neill are particularly close.

In the end, Gould — who had three-and-a-half years left on his five-season contract — was on the outer.

Fletcher said he had enjoyed a “great relationship” with Gould. Board member and club great Greg Alexander is also a staunch Gould supporter.

Board members and football club staff continued to peddle the line that Gould and Cleary were friends.

Gould has been linked to Cronulla, St George Illawarra, Canterbury and Newcastle over the past 24 hours. He claimed he wouldn’t coach again but may eventually fall back into an administration role.

Gould told Fletcher that four or five clubs had “approached him over a period of time.”

In a Channel 9 podcast, Gould gave an insight into his future by declaring: “I like to be active. I like to be busy. I like to be doing something worthwhile. Wherever that takes me, that’s what it will be.”

Originally published as Panthers coach Ivan Cleary had final say on Phil Gould’s redundancy