Phil Gould confirms Panthers have preferred option to be new NRL coach

THE Panthers have received a dozen applications to replace Anthony Griffin — including five from current NRL coaches — as Phil Gould addressed the media to explain the sacking.

Penrith Panthers general manager Phil Gould speaks to the media. Picture: AAP

PENRITH have received 12 applications overnight — including five from current NRL coaches — following the club’s decision to sack coach Anthony Griffin, but the Panthers have their sights set on one man to replace him.

Panthers general manager Phil Gould confirmed the club had a preferred option, but are in no rush to make a decision.

As revealed in The Daily Telegraph, the Panthers have started talks with Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary.

It’s understood Cleary is Penrith’s No. 1 option.

Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has responded to reports the club has tabled Cleary a four-year deal, starting next season.

“We haven’t tabled Ivan an offer,” Fletcher said.

“We have spoken to him and told him the coaching position is available. But that is not to say we won’t table something in the coming days.”

Gould sacked Cleary in 2015 but said he still had a good relationship with the former Panthers head coach.

“It’s good. I don’t see him all that often, but I’ve got no problem with Ivan,” Gould said.

“I’ve known him for 25 years.

“The Ivan decision was made in his best interests and my best interests.

“I believe I was right at the time. Whether or not I was, it doesn’t matter.”

Tigers officials have indicated they expect Cleary to honour the final two seasons of his contract, but it’s understood he is seriously weighing up returning to the Panthers to coach his son Nathan.

It comes as CEO Brian Fletcher revealed on breakfast radio that the club has spoken to two current NRL coaches.

SHOCK: Brutal review behind Griffin sacking

KENT: Gus axed Hook to win premiership

Penrith Panthers general manager Phil Gould speaks to the media. Picture: AAP

Gould said Griffin’s sacking had nothing to do with retaining Nathan Cleary, who is off-contract at the end of 2019.

Gould also refused to speculate on coaching candidates.

“We haven’t made a decision on who is going to coach the side next year,” Gould said.

“We have a preferred choice at this stage, but that is not to mean that is the one we will end up with.

“I think we would be a very popular choice for a coach looking for a strong club, a good roster and great facilities.

“I don’t think we’ll have any trouble finding a coach, but we need to worry about the short term at the moment and that is giving Cam Ciraldo and the coaches all the support.”

Ivan Cleary is believed to be the preferred choice to coach Penrith.

Gould said Griffin’s departure was 12 months in the making.

He said the former Broncos mentor wanted to control the team by himself, but the club wanted a more collaborative approach.

This ultimately cost Griffin his job.

“Anthony is very old school — he likes to do everything himself,” Gould said.

“I think in the modern day, the coach has got to rely on the knowledge and expertise they get from assistants.

“Anthony wanted to control everything and I think that put a lot of pressure on him.

“We just felt that we needed a more communicative approach.

Anthony Griffin wanted to control the team by himself.

“It was a difficult decision, but we decided last week that we were going to take a change.

“We got the feeling that everything Anthony had brought to the club over the last three years, we’ve probably seen the best of it.

“With a young group that we want to develop further, we thought we needed a change in coaching philosophy moving forward.”

Originally published as Phil Gould confirms Panthers have preferred option to be new NRL coach