Penrith should replace Phil Gould with club legend Greg Alexander

With Penrith staff and fans still coming to terms with the dramatic departure of Phil Gould, former Panthers champions Scott Sattler says there is one man who can take the club forward.

• Gould denies Cleary bust-up was to blame for exit
• Kent: The power struggle Gus couldn’t win

Penrith should immediately install club legend Greg Alexander as a mediator to ease off-field concerns among the playing group ahead of Friday night’s vital match against South Sydney.

That is the opinion of former champion Panthers forward Scott Sattler, who was part of Penrith’s 2003 premiership-winning side.

Phil Gould’s shock departure as executive general manager of football has stunned Penrith players and fans amid concerns the drama may impact of the team’s ability to focus on beating Souths.

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.

Adding another layer of spice is Wayne Bennett, the Souths coach who Gould wanted at Panthers Stadium before Penrith chairman Dave O’Neill overruled and appointed Ivan Cleary.

Another loss would see Penrith slip to 2-5 — their top-four chances all but gone.

Sattler believes the team must “immediately” air any grievances over Gould’s decision and named Alexander as the man to moderate.

“It comes down to which players have full belief in the coach and which players had full belief in the direction of Gus. That is where it will play a big part psychologically moving forward,” Sattler said.

Penrith great Greg Alexander can keep the club on an even keel. Image: Penrith Panthers.

“A decision of the magnitude of what’s happened over the past 24 hours … it will be interesting to see how each person responds. Whether they felt it right or wrong and whether they think they still have a place at the club anymore.

“Any concerns need to be handled and addressed immediately. If it’s not addressed immediately it can fester. It’s about being open and honest and having clarity moving forward.

“They will need to find what relationship each player had with the main characters — that being Ivan and Gus.”

The club has to move on from the Gould era. Image: Matrix Media Group

And Sattler believes Alexander should be the arbitrator.

“It’s best to verbalise it, get a mediator in there to conduct it, someone to sit down with the players,” he said. “And I think Greg Alexander would be the perfect person.

“He is the greatest player the club has ever had, he has the club at heart, he’s on the board, he understands the dressing room and mindset of the players.

“He also understands the direction of the club. I think ‘Brandy’ would be a perfect mediator to sit among the playing group without any of the coaches or any of the staff. He could discuss the issues that may arise down the track.”

Sattler knows what lies at the heart of Penrith.

Sattler experienced similar upheaval at Penrith when the club sacked coach Royce Simmons in 2001.

It angered Sattler.

“It’s an interesting one because when there is a diversion within the club … I was at Penrith in 2001 when there was diversion — it was when Royce was coaching,” Sattler said

“I loved Royce — and still do — but there was a group of players who felt the club needed a change and the way they went about it (sacking Simmons) was wrong. A few of us thought it was wrong.”

Just six weeks into his second tenure at Penrith and Cleary is coaching under excruciating pressure.

Missing the finals this year, after all the heartache in luring Cleary back, would jolt diehard Panthers fans.

Told another loss could end Penrith’s top four chances, Sattler said: “Don’t worry about top four, worry about the top eight.

“Because there are three teams that, come the season end, will probably be top three — Roosters, Melbourne and Souths — everyone else is fighting for the remaining positions in the eight.

“What it will come down to will be the harmony is your playing group. Resources, coaching group, that won’t get you there. It will be the harmony among your playing group.”