Phil Gould says he will stay involved at Penrith until he’s not needed anymore
PHIL Gould says he will stay with the Panthers until he’s not needed anymore. What will the club do if forced to choose between him and Ivan Cleary?
Panthers
Don't miss out on the headlines from Panthers. Followed categories will be added to My News.
PHIL Gould says he’ll only stay at the Penrith Panthers “until I’m not needed anymore.”
That time might be fast approaching following the decision to chase Ivan Cleary from the Wests Tigers.
Cleary will not even consider working under Gould after he was sacked by him in 2015, according to reliable sources.
He has never forgiven him for terminating his contract with a year to run.
It’s why the talks with Cleary have been handled by Panthers chairman Dave O’Neill.
Gould has stayed right out of it.
“Gus didn’t even know I was having a coffee with him,” said Panthers chairman Dave O’Neill.
“It was just Ivan and I. We’re mates. It had nothing to do with Gus.
“We’ve made an expression of interest and put a feeler out there. We respect the Wests Tigers’ position but if he was to get a release we’d love to have him back at the club.”
Interestingly it was Gould’s job to give Anthony Griffin his marching orders but then not talk to Cleary.
GRIFFIN: ‘I won’t cop it’
RETIREMENT: Billy hangs them up
I had a text message exchange with Gould over his future.
Buzz: “Bit of mail around you might go if Ivan comes back.”
Gus: “You get some funny mail.”
Buzz: “So are you staying.”
Gus: “Until I’m not needed any more.”
Buzz: “Good hint. I wouldn’t have thought Ivan needs his hand held anymore.”
Gus: “He never has.”
Developments over the past week would indicate Gould no longer holds as much influence with the Panthers board.
The $3 million costs involved in having to sack Griffin, less than 12 months after Gould extended his contract, has not gone down well.
There is a feeling he has done all he can with the $25 million academy, the junior pathways and the best young roster in the competition.