Gold Coast Titans to begin search for new coach with Des Hasler set to depart

Des Hasler is finished at the Gold Coast Titans – the only sticking point is when the embattled coach finishes up with the club. See the details here.

Des Hasler is set to leave the Titans at the end of the season with suggestions the veteran mentor will retire.

Pressure is mounting on the Titans coach with his two year stint on the Gold Coast expected to end abruptly.

The Titans have control over Hasler’s future with the club free to part ways with him should they fail to make the finals under a secret clause revealed by this masthead.

The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis on Wednesday morning told SEN Breakfast the truth is that Hasler is walking away after reaching a mutual understanding.

This would normally involve some form of contract payout, however no payment would be required as result of the clause inserted into Hasler’s contract by the Titans.

“It’ll be called a retirement but it’s a mutual understanding,” he said.

“The Gold Coast Titans can call it whatever they like but Des won’t be the coach next season. It’s been an absolute failure.”

The Titans will part ways with coach Des Hasler. Picture: Getty Images

Gold Coast are next to no chance of making the top eight with Hasler considering retiring at the end of the season.

The Titans are six points outside the top eight and sit at the bottom of the ladder.

“The mail I am getting out of the Gold Coast is that Des Hasler will make an announcement very soon on his future,” Phil Rothfield said on his Off The Record Podcast.

“Des has had particularly bitter exits with Canterbury and Manly…I have a feeling that after such a disastrous season that he will retire from rugby league. He has been a premiership winning coach. He had a fair roster this year. He is now planning retirement.

They need a fresh start.”

The retirement-line would allow the Titans to part ways with Hasler cleanly and enable them to search for a new head coach.

The likes of Josh Hannay, Willie Peters, Matt King and Dean Young would be at the top of their list. Hasler was brought in to replace Justin Holbrook but his two years in charge has failed to amount to any success.

Andrew Webster on the Off The Record podcast also said there could be widespread changes at the club beyond the coach.

The Frizelle family have assumed full ownership of the club after buying out Darryl Kelly.

“The Frizelle’s have been looking to get control of the club in its entirety and blow the whole thing up and start again.” Webster said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they changed the jumper and made serious change across the whole organisation. They will throw the bank at a big name coach to get them there.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Titans to begin search for new coach with Des Hasler set to depart