Former Penrith winger Sandor Earl unloads on Ivan Cleary

SANDOR Earl has lit the fuse for a fiery clash today, with the former Panther suggesting Ivan Cleary has created a culture of fear at the club.

CANBERRA winger Sandor Earl has lit the fuse for a fiery clash at Centrebet Stadium today, with the former Panther suggesting Ivan Cleary has created a culture of fear at the club.

Set to face off against Penrith for the first time since switching to the Raiders mid-year, Earl said he was saddened by the plight of the club and the players Cleary had encouraged to move on.

Earl also said Cleary created a divide when he stripped Luke Lewis of the captaincy.

"I thought what happened to Lewie was really wrong," Earl said. "He has the most respect out there, from everyone in the club, and it just wasn't right. For whatever reason, it was still wrong. He was our leader and if he was upset by it all, well, me and all the other players were, too. We were always going to back him.

"People say that it was the wrong call and him leaving proves it. It shows there is a lot going on at Penrith."

Sandor, who has played six games for the Raiders, said he was a happy at Penrith until Cleary led a cultural change.

"Whatever they are going through, whatever the process is, they think it is right," Earl said. "I am not sure it is, but that is up to them.

Luke Lewis and Ivan Cleary

"I, personally, think it is sad to see the place crumbling. I came there when the likes of Luke Lewis, Trent Waterhouse, Petero Civoniceva were there. It was a good place to be and with the group you always think something good was about to happen. This year it wasn't like that."

Sandor revealed he is on the verge of signing a new two-year deal with the Raiders after a call from Canberra captain David Shillington helped to resurrect his career.

"I was in a tough situation," Earl said. "I didn't have a pre-season, was coming back from injury and there was a new coaching staff.

"I thought I was playing well, and I was in good form for Windsor, who had a very good set-up. But I wasn't in Ivan's plans. We had a conversion and when it came to the serious end, yeah, he told me I wasn't. It was disappointing.

"Shillington told me of the interest and we did the deal a couple of weeks later."

Earl also said he felt for suspended Penrith utility Travis Burns, who has been told to look for another club.

"It is never nice to see (the taps on the shoulder). But that is just football these days," earl said. "As bad as it is, that is the way it goes. I just hope there is something around the corner for the blokes that don't have a future there."

Despite scoring two tries and running for 757m in his six games for the Raiders, Earl has a point to prove today.

"It is going to be weird," Earl said.

"Definitely exciting. I can't lie and say I don't want to go there and beat them by 40 and score a hat-trick. That would be great."