Seibold’s time at the Broncos is coming to an end
Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold is resisting attempts to sack him as the club steps up the fight to resolve his future.
Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold is preparing to return to Broncos headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, but it appears it will be to clean out his office rather than coach the side as the club steps up attempts to resolve his future.
Seibold says he has no interest in a seven-figure payout from Brisbane powerbrokers, instead insisting he is working towards returning to the Broncos once he has the results of the COVID-19 test he underwent on Monday morning.
However, it is understood talks are ongoing and the club wants the matter brought to a head before the players return to training on Wednesday.
Seibold is believed to have asked for more clarity around his future late last week but was told there would be no guarantees beyond this year. The Broncos had already made the decision that his position would be reviewed after their commitments were over, but Seibold wanted more.
He effectively wanted the club to back him or sack him. They opted for the latter, telling him his future would rest on the review.
The signs weren’t good. The Broncos have lost 12 of their past 13 games and by the time the season comes to an end, there is every chance that they would add another five losses to that record.
No coach could survive under those circumstances, even one armed with a lucrative five-year deal with a sixth-year option.
It has now become about pride and money. Seibold could chart a legal course should he feel he is being short-changed, but that would be expensive and damaging.
The more likely scenario is that if he and the Broncos can’t reach an agreement in the coming days, he will be put on gardening leave for the rest of the season.
The Broncos have the financial ammunition to up the ante. Despite the impact of COVID-19 the club announced in its mid-year results that it had in excess of $16.5m in cash and cash equivalents in hand.
Money won’t be the issue for the Broncos. The issue will be finding an amount that sits well with both parties, given Seibold could argue he is entitled to more than $2.5m – he has three, potentially four years remaining on his deal.
While there are no performance clauses in his contract related to the team’s result, there are clauses in relation to his performance of his job. If the Broncos wanted to play hard ball, they could explore the clauses.
Their preference would be to settle the matter with as little pain as possible for both parties. Seibold has already been through enough, having been in a COVID-19 hold for the past fortnight after addressing a family matter in Sydney.
The club has had concerns over his welfare and chair Karl Morris has been in constant contact with Seibold, offering support where possible. The players are none the wiser.
“I think it will be ideal to get some clarity one way or the other but the head honchos at the club have to decide what they think is best going forward for the club and the future,” veteran Darius Boyd said.
“Off-field dramas or issues aren’t always ideal but we are footballers and we get paid well to do a job. Whether it is Seibs or (assistant coach) Pete Gentle, we can’t have any excuses.
“We have to perform on the weekends and prepare well. That is what we have been trying to do the last few weeks and whether Seibs is here or not we’ll be doing the same thing.”
The race to replace Seibold would appear to be between Kevin Walters and Paul Green. Walters, the Queensland State of Origin coach, is one of the club’s favourite sons and the chosen one in the eyes of many of the old guard. Green is a premiership winner who finished his playing career at the club.
“I love the Broncos, I love everything about the club,” Walters told Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.
“I‘m hurting as much as any supporter is at the moment. If I can get back there and help them, I’d love to do that in some way.
“I’ve said that in the past as well. The club is dear to my heart.”
Boyd wouldn’t be drawn on potential replacements for Seibold.
”I don’t really want to speculate on future coaches when we have a coach, but we know what Kevvie brings,” Boyd said. “He’s done it as a player and as a coach at different levels, but I think we need to quieten the brakes at the moment.
“Seibs is the coach and until it otherwise changes I think we need to leave it at that. I sent him a text two weeks ago when he went out of the bubble to wish him well and to say I was thinking of him and his family in what is a tough time.
“We are expecting him back on Wednesday.”
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