Eels turmoil: Parramatta board backs Jason Taylor while chairman backs Brad Arthur - See more at:
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PARRAMATTA'S search for a new coach has been thrown into turmoil after the board overruled chairman Steve Sharp's push for Manly assistant Brad Arthur to get the job. The Daily Telegraph understands Sharp was out-voted 4-2 at a marathon meeting, with the majority in favour of Roosters assistant Jason Taylor.Another board meeting could be convened as soon as today to finalise the appointment.Taylor now appears to be the overwhelming favourite because he enjoys majority support.But the split will create tension for the successful candidate because they will be appointed without the full support of the six-man board.Current Eels players have thrown their support behind Arthur, while former greats such as Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless believe Taylor is the man for the job.In an interview prior to Tuesday night's board meeting, Sharp publicly expressed his support for Arthur and urged his fellow directors to fall into line -
But there was no consensus, leaving the already fractured club in even more disarray with the chance of further bloodshed in the Eels boardroom.Earlier Sharp had called on fellow directors to support him and sign Arthur, the former Eels interim coach and current Manly assistant coach."I believe the club should be coached by Brad Arthur in 2014," Sharp told The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday."I think he is the right fit for our club."Some people out there think ‘JT’ (Taylor) should be coach but I would like to think the club can show some unity and get behind the chairman."Asked were those ‘"people" actually board members, Sharp said: "Yes. I want Parramatta to become as successful as possible as quick as possible -
The coach is the last piece of the jigsaw and Brad fits the bill."We will be having a board meeting and I will be putting on the table that Brad should be coach."Asked what would happened if rolled in the boardroom, Sharp said: "It would be back to the drawing board."We won’t be discussing anyone else other than the recommended candidate."Sharp said he must receive support from his new board.Parramatta has been searching for a new coach over the past three weeks after Ricky Stuart left for Canberra."The members elected me chairman because of what I can bring to the football side," Sharp said."We have done our due diligence. Brad brings experience and success from clubs with a winning culture."He commands discipline and has the respect of the players. I have concerns about the club’s discipline and that needs to be addressed."I am quietly confident."Arthur said after Sunday’s Grand Final that he wanted to coach Parramatta for the next decade.“I want to be a career coach," he said. "I think the club has got a bright future. I do rate their roster. It’s got a lot of potential."Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne recently told The Daily Telegraph the playing group wanted a rookie coach, like Arthur."We would prefer a junior coach - a bloke that is looking for his first crack," Hayne said."I think we need our opinion heard."Parramatta have claimed the past two wooden spoons -