Penrith Panthers head coach was sacked, Brian Fletcher has claimed Phil Gould personally sacked Ivan Cleary in 2015, rather than it being a club-made decision.
Ahead of the Panthers’ grand final clash with the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday, their club boss made a quick but notable claim about Cleary’s departure eight years ago.
Cleary was dismissed as Penrith’s head coach late in 2015, with the club narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.
Gould was Penrith’s general manager at the time — a role he currently holds at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Their CEO has now claimed that the club did not opt to sack Cleary, with Gould making the decision himself.
He wasn’t actually sacked by the club,” Fletcher told 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin.
He was sacked by Phil Gould.
Cleary was replaced by Anthony Griffin the following season, but he only lasted for three years of his four-year deal.
The Panthers then opted to reinstate Cleary as coach in 2019, where he oversaw them claim a 10th-place finish.
Since then, the club has dominated the NRL, playing in three consecutive grand finals and winning two of them.
When asked by host Erin Molan whether it was the wrong decision to let Cleary go in 2015, Fletcher.
Their CEO has now claimed that the club did not opt to sack Cleary, with Gould making the decision himself.
He wasn’t actually sacked by the club,” Fletcher told 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin.
He was sacked by Phil Gould.”
Cleary was replaced by Anthony Griffin the following season, but he only lasted for three years of his four-year deal.
The Panthers then opted to reinstate Cleary as coach in 2019, where he oversaw them claim a 10th-place finish.
Since then, the club has dominated the NRL, playing in three consecutive grand finals and winning two of them.
When asked by host Erin Molan whether it was the wrong decision to let Cleary go in 2015, Fletcher.
There is no issue between me and Ivan and there never has been,” Gould said earlier this week.
One of the things I did say to him [Fittler] is he should have a current-day coach.
A current-day coach, even just for game day, is very helpful – particularly in the coaches’ box, because Brad Fittler is coaching three games a year.
He’s not used to interchanges, dealing with head bins, injuries, and Ivan popped in for the last game.
One potential roadblock for Gould’s return is a perceived feud with Cleary, who returned to the Panthers once the former head of football was let go by the club.
the 65-year-old shut down any issue with the current Penrith coach.
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