Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Club’s darkest hour
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/zorbas-view-3/
THERE can be no sugar-coating in this column.
This is the darkest time in the history of the mighty Sea Eagles.
The club has reached absolute rock bottom when club legends are attacking the character of a man who has played in or coached the club to four of the club’s eight premierships.
The Sea Eagles have never been a club to act in anything but a dignified manner towards its champions but that has all changed since Manly lifted the NRL trophy aloft on the first Sunday of last month.
Passion has taken over from common sense and there will be no winners in this tragic mess.
There can be no doubt the biggest losers are the fans.
In my first week back on the peninsula since an overseas holiday, a feeling remains of total bewilderment in the community. They are confused and divided.
And they are angry that what should have been a summer of celebration has turned into a nightmare.
The talk in every coffee shop, hotel or club bar is about the imploding of the club and where to proportion the blame.
It simply has to stop.
The exit of Des Hasler has to be used as the club’s darkest time and a reminder that something similar cannot be allowed to happen again.
Hasler rebuilt the Sea Eagles from a basket case on a shoestring budget to a juggernaut and benchmark.
In that time he was the powerhouse in charge that the club needed to claw its way back. Desie did it his way. It was the only way success could have come back to Brookvale.
Sure he trod on toes and didn’t care who he upset. I have had more arguments with Des than anyone. But I haven’t seen a more hard working, professional coach who could dissect the opposition like a surgeon.
He was a father figure to his players and fiercely loyal. Like I learned a few months ago, if you make enemies in a football club there is always a bullet with your name on it.
I accept that with no hard feelings and Dessie in time will too.
Some of my closest mates have thrown some low blows Dessie’s way in recent days, that is their right.
I won’t be doing that. I have been through too many battles with him. I have been beside him at hospitals, police stations, court houses and judiciary hearings making sure players got professional support and advice.
Des, thank you on behalf of the majority of people on the peninsula. You gave it everything you had every day you went to work. You were always first at work and last to leave.
You are a legend of a great club which will rise again.
You stood by Brett Stewart because you knew he wasn’t guilty of a charge laid against him.
The only thing you are guilty of is that you won’t give an inch. It is your greatest asset and sometimes your greatest weakness. It may not seem possible now but I don’t think Manly has seen the last of Des Hasler.
I’m on board
I should know better but I will take my position on the board of the Manly Football Club because I owe it to the supporters who asked me to be their voice in the wilderness.
It’s high-time voting in factions ceased and decisions were made on what is best for the club. And it is also time that people were elected to positions not put in place to be trick ponies. I believe only people representing the Football Club board should be eligible to represent the club on the Sea Eagles board.
And as a member of the Manly Leagues Club board, I want to ensure that someone with knowledge of the game is the board’s representative on the Sea Eagles to ensure the relationship between the licensed club and the Sea Eagles remains strong.
Horror draw
THE start of the 2012 season is a horror stretch for Manly, with no matches at Brookvale for the opening five rounds.
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/zorbas-view-3/
THERE can be no sugar-coating in this column.
This is the darkest time in the history of the mighty Sea Eagles.
The club has reached absolute rock bottom when club legends are attacking the character of a man who has played in or coached the club to four of the club’s eight premierships.
The Sea Eagles have never been a club to act in anything but a dignified manner towards its champions but that has all changed since Manly lifted the NRL trophy aloft on the first Sunday of last month.
Passion has taken over from common sense and there will be no winners in this tragic mess.
There can be no doubt the biggest losers are the fans.
In my first week back on the peninsula since an overseas holiday, a feeling remains of total bewilderment in the community. They are confused and divided.
And they are angry that what should have been a summer of celebration has turned into a nightmare.
The talk in every coffee shop, hotel or club bar is about the imploding of the club and where to proportion the blame.
It simply has to stop.
The exit of Des Hasler has to be used as the club’s darkest time and a reminder that something similar cannot be allowed to happen again.
Hasler rebuilt the Sea Eagles from a basket case on a shoestring budget to a juggernaut and benchmark.
In that time he was the powerhouse in charge that the club needed to claw its way back. Desie did it his way. It was the only way success could have come back to Brookvale.
Sure he trod on toes and didn’t care who he upset. I have had more arguments with Des than anyone. But I haven’t seen a more hard working, professional coach who could dissect the opposition like a surgeon.
He was a father figure to his players and fiercely loyal. Like I learned a few months ago, if you make enemies in a football club there is always a bullet with your name on it.
I accept that with no hard feelings and Dessie in time will too.
Some of my closest mates have thrown some low blows Dessie’s way in recent days, that is their right.
I won’t be doing that. I have been through too many battles with him. I have been beside him at hospitals, police stations, court houses and judiciary hearings making sure players got professional support and advice.
Des, thank you on behalf of the majority of people on the peninsula. You gave it everything you had every day you went to work. You were always first at work and last to leave.
You are a legend of a great club which will rise again.
You stood by Brett Stewart because you knew he wasn’t guilty of a charge laid against him.
The only thing you are guilty of is that you won’t give an inch. It is your greatest asset and sometimes your greatest weakness. It may not seem possible now but I don’t think Manly has seen the last of Des Hasler.
I’m on board
I should know better but I will take my position on the board of the Manly Football Club because I owe it to the supporters who asked me to be their voice in the wilderness.
It’s high-time voting in factions ceased and decisions were made on what is best for the club. And it is also time that people were elected to positions not put in place to be trick ponies. I believe only people representing the Football Club board should be eligible to represent the club on the Sea Eagles board.
And as a member of the Manly Leagues Club board, I want to ensure that someone with knowledge of the game is the board’s representative on the Sea Eagles to ensure the relationship between the licensed club and the Sea Eagles remains strong.
Horror draw
THE start of the 2012 season is a horror stretch for Manly, with no matches at Brookvale for the opening five rounds.
