Firstly, I am no fan of Barrett's coaching, I'm sure he's a nice guy but he was hugely inexperienced, and notwithstanding a terrible run of injuries and a weak squad, he still lacked the killer instinct and fear factor we needed (a la Hasler) to stop results like the Penrith and Gold Coast horrible Brookie capitulations.
But let's look at the Barrett contract issue in clear light.
1. Barrett's an employee with a contract stating he is head coach, and can only be head coach, with a resignation notice period of 12 months. RESULT: No problem there you'd think, as coaches don't usually ever resign of their own free will.
2. Barrett resigns in July 2018 giving his contractually agreed 12 months notice period to expire in July 2019. RESULT: Big problem, suddenly we don't have a coach beyond July 2019 and clearly the club needs a coach for the whole season, preferably starting Mon Nov 5.
3. Penn signs Hasler to start Mon Nov 5. RESULT: Big problem, now the club has TWO head coaches, and the outgoing one Barrett won't leave without a full payout, as if his legally contract right.
4. Penn realises his error in having two head coaches so declares Barrett can stay paid until July but in another capacity. RESULT: Big problem, Barrett's contract clearly states he can ONLY be head coach and not demoted to a lesser role.
6. Barrett makes it clear he must be head coach, or happily be fully paid out as per his contract. RESULT: Penn continues to refuse the payout, so we STILL have two head coaches.
7. Hasler turns up to work on Mon Nov 5, clearly expecting Penn to have resolved the matter so he can coach the team without the media turning up to see Hasler and Barrett opening their car doors in front of each other in the carpark. RESULT: Penn still hasn't settled the payout.
Need I continue?
Like it or not Penn agreed to a contract where Barrett was fully entitled to a 12 month resignation period AS HEAD COACH or as it standard employment practice he gets fully paid out to leave early.
Penn rightfully states as an employer he needed to protect his business by employing Hasler, but that's got nothing to do with the fact he also has a contract to honour with Barrett.
And why did Penn agree to a 12 month resignation clause in the first place? Probably because coaches never resign, they get fired and paid out, at a time frame that suits the club. Therefore the July problem was seemingly not something that anyone imaged would happen.
Until that is, Barrett thought he had the Penrith gig so resigned in July only to be sold the dump from Gus/Beavis and didn't get it after all.
The solution? Surely Penn needs to pay Barrett out in full, RIGHT NOW, just like other clubs do.
If Jake and Tom can see that's as clear as day, why can't anyone else?
Meanwhile Des needs a clear media free space to coach the team back to greatness, not a media circus.