Manly coach Geoff Toovey says he has spoken with Kieran Foran in a bid to keep the star playmaker at Brookvale.

Foran’s future remains up in the air due to his contract wrangle with Parramatta, and the Sea Eagles have moved in a bid to retain the New Zealand international beyond this NRL season.

Toovey indicated on Thursday Manly were willing to pull out all stops to hold onto Foran, as they did with his halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans, when they looked to have lost him to Gold Coast.

“I have spoken to him, he has to settle those issues with his management and that may leave the door open for him to stay here,” said Toovey.

“His contract with Parramatta appeared set in place, but obviously things have changed.

“We always hoped to retain both halves, a lot of effort and resources has gone into making sure both players mature and we would love to see him stay.”

Earlier on Thursday, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur told Foran to do what’s best for himself.

Foran has expressed disillusionment with the club after problems arose with the $4.8-million contract he signed three months ago.

The Eels had been hoping Arthur’s close relationship with the Kiwi star would help them salvage the deal.

But Arthur says he’s told Foran to put loyalty aside.

“I have spoken to him and told him it’s not about me … he needs to do what’s best for himself,” Arthur told MMM radio on Thursday.

“I wouldn’t ask him to come to our club if I didn’t think it was the right decision for him.”

Arthur said the reasons Foran wanted to move to Parramatta hadn’t changed.

“I’m confident, without getting ahead of ourselves, that Kieran still wants to join this football team,” he said.

The Eels have lurched from crisis to crisis in recent months, including being hit with a salary cap breach and the axing of chief executive Scott Seward.

The Eels’ fifth chief executive in as many years, Steve Sharp, on Wednesday apologised to fans, saying they had fallen victim to “self-serving individuals” seeking to destabilise the club.

But Arthur said the “bleak” picture being painted was worse than reality and good results were on the way.

“We’ve got a really good, young, very coachable playing group,” he said.”

“The people at the moment who are running the club are very passionate … and trying to put the club first.”