Out-going Manly coach Trent Barrett was a no-show at Sea Eagles pre-season training on Friday, avoiding awkward scenes as his four-month stand-off continues.
Barrett had reportedly considered showing up at the NRL club’s Narrabeen headquarters after part of the Sea Eagles playing squad returned to the training paddock earlier in the week.
The parties remain at loggerheads and in tense negotiations after Barrett handed in his resignation in July, citing a lack of resources – claims rejected by Sea Eagles management.
Barrett is serving out his 12-month notice period and is technically still employed by the club, despite Des Hasler being employed as his replacement.
Hasler on Friday oversaw the field session with the club’s non-representative players at the Sydney Academy of Sport.
There could have been awkward scenes had Barrett followed through on suggestions he was going to walk into the club’s headquarters and throw his feet under his desk.
According to Barrett and his camp his contract states he is the club’s head coach and no one else can be employed in the position.
AAP understands the parties were close to reaching a resolution earlier in the week, only to once again hit an impasse.
They are still going through the process of negotiating a pay out which remains at the heart of the issue.
It’s not known how much Barrett is seeking, with the Sea Eagles adamant he isn’t entitled to the full amount of his contract given he brought on the saga by handing in his resignation.
Sea Eagles management said they were still going through negotiations but declined to comment further.
The club had hoped to have the impasse resolved before the team went back to training but it is still uncertain how long the issue will drag for.
The Sea Eagles will have their first hit-out under Hasler in their trial against Cronulla at Brookvale Oval on Saturday, February 23.
They begin their season with a Leichhardt Oval showdown on March 16 against the Wests Tigers in what will be coach Michael Maguire’s first game in charge of the joint venture.