Garth Brennan insists the pending ownership of the club was not a factor when he applied to be Gold Coast’s head coach.
The NRL-owned Titans are set to be sold to private owners by year’s end, with at least four consortiums in the running.
That uncertainty was a turn off for coaching contender Michael Maguire, while Titans boss Graham Annesley admitted the unique situation had made selecting Neil Henry’s replacement more of a battle.
But 45-year-old Brennan said he didn’t ask questions before signing a three-year-deal on Thursday.
“I didn’t talk to anyone (about the sale) because I’ve got the utmost respect for (NRL CEO) Todd Greenberg and faith in the NRL that they’ll do the right thing by the Titans,” Brennan said.
“I’m confident they’ll make the right decision and I tend not to worry about things I can’t control.”
Former Titans chair Rebecca Frizelle and board member Darryl Kelly, once a co-owner of the Titans, appear front-runners to take control of the club.
The North Sydney Bears are also pushing hard with a bid that would have the club’s colours change and some home games played south of the border.
The Brisbane Bombers have also put a bid forward, while British billionaire Marwan Koukash was reported to have thrown his hat in the ring last week.
NRL boss Greenberg said he hoped to finalise the sale before the end of the year, not discounting the Bears’ bid when asked of its likelihood.
“We need stable professional ownership models and we want to make sure that this has a long-term focus for the Gold Coast,” he said.
“We’re very open to all of the proposals at the moment. Again, it’s what has to happen in the long-term interest of that community.
“So everything is on the table.”
Brennan will be hoping the new owner shares his views on player development, after the coach made a point of his desire to develop from within the Gold Coast rugby league system to find their next stars.
“My job is to future-proof the Titans,” Brennan said.
“We’re going to be a powerhouse every year and I want my fans, when they’re buying tickets, to feel like every year we’re a chance to win the comp.”
