Blood-letting continues at Roosters - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Blood-letting continues at Roosters

By Adrian Proszenko 29/08/2006 09:04:58 PM Comments (0)

A day after enquiring about the Sydney Roosters' top job, assistant Shane Flanagan has joined coach Ricky Stuart in having to look for a new employer.

"I've been shown the door along with Sticky as well," a dejected Flanagan told AAP late Tuesday.

"I wanted to know where I stood and (chairman) Nick (Politis) obviously doesn't see me as being right for that position.

"I left Parramatta to come here and advance my coaching career and it's ended this way.

"I coached the Jersey Flegg side undefeated to a premiership and last year the reserve grade (Premier League) to a grand final - I've only lost six games for the club in two years.

"For this to end up happening, it's very disappointing.

"For me, it dents your pride - I've got a lot of pride in what I do and my results.

"In the six or seven years since I began coaching, I've got sides to the grand final in every year but one.

"It hurts your pride that you've been terminated."

Flanagan joined the Roosters in 2004 and guided the club's Jersey Flegg side to an undefeated premiership. He was then promoted to Stuart's assistant after guiding the Premier League side to the 2005 grand final.

The 40-year-old is convinced the Bondi Junction club has coaching replacements in mind, but - despite the rumours - isn't convinced St Helens coach Daniel Anderson is one of them.

"I'm pretty close to Jim Banaghan, who is Daniel Anderson's manager and is over in England at the moment," Flanagan said.

"I went and watched the Challenge Cup final with him and he assured me the Roosters haven't had contact with him.

"Everyone keeps throwing his name up but it's definitely not him at this stage."

Stuart and Flanagan will finish up at the club after the Roosters' clash with St George Illawarra at the SCG on Saturday night, although both will have their 2007 contracts paid out in full.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens, who coached Stuart at Canberra, predicted the Kangaroos mentor would bounce back from the blow.

"If there's one thing you can learn, it's that (you should worry) when the board says they are 100 per cent behind you," Sheens said.

"It's part of the job, it comes with the territory.

"It's not the end of the world, once Rick gets through he'll understand that.

"There's no doubt Ricky Stuart is re-employable, so I can't see any reason why he can't turn it around, the big thing would be for him to do that.

"Most of the people I've spoken to, if anything, believe he's been a little bit hard done by.

"Most of the ammunition has been aimed at Easts themselves."

Sheens, who was sacked from North Queensland in 2001, said it wasn't all bad news for Stuart.

"I was on the other side of the scales and wasn't paid out," he said.

Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes also lent Stuart his support.

"I think it's disappointing, I consider Ricky a mate of mine and it's certainly disappointing for him," he said.

"It's certainly a results-driven industry, which makes it a bit bizarre, the fact that they've been in the grand final for three out of the last five years.

"It makes it a little more strange.

"He's pretty resilient, he showed that during his playing career and he's shown that during his coaching career.

"I thought I heard him quoted saying he could hold his head up high, he's happy with the stuff he's done at the Roosters.

"I think that's a pretty fair statement."

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