Dyldam Parramatta Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur has said after discussions with Kieran Foran, he remains confident the five-eighth will wear the Blue and Gold from 2016 onwards.
Speaking with the Triple M Grill Team on Thursday morning, Arthur said media speculation around Foran’s contract and Arthur’s position within the club was difficult, but the situation was far from “bleak”.
“The reasons why he wanted to come to our club haven’t changed,” Arthur told the Grill Team.
“I don’t think he’s ever changed his mind about coming to the club, he just needed to reassess or rethink one of the biggest decisions in his life.”
“I know there were some contractual issues that have been sorted through and I’m confident - without getting ahead of ourselves - that Kieran still wants to join this football team.”
“I have spoken to him and told him it’s not about me, he needs to do what’s best for himself. I think this is the best decision for him and I wouldn’t ask him to come to our club if I didn’t think it was the right decision and I didn’t think we could make it work.”
Responding to questions on whether he had concerns for his own tenure, Arthur’s answer was simple.
“No.”
“People might think I’m naïve, but they (Board and management) want me here to coach this team, and the players want me here to coach this team. It’s a simple answer.”
“The picture painted of us is bleak but it’s not that bad.”
“The people at the moment that are running the club are very passionate about the club and trying to put the club first. They’re very supportive of me, and they’re giving me every opportunity to be the best coach and turn this team into a competitive team.”
“That’s been a common thing lately [to point the spotlight at Daniel Anderson and my relationship],” Arthur explained.
“We’ve got a good working relationship. At times we might not always agree on everything, but I’m a man who just likes to say how it is and he’s the same so at least we know where we stand.”
“My job is to coach the team and at the end of the day I get the final say on what players come and go to our club, what happens with our football team.”
“The pressure that I feel is that I need to make sure that I’m improving our players, and that I’m responsible to our fans to win games of footy.”
“That’s my job and I really enjoy it and I wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t feel threatened cause I know I’m going to be able to see this through.”
“I’m a Parramatta boy through and through, and I’m going to make sure I see it through.”
