WESTS Tigers coach Mick Potter is poised to be tapped on the shoulder at the end of the season after losing the support of key personnel in the dressing room.

TIGERS DUMP THREE KEY STAFF

Despite being only 19 games into a two-year contract believed to be worth $250,000-a-season, The Daily Telegraph understands Potter will have the final year of his contract terminated at the end of round 26.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal newly appointed Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer held a meeting with club chairman Mike Bailey and deputy chairman Nick DiGirolamo yesterday where the club's coaching structure was top of the agenda.

In a bizarre scenario, the Tigers will now effectively be paying three head coaches next season after ending Tim Sheens' contract last September.

By the time they hire a new coach, the joint venture club will be bank-rolling payments to Sheens, who is on $8650 per week, Potter and whoever they go with as a replacement.

"We had a meeting yesterday morning about a whole range of issues including my contract, our venue hiring deals and a range of other club issues," Mayer said.

"In regards to any speculation in relation to our coaching structure that is not for me to answer. We have a game against Parramatta on Friday night and our sole focus is to win that game."

The Daily Telegraph reported last month how the Tigers entire football department was undergoing a full review, which has included Mayer conducting interviews with the club's playing roster.

media_camera Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter at Leichhardt Oval.

BENJI GETS LAST STAND

Mayer was instructed to conduct the review at the behest of the joint venture board, who are yet to vote on Potter's future at the club.

The Daily Telegraph understands a number of key boardroom figures have been aware of discontent with Potter's tenure for a number of months.

Significantly, one of the key findings of the Tigers football department review has been the lack of support for Potter in terms of his coaching style and communication skills among the playing group.

media_camera Benji Marshall and coach Mick Potter at Wests Tigers training at Concord Oval. Picture: Gregg Porteous

The Sunday Telegraph initially reported some elements of the Tigers board were sharpening the knives on Potter after the club's 22-4 victory over premiers Melbourne in round 16, when his widening rift with star player Benji Marshall was inching closer to breaking point.

The fact Marshall is exiting the club for rugby union has had little influence on Potter's job security.

The victory over the premiers bought Potter a short window of breathing room, which has since been slammed shut by four straight losses to Cronulla, the Warriors, Manly and Gold Coast.

Compounding Potter's record of six wins and 13 losses this season is the club's record seven losses in a row endured from round four to round 10, which was the same week the rookie coach made the brave call to bench star playmaker Marshall.

For Potter to be shown the door at the end of the season, the Tigers 10-member board, which is notoriously split five-five along Wests and Balmain voting lines, need to vote unanimously to cut his tenure short.

The Daily Telegraph understands Potter's contract had a trigger clause for a third season if the Tigers had made the top eight, but with the club poised to finish second last, it is no hope of being activated.

Potter has made some of the tough calls necessary at the Tigers but has been unable to replicate success of fellow rookie coaches Trent Robinson at the Roosters and Michael Maguire at South Sydney.

The Daily Telegraph understands Tigers under-20s coach Todd Payten will be promoted to the role of NRL assistant coach next season to work with whoever the club's board decides to hand the top job.

Penrith assistant coach Trent Barrett has been linked to the job.