THE battle between the Sea Eagles and coach Trent Barrett is turning ugly, with Manly refusing to release Barrett until July.

Fox Sports reporter Cody Kaye reported that due to a 12-month notice period, Manly expect Barrett to stay on as a coach until July.

Barrett served his notice in July this season meaning he would not be eligible to leave the club until midway through the 2019 campaign.

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Round 20

Given the distractions the team faced in 2018, the fact this saga could drag on well into next season is a worrying sign for the club.

The Sea Eagles finished second last this season, as the Barrett drama engulfed the club through the back half of the year.

In a truly bizzare and surely untenable situation, Manly expect Trent Barrett to remain as coach until July...



If it happens it'll be one of the great rugby league Mexican standoffs. @FOXSportsNews — cody kaye (@Cody_KayeFOX) October 2, 2018

Barrett sought a release from the club because he didn’t think the facilities and infrastructure around him was good enough to allow him to do his job properly.

Manly owner Scott Penn hit back at Barrett publicly suggesting that the club were able to win premierships under Des Hasler with those same facilities that Barrett has at his disposal.

Barrett was frustrated that that the club were operating without a recruitment manager, pathways coach and assistant accountant to help oversee salary cap management.

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But Penn insisted the club had fulfilled all obligations to Barrett, after having provided room in the organisation’s budget for the positions the coach wanted filled.

Barrett was linked to a return to his former club Penrith and is believed to be seeking a release to resume his coaching career at another club.

However Manly are not prepared to let him go on his terms and are digging their heels.