Foran has "walked out" on his $5 million contract at Parramatta and his manager George Mimis has sought an official release from the club. Career in limbo: Kieran Foran. Credit:Kirk Gilmour It might feel like another body blow Eels fans didn't seeing coming but in truth this day has been coming for weeks. Parramatta management – along with several reporters – have been receiving almost daily messages about Foran and his behaviour. Some from random members of the public, some from trusted sources with no agenda. He's been spotted in the TAB section of several Central Coast hotels, drinking and punting alongside former brothel owner Eddie Hayson, with whom he has a close connection, and his brother Liam.

The Breakers Country Club at Wamberal appears to be a favourite haunt, with patrons stunned to see a million-dollar-a-year footballer nursing a season-ending shoulder injury in the sports bar. Even as these words are being typed, a message has appeared in the inbox about Foran gambling at Gosford greyhounds last Tuesday. Of course, a grown man can drink and punt and attend the Gosford dishies whenever he wants. But when you're a first-grade footballer who's repeatedly asked the club for time off while dealing with personal issues, who is recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery, the bar and betting ring is not the wisest place to be. There has been simmering tension between club and captain ever since Foran was given time off in late April after he was rushed to hospital following a prescription drug overdose.

Parramatta have been treading carefully around him ever since, treating his delicate mental state with the care that it deserves. But ever since Foran injured his shoulder against Newcastle in Round 12 in late May, ending his season, the divide has been widening. Foran's camp says he was furious about being rushed back from a rehab facility in Brisbane to play when he was carrying a shoulder injury. Parramatta tells you Foran was desperate to return to the field – and had been for the past month – and that he had suffered a new injury to his biceps, not his chronic shoulder. Since then, the Eels have grown frustrated at Foran's lack of professionalism, culminating in him being stripped of the captaincy, fined $5000 and placed on an alcohol ban.

In the process, his relationship with coach Brad Arthur has frayed. Arthur was the reason Foran came to the Eels, even when he could have torn up the contract after the club tried to remove a $1 million get-out clause just before June 30. The coach, though, is a straight shooter, trying to keep a side together as Rome burns all around him. All he seems to want is for Foran to get better by doing the right thing, and he has bluntly said so. Parramatta is not angry with Foran – just frustrated. Last week, his behaviour became so erratic that it became clear to those close to him that something had to give, prompting the phone call from our influential and respected figure to join Hasler – his former Manly coach – at Belmore.

Hasler's obsession with cutting-edge technology and sports science often smothers the fact he's one of the best "man managers" in the game. The only reason why Ben Barba went from rehab to playing footy is because of Des – something the former Dally M Player of the Year acknowledges. He also happens to be managed by Mimis, who seems to have taken control of Foran's affairs ahead of colleague Paul Sutton, who told the ABC it was "news to me" when contacted on Friday morning. The conspiracy theorists are already joining the dots, considering Foran's exit as proof that Jarryd Hayne is about to confirm his homecoming to the Eels. It would certainly release plenty of salary cap space, but the Eels are confident they could sign Hayne for next season regardless of whether Foran stays or go.

A drastically reduced offer to five-eighth Corey Norman – who fronts court on Wednesday facing drug possession charges – has helped their cause. While Foran might need Hasler, you can bet a headstrong board would be cautious about whether Foran is what they need at the Bulldogs. A year ago, Foran was the hottest property in the game as he came off contract at Manly. From the moment he came into first grade in 2010, winning a premiership under Hasler the following year, he was an old soul in a young bloke's body. When he asked for time off in late April, not even his closest mates had any inkling he was mentally struggling, and that included his Eels teammates.

That said, a Fairfax Media interview with Hayson last month illuminated where Foran's priorities often sit. Referring to an article about some frenzied betting on Foran's TAB account, Hayson said: "I can't speak for Kieran but apparently he transferred $8000 and got two very good tips from a form guru. He turned the $8000 into $48,000." Some say the last person Foran should be associating with is Hayson, who in turn says he has known Foran for a decade. Either way, they're obviously close. When Foran was holed up in his Brisbane rehab facility, Eddie was one of the first to visit. "He hadn't had any visitors in a week and a half," Hayson said. "We went up and stayed for a few days. His doctors said he needed a night out away from the hospital and stay overnight before he went back to Sydney. I feel very sorry for him. He's having a tough time and everyone is into him. Whatever he's doing in his own time is his own personal business."