The contract is signed by Manly chief executive Joe Kelly, Sea Eagles corporate general manager Luke Byrne and FAL's Tim Xenos. FAL claims Xenos acted without the permission of the company in executing several sporting deals, including the one with the NRL club. Not much joy: Brett Stewart and the Sea Eagles display the Coco Joy logo during the club's loss to Canberra on Friday night. Credit:Getty Images However, Manly's statutory demand for payment, also obtained by Fairfax Media, claims that $302,500 is due and was payable on February 20. The creditor provided a sworn affidavit demanding the money on March 30, warning that failure to do so could result in a demand "for the winding up" of FAL Healthy Food and Beverages. "A failure to respond to a statutory demand can have very serious consequences for a company," wrote the club's solicitor, Tim Unsworth, in his creditor's statutory demand. "In particular, it may result in the company being placed into liquidation and control of the company passing to the liquidator of the company."

The sponsorship deal between Coco Joy and the Sea Eagles is one of the most lucrative of such commercial arrangements in the NRL. The contract states: The statutory demand for payment sent by Manly. "The term is for a 3 year major apparel partnership with a 4th year option providing both first and last rights of refusal. The commercial terms are as follows … ❏ 2016 season – $950,000 (ex GST) + $25,000 (ex GST) bonus for the club to finish in the top 8 of the NRL competition ladder; The details of Manly's sponsorship agreement with Coco Joy.

❏ 2017 season – $1,000,000 (ex GST) + $25,000 (ex GST) bonus for the club to finish in the top 8 of the NRL competition ladder + $25,000 (ex GST) to finish in the top 4 of the competition ladder; ❏ 2018 season – $1,000,000 (ex GST) + $25,000 (ex GST) bonus for the club to finish in the top 8 of the NRL competition ladder + $25,000 (ex GST) to finish in the top 4 of the competition ladder." The signatures of Manly officials Joe Kelly and Luke Byrne and FAL's Tim Xenos. Further, the contract states: "The Corporate Partner will have the first and last rights to the major apparel partnership for the 2019 season at a value determined by the club." According to the payment schedule in the contract, $50,000 was due last September, $50,000 more in October, a further $200,000 in November and $100,000 in December. Two payments of $250,000 each were due in February and April of this year.

Manly's next match is against Penrith on Sunday and officials, keen to ensure they upheld their end of the bargain, will instruct players to wear jerseys with Coco Joy emblazoned on the front. The Sea Eagles are the common denominator in two matches under investigation by the NSW Organised Crime Squad; losses to South Sydney and Parramatta last year. FAL claimed the allegations were causing "damage" to its brand and a spokesperson on Tuesday claimed its sponsorship was terminated on May 3. However, the Sea Eagles raised concerns about non-payment much earlier and privately believe the fixing allegations are an opportunistic reason to renege on their commitment. Some of Manly's largest corporate backers, including URM and Kyocera, have vowed to stick by the Sea Eagles. League insiders said it could take a Sydney club up to 18 months to find a new major sponsor in the current environment.

The latest drama is one the Sea Eagles, sitting in 13th place, could do without ahead of their clash with the 11th-placed Panthers.