THE mess at Manly just keeps getting worse and worse.

Channel 7 reported on Thursday night that if Neil Henry is appointed Sea Eagles coach to replace Trent Barrett then captain Daly Cherry-Evans will seek a release to leave the club.

Barrett is currently involved in a legal fight with Manly’s hierarchy to seek a severance payment before walking out on the club, leaving former Titans coach Henry on a shortlist to replace him that also includes John Cartwright, Jason Taylor and Des Hasler.

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However, there is reportedly bad blood between Cherry-Evans and Henry from the now-Kangaroos halfback’s decision to backflip on a decision to join the Gold Coast in 2015.

Cherry-Evans described letting Henry down as “really tough” and praised the way the then-Titans coach handled dealing with the bad news.

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But although Henry didn’t criticise Cherry-Evans in public, he was believed to be deeply upset at the backflip — and the bad blood between the pair has reportedly lingered.

“That was seriously the hardest part of my day,” Cherry-Evans told Triple M in 2015 of calling Henry.

Neil Henry and Daly Cherry-Evans reportedly don’t see eye-to-eye.

“I sat in my car and searched for his number and it was a really slow process. It was just really tough because I feel as though I was letting Neil down.

“The only reason that would have me let someone down is to benefit me and my family. I did feel extremely uncomfortable doing it but I knew it was best to hear it from me first and I really respect Neil and the way he handled the news.”

Options are narrowing for the club as the pre-season approaches and pressure mounts to put the drama to bed.

Taylor has distanced himself from reports that he is in the mix to take over as head coach next season, opting instead to continue his commitment to coach North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup.

It’s believed club legend Geoff Toovey is not even on the radar, despite previously admitting he would love to return to the job.

Speaking on Triple M’s The Grill Team on Friday morning, Toovey said he has not heard from the club in any official capacity.

New Zealand coach Michael Maguire has already turned down a three-year offer to take charge of Manly due to a concern about the state of the club’s resources, one of the issues that has caused Barrett to also seek to leave the Northern Beaches outfit.

Several other players are believed to be disgruntled though, with Channel 7 reporting that prop Addin Fonua-Blake has also had enough of the drama and wants out of the club.

Although senior Manly players have been forthright in their support of Cartwright, the ongoing speculation is beginning to irritate the playing group.



However, an end is near with the club set to announce a new coach within the coming weeks.

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