Massive changes at Manly: How it all went down

Manly Changes

MORE: Watmough granted early release, joins Eels | Sea Eagles appoint new CEO

Why was Anthony Watmough released?
The Sea Eagles basically cut their losses with Watmough. The back-rower wasn't going to be part of the club's future post-2015 and his presence at the club next year risked destabilising the side and eroding Geoff Toovey's standing among the players. His departure from the salary cap also allowed Manly to sign Willie Mason, Feleti Mateo and Siosaia Vave and extend Jamie Lyon's stay until the end of 2016. 

"Choc's been a great stalwart and an inspirational player over many years but it was his decision to leave. Anthony felt it was best for him and his career to go elsewhere and we felt it was in the best interests of everyone to grant him that release. All I can do is wish him the best," Toovey told Sportal.

Will Steve Matai and Brett Stewart be at Manly next year?
Both players did ask for releases at the height of the Glenn Stewart drama last season but thing appear to have cooled.  

"They are both contracted here so for me it's the end of the story. There are no issues there," Toovey insisted.

Is Toovey's job safe?
There were rumours Toovey had 'lost' the dressing room and was at odds with the senior playing group, casting doubts about his long-term future. But chairman Scott Penn put any uncertainty to bed by declaring Toovey was going nowhere.  

"I'm here for a club that has been very good to me and my family. I'm grateful for what they have given me," Toovey said. 

Does this mean an end to all the drama?

Toovey knows there will be more bumps along the road but is confident a lot of the unrest will dissipate under the one owner model.

He said: "We've been very successful over a number of years because we stay focused on our job and play football. The players and staff deserve a lot of credit for that. They've forgotten about the issues and got on with the business of winning games. Our results speak for themselves. I think it's exciting times now. There are plenty of positive things happening and now we've got some direction."  


The arrival of Willie Mason and Feleti Mateo


Critics will point out Mason's age (35 in April) and Mateo's inconsistency, but Toovey sees only positives.  

"Willie's a character and is excited to be coming to such a successful club and wants to be part of that success.  We've lost 2000 games of first grade experience over the last three or four years and he and Feleti will help offset that. Feleti's a bit of a mixture between Choc and Glenn Stewart. He's got a carry in him and has the ability to pass and set things up. He'll give us another attacking threat around the ruck and on the edges," Toovey said.   

The future of Brookvale Oval
There were already plans afoot to redevelop Brookvale Oval, with the club lobbying state and federal governments for support. But the Penns are now dreaming a lot bigger and will push for a complete makeover and a multi-purpose facility.

Scott Penn declared:  "We're sick of bashing Brookvale Oval as a venue. We need to build the right venue there. We're now working on the next evolution of that plan. We're now going looking at a much bigger model and can now invest in that. We want a venue that can stand the test of time and gives our fans and local constituents the venue they deserve."    

The new boss
You know you've got a good CEO when even those were pushing other candidates concede the club got the right man. Joe Kelly is known as a financial genius, having worked with Chelsea FC and newly-minted premiers South Sydney. He has grand plans for Manly.

He told Sportal: "The Penn family want to see a successful football club and they're putting the team in place - on and off the field – to deliver that.

"We need to be successful on field, we need to be viable and sustainable, and importantly, we need to connect and engage deeply with the community."

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