There is little doubt that player managers are a necessity in the world of  professional sport. Liaising with clubs, fielding offers, negotiating contracts and TPAs, dealing with media requests – these would all be distracting for athletes who want to concentrate on their own performances. Yet, in taking on this role on the players’ behalf, do the player managers cross a line that can be damaging for their clients? It’s something worth considering.

As a sporting competition like the NRL continues to raise its profile, the demands on the players also continue to grow. In addition to training, the typical NRL player is expected to meet media commitments, sponsor commitments and community engagements. When you throw in the fan base wanting a piece of them whenever they are out in public, let alone cameras ready to record any questionable behaviour, is it any wonder that they need someone to take care of their financial interests?

Let’s not kid ourselves. Those of us who were following the game at the time when a Mick Cronin handshake deal was good enough for the honouring of a contract have to accept that even appropriate documentation is sometimes not worth the paper it’s written on. The value of loyalty nowadays is probably overrated when it comes to the players’ best interests. Somebody has to ensure that the contractual obligations made by the club are met.

Corey Norman – he’s reportedly told his manager to sort out a deal to remain at the Eels.

Unquestionably, the modern player has also benefitted from good representation outside of the game.  A range of investments can set a player up for life from a football career that is mostly over by a player’s early 30s. Footballers who develop their communication skills can even find a post-football career in the myriad of media/communications roles that have sprung up around the game. Seeking out such opportunities has become part of the repertoire of the modern manager.

With such a vital role to play in the modern game, why would the player manager role be walking a fine line? For mine, it’s when the people charged with such authority begin to control the destiny of a club or lose the feel for the issues that matter for their client.

In this discussion I’m not going to be silly enough to throw mud at certain managers, nor am I going to suggest that players are being misrepresented. But I will put forward some examples of the impact that is possible from a player manager.

Firstly, driving up the value of their client’s contract is certainly beneficial for both the player and his manager. It’s a short career with injury and form as associated risk factors. Yet the game has its limitations. The player salary pool is limited in each club, and by consequence, the game as a whole.

In driving up a player’s price, the manager can limit the player’s options as fewer clubs can offer the money sought. A player may have been happy at a particular club, but his salary demands may take him far away from the very players, coach and environment that helped him to achieve success. How many times do we see a footballer’s career falter on the back of a change of club? How often do we see a player released from a contract on “compassionate” grounds? The answer is certainly related to wrongly placing a client away from the support network that they previously enjoyed.

Junior Paulo –  “greener” pastures at the Raiders?

Player managers have also had a role in determining the roster of particular clubs. If you look at the roster of a club and who they are represented by, you get a picture of the influence of a manager. There have been instances when the potential signing of a high profile recruit has been dangled by a manager to a club, on the proviso that other lower profile clients be signed to contracts at said club. The high profile recruit hasn’t always eventuated.

We then have the scenario of contract demands – what can a club do if a manager puts forward ridiculous contract money or conditions? Sound familiar? The first thought would be to tell the manager to go away until they are prepared to be fair dinkum. Doing this is an easier task when your club is in a position of strength by being a preferred destination. Clubs that are historically strong or have a highly regarded coach or a wealth of TPA providers have an easier task. For clubs rooted to the bottom of the table, it’s a tougher issue. It explains why certain clubs rarely have successive poor seasons and can recruit out of one bad year.

When managers dictate signings as above, it’s a sure sign of having too much influence.

Of course, representating a player’s interests through the media is common practice in the NRL. Stories about clubs pursuing certain players get leaked as efforts are made to drive up the next contract. Dollar figures are quoted as the media suddenly find out about the money on offer for a player to jump ship – not just to other clubs but increasingly to other codes.

Semi – will he be lost to the Eels or even the NRL?

But what happens when the public turn on a player who suddenly seems completely driven by money? What happens when the contract demands force a move that the player doesn’t really want? Will other opportunities be lost or a career stalled by playing out a contract negotiation, or legal challenges in the media? Recognising what is in the best interests of the player from a holistic perspective must surely be taken into consideration.

Ultimately, the role of a player manager involves trust. The players trust them to look after their best interests in every respect. How much we ENTRUST the future of our club and the game to them is another matter.

Sixties

Images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.