Several players set to leave the Eels

In what looks like further blow to the Eels it has been reported today that several leading players are looking to play elsewhere. The most immediate of the these is Glenn Morrison (article above).

Also it has been no secret that other players including Dean Widders, John Morris, Brett Delaney, Aaron Cannings, Luke Burt and Paul Stringer are also deciding on their future with the club. Add to this Wade McKinnion's name who has asked for permission to negoatiate with other clubs. All this mid-season jockeying for contracts and a player future does not look good for the Eels. If there is anything to learn over the current season it is that any club which doesn't have its off field affairs sorted, will perform very poorly on the field.

Now the players have to take some blame, after all they are the ones out on the field. However I am a firm believer you are only as strong as your leader. And the Eels current leader is none other than Denis Fitzgerald.

Denis Fitzgerald will never be talked about as one of the best and most astute chief executives. The past twenty years without a premiership will testify to that. It is only more apparent at the moment with the controversy involving Brian Smith. I am sure there are a lot of people out there reading this very article who could do a better job. And let's not mention how he has managed to get a lot of former Eels legends offside, Peter Sterling included.

In my opinion I'd much rather see Denis leave his position, than see the players leaving. A side doesn't just go from minor premiers one season to also rans the next, especially when they have essentially retained the same bunch of players.