Penrith are happy for Manly target Trent Barrett to chase a head coaching role in the NRL, they just don't want him doing it on their time.
According to Fairfax Media, Penrith assistant Barrett has agreed to terms with the Sea Eagles to take over from Geoff Toovey as coach for the 2016 season.
This has been denied by Manly, but this week's move by the Panthers to ask Barrett not to return to Penrith until he sorts his future out, is being viewed as a strong indicator he is headed to Brookvale.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary claimed on Friday to have no idea how long his assistant would be away from the Panthers.
"I honestly don't know what's happened. I'm not going to stand here and say there's nothing going on, because we all know there is, that's why you're all here," Cleary said.
"It's just a distraction for everybody. It's not the Penrith Panthers' issue.
"What is going on and the details around it, I don't know.
"It really comes down to all assistant coaches that we have are encouraged if they get the opportunity to further their careers and they're ambitions, we are going to support them."
Cleary said the focus for him was defeating Melbourne at Pepper Stadium on Saturday night and not Barrett's future.
"I've got to try and beat the Storm and they're a pretty good footy side. My energy this week has been going towards the game and beating the Melbourne Storm just like any normal week," he said.
The Panthers coach said the door was open for Barrett to return if things didn't work out with Manly.
News of Barrett's move to last-placed Manly was news to Toovey this week.
"I don't know where the (rumours) are coming from. We've got one of the most successful coaching departments in the NRL," Toovey said.
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