Ben Elias says Wests Tigers have become the NRL's laughing stock amid speculation Ivan Cleary is set to leave and take over as Penrith coach next year.
The NRL coaching merry-go-round is set to go into full swing with Cleary tipped to be released from the final two years of his Tigers contract to replace Panthers mentor Cameron Ciraldo in 2019.
The Tigers are understood to be circling Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett as a replacement for next year, with South Sydney premiership-winning mentor Michael Maguire already linked to the Broncos.
Manly confirmed on Friday Maguire had knocked back the chance to take over from Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett next year.
Tigers great Elias said he was gutted by reports that Cleary would join his son Nathan at Penrith in 2019 on a five-year deal.
"I'm shattered. We're the laughing stock at the moment," he told Fox Sports.
"Cleary came to the club to build a dynasty and after one year he is gone and he got rid of three of our great junior players in (Mitchell) Moses, (Aaron) Woods and (James) Tedesco and two of them are playing for Australia (this month).
"That's the embarrassing part. We want a club where players want to come to our club and play for the black and gold and be part of our organisation.
"We've got to build a dynasty and it has got to start somewhere and we thought we were going to have that with Ivan Cleary."
The coaching dominoes may quickly fall if Cleary returns to Penrith, the club that sacked him in 2015.
Cleary is reportedly on the nose with Tigers officials and may receive an early release, opening the door for Bennett.
Master coach Bennett is under contract at Brisbane next year but may seek an early release to link with the Tigers.
Broncos officials are not expected to stand in Bennett's way if the seven-time premiership winner makes the request after they fell out this season over the club's succession plan.
The Broncos board knocked back Bennett's request to coach for another year in 2020 before taking up a football director role at the NRL club.
Elias believed Cleary's mooted departure may be a blessing in disguise for the Tigers.
"If you had to ask who you wanted to coach, Ivan Cleary or Wayne Bennett, you would choose Wayne Bennett every day of the week," he said.
"It could be a blessing in disguise for us because Wayne Bennett to our club would be awesome.
"He is what the club needs. He reminds me of when (2005 premiership winner) Tim Sheens came to the club and he made the big decisions and wasn't afraid to do that."
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