Mitchell Moses may get a release to join Parramatta this season, but it won't be in time to face the Wests Tigers on Easter Monday.
Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe confirmed on Saturday that he would leave the decision in the hands of new coach Ivan Cleary.
But he said the club would not consider granting Moses a release in time for the match.
"If Ivan believes that it's in the best interest of the club and the football team moving forward, that's the determination that he can make," Pascoe told Triple M.
"I know one thing that probably won't happen, and that's that Mitchell won't be playing against the Wests Tigers for Parramatta next week."
Moses' contract situation has been the headline act of the so-called Wests Tigers' big four's negotiations.
The club announced on Wednesday they would make captain Aaron Woods and fullback James Tedesco a priority, and in turn pulled Moses' contract off the table.
It prompted Moses to seek an immediate release from the club to join Parramatta, a request that was denied.
And Pascoe insisted on Saturday that such a release would only be granted in the interest of the Tigers, not the player or the Eels.
"With all due respect to Parramatta, it won't be on their terms," Pascoe said.
"I don't care what Parramatta want. It will be on terms that are favourable to this organisation first and foremost."
Pascoe also said he would discuss Tedesco's comments on radio station C91.3 this week where he labelled the Tigers' off-field problems as "annoying" and said stability at rival clubs was "tempting".
"We'll have that conversation with James," Pascoe said.
"There's been a number of high-publicised issues at this club over the past five years. Let's not run away from that. It's not ideal.
"But the decisions we've made over the past two weeks is all about trying to bring these disruptions to an end."
The ongoing contract situation at the merged club dominated the headlines in the lead-up to Ivan Cleary's first game as head coach in Townsville on Saturday night.
Pascoe said he wanted the saga to be over within the next fortnight.
"The intent is that we all bring this to a conclusion if not this week, but the following week," he said.
Pascoe also confirmed reports the club has signed halfback Luke Brooks to a two-year deal, becoming the first of the stars to sign on for 2018.
The Tigers boss also revealed the likes of Kiwi halves Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson had been mooted as possible replacements for Moses at the club next season.
"It's been well documented that we've had discussions internally around players like (Gareth) Widdop, Foran, Johnson and (Ben) Matulino has been brought up," Pascoe said.
"We'll continue to look for players that will add value and complement the existing roster."
Meanwhile Eels coach Brad Arthur refused to be drawn into the debate on Moses when questioned on Saturday morning.
"We've got interest in Mitchell and he's got interest in playing at Parramatta," Arthur said.
"But until we get a registered contract he's not a Parramatta player, he's a Wests Tigers player."
Share
