League: Manly stalwarts blast Toovey firing

Manly Sea Eagles board members have blasted the club for firing Geoff Toovey. Photo / Getty

Some of Manly's biggest names have savaged the decision to sack Geoff Toovey as the club's coach for the 2016 NRL season.

Toovey's axing has opened a political divide at the Sea Eagles with the Manly Warringah Rugby League Football Club board, including Cliff Lyons, Mal Cochrane and Darrell Williams, describing the decision as "bewildering".

The football club holds two of seven spots on the Sea Eagles Limited board which is controlled by the NRL side's owner Scott Penn and his family.

Penn confirmed Toovey's sacking and the arrival of Trent Barrett as head coach would spark further changes at Brookvale ahead of the 2016 season, amid reports 14 players will be shown the door at the end of the year.

"This has been an intense and thorough process to ensure the long-term future and ongoing success of the club," Penn said.

"Significant changes will be occurring. These changes won't take away from the success the club has enjoyed, but will help reinforce the foundation for a successful future. We are excited about 2016 and beyond."

But a MWRLFC statement, which was also signed by Sea Eagles director Bob Stevenson, said Toovey deserved better after playing 268 games for the club and spending four seasons in charge as head coach.

"It's a sad day when an icon of our great club is told he is unwanted as the coach despite being under contract until the end of 2016," the statement said.

"His position as coach was undermined even before the season began and continued relentlessly throughout the entire 2015 season. He has not been treated with the respect he has earned and deserves."

Barrett has no head coaching experience but has worked as an assistant to Ivan Cleary at Penrith and has guided the NSW Country Origin side since 2012.

Toovey and several senior players will face the media on Wednesday as the Sea Eagles need to win six of their remaining seven games to qualify for the finals series.

They host table-topping Brisbane at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday night.

-AAP