Tim Sheens is in the frame for the Eels coaching job. Source: mark evans / DailyTelegraph
TIM Sheens has soared into contention for a coaching role at the beleaguered Parramatta Eels, with the Kangaroos mentor on a shortlist of interviewees.
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After North Queensland on Tuesday hired Roosters assistant Paul Green to lead the club for the next two seasons, the wooden spooners are now the only club with their entire 2014 coaching structure still to be finalised.
As well as looking for a man to replace Ricky Stuart, Parramatta are also speaking to candidates for a football director role that's similar in scope to Phil Gould's position at Penrith.
The Daily Telegraph has learned Sheens is firmly in line to fill the senior spot, and was scheduled to be interviewed this week until an illness he suffered from the PM XIII trip to Papua New Guinea struck.
Sacked by Wests Tigers last year, 63-year-old Sheens has repeatedly declared his wish to resume coaching another NRL club.
But well-placed sources at Parramatta believe his seniority might be better suited to the football director position - a role that's also featured talk about former Eels coach Brian Smith returning to the club.
Another impediment to Sheens landing the head coaching role is his commitment to Australia's World Cup campaign, which could extend until 26 November - almost a month after preseason training resumes.
Past and present players are campaigning for a younger man to handle the football team, with two other former Eels coaches - Brad Arthur and Jason Taylor - their preferred selections.
Recently retired stars such as Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt have thrown their weight behind Taylor, who is also working under Dally M Coach of the Year Trent Robinson at the Roosters.
But current Eels players fronted board members a fortnight ago to petition for their old caretaker coach Arthur, who took over for the final six games of 2012 after Steve Kearney's sacking.
It's understood both Arthur and Taylor would be comfortable working under Smith should they get the job. The Eels still have to hire assistant staff as well as a new under-20s coach.
Ironically, Eels chairman Steve Sharp has told sources that his preference is NRL referees boss Daniel Anderson. However, Anderson has turned down the overtures and will remain at League Central.
Neither Sharp nor Sheens returned calls Tuesday night.
Now at Manly, Arthur was eyeballing Green for the Cowboys job along with former Wests Tigers assistant Steve Georgallis. Both Arthur and Georgallis were informed they'd narrowly missed out late Monday night.
Green was also convinced he'd missed out, telling Roosters officials over the weekend of his belief the Cowboys had poached seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett from Newcastle.
Coy about his future last week, Bennett only made a public commitment to see out the final two years of his Newcastle contract on Monday.
The Cowboys decided to appoint Green later that day, fuelling speculation they'd made a secret approach to Bennett that had been knocked back because the master coach still has unfinished business in Newcastle.
