Shake-up continues at Manly

Manly expects to name a new chairman and coach within days as the shake-up at the National Rugby League club continues. The Sea Eagles are close to agreeing to terms with assistant coach Des Hasler for 2004.

Chief executive Ian Thomson also says the club is likely to call an urgent board meeting to accept the resignation of chairman Paul Vautin - who stood down last night - and appoint someone else in the role.

The Sea Eagles have been in turmoil since it was revealed last month that the Leagues Club was forced to bail out the football club with $3 million over the next three years.

Vautin's resignation was understood to be a condition of that agreement, but the media personality initially agreed to stay in the job until the end of the year.