It has been uncovered that a falling out with Manly powerbroker Bob Fulton is reason why Trent Barrett appears set to depart the club at the end of the season, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald.
Barrett is contracted until the end of the 2020 season, but has given 12 months' notice, as allowed under the agreement of the contract extension he signed in November last year.
A tense of face-off between the Sea Eagles and Barrett's veteran manager, Wayne Beavis, has already commenced, although Beavis has told Fairfax Media the concerns could be resolved by Thursday.
But Manly are reportedly not prepared to provide their sour coach a payout to leave at the end of the season, which complicates matters.
While Manly's lack of football resources are being proffered, it can be revealed that Barrett's fallout with Fulton is at the crux of the matter.
Fulton gave Barrett his first NRL job on the advice of Panthers general manager Phil Gould, who a while ago identified Barrett as the future coach and swiftly made him an assistant at Penrith.