**Manly fullback Brett Stewart looking for highest bidder as get-clause comes to light**
by: Phil Rothfield From: The Sunday Telegraph November 13, 2011 12:00AM
CHAMPION fullback Brett Stewart is a free agent and prepared to quit Manly for the highest bidder.
No one has taken the news of coach Des Hasler's departure harder than the record tryscorer. After Hasler was stood down by the Manly board on Wednesday, Stewart was the first player to visit him at his northern beaches home.
"They have an incredibly strong bond and he is extremely disappointed Des is gone," Stewart's agent George Mimis said.
"Des was as big an influence as his family during a very difficult period in his life and he'll never forget that."
The Manly board has rubbished talk Stewart has a get-out clause, but The Sunday Telegraph has information that suggests otherwise.
A reliable source told me: "Brett's legal case cost him $350,000 so money's going to be important in his next deal.
"He's free to go now because of the clause or he's up at end of next season anyway. He loves Manly, but I honestly think he'll go to the highest bidder because he lost so much money clearing his name."
St George Illawarra are one of many clubs who have already made inquiries about Stewart. And they are likely to go after his brother Glenn as well.
But the Bulldogs are favourites because of Brett's tight relationship with Hasler.
Meanwhile, Manly's legendary boss Ken Arthurson has called for peace at his embattled old club.
"I can't tell you how down, depressed and emotional I've been over what's happening," Arthurson said. "I don't want to bag Des or the board. It's time for them to all pull together and endeavour to work as a team.
"In my years, I always insisted on total loyalty to each other. It's one of the reasons Manly has been such a great rugby league club.
"We always stood beside each other and behind each other in a crisis.
"If we had any problems with each other we never washed our dirty linen in public. Loyalty to each other was always the main consideration."
Arthurson last night ruled out talk he could return to Manly for a brief stint to knock the club back into shape.
"Do you want to see my birth certificate - I'm 82," he said. "It's very flattering that it's been mentioned but my days as a rugby league administrator are over."
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/manly-fullback-brett-stewart-looking-for-highest-bidder-as-get-clause-comes-to-light/story-e6frexnr-1226193497194