Here is the source
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/radio-heavyweight-alan-jones-backs-matt-parish-for-wests-tigers-coaching-role/story-e6frexnr-1226482151850
**<big>Radio heavyweight Alan Jones backs Matt Parish for Wests Tigers coaching role</big>**
RADIO kingpin Alan Jones is providing behind-the-scenes backing for Matt Parish to be appointed Wests Tigers coach.
Jones coached Parish at Balmain Tigers during the early 1990s and the pair have remained close.
Club greats Benny Elias and Steve Roach were also in those teams, completing a powerful bloc of support for Parish to succeed Tim Sheens.
"Matt is a hard man who doesn't suffer fools lightly. He would put his stamp on the club," Tigers legend Roach said.
"He is a great tactician who can cut up video and complete skill drills. He has done his apprenticeship.
"Matt would be excellent for the Tigers and there is a pedigree there. He played for Balmain and his father, Don, played and coached at Western Suburbs."
Newly appointed NSW coach Laurie Daley, who had Parish on his Country Origin staff for the past three years, also backed him to succeed.
"Matt has been Country assistant coach for the past three years and will be a NSW assistant again next season if he doesn't get an NRL job," Daley said. "He has a good football brain, is very knowledgeable and very strategic. Matt has a strong personality which will be suited to the NRL.
"If he got the Tigers job, he would do a fantastic job. It is a matter of when he will get an NRL job, not if."
Jones did not return calls last night, but well-placed sources have confirmed the influential broadcaster wants to see Parish in control.
Despite having agreed to continue his apprenticeship under Ricky Stuart at Parramatta next year, Parish has the green light to accept the Tigers job and is the clear favourite ahead of Nathan Brown, Steve Georgallis and Peter Gentle.
Brown has moderate support among the players, with back-row stalwart Liam Fulton providing positive reports of his ability after playing under the former Dragons coach in Huddersfield.
Removed from the head coaching role on Tuesday, Sheens is contemplating whether to take up a new, and as yet unspecified, role at the club.
The uncomfortable dilemma could be resolved should he join the Warriors, who interviewed Sheens in Sydney last week.
Sheens has been sidelined from the club's player review, which has now been assumed by assistant coach Georgallis.
The successor will have a major impact on the Tigers' chances of keeping skipper Robbie Farah, who is in Parramatta's sights for 2014.
Farah's agent Sam Ayoub last night confirmed Tigers boss Steve Humphreys had been in touch to plan negotiations.
"While there has been no formal negotiations as yet, Steve Humphreys phoned me yesterday to express interest in keeping Robbie long term," Ayoub said. "We're keen to sit down and start that once it becomes clear what the salary cap will be (in 2014)."
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He's been given a glowing praise by blocker. He's been an assistant for a while, Manly and NSW, he has served an apprenticeship, maybe he's ready for the top gig?
