'He has embarrassed himself': Gus Gould continues ugly Anthony Griffin spat

Phil Gould has dropped some bombshells on The Footy Show in response to Anthony Griffin lifting the lid on his dramatic sacking from the Penrith Panthers.

Gould went as far as to say the interview Griffin had done with Fox Sports was an embarrassment, and he should have taken time to approach the situation with a clear head.

“My first thoughts on that interview, is that he shouldn’t have done it,” Gould said.

“I think he was ill-advised, and I think he rushed into this too early.

“He has embarrassed himself…and he’s hurt a lot of people.”

Gould also said that Griffin would have been sacked three months ago after an internal review at the Panthers, if the senior management got their way.

“There was another one (review) after we were beaten by the Broncos a few weeks ago,” Gould said on The Footy Show.

“Neither review came up good for the coach.

“But at all times I said leave it to me, let me manage the situation.

“We’ll get him through the end of the season, we’ll keep trying to assist.

“And then hopefully we can discuss the next couple of years after that.”

The Panthers stunned the NRL after announcing they were cutting ties with Griffin just four weeks out from the NRL finals series.

The shocking move came after months of rumours suggesting the former Broncos mentor was on the outer with his club supremo.

Gould claimed that Griffin’s inability to work with other coaches and delegate duties at the club were fundamental reasons behind his sacking, on top of the rumours surrounding Ivan Cleary.

“It was the Ivan Cleary thing abut going to the Wests Tigers to tell them that he had a conversation with the Penrith chairman that brought it forward and for me would have made it unpalatable for Anthony to continue,” Gould said.

“All we’ve ever done is try to support him.”

Despite Cameron Ciraldo’s appointment as coach for the rest of 2018, Griffin claimed Gould will take charge of the finals-bound Panthers in pursuit of title glory – but Gould said there was two sides to that story.

“He (Ciraldo) did come to me and try to resign twice,” Gould said.

“Over the treatment from the head coach.

“I have the utmost respect and confidence in Cameron Ciraldo.”