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7th Tackle: Why Jason King's mum walked away from Manly

There was a very notable absentee from the Brookvale faithful last Saturday - Pam King, mother of former skipper Jason King.

She's been an ardent fan since childhood and rarely misses a game.

Until a few days earlier Pam was working at Sea Eagles HQ, as personal assistant to new CEO Tim Cleary.

The pair had worked side-by-side for years previously, across the road from the stadium at St Augustines College, where Cleary was principal.

Turmoil inside the Manly board, again. Pic: Getty
Turmoil inside the Manly board, again. Pic: Getty

Cleary brought her to Manly in late January, shortly after he started. Less than six weeks later she quit; virtually without warning.

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Much has been made this week of the sacking of Kristy Fulton - daughter of football department boss, Bob Fulton.

It's no co-incidence Cleary swung the axe on Kristy in the same week his long-serving PA resigned.

Sacking Kristy sparked an internal war with the club's all-powerful patriarch, and it wouldn't be an understatement to describe it as a battle for survival.

Whoever wins will ultimately be determined by the Penn family, which hired Cleary and had to foot the bill for a $1.7 million loss in 2016.

What's certain is that it will get personal - and ugly.

There's already been attempts to smear Cleary about the family of Eddie Obeid Jnr being invited into a corporate area for the Round One clash against Parramatta.

Obeid Jnr and his family are all Eels fans and approached Cleary for tickets through a third party, who has worked at the Sea Eagles for over a year.

Twitter: @Josh_Massoud and @LiamCox_TV
Twitter: @Josh_Massoud and @LiamCox_TV