Panthers boss angers football world with claim about Mary Fowler and Nathan Cleary's future
The comments have been branded 'delusional' and 'embarrassing'.
Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has copped backlash from the soccer community after suggesting Mary Fowler should move back to Australia to be closer to Nathan Cleary. Rumours have been circulating for months that Cleary is considering switching from the NRL to the English Super League so he can spend more time with girlfriend Fowler, who plays for Manchester City in the top league of women's soccer.
Fowler spends the majority of her time in the UK and Europe, which is part and parcel of being one of the top female players in world soccer. But it means she gets to spend very little time with Cleary during the NRL season when he's plying his trade for the Panthers.
But the NRL star has now won four premierships with Penrith, and there's very little left for him to achieve in Australia. He's previously admitted he's open to playing in the Super League one day, and will jet off to England this week to spend some time with Fowler.
At the Panthers' fan day in Penrith on Wednesday, Fletcher was inevitably asked about the rumours Cleary might decide his future lies in England and ask for a release. But on multiple occasions he stated that Fowler might move back to Australia.
"It might be the other away around," Fletcher said in an interview with Channel 7. "Mary will come back here I'd say to be closer to him." He also told Channel 9: "That's CEO of the football department Matt Cameron's job to bring her back here permanently."
Critical to their plan to win 5-straight and more, the Panthers have ruled out Nathan Cleary joining his partner Mary Fowler long-term in the UK. At today's fan day, club officials stressed they want to lock in deals with Nathan and dad Ivan up 'til the next decade. pic.twitter.com/idVHcuodVc
β 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) October 9, 2024
Soccer community rips Panthers CEO over Mary Fowler comment
Fletcher's comments initially appeared to be in jest, but his interview with Channel 7 was dead serious. And as many in the soccer community are pointing out, it's almost unfathomable that Fowler would give up her career with one of the biggest teams in global sport to come back to Australia and play for the Western Sydney Wanderers or any other team in the A-Leagues.
It appears far more feasible that Cleary will be playing in England before Fowler is playing in Australia. Veteran soccer commentator Ray Gatt wrote on social media on Wednesday: "Seriously Penrithβ¦.trying to convince Mary Fowler to come back to Sydney so they can keep Nathan Cleary playing league? Not going to happen! Mary has her own fantastic career to look forward to!"
Another person wrote: "She has her whole career ahead of her, why would she give that up? She could be an international star. All for some dude who plays a sport most of the world has never heard of."
Others described Fletcher's comments as "delusional" and 'embarrassing", while another joked: "Penrith Beach or St Tropez? Tough decision." A fourth person commented: "Small sport mentality. She has the whole world to play in. Heβs got essentially three states and NZ. She ainβt moving to Penrith."
Yeah I laughed when the Penrith ceo suggested Fowler would probably come back and play in Australia π maybe in another 10 years
β Andrew Dickinson (@Andrewerd) October 9, 2024
Mary Fowler plays the world game on a world stage. Nathan Cleary plays on a smaller stage.
β Phillip Gibson (@notguilty1) October 9, 2024
So they want to convince her to leave a hugely successful football career in England for a Rugby League player and live in Penrith with him?
Imagine her informing the City group of this. First thing they'll ask is "what the hell is Rugby League?"β Nathan Zur β½οΈ (@ZurNathan) October 9, 2024
Ha! Ha! Convincing Mary to move away from success in a World Class Sport with an elite world club... Ha! Ha!
Good luck with that. These guys have had their collective heads up their asses far too longβ Jose Esteban Jr (@bacardi_jr) October 9, 2024
Move to Penrith π€£π€£π€£
β T-Bag π¦πΊ (@Thomas58974615) October 9, 2024
She ainβt leaving man city π
β Jake (@curly_941) October 9, 2024
delusion is the word
β liaπ (@ohits_lia) October 9, 2024
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Cleary and father Ivan are signed to the Panthers until the end of 2027, but Fletcher has expressed his hope they'll extend until at least 2030. Whether or not they'll stand in Nathan's way if he asks for a release to play in England remains to be seen.
He admitted earlier this year: "I'm not against it. I have a pretty open mind to that kind of stuff. I think just being able to experience different cultures and different experiences is something I enjoy doing. I'm not closed off to that idea."