The Melbourne Storm have sounded out Parramatta Eels boss Scott Seward as a potential replacement for departing chief executive Mark Evans.
Fairfax Media understands the Storm have made contact with the off-contract Seward to discuss a potential club switch, earmarking the Eels chief executive as a potential replacement for Evans when he returns to the UK at the end of June.
The news couldn't have come at a worse time for the Eels, who have endured a tumultuous month with the heated leagues club elections, the salary cap breach and a horror month of football on the field.
If Seward were to leave Parramatta it would leave a question mark over the future of Kieran Foran at the club given the Manly five-eighth has a clause in his four-year deal that would allow him to renege at any time if there is upheaval at management level.
While Foran's major concern is about the future of coach Brad Arthur rather than that of the Eels chief executive, Seward's possible departure could have huge ramifications on the way the club is run if there is a change at management level.
Arthur has the full support of Seward, but a change of leadership could throw a spanner in the works if Seward were to leave the Eels to join the Storm.
Suspicions were first raised when Seward was spotted having lunch with Evans at Parramatta before the Eels-Storm game at Pirtek Stadium a fortnight ago.
Seward has been waiting for a contract from the Eels since his original one-year deal expired in September.
While the Eels are keen to retain Seward's services, there has been a delay in finalising a new deal they have been promising for months given the political uncertainty around the club leading into the Leagues club elections this month.
Seward has a strong connection with Melbourne, having lived in the city for seven years from 2006 to 2012 before returning to Sydney with the Eels.
Seward spent most of his time in Melbourne working at AFL club Western Bulldogs as the general manager of consumer operations and development, before a short stint with the Melbourne Racing Club prior to taking on the role as chief executive of Parramatta at the end of 2012.
The Storm are well aware of Seward's connection to Melbourne and have been keeping a close eye on his movements at Parramatta since Evans announced in April he would be leaving the club to return home to the UK after two years at the club.
Under the regime of Seward, who started off his career at the Canterbury Bulldogs as the club's merchandise manager in 1999, the Eels have managed to more than double their membership from 10,000 to 22,000.
The club has also managed to build a full-time training base at Old Salesyard Reserve in North Parramatta after years of training on a 70-metre field next to Pirtek Stadium.
Fairfax Media contacted Seward on Monday night but he declined to comment.
