Claims of 'extreme paranoia' at Manly amid fears powerful player agent is working to oust Anthony Seibold

Reports have emerged that Manly are growing increasingly "paranoid" about the backroom dealings of a leading player agent as pressure increases on Anthony Seibold as the club's head coach.

Wide World of Sports reported last week that club legend Anthony Watmough was leading a group of Sea Eagles old boys who wanted Seibold gone, to be replaced by former player and current Broncos assistant coach Matt Ballin.

Watmough was formerly managed by George Mimis, the powerful agent who also manages Ballin and current Seibold assistant coach Michael Ennis.

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Mimis operates SFX management group, which also looks after leading Manly players Tom, Jake, and Ben Trbojevic, as well as veteran forward Siua Taukeiaho.

Senior Nine NRL journalist Danny Weidler reports powerbrokers at the Sea Eagles fear Mimis is effectively trying to white-ant Seibold out of the job - a notion that Weidler said does not stack up.

"I don't want to be rude when I say this, but there is an extreme paranoia at Manly at the moment about one of the leading player agents in the game, George Mimis, who has got one of the biggest companies in the game," Weidler said on 100% Footy.

"They think that Michael Ennis and Matt Ballin are being pushed by George Mimis to be the next Manly coach.

"I call it paranoia... there is no need for George Mimis to do this at the moment.

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"Twelve months ago Manly approached Mimis, who manages those two guys, to get a succession plan going where Michael Ennis would be the next Manly coach.

"Whether they are changing their mind on that I don't know. They are saying they 100 per cent support Anthony Seibold to be the coach.

"I'm hearing, on very good authority from the playing group, that not everybody is on board with that.

"Manly think it's relating to players at that club managed by SFX... that includes a couple of the biggest names at Manly.

"There is a definite situation at Manly that is causing angst for the Sea Eagles, and whether that leads to Seibold going, I can't guarantee that."

Seibold is contracted to coach the Sea Eagles next year but rumours of a premature sacking have been swirling in recent weeks.

They have lost four games on the trot - to the Bulldogs, Roosters, Raiders, and Tigers - and are next to no chance of playing finals.

It will be the second time in three years the team has missed finals under Seibold.

Manly hosts the Dolphins on Saturday in what will be outgoing captain Daly Cherry-Evans' 350th NRL game.