Panthers boss Brian Fletcher says Ivan Cleary has a job for life, and admits he should never have been sacked

Penrith boss Brian Fletcher admits the club should never have sacked coach Ivan Cleary in 2015, declaring the premiership-winning coach now has a job for life.

Cleary was axed following the 2015 season that saw Penrith finish 11th, in a tightly contested competition where they were just one win clear of 16th place.

He coached the Wests Tigers in 2017-18 before returning to Penrith for the 2019 season.

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"Everybody makes mistakes. We made a mistake by getting rid of him in the first place," Fletcher told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"At least we were smart enough under Dave's [chairman Dave O'Neill] leadership, and Dave was the main instigator suggesting to the board that we get him back. It's just magical. I'm sure we wouldn't be in the position we are in today if it wasn't for Ivan.

"Nobody was ever worried when we signed him. He knew what he was doing. He had a plan. He just had to assemble the right team and the right culture. That's what he's done."

Cleary is contracted to Penrith through until the end of the 2023 season, but Fletcher indicated the job is his for as long as he wants, after guiding the club to its first premiership in 18 years.

"I can't ever see Ivan Cleary leaving the place," Fletcher said. "The juniors are going to keep coming through, and we have one of the best coaches. With that development pathway, it's not as if our players are going to deteriorate. So where are you going to find a better coach than Ivan?

"He's here for as long as he wants to be here. I've never heard the board say anything differently. They love him. All the players love him. You can see how much this place means to him and how much he means to the people in it. I can't see him leaving."