A foundation sponsor of the Canberra Raiders wants assurances the embattled club will return to its glory days before re-committing for the next three years.
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On a tumultuous day which began with intense speculation coach David Furner would step aside and ended with the NRL strugglers embarking on an unprecedented week-long camp, Canberra Milk general manager Garry Sykes yesterday said his company wanted to know how the Raiders intend to rectify their rotten season.
Furner will remain at the helm of a Raiders side which has lost five of its past six games and is second-last on the ladder - the same position it finished in last year.
The low point came in last weekend's 40-0 drubbing at the hands of the Wests Tigers, a match which represented the Raiders' greatest losing margin at Canberra Stadium and the second-highest home loss in the club's 31-year history.
Canberra Milk has been there since those humble beginnings in 1982, experiencing the lows of the initial stages when a team of largely amateurs were flogged on a regular basis, to the highs of the club's three premierships in 1989, 1990 and 1994.
Mr Sykes said negotiations were underway to extend that relationship until 2015, but he wanted to be confident his company was aligned with a successful brand before signing on the dotted line.
''If we do a three-year deal with the Raiders, one of the things we want to do is sit down and say, I want to have a look at what their plans are for the next three years,'' Mr Sykes said.
''For three years we've been saying next year.
''We can't keep blaming everywhere else except what the issue is.
''We need to identify what the issue is and fix it quickly.''
The Raiders are sticking strongly with Furner, who has a 38 per cent winning percentage since taking over the top job in 2009, the second-worst record in club history in front of only Don Furner senior's 34 per cent mark from 1982-86.
In fairness, the Raiders were the victims of a horror injury toll last year, and have again lost key playmaker Terry Campese and representative prop Brett White for the rest of this season.
Furner appeared bemused when quizzed about the source of rumours beginning on Twitter that he was going to either step down or be asked to step down by the Raiders board yesterday.
''You've got a better idea than me,'' he said.
''For me, it's just about concentrating on a game - and that's all I can do.''
As a large media contingent surrounded Furner, players boarded a team bus bound for the Central Coast knowing they will face intense scrutiny if they deliver another forgettable performance against the Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.
Raiders chairman John McIntyre stated the club intends to honour Furner's contract, which expires at the end of 2014.
Mr Sykes, who last year had a Raiders logo tattooed on his arm, said on-field performances were crucial to Canberra Milk continuing its association with the club.
''A sponsorship's an investment and you want to get a return on investment,'' he said.
''We're a strong, proud brand and want to be associated with a strong, proud club.''