Stephen Kearney demanded assurances from the Parramatta board that he would have final say on the Eels' playing roster before accepting the most pressure-filled coaching role in the NRL.

Kearney agreed to a three-year deal with the Eels replacing Daniel Anderson, who was sacked with a year to go on his contract after following up a grand final berth in 2009 with a disappointing 12th-place finish this year.

The former Melbourne assistant and current New Zealand Test coach was adamant he wanted total control over his playing roster, which could include former Manly skipper Matt Orford in coming weeks.

"One of the key points in making this decision was that before we came to any agreement I needed to have that assurance, so I met with the board and expressed that I needed to be in control of the football side of things," Kearney said.

"I felt very comfortable once I left that board meeting that I had that.

"As a footy coach I don't think you can operate any other way.

"They've given me the role of looking after the football team, that's part of my responsibility, they need to let me be able to do that."

There are claims, denied by chief executive Paul Osborne, that Anderson was not consulted when it came to key recruitment decisions.

It is believed Anderson was not in favour of the big-money pursuit of Wallabies star Quade Cooper, which fell through when the playmaker opted to stay in rugby union for another season.

Cooper is one of three halfback options to have knocked back the club, with veteran pair Trent Barrett and Brett Kimmorley both opting to retire rather than accept one-year deals with the club.

That has left Orford and former Penrith skipper Craig Gower - currently playing rugby union in France - as last-ditch options for 2011, with the club's current playmaking stocks not extending beyond Daniel Mortimer and Jeff Robson.

Orford is one season into a three-year deal with Super League club Bradford, but is keen to return to Australia, with Canberra also chasing is services.

"Without a doubt," Kearney said when asked if the club was interested in Orford.

"I know Matty fairly well from my time in Melbourne, I know he's keen to come back down to the NRL.

"We're working through that and I'm sure you'll hear something over the next few weeks."

In fact Kearney was due to meet with Orford on Wednesday, only for a communication mix-up seeing the former Dally M medal winner in Bali on holidays.

Kearney admitted there was pressure on the club to return to the finals but denied he had set a targeted finish for 2011.

"I haven't thought that far ahead, my immediate focus is making sure I prepare the side as best I can," he said.

"I know the potential's there.

"I saw a team (in 2010) which at times were brilliant and certainly could turn on the tap and play some very exciting football when they needed to, but at times I thought they were a little inconsistent.

"Where they finished on the table probably indicates that."

Asked whether Kearney's tenure would be secure if the club failed to climb the ladder in 2011, Osborne said:

"He's got a three-year contract."

Told Anderson too had a three year contract which he didn't see out, Osborne replied:

"I'm confident Steve will be here for a long time.

"That's (expectations for next year) something that we'll discuss ... we just want to see improvement and we didn't see improvement this year."

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