“You sold your own son,” Cathy would say and Sir Alex would feel a jab in the ribs. Ferguson, arguably the greatest manager in football history, looked back on the short time he was in charge of Darren and acknowledged it wasn’t always easy.

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Sir Alex Ferguson was untouchable as manager of Manchester United - but still faced a tricky ‘nepotism’ drama of his own. Picture: Getty

We’re talking about one of the greatest coaches in sport. A bloke who won trophies for fun. A man who spent a lifetime nursing egos of some of the most flamboyant and erratic figures in world sport (think Eric Cantona).

Yet even he conceded it was a challenge juggling the roles of manager, coach and father.

Not everyone, it seems, can be the Clearys. Parramatta coach Brad Arthur and his son Jake are finding that out the hard way. These are difficult times for the Arthurs. The Eels are coming off a heavy defeat at the hands of North Queensland and his son has become a target for trolls, who have questioned the decision to shift five-eighth Dylan Brown to the centres.

Brown was flying before the move and Jake Arthur has become collateral damage of a defeat that few saw coming. The issue here isn’t whether Jake Arthur should be in the team. The real question is whether Brad Arthur got it right moving Brown to the centres.

Dylan Brown started the season in red-hot form for Parramatta. Picture: Getty

The move worked a treat the week a week ago when Parramatta put the cleaners through Newcastle. No-one was complaining when the Eels won that day. The landscape changed in 80 ugly minutes in Darwin.

Parramatta were soundly beaten and Jake Arthur became the focus of unwanted and unwelcome attention, at least where social media was concerned. Social media, hey? It is part of the job these days but it can be a cesspool.

It can be unforgiving. It can be insensitive. It can be downright nasty. It may just be the straw that broke the camel’s back where the Arthurs are concerned. Jake Arthur has already been offered to rival clubs by his management.

In recent weeks, Melbourne were asked whether they would be interested in taking him as a long-term replacement for Cameron Munster.

The Storm indicated they had no desire to see Munster go. So the answer was a polite thanks for the offer, but we have our halves.

Jake Arthur will be on the radar of a number of rival clubs. Picture: Getty

No doubt, Arthur will appear on the radar of other clubs over the remaining months of this season. It may be that the family decide it is best for all concerned if he and dad were at different clubs.

With Brown and Moses expected to form a long-term combination at Parramatta, Jake Arthur’s best hope of playing first grade probably resides somewhere else anyway.

In the meantime, all eyes will be on Parramatta on Tuesday afternoon when Brad Arthur selects his side for Friday night’s blockbuster against Penrith. Jake Arthur will be there somewhere.

He is a key member of a squad that only a few weeks ago was tipped to give the competition a red-hot shake. He will continue to play a part this season, not because his father is coach but because the club and his teammates believe in him.

Fans on social media may have their doubts. Accusations of nepotism will be bandied about after any loss involving the 19-year-old. History suggests, he will be praised him one week and ripped apart the next.

Thankfully, those in the inner sanctum at Parramatta aren’t as volatile or flighty.

BROWNED OFF: EELS LEGEND FUMES OVER ARTHUR CALL

- Paul Crawley

Parramatta legend Ray Price has issued a blunt message to Brad Arthur, demanding the Eels “pull their heads out of their arse” and reinstate Dylan Brown at five-eighth for Friday’s season-defining clash with premiers Penrith.

Price also declared if the Eels “want to win the comp they are going about it the wrong way” by playing Jake Arthur ahead of Brown in the halves.

It comes amid huge fallout that has followed the humiliating 35-4 shock loss to North Queensland in Darwin.

Ray Price talks with Eels halfback Mitchell Moses. Picture: David Swift

That has led to young Arthur copping some cruel criticism on social media, with the club’s media department even forced to try and shield the 19-year-old away from the ugly trolls and the claims of nepotism.

We’d contacted Price to get his thoughts on the rivalry with the Panthers ahead of the blockbuster.

But like he is known to do, Pricey just gave a brutally honest assessment about an issue that has divided fans in recent days.

“Mate, they need to pull their heads out of their arse,” Price said.

“Tell me, why would you change your half and five-eighth combination?

“Can you tell me that?

“I can’t believe that.

“This young kid who is now 21, Brown, he is just becoming a footballer.

“He is playing some bloody good football.

Jake Arthur has come in for some heavy criticism. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“Why push him out to the centre? Why keep changing.

“If you want to win the comp, they are going about it the wrong way.

“They keep changing the most important positions and they put inexperience in it. You can’t win with inexperience.”

Up until his recent shift Brown was one of the competition’s form players, averaging 76 running metres a game, as well as some outstanding attacking stats.

In comparison, Jake Arthur didn’t make one run against the Cowboys.

Price said he wouldn’t mind if young Arthur came on occasionally and filled in to get experience.

But it should not come at the expense of moving Brown out of his preferred position, especially in a game as important as this week’s against the Panthers who are unbeaten this season in eight matches.

In fairness to coach Arthur he has been fighting an injury crisis in the backline.

On the weekend the Eels were still without Maika Sivo (knee), Haze Dunster (knee), Sean Russell (ribs), Waqa Blake (knee), Tom Opacic (neck) and Marata Nuikore (hamstring).

There is a chance Opacic could return this week with Arthur set to name his team on Tuesday.

But Price’s view is that regardless, if you need to bring someone in play them in the centres, not in the halves.

Dylan Brown has been in fine form this season. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“I think Parramatta can still beat Penrith but they have got to want to do it more than what the fans want to do it,” Price said.

“If you haven’t got that in you don’t go out on the field because it is just a waste of time.

“I have still got the belief in them.

“I think we have one of the best forwards packs going around and we have got very capable backs.

“But leave them in their bloody positions.

“I have nothing against his son. He is just inexperienced.”

He said this was a “huge” game for Parramatta in the context of their season.

“If they want to prove they can do something this year this is the game that they have got to set alight,” Price added.

“And I think they can do it. I believe in them.

“I might bag them every now and then but I believe in them.”

I agree with this article alot and is exactly what the fans are saying.