Bulldogs’ favourite son Steve Mortimer eyes Belmore exit
Canterbury great Steve Mortimer is expected to stand down from his role with the football board at the Belmore club, with internal issues with high profile directors behind the difficult decision.
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Canterbury Bulldogs legend Steve “Turvey” Mortimer is on the verge of quitting as a director of the embattled Belmore club.
Mortimer is saying he will walk away for “family reasons” at the end of the season but The Sunday Telegraph understands there is more to it.
The club’s greatest player will remain as a director of Canterbury Leagues Club but resign from the football board that oversees the NRL team.
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Your columnist understands Mortimer is having difficulties with two directors.
Out of respect for chair Lynne Anderson, he has chosen to walk away rather than create a split, especially as one of the issues is Anderson’s husband Chris. Mortimer sat with Lynne Anderson at Bankwest Stadium yesterday.
It is known Mortimer has desperately missed the support and alliance of old directors George Peponis and Arthur Coorey, who he worked alongside before the new board swept to power 18 months ago.
The club is facing huge pressure approaching the next board election in February next year.
Mortimer is the club’s favourite son and members will be upset about the circumstances of his departure.
The Bulldogs are near the bottom of the ladder for the second year running and have lost their major sponsor Kia, who have jumped ship to the Brisbane Broncos.
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The licensed premises is no longer the cash cow it was.
There are still doubts about the future of coach Dean Pay and little hope for improvement next year because of salary cap restrictions and back-ended deals from three years ago.
Originally published as Bulldogs’ favourite son Steve Mortimer eyes Belmore exit