Overthrown Bulldogs chairman George Coorey to take court action in bid to clear his name
The chances of new Canterbury coach Trent Barrett stepping into a more harmonious club aren’t looking good as the Bulldogs lurch further into crisis with the threat of legal action now hovering over Belmore.
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Civil war has broken out at Canterbury with deposed Leagues Club chairman George Coorey planning to clear his name by sensationally suing his own club.
It is a major development for a club in crisis on and off the field, Coorey is ready to launch legal action against football club chair Lynne Anderson, the football club board and Canterbury Bulldogs NRL club.
Coorey was overthrown as Leagues Club chair on Wednesday night amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards four women earlier this year. No charges have been laid.
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While refusing to comment when contacted by News Corp, Coorey is understood to have told confidants and legal representatives he did not receive any formal or written complaints over the allegations.
And friends of Coorey claim the football board – led by Anderson – broke the club’s constitutional protocols by commissioning an investigation into the drama without telling Coorey or the Leagues Club.
Anderson interviewed Coorey in February to reveal the allegations. Coorey is alleged to have told Anderson: “Go to the police – take these people to the police.”
Coorey knew the accusations were coming but was unaware what they would allege. The first Coorey claimed he knew of the exact accusations were in the Sydney media on August 29.
Sources close to Coorey claim he was not told any further details about the allegations between that first interview with Anderson in February and media report in late August.
Coorey has vowed to initiate legal action against Anderson, football club directors and the club they represent, the Canterbury Bulldogs, in the Supreme Court.
He is desperate to clear his name against all allegations. Coorey has told friends: “I won’t miss them.”
Coorey, 61, has not been sighted at the football club’s chairman’s lounge for home games over the past month.
An angry Coorey privately thinks Anderson had no constitutional right to initiate the investigation, which was undertaken by management compliance specialists Barringtons. The findings could not substantiate the claims against Coorey.
Coorey’s confidants privately believe the football club board had no right to investigate a Leagues Club chairman, given both bodies are separate entities. He will claim he didn’t have any of the allegations put to him in writing nor was he told who made the accusations.
One well-placed source close to the football club and Leagues Club boards said: “The football has no jurisdiction to run an investigation on Coorey, who in on the Leagues Club board. It (the allegations) should have gone back to the Leagues Club.
“Any disciplinary action at the Leagues Club should be heard by the Leagues Club - not by the football club.”
Some elements of the football club and Leagues Club are however claiming they were in fact involved in the investigation.
Coorey will allege the damaging headlines caused him personal embarrassment while also affecting his business interests. He is a mortgage broker.
Some football club directors believe they have dominance over the Leagues Club board because the four football club directors hold the balance of power in the seven-member Leagues Club board. Both sides claim to have power over the Leagues Club.
Reports suggested Coorey was one of the four football club directors on the Leagues Club board but Coorey actually ran from the floor. He has never been nominated by the football club but the football club did support him to become chairman.
News Corp reached out to Anderson twice for comment on Thursday but she did not respond to calls. She was also sent a text message. Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill also elected against commenting on the Coorey situation.
It is understood Barringtons sought to interview Coorey’s accusers for up to six weeks during the investigation but couldn’t secure any formal statements.
While pushed aside as chairman, Coorey retained his place as a club director, pending a second investigation, to be commissioned by the Leagues Club. Should the new investigation exonerate Coorey, he would then expect to be reinstated as Leagues Club chairman.
A Leagues Club statement issued on Thursday from CEO Greg Pickering read: “At a board meeting held on Wednesday, 9 September, Mr George Coorey was removed as president.
“The board has instructed that an independent investigation is to be conducted into the allegations made against Mr Coorey. Mr Coorey denies all the allegations. The meeting elected Mr. Paul Dunn to the position of president.”
It is understood the new investigation would seek interviews from the accusers.
Feuding Bulldogs finally push out their main man
In another night of boardroom brawling at Belmore, Canterbury Leagues director George Coorey has finally been overthrown as chairman.
The Bulldogs board called yet another meeting inside Canterbury Leagues Club on Wednesday night to remove Coorey for his chairman’s role.
After three-and-a half-hours of debate, it is understood Coorey was instructed to stand down as chairman. He refused to step aside when asked and may now seek legal advice.
He has retained his place as a club director.
Coorey has been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women earlier this year. The push to axe Coorey has been sustained.
A veteran Bulldogs director, Coorey was told at the meeting to step aside as chairman pending an independent investigation into the accusations.
The drama continues a season of misery on and off the field with the Bulldogs running last on the NRL competition ladder with just three rounds remaining.
It may give new coach Trent Barrett an insight into the deep issues engulfing the once proud club.
Coorey spent time with his legal representatives before attending Wednesday night’s meeting. This was the fifth board meeting called over the past nine days to try and dislodge Coorey.
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Each time when asked to step down, Coorey refused, vowing to fight for his position and the allegations. He is expected to commence legal action to clear his name.
A previous investigation commissioned by Canterbury football club found the claims to be unsubstantiated.
The next investigation will be conducted by the Leagues Club.
Should the new investigation also clear Coorey, he would then expect to be reinstated as Leagues Club chairman.
The interim chairman will either be directors Peter Callaghan or Paul Dunn, who was not answering his mobile phone on Wednesday night.
It is understood the new investigation would seek interviews from the women involved. Those making the allegations have, to date, been reluctant to lodge formal complaints for private reasons.
As revealed on Monday’s Daily Telegraph, Canterbury powerbroker Bill Diakos met Dunn, a Leagues Club director, and John Ballesty, another director, on Tuesday evening.
It was at this meeting — inside Ballesty’s home — where a resolution was discussed with Coorey to step down as Leagues Club chairman but remain on the board pending a second investigation.
After the meeting, Diakos met with Coorey — who is angry and bullish about the allegations — to discuss the proposal.
Asked to comment, Diakos only said: “I attended the meeting and the board members were comfortable with the proposal.”
Originally published as Overthrown Bulldogs chairman George Coorey to take court action in bid to clear his name