Sacked Bulldogs coach Des Hasler likely to pursue payout from club through Supreme Court

IN a regrettably ugly end to their six-year relationship, Des Hasler and the Bulldogs are headed for the Supreme Court in the wake of coach’s sacking last week.

Des Hasler looks likely to pursue a payout from the Bulldogs in the courts.

JUST three weeks ago, Des Hasler and the Canterbury inner-sanctum hugged and celebrated a final round upset victory over St George Illawarra.

In a regrettable souring and ugly end to their six-year relationship, Hasler and the Bulldogs are headed for the Supreme Court, with the two-time premiership-winning coach’s legal team declaring for the first time, there could be “no alternative’’.

After five days of intense meetings with lawyers to determine whether he would pursue a $1 million payout following his sacking last Tuesday, Hasler and his legal team, led by Sydney lawyer Daniel McGirr, have confirmed the inevitable.

Des Hasler looks likely to pursue a payout from the Bulldogs in the courts.

“Our client’s position is clear, in April 2017 Mr Hasler entered into a binding and enforceable contract, being a Heads of Agreement, with the Canterbury Football Club,’’ McGirr said in a statement to News Corp Australia.

“We have obtained advice from a QC who has confirmed that position.

“In light of the recent unprompted statements made by the club we have notified the club of our client’s position and have advised them that we will be instituting proceedings in the Supreme Court to seek damages should this matter not be resolved quickly.

“This would of course be regrettable but our client, it seems, is left with no alternative.

“As it could be headed for the Courts it would be improper to provide any further comment at this stage.’’

The decision to launch proceedings against the Bulldogs is a major development for the code which sees a high-profile club and a high-profile coach go head-to-head with QC v QC.

Des Hasler spent six seasons at Canterbury.

The dispute between Hasler and the Bulldogs centres on the club’s refusal to acknowledge that a signed Heads of Agreement last April, which extended the 56-year old’s tenure at Canterbury until 2019 on a deal worth close to $2 million, is a legally binding contract.

Hasler’s legal team will use the repeated public endorsement of Hasler as head coach until 2019, dating back to an April 3 press release announcing the high-profile coach’s retention, as evidence that the Heads of Agreement was a legally binding contract.

In the wake of Hasler’s departure, chairman Ray Dib was adamant that the club had the power to distance themselves from any financial obligation.

“Des’s current contract expires October 2017,’’ Dib told fans and members on the club’s website on Wednesday.

“The board has made the decision not to renew that contract.

“Going forward there will be no liabilities on the club for the next two years.’’

Bulldogs boss Ray Dib was unaware of the club receiving any legal documentation.

On Friday, as he continued to work towards a decision on who will replace Hasler, Dib said he was unaware of the club receiving any legal documentation from Hasler’s lawyers.

“As far as I am aware no court proceedings have been commenced,’’ Dib said.

“Given the media speculation that this matter may proceed to court, it would not be appropriate for the club to make any further comment at this time.’’

McGirr is no stranger to the NRL having represented Kieran Foran in his pursuit of what he claimed was close to $150,000 in unpaid third-party deals from Manly.