Canterbury directors up for re-election nervous about making the call on Des Hasler’s future

WITH elections due early next year, Bulldogs and Canterbury Leagues Club directors know the decision on Des Hasler’s future could be crucial to re-election.

THEY are the back-to-back Canterbury board elections which are inadvertently placing immense pressure on coach Des Hasler.

Directors of the Canterbury football club and powerful Canterbury Leagues Club are preparing for re-election early next year knowing Hasler’s future will play a pivotal role in the result.

The seven football club directors are nervous about whether to move Hasler along after this year or re-sign him to a further two seasons.

This will be the biggest decision in their election campaign.

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If the board blunders on the Hasler decision, there could be blood on the floor at football club elections in February and Leagues Club elections in March.

The football board is split over whether to re-sign Hasler, who has guided Canterbury to five successive semi-finals in five years, including two grand finals. He previously took Manly to three grand finals, winning two.

One source close to the board said: “Some elements of the board are asking who out there is better than Des?”

Canterbury would be forced to pay out Hasler up to $1 million if he was sacked now.

It is understood the football club would struggle to find that money given they posted a loss at the last AGM. The Leagues Club may then be asked to stump up the cash, a request they may baulk at.

The pressure is on Hasler and the Bulldogs board to get it right. Photo: Stephen Cooper

Football club directors will meet on Thursday before Canterbury’s big game against Brisbane at ANZ Stadium to further discuss Hasler’s coaching future. They know nominations for positions at next year’s elections will be lodged by December.

There is growing speculation that George Coorey, a powerful figures at the club, may run for the football club board. Coorey has previously served on the football club board and is also a director on the Canterbury Leagues Club board. There is a genuine push for Coorey to run for the football club.

Both boards are facing some tough decisions outside of Hasler.

The future of Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle has been a topic but she enjoys support internally and externally.

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Another interesting debate is the future of former NSW five-eighth Josh Reynolds. Fans are split on whether Reynolds should be retained, his contract ending after this season. His form has been modest but he is a local junior, a fact loved by born and bred Belmore fans.

Ray Dib is football club chairman, a deputy chairman hasn’t been named since Paul Dunn left several years ago. There is little doubt Dib is a respected figure who has also become a powerbroker in key NRL matters. He will though feel pressure at the election, despite having a strong and loyal ally in Arthur Coorey, a godfather at the Bulldogs.

The football club comprises Dib (chairman), Arthur Coorey, Anter Isaac, Peter McMahon, Andrew Farrar, Anne Sinclair and Anthony Elias. Isaac, Football NSW chairman, is highly regarded at Canterbury.

The Leagues Club board consists of George Peponis (chairman), Arthur Coorey (deputy chairman), Ray Dib, George Coorey, Peter McMahon, Steve Mortimer and Barry Ward. The Leagues Club AGM was to be held last night.

Some Leagues Club members were expected to ask how the club’s grant was being spent by the football club.