Canterbury seek to settle former coach Des Hasler’s contract dispute with out of court settlement
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: The Canterbury Bulldogs have offered axed coach Des Hasler a $600,000 settlement before their contract dispute heads back to the Supreme Court this week.
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THE Canterbury Bulldogs have offered axed coach Des Hasler a $600,000 settlement before their contract dispute heads back to the Supreme Court this week.
The Sunday Telegraph understands lawyers for both parties have been in discussions to try to resolve the dispute before a directions hearing on Friday.
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Hasler had signed a $2.2 million memorandum of understanding last year to coach the Bulldogs until 2020 but the actual contract was never signed because of arguments over clauses in the contract.
He was later sacked and replaced by Dean Pay.
To save legal costs, Hasler and the Bulldogs were hoping to avoid a full court hearing.
Hasler is now working as a part-time consultant for the NRL’s football department as he waits for another head coach role in the NRL.
The $600,000 offer was put to Hasler’s lawyers and his manager George Mimis last week.
More negotiations will be held leading up to Friday’s directions hearing.
One of the problems is that Hasler’s deal was done by two officials who are no longer at the club — CEO Raelene Castle and chairman Ray Dib.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs are still in an extremely difficult salary cap position because of back-ended contracts that Hasler and Castle agreed to.
We’re told the Bulldogs will not be in a position to sign any significant players until 2020.