Des Hasler sacking by Canterbury Bulldogs headed for courts

CANTERBURY have sacked two-time premiership-winning coach Des Hasler and the bitter bust-up is almost certainly headed for the courts.

Des Hasler has been sacked by the Bulldogs. Picture: Phil Hillyard

CANTERBURY have sacked two-time premiership-winning coach Des Hasler and the bitter bust-up is almost certainly headed for the courts.

Hasler and the club signed a heads of agreement for a two-year extension reportedly worth around $2 million back in April and Hasler was waiting for the long-form contract to be finalised and presented by the club.

The Bulldogs, however, never presented the final contract to Hasler, whose axing is effective immediately.

Des Hasler has been sacked by the Bulldogs. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sources claim Hasler was “strung along” as fan unrest grew over the team’s performance and the role of the Canterbury board this season.

There are fears Canterbury may attempt to reduce or squash any payout because no ­official contract was signed.

The ugly drama is destined for the courts as it’s understood Hasler will be seeking a $1 million payout.

It is a sad end to Hasler’s six-year Belmore reign, which included two grand finals.

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In a sign Canterbury may baulk at Hasler’s potential payout, Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib said in statement: “The heads of agreement reached with Des Hasler for an extension of his contract were non-binding and a decision has been made not to renew his contract for next year.”

Canterbury are officially in turmoil. The head coach has been sacked, CEO Raelene Castle is gone, captain James Graham has been moved along due to the club’s salary cap mess, while the Bulldogs’ favourite son, Josh Reynolds, has also left.

Canterbury are trying to offload Josh and Brett Morris, and Greg Eastwood.

Sacked coach Des Hasler's stats.

Many at Canterbury believe the decision to dump Hasler is “grandstanding” from Dib, who is facing a backlash at football club and leagues club elections early next year.

A shattered Hasler did not return calls.

Incoming marquee signing Kieran Foran will also be disappointed after Hasler, his former Manly mentor, convinced the Warriors playmaker to join him at the Bulldogs. Foran does not have a release clause in his contract tied to the coach.

Canterbury will incite enormous anger and ridicule if they use a loophole to deny a sacked coach his payout.

There is a theory the board created an environment of instability this year by gutting Hasler’s football department and Dib putting everyone on notice at the season launch that their jobs were on the line.

Hasler could be in line for the vacant NSW Origin job or the Gold Coast Titans position.

Axed Souths coach Michael Maguire has been mooted as a possible replacement, as has Canberra assistant coach Dean Pay and even current Manly coach Trent Barrett.

Barrett is still under contract at Brookvale next season and has started negotiating a new deal with the Sea Eagles.