Des Hasler’s future with the Bulldogs will be decided on Friday

DES Hasler’s future at Canterbury will go on the line this Friday with revelations the football club board has been summoned to a specially convened meeting.

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DES Hasler’s future at Canterbury will go on the line this Friday with revelations the football club board has been summoned to a specially convened meeting.

Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle has confirmed the meeting was specifically to discuss the coaching situation.

It is understood there are sections of the board who are unhappy with the direction the club is heading under Hasler. If the board opts for change, a major stumbling block could come down to negotiating a suitable payout of the 55-year-old’s reported $1.2 million salary for the final year of his existing contract.

This latest development comes in the wake of The Sunday Telegraph’s revelations Hasler has already had a two-year contract extension pulled after the Bulldogs were bundled out in week one of the NRL finals.

Coach, Des Hasler during Canterbury Bulldogs training at Belmore Sports Ground. pic Mark Evans

Castle denied the extension was taken off the table, but refused to answer whether the terms and conditions of Hasler’s original offer had changed.

“I am not going to talk to you about that,” Castle said.

“The truth of the matter is that we are still in negotiations with Des and his management and there has been no final decisions made on anything.

“Yes, there is going to be a board meeting on Friday and that is the main purpose of the meeting, to discuss Des Hasler’s contract extension.”

But The Daily Telegraph understands the revised offer is simply not acceptable, and will almost certainly end up pushing Hasler out of the club.

Asked if she was certain that Hasler would be at the club next year, Castle answered: “He is contracted to coach at the Bulldogs until the end of 2017.”

But she wouldn’t comment on whether there was unrest among some board members.

“I’m not prepared to discuss that with you,” Castle said.

The Bulldogs had a meek finish to the season.

Hasler has also been forced to accept huge cuts to his coaching staff budget with several key and loyal personnel already told they are no longer required.

The Daily Telegraph has been told that members of the Canterbury Leagues Club board have also discussed re-evaluating their position on future football club funding.

It is understood the Leagues Club kicks in $6.5 million a year to rugby league and development, with the majority going directly to the Bulldogs’ NRL operation.

Privately, possible coaching candidates have been discussed with former Bulldogs’ greats Dean Pay and Mick Potter among names mentioned.

Friday’s meeting is expected to be attended by the full football club board that includes chairman Ray Dib and directors Arthur Coorey, Andrew Farrar, Anthony Elias, Steve Mortimer, Anter Isaac and Peter McMahon.

The Daily Telegraph attempted to contact Dibb, who Castle said was overseas, and Leagues Club chairman George Peponis, who did not return calls.

Hasler’s manager George Mimis did not want to comment.

Hasler has taken the club to two grand finals since taking over in 2012.

In his five years in charge at Canterbury Hasler has lifted the Bulldogs from wooden spooners to two grand finals.

While this year’s finals exit was disappointing, the real unrest is said to relate more specifically to Hasler apparently not understanding the club’s famous culture.

While Hasler is widely regarded as one of the best and most successful coaches of the modern era, Bulldogs legend Terry Lamb spoke openly about his concerns earlier this year when he told The Daily Telegraph: “Des doesn’t know what the culture is about and that’s just what it is.

“He played against the Bulldogs and he knew what our club was about, but it’s hard to distribute that when you haven’t played for the club itself.”

Lamb is not the only person with influence who shares this opinion.

That story back in April caused plenty of angst within the club and it was soon after that Castle got on the front foot, claiming Hasler was set to be offered a two-year extension.

While Castle still maintains Hasler is under no threat, one source told The Daily Telegraph in no uncertain terms that the chairman and directors were in charge at the Bulldogs.