Strength and conditioning coach Don Singe to resign from position

THE FUTURE of several key members of Canterbury’s back room staff is in limbo while an influential member of Des Hasler’s team has quit the club.

Canterbury Bulldogs Des Hasler. Picture: Gregg Porteous

THE FUTURE of several key members of Canterbury’s back room staff is in limbo while an influential member of Des Hasler’s team has quit the club.

Experienced strength and conditioning coach Don Singe has advised Dogs management he will resign from his position after Sunday’s clash with St George-Illawarra at ANZ Stadium.

Singe, the current New Zealand Kiwis head conditioner, joined the Bulldogs to work alongside Hasler in 2016.

His tight working relationship with Hasler was crucial to the successful 2008 and 2011 premierships won by Manly — where he spent 13 seasons.

However, Singe may not be the only departure in what is shaping as a club-defining off-season.

Football manager Alan Thompson and NSW Cup coach Steve Georgeallis are also in the dark, as to what their futures hold.

The Sunday Telegraph has learned that both have been advised that any new deal beyond on their current contract ending October 31, won’t be formalised until after the club performs it’s wideranging review of the entire football department.

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Don Singe will resign from his post at the Bulldogs.

When that board-run review is due to commence and also completed is yet to be determined.

While strength and power coach Tony Grimaldi is contracted for 2018, Hasler’s assistant coaches Jim Dymock and David Penna remain in negotiations with the club.

Like the players, who have recently found themselves shopped to rival clubs due to the club’s poorly managed salary cap, the uncertainty felt by the club’s support staff has created an uneasy working environment.

The doubt over staff positions will impact Hasler’s ability to plan and prepare for the 2018 pre-season.

Stability won’t be a fast-fix for the Bulldogs, given they will also operate without a CEO until after the World Cup in December.

Departing CEO Raelene Castle is due to complete her final duties at the end of this month, with newly-appointed CEO Andrew Hill committed to fulfilling his duties as World Cup boss.

The Bulldogs will commence the search to appoint a new strength and conditioning coach ahead of the club’s return to pre-season training on October 30.