Disgruntled Dogs: Why Lynne Anderson must step down as football club chair
Six major issues have been revealed as the basis for a full-blown coup at the Bulldogs, as disgruntled members attempt to oust Canterbury matriarch Lynne Anderson.
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The grievances behind the push to have Canterbury matriarch Lynne Anderson ousted as the chair of the football club can be revealed.
The group of disgruntled voting members behind the extraordinary general meeting, where a vote will take place to have Anderson removed, have outlined a list of six issues that, in their opinion, make Anderson’s position as the club’s chair untenable.
Fellow board members John Ballesty and Paul Dunn, who were part of Anderson’s ticket in the 2018 election, are also in the firing line.
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In a statement from the group, the grievances were listed as follows:
– The Laundys need to understand having their name on the front of the jersey is a great privilege and not a right.
– The members and supporters have concerns that board member John Ballesty’s business arrangements or partnerships are potentially a conflict of interest. There must be more clarity in regards to the Laundy Hotel Group’s sponsorship value.
– The notion that we need to look to our past to somehow point to the future shows the directionless and lack of imagination of Mrs Anderson’s led board.
– Mrs Anderson has shown no interest in delivering on any of her nine pillars plan points she took to the 2018 AGM. We would like to see a detailed strategic plan for the club in the future. Mrs Anderson has failed to show vision for the club which was one of her 9 pillar points.
– Mrs Anderson’s board displayed no family values in their treatment of coach and club legend Dean Pay.
– The current board needs to provide clarity over the true arrangements with Mounties. Such a monumental decision was made without member consultation whatsoever and does not reflect the Bulldogs way.
In September, a report revealed Ballesty had failed to disclose to other board members that he co-owns a hotel with Arthur Laundy, raising questions about a potential conflict of interest.
Laundy’s pub empire, Laundy Hotel Group, agreed to become the club’s major sponsor until the end of 2022 in late July.
The Daily Telegraph confirmed that Ballesty, at that time, had not disclosed his business partnership with Laundy to the entire board.
The group behind the EGM is also frustrated with the club’s partnership with Mounties, the colours of which will replace the blue and white of the Bulldogs in both the Canterbury Cup and NSWRL Women’s Premiership competitions until at least the end of season 2022.
On Saturday, it was revealed a number of current sponsors would consider walking away from the Bulldogs over concerns of the direction of the club and the influence of Laundy Hotel Group at Belmore.
That news came after The Daily Telegraph revealed the Laundy’s could reconsider their agreement if the political infighting continued at the club.
Earlier this month a requisition with 116 signatures of voting members calling for an EGM was received by the club. The Bulldogs have 21 days, from when the requisition was received, to call a meeting — where a vote deciding the future’s of Anderson, Ballesty and Dunn would take place.
The Daily Telegraph understands that other than an acknowledgement that the requisition for an EGM was received, no one from the club has reached out to the disgruntled group in an attempt to broker a peace deal or at least find some common ground.
It’s a mess all parties want resolved before incoming coach Trent Barrett arrives at Belmore in November.
NINE PILLARS PRESENTED TO MEMBERS DURING 2018 CAMPAIGN
1 Engage with members and fans
2 Implement a new management and leadership style
3 Introduce proper governance, process and accountability
4 Become once again a Best Practice sporting organisation
5 Entrench our Bulldogs culture
6 Develop our people
7 Develop a new Strategic Plan
8 Focus on our Junior League
9 Bring respect back to our club
Originally published as Disgruntled Dogs: Why Lynne Anderson must step down as football club chair