Dragons are standing by McGregor ... for now

Paul McGregor has survived but the Dragons coach is still confronting internal issues which could yet threaten his tenure at the club.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor is under pressure after the team’s horror start to the season Picture: AAP

Paul McGregor has survived but the St George Illawarra coach is still confronting internal issues which could yet threaten his tenure at the under-pressure club.

McGregor’s future was discussed at an emergency video conference board meeting called by Dragons directors on Tuesday morning before club chairman Andrew Gordon emerged to declare the board “will continue to support Paul.”

It is believed he has just four more matches to turn the club’s fortunes around or risk being dismissed. Not even a win against arch rivals Cronulla on Sunday night can guarantee McGregor’s long-term future but a victory will keep some of the heat off.

Despite pressure from fans and members for their coach to be sacked, the board elected against axing McGregor despite the club’s 0-4 start to the 2020 season.

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The frugal club would have been forced into a $1m payout to oust McGregor.

Frustration at the club’s performances – which included finishing 15th last season – reached boiling point after a 22-2 loss to fellow strugglers Canterbury on Monday.

The Australian can reveal St George Illawarra’s board, management, football staff and players are aware of multiple problems at the club. They include:
• Senior players losing their hunger because they feel protected by McGregor;
• McGregor’s work ethic being so intense that some players feel he has become too regimented;
• Relaxing strict game plans allowing players to have more fun and to improvise on the field;
• Players – and their managers – being told to stop leaking stories to the media;
• Fears players are lacking confidence, are playing negatively and are questioning themselves;
• Players being too quiet on the field through a fear of losing;
• A fear that losing the next two games – against Cronulla and Gold Coast – could trigger another wave of speculation;

McGregor is just four games into a new two-season deal and it would have cost the club between $1.6m to $1.8m to sack and replace him. If McGregor is sacked he would be the second coach in the joint-venture’s history to be shown the door with more than a year left on their contract.

Not since Andrew Farrar was axed at the end of 2002 has a coach left the club with significant time left on their contract.

The Dragons board was due to meet on June 16 but were forced to bring forward their discussions after Sunday’s horror loss. St George Illawarra are running last on the competition table and have not scored a try in 81 days.

Those close to the club are adamant senior players – including Ben Hunt, James Graham, Paul Vaughan, Corey Norman, Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell – must share the blame and responsibility for McGregor’s demise. Hunt and Norman are filling $2m a year in the club’s salary cap.

McGregor, 52, did not attend the board meeting because he had planned to complete a video review of Monday’s loss. Privately, board members claimed it was the first time they had discussed McGregor’s future.

In a club statement, Gordon said: “Although the board acknowledges the club’s performances so far throughout 2020 have been unacceptable, we will continue to support Paul, his staff and the team through these tough times.

“We are committed to Paul as coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons and look forward to seeing him right the wrongs of the opening month of the current campaign. We are a club that stands by our people when under pressure. This is a time for loyalty, strength and commitment from the players, coach, board and staff to improve.”

McGregor isn’t coaching for money, only passion. He became wealthy through a successful chemical cleaning company he co-owned and sold in 2016.

The Daily Telegraph