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SACKED Bulldogs coach Des Hasler wants the club to payout his multimillion-dollar two-year contract and damages saying he rejected other coaching jobs because he thought he would be at Canterbury until 2019, the NSW Supreme Court has heard.
Hasler has launched legal action in the NSW Supreme Court after the Bulldogs dumped him in September, rescinding on a heads-of-agreement document which would see Hasler paid an estimated $2.4 million in a two-year contract.
His lawyer John Ireland told Justice David Hammerschlag the issue would be about the binding nature of the agreement.
“We are going to say that they dragged us in on the afternoon this was negotiated then announced it at a press conference the next day patting us on the back — congratulations we have re-signed you for two seasons and then said no it is not binding,” Mr Ireland said.
Sacked Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has taken his former club to court. Picture: John Grainger
“We rejected other offers of coaching engagement for the next year or so.”
Judge Hammerschlag told the parties to come up with a list of agreed issues and return to court next Friday.
Club chairman Ray Dib said Canterbury would defend the matter saying Hasler never signed a contract extension so the original expiration date of October remained valid.
Canterbury promoted Hasler’s two-year contract extension in April with a press release but dumped him after the Bulldogs dismal performance in the 2017 season.
Soon after his sacking Hasler recruited lawyer Daniel McGirr who indicated in September that the coach would take legal action.
“Our client’s position is clear, in April 2017 Mr Hasler entered into a binding and enforceable contract, being a Heads of Agreement, with the Canterbury Football Club,’’ McGirr said.
“We have obtained advice from a QC who has confirmed that position.
“In light of the recent unprompted statements made by the club we have notified the club of our client’s position and have advised them that we will be instituting proceedings in the Supreme Court to seek damages should this matter not be resolved quickly.
“This would of course be regrettable but our client, it seems, is left with no alternative.’’
Hasler is the first NRL coach to sue a club since Tim Sheens took out a lawsuit against the West Tigers five years ago.
Hasler has launched legal action in the NSW Supreme Court after the Bulldogs dumped him in September, rescinding on a heads-of-agreement document which would see Hasler paid an estimated $2.4 million in a two-year contract.
His lawyer John Ireland told Justice David Hammerschlag the issue would be about the binding nature of the agreement.
“We are going to say that they dragged us in on the afternoon this was negotiated then announced it at a press conference the next day patting us on the back — congratulations we have re-signed you for two seasons and then said no it is not binding,” Mr Ireland said.
Sacked Bulldogs coach Des Hasler has taken his former club to court. Picture: John Grainger
“We rejected other offers of coaching engagement for the next year or so.”
Judge Hammerschlag told the parties to come up with a list of agreed issues and return to court next Friday.
Club chairman Ray Dib said Canterbury would defend the matter saying Hasler never signed a contract extension so the original expiration date of October remained valid.
Canterbury promoted Hasler’s two-year contract extension in April with a press release but dumped him after the Bulldogs dismal performance in the 2017 season.
Soon after his sacking Hasler recruited lawyer Daniel McGirr who indicated in September that the coach would take legal action.
“Our client’s position is clear, in April 2017 Mr Hasler entered into a binding and enforceable contract, being a Heads of Agreement, with the Canterbury Football Club,’’ McGirr said.
“We have obtained advice from a QC who has confirmed that position.
“In light of the recent unprompted statements made by the club we have notified the club of our client’s position and have advised them that we will be instituting proceedings in the Supreme Court to seek damages should this matter not be resolved quickly.
“This would of course be regrettable but our client, it seems, is left with no alternative.’’
Hasler is the first NRL coach to sue a club since Tim Sheens took out a lawsuit against the West Tigers five years ago.