Canterbury have been plunged into further chaos with assistant Steve Antonelli following Dean Pay out the door.
Antonelli was in line to step up and coach the club on an interim basis before opting to quit on Tuesday morning. He joined the Bulldogs after building a close association with Pay.
It leaves interim coach Steve Georgallis leading a decimated coaching team. It is understood Canterbury’s reserve coach Brad Henderson will step up.
Pay’s final day as coach of the Canterbury Bulldogs lasted just an hour.
Pay, who quit his post after joining the club in 2018, was spotted arriving at Belmore Sports Ground just before 8am on Tuesday. His meeting with club officials and CEO Andrew Hill lasted less than an hour with Pay leaving the car park before 9am.
Hill and Pay met over the weekend with both parties aware it was time for the club to shift in another direction. Current Bulldogs assistant coach Steve Georgallis will be the club’s interim coach for the rest of this season.
“These decisions are always tough, particularly when they involve someone who has been part of the Bulldogs family for a long time,” Hill said.
“The fact is though that the Club and Dean have decided that we needed to move in a different direction to take the team forward and Dean was in agreement that now was the right time for both parties to part ways.
“We did not rush into this decision and have taken our time to look at what was best for the club in regard to success moving forward.
“I’d like to thank Dean for his contribution over the past three years and all the hard work and passion he has given to the club.”
Pay addressed his players on Tuesday morning and then drove out of the club.
“I’d like to thank the Bulldogs for the opportunity to be the head coach at a club that has always meant so much to me,” he said.
Pay’s departure comes as Hill formally told
Panthers group chief executive Brian Fletcher that the Bulldogs would open negotiations with Penrith assistant coach Trent Barrett.
Well-placed sources revealed Hill and Pay met over the weekend with both parties aware it was time for the club to shift in another direction.
Pay had been worn down by his side’s lack of on-field success and the constant speculation over his future. Hill and Canterbury’s board knew Pay had to go.
The decision was made after reports on Sunday of Canterbury’s interest in Barrett.
Bulldogs chairman Lynne Anderson is expected to spend more time at Bulldogs HQ this week.
It is unknown whether Pay will be paid out in full but the club hopes to reach a financial settlement.
While Barrett remains a hot favourite to be appointed head coach, it is unlikely he would take charge at Belmore immediately. Those close to Barrett claim he wants to remain at Penrith this year in the hope of securing a premiership.
Canterbury is yet to lodge a formal offer for Barrett, amid reports English rugby union coach Eddie Jones had interest in the job.
The TAB has tightened Canterbury from $2.75 into $2 for this year’s wooden spoon while the Bulldogs have drifted from $3 to $3.10 to beat St George Illawarra at WIN Stadium, Wollongong, this Friday night.
Canterbury has won one of nine games this season and are on two points, sitting last on the NRL table.
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