Garry Hughes has been sounded out about the prospect of filling one of the vacant board spots after three high-profile directors quit to head off a coup to overthrow them.
Outgoing Bulldogs chair Lynne Anderson made an impassioned plea for disgruntled Canterbury people to "stop the negativity" and "now get out of the way to help the club fulfil its potential" after she, deputy chair John Ballesty and fellow director Paul Dunn stood down on Wednesday.
Their decision ends the need for an extraordinary general meeting, which had been called by a bloc of disgruntled members to oust the trio. Premiership-winning Bulldogs player Dunn will remain the caretaker chairman of the Canterbury League Club.
The focus now shifts to their likely replacements as new major sponsor Laundy Hotels considers whether to remain involved with the blue and whites. NSWRL chairman George Peponis, a former chairman of the Canterbury League Club, was sounded out as a potential football club director, but declined. The
Herald can reveal that Hughes was also approached about filling one of the vacancies.
“I have been approached and I’m considering my position,” Hughes said.
Hughes was controversially sacked after the Coffs Harbour scandal of 2004, prompting a falling out between the club and the famous Hughes clan. The family had surrendered its life memberships in 2009 in protest over Canterbury’s decision not to extend the honour to Corey Hughes and the club’s refusal to apologise to Garry. The trio of brothers – Graeme, Garry and Mark, as well as Garry’s sons, Steve and Glenn – took the unprecedented move.
However, their memberships were restored after Anderson ascended to power and she formally apologised to Garry on behalf of the club.
That decision could pave the way for him to return to the corridors of power, although several other members are also in the mix for the three vacant board spots.
n a statement, Anderson said it had been a "privilege" to serve as chair of the Bulldogs for 2½ years and was happy to return Canterbury to being a development club, as well as ending the days of "backroom deals and back-ended [player] contracts".
"Whilst standing down means that I and two of my fellow directors, John Ballesty and Paul Dunn, won't be around to finish the job we started, we will always put the interests of the club before our own," Anderson said.
"We made no secret of the fact we inherited some challenges, the most pressing being how to ensure we could field a competitive roster with the salary cap debacle that handicapped retention and recruitment plans for several years.
"We always said it was going to take some time to turn the corner – that it would not be until 2021 that we would be in control of our destiny. I'm proud to say that has been achieved.
"So while it is in my DNA to fight and never let anyone down, John, Paul and I were determined to act to prevent an EGM process that interfered with the arrival of our new recruits, coaching staff or the club's preparations for 2021.
"It is now up to every person that loves this club to cease with any negativity going forward and put their full support behind the coach and players for next season.
"I implore everyone to now get out of the way and give the club a chance to fulfil its potential without any further interference. That is the only way this club can prosper going forward."
Anderson listed a number of achievements under her tenure, including a revamp of the club's junior league pathways, a new coaching team to be led by Trent Barrett in 2021, a new partnership with Mounties Group, plans for a first group strategic plan and the prospect of a profit in 2020 despite the COVID pandemic.
Anderson forfeited her own remuneration in response to the global health crisis.
Dunn, who will remain the chairman of the league club, said he didn't want to put the club through the cost and adverse publicity that comes with an EGM.
"Some of the people were upset by the things that happened, but we were only doing what we thought was right for the club," Dunn said. "In that vein, standing down, rather than going through an EGM and putting the club through all that hatred and bitterness, was the only option that I saw.
"Trent [Barrett] starts on November 1 and he doesn't need that.
"All the bad press has been hurting the club in terms of recruiting, signing new sponsors. I needed to be able to look myself in the mirror knowing I'd done the right thing by the club.
"I'm happy I've left it in a better place than I found it."
The board changes will again raise questions about the club's recently signed major sponsorship with Laundy Hotels. The business has threatened to walk away from the club due to the political infighting.
The remaining four members on the football club board are Joe Thomas, John Khoury, Adrian Turner and Peter Mortimer.
Anderson led a ticket that swept to power in early 2018, dethroning long-time chairman Ray Dib. She had vowed to rebuild the club and told supporters it would take until 2021 for the Bulldogs to have salary cap space to target free agents.
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