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Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould has been very public in his backing of Trent Barrett but has a new challenge on his hands with the brittle Canterbury board splintering when it comes to the coach.
It was always going to be tough for the loser of the wooden spoon clash at Magic Round on Friday night against the Knights; Bulldogs fans have turned on the club, and the board listens to what their fans are saying.
The club is sitting at the bottom of the table and is showing nothing in attack, an area of the game where Barrett is supposed to excel.
Barrett has barely won a game in his time at the Bulldogs, and no club or board can tolerate that. His record makes for dismal reading: three wins from 24 starts last year and two from 10 this campaign for just five victories in 34 games in all (15 per cent).
Gould will continue to support Barrett and won’t sack him.
The loss to Newcastle has rattled the coach, and the season is already taking its toll on him.
What’s worse for the coach is that he has overseen the majority of the recruits who are at the club.
I’ve asked Gould on numerous occasions about the Barrett strategy and he has backed him strongly. However, Dean Paywas shown the door with a far better record (19 wins from 57 starts), and this board doesn’t appear to be on the same page as the coach.
Embattled Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett.
There are obvious contenders to replace Barrett, but it’s going to take whoever is in charge at least another 18 months of pain before the Bulldogs will see the light.
Big-name recruits Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney will arrive next year and Kikau has a strong connection with Barrett from their time at the Panthers. The club could also bring in fresh support for Barrett, but he already has the best coaching mind in the game at the club in Gould. While “Gus” has no desire to coach, that may be the best solution in terms of support for the coach.
www.smh.com.au
It was always going to be tough for the loser of the wooden spoon clash at Magic Round on Friday night against the Knights; Bulldogs fans have turned on the club, and the board listens to what their fans are saying.
The club is sitting at the bottom of the table and is showing nothing in attack, an area of the game where Barrett is supposed to excel.
Barrett has barely won a game in his time at the Bulldogs, and no club or board can tolerate that. His record makes for dismal reading: three wins from 24 starts last year and two from 10 this campaign for just five victories in 34 games in all (15 per cent).
Gould will continue to support Barrett and won’t sack him.
The loss to Newcastle has rattled the coach, and the season is already taking its toll on him.
What’s worse for the coach is that he has overseen the majority of the recruits who are at the club.
I’ve asked Gould on numerous occasions about the Barrett strategy and he has backed him strongly. However, Dean Paywas shown the door with a far better record (19 wins from 57 starts), and this board doesn’t appear to be on the same page as the coach.
Embattled Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett.
There are obvious contenders to replace Barrett, but it’s going to take whoever is in charge at least another 18 months of pain before the Bulldogs will see the light.
Big-name recruits Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney will arrive next year and Kikau has a strong connection with Barrett from their time at the Panthers. The club could also bring in fresh support for Barrett, but he already has the best coaching mind in the game at the club in Gould. While “Gus” has no desire to coach, that may be the best solution in terms of support for the coach.
Bulldogs directors losing patience with struggling Barrett
Trent Barrett has barely won a game as Bulldogs coach, and no club or board can tolerate that.
