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The Bulldogs are on the brink of civil war after a letter signed by life members and former premiership players was officially lodged to overthrow chair Lynne Anderson and two other high profile board members.
The letter, featuring 116 signatures of members with full voting rights, was tabled with chief executive Andrew Hill on Tuesday calling for an extraordinary general meeting to oust Anderson, John Ballesty and Paul Dunn.
The trio sit on the club's seven-person football club board.
While speculation of the coup has been swirling for weeks, the handover of the signatures ensures the Bulldogs are engulfed in further political turmoil at a time when incoming coach Trent Barrett is due to arrive at Belmore to revive the club's on-field fortunes.
Anderson, Ballesty and Dunn will have 21 days to respond to the letter and organise an EGM, and should they choose to dig their heels in they could be headed to a vote within 21 days after that.
The coup is believed to have been driven by one of the club's primary sponsors, which has spoken to other backers of the Bulldogs and disgruntled voting members. It has gathered enough signatures to force an EGM under the club's constitution.
Anderson, the daughter of Bulldogs godfather Peter "Bullfrog" Moore, led a ticket which swept to power at the club's elections in 2018, ending chairman Ray Dib's reign.
But despite being re-elected earlier this year, the Bulldogs have been grappling with boardroom rifts and uneasy supporters demanding change, even despite the club parting ways with Dean Pay and appointing Penrith assistant Barrett as its new coach from 2021.
Canterbury League Club chairman George Coorey was removed earlier this month over allegations of lewd behaviour towards women. Dunn was installed as his temporary replacement.
Coorey has threatened legal action over his removal as chairman.
The Herald also revealed Ballesty failed to tell fellow board members he co-owned a hotel with pub baron Arthur Laundy, who recently signed a deal to sponsor the club.
The Bulldogs finished their season with a 42-0 thumping at the hands of minor premiers Penrith, only narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon with a shock win over the Rabbitohs the week prior.
Barrett will be sweating on the fate of star English forward Luke Thompson, who will face the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night over allegations he eye gouged Panthers captain James Tamou. A lengthy suspension would rule him out of the opening rounds of next year's season.
More to come
Source :
By Adam Pengilly SMH
September 29, 2020 — 12.11pm
The letter, featuring 116 signatures of members with full voting rights, was tabled with chief executive Andrew Hill on Tuesday calling for an extraordinary general meeting to oust Anderson, John Ballesty and Paul Dunn.
The trio sit on the club's seven-person football club board.
While speculation of the coup has been swirling for weeks, the handover of the signatures ensures the Bulldogs are engulfed in further political turmoil at a time when incoming coach Trent Barrett is due to arrive at Belmore to revive the club's on-field fortunes.
Anderson, Ballesty and Dunn will have 21 days to respond to the letter and organise an EGM, and should they choose to dig their heels in they could be headed to a vote within 21 days after that.
The coup is believed to have been driven by one of the club's primary sponsors, which has spoken to other backers of the Bulldogs and disgruntled voting members. It has gathered enough signatures to force an EGM under the club's constitution.
Anderson, the daughter of Bulldogs godfather Peter "Bullfrog" Moore, led a ticket which swept to power at the club's elections in 2018, ending chairman Ray Dib's reign.
But despite being re-elected earlier this year, the Bulldogs have been grappling with boardroom rifts and uneasy supporters demanding change, even despite the club parting ways with Dean Pay and appointing Penrith assistant Barrett as its new coach from 2021.
Canterbury League Club chairman George Coorey was removed earlier this month over allegations of lewd behaviour towards women. Dunn was installed as his temporary replacement.
Coorey has threatened legal action over his removal as chairman.
The Herald also revealed Ballesty failed to tell fellow board members he co-owned a hotel with pub baron Arthur Laundy, who recently signed a deal to sponsor the club.
The Bulldogs finished their season with a 42-0 thumping at the hands of minor premiers Penrith, only narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon with a shock win over the Rabbitohs the week prior.
Barrett will be sweating on the fate of star English forward Luke Thompson, who will face the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night over allegations he eye gouged Panthers captain James Tamou. A lengthy suspension would rule him out of the opening rounds of next year's season.
More to come
Source :
By Adam Pengilly SMH
September 29, 2020 — 12.11pm
