No top assistant coaches because it would of been career suicide. That's the same for top coaches. Whoever took over would be getting the same reaction as Pay's getting.
As sad as it is, I am a big fan of this Bulldogs DNA talk and was really hoping Pay could help re-establish our heritage.
It is blatantly true that whoever to the job wasn't going to be winning any trophies. Lack of quality, no depth, salary cap issues, young team, blah blah
As fans our biggest issue is that there are areas that, to us as onlookers, should be done a lot better. For eg: selections, bench rotations, fitness, support play, set pieces.
Heart is there, effort is there but Pay does not know how to put the pieces together and/or doesn't have the right support around him.
The board, I believe, do not want to come out and say that he won't be resigned unless they have a suitable replacement.
We can only have another rookie coach if there is also another "coaching director" appointed along side him - would be happy with a Dymock / Pay / Anderson with a Bennett / Gould / Bellamy / Hagan - not keen on Fitzgibbon as he would use us as a training run for Roosters/Dragons top job. But an experienced hand to help with recruitment and retention and to mentor for 2 years.
Ware / Griffin / Barrett are worth at least looking into.
Flanagan / Kearney / Jones - F^@% no
Sure there are no strike players or coaches available but if nothing changes, well nothing changes!