Jackson_1994
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Bulldogs veteran Aiden Tolman wants more "clear decisions" from the Canterbury board as reports of infighting continue to disrupt the under-siege club.
Tolman fronted reporters on Wednesday and was bombarded with questions about Dean Pay, who stepped down as coach after the club's loss to the lowly Broncos on Saturday.
Now the Bulldogs have clarity about Pay's future - and the likely event that Trent Barrett will be appointed to take charge next year - Tolman wants to see leadership at the very top of a club which has an ordinary history of bad boardroom blood.
"I don’t think the players need to get involved in board goings on but I will say that leadership starts at the top of places and we need that to filter down," Tolman said
"I’m not saying what they’ve done is right or wrong. But I am saying that we have some clear clarity now in the direction that we’re moving.
"We want some clear decisions in place but they don’t have to be quick decisions. Everything needs to take due course and they need to make the right decisions. But for me, they’re in charge of the club for a reason and they’re there to do a job, just like we are on the footy field
"We want to be moving in the same direction as a whole club. For me, when they think the right candidate as a new coach is there, then they can make that decision. Then we can sort out lots of other things that are going on."
The "other things" Tolman referenced is the Bulldogs' search for new, high-profile players
The club has not been able to lure any significant talent despite having an extraordinary amount of salary cap space for next season. Many experts believe the Bulldogs have the worst list in the NRL. Tolman doesn't believe that's the case.
"All I can say is that we underperformed, we didn’t win games and that’s not just Dean’s fault. It’s us as a playing group and us as a club," Tolman said.
"We didn’t support him enough in that time. I feel disappointed because of that. The playing squad here - yes, people say we are undermanned - but we’re still good enough to win footy games and challenge the best teams
We haven’t been doing that all season, so I get a bit tired of people saying we don’t have the squad. I mean, we can win footy games. We have shown that over the last couple of seasons, that we can beat good teams when we put in good performances. That’s why it has been incredibly frustrating this year."
Fellow Bulldogs veteran Josh Jackson believes Pay's decision to front the players and step down was "selfless".
"It’s never going to be optimal or never going to be a good time for these things to happen. What I will say is Dean’s decision was a selfless decision," Jackson said.
"I think he did what he’s always done at this club and put the club and the team first ahead of his own ambitions, just to give everyone a feeling of clarity and a feeling of certainty around the place with all the speculation in the media every week."
Tolman fronted reporters on Wednesday and was bombarded with questions about Dean Pay, who stepped down as coach after the club's loss to the lowly Broncos on Saturday.
Now the Bulldogs have clarity about Pay's future - and the likely event that Trent Barrett will be appointed to take charge next year - Tolman wants to see leadership at the very top of a club which has an ordinary history of bad boardroom blood.
"I don’t think the players need to get involved in board goings on but I will say that leadership starts at the top of places and we need that to filter down," Tolman said
"I’m not saying what they’ve done is right or wrong. But I am saying that we have some clear clarity now in the direction that we’re moving.
"We want some clear decisions in place but they don’t have to be quick decisions. Everything needs to take due course and they need to make the right decisions. But for me, they’re in charge of the club for a reason and they’re there to do a job, just like we are on the footy field
"We want to be moving in the same direction as a whole club. For me, when they think the right candidate as a new coach is there, then they can make that decision. Then we can sort out lots of other things that are going on."
The "other things" Tolman referenced is the Bulldogs' search for new, high-profile players
The club has not been able to lure any significant talent despite having an extraordinary amount of salary cap space for next season. Many experts believe the Bulldogs have the worst list in the NRL. Tolman doesn't believe that's the case.
"All I can say is that we underperformed, we didn’t win games and that’s not just Dean’s fault. It’s us as a playing group and us as a club," Tolman said.
"We didn’t support him enough in that time. I feel disappointed because of that. The playing squad here - yes, people say we are undermanned - but we’re still good enough to win footy games and challenge the best teams
We haven’t been doing that all season, so I get a bit tired of people saying we don’t have the squad. I mean, we can win footy games. We have shown that over the last couple of seasons, that we can beat good teams when we put in good performances. That’s why it has been incredibly frustrating this year."
Fellow Bulldogs veteran Josh Jackson believes Pay's decision to front the players and step down was "selfless".
"It’s never going to be optimal or never going to be a good time for these things to happen. What I will say is Dean’s decision was a selfless decision," Jackson said.
"I think he did what he’s always done at this club and put the club and the team first ahead of his own ambitions, just to give everyone a feeling of clarity and a feeling of certainty around the place with all the speculation in the media every week."
but maybe cause they are resigned to the fact no one else will sign unless it's on major Tolman level overs......
