News Peponis stands down from Canterbury leagues club board

[TalDog]

Adrian Proszenko - SMH
27 September 2018 — 4:16pm

George Peponis has ended an almost lifelong association with Canterbury after stepping down as a director of the leagues club.

Peponis - a former Bulldogs, Blues and Kangaroos captain - has been a long-time chairman of the leagues club. However, he landed on the wrong side of the numbers when he backed Ray Dib at the football club elections, only for a rebel ticket to sweep to power. The new football board then took a majority on the leagues club once some of the successful nominees transferred across as permitted under the constitution.

Peponis had been critical of the Lynne Anderson-led ticket before it was successful at the ballot box, but the pair subsequently smoothed over some of the bad blood that had emerged during a sometimes hostile campaign.

The leagues club board now consists of chairman George Coorey, deputy Peter Callaghan, John Ballesty, Paul Dunn, Steve Mortimer, Peter Winchester, Morris Iemma and George Kanaan. Iemma and Kanaan joined the board as independents on an expanded nine-person committee in a move that briefly threatened the majority held by the bloc from the football club.

However, Peponis found himself in the minority and is understood to have stepped away to spend more time with his family. Peponis, a football club life member and hooker member of the Bulldogs’ ‘Ring of Champions’, remains the chairman of the NSWRL board.

The leagues club has funded the Bulldogs’ football department to the tune of about $5 million over the past five years and Peponis’ exit won’t alter that arrangement.

Canterbury’s bottom line will be in slightly better shape next year after the NRL decided to suspend $125,000 of the $250,000 fine handed to the club over its Mad Monday celebrations.

 

[Mr Invisible]

There was a rumour a while back that he was unwell. Not sure how true it was, but it'd make sense to him stepping down to spend more time with the family.

Thanks for all your efforts George over the years.

Be interesting to see who takes his spot.

 

[The DoggFather]

I love Dr George. Hope he is ok. Always used to hang out with us in the real Bulldogs Army years ago.

 

[Bad Billy]

I like the Doc, unfortunately this day was inevitable after openly campaigning against the new board, and then actively trying to disrupt progress with his Iemma stunt.

 

[Spoonman84]

Respect everything he did for club and I’m grateful for what he’s given the Bulldogs but his position was untenable after his comments prior to the elections. Hope he enjoys the extra time with family.

 

[gazza]

Ever since the Liverpool project salary cap and the Coffs Harbour beat ups engulfed the club, Doctor George has seemed like the rock upon which the bulldogs held everything together as the storms raged. Judgement perhaps failed him this time in backing Dibb and in the process put a halt to his own position on the NRL board. Hopefully once the dust settles there might come some reconciliation with the club for a lot of legends caught up in those historic storms.

 

[Wolfmother]

I don't think he's leaving because he's unwell I think the joy is gone.

 

[K E]

Isn't Morris Iemma a dragons supporter?

 

[GDR]

Thanks Dr Peponis for your great service to the club over several decades, however your decision to step away from the club is the correct one..

he has been a part of some terrible recruitment decision of late for both the Bulldogs and NSW (his continued public support of Loz).

It appears that the game may have surpassed your knowledge and expertise..

He will always be a Bulldogs great and everyone will eventually forget is involvement in our recent failures..

 

[GDR]

Isn't Morris Iemma a dragons supporter?

Yes , but I'm sure he supports his bank account more..

 

[Bad Billy]

Isn't Morris Iemma a dragons supporter?

Yep.
He was brought in by dib as a last desperate attempt to maintain a majority at the leagues club.
Now dib’s gone and we’re stuck with Iemma.

 

[Typical dog]

Surely any bulldog supporter could see that Dibb had run us into the ground. Anybody backing him at the time had other things on their mind rather than the best interests of the club.
Thanks for the service but time was up.

 

[diddly]

Isn't Morris Iemma a dragons supporter?

Yes he is and an advocate for AFL

 

[K E]

Yes he is and an advocate for AFL

Interesting to see former politicians involved in the game. Iemma is a board member of Canterbury and an advocate of AFL.

Peter Beattie is an advocate for Handball and has his head up his own ass.

 

[_G-Dog_]

Were stronger with peponis around

 

[justdogs]

Isn't Morris Iemma a dragons supporter?

He's a politician, so supports where the money are

 

[Punchbowl Dog]

He left now because the Hughes brothers memberships are being reinstated and he could not face them, thanks George but time to move on.

 

[Mr Invisible]

I wonder if he's stepping down from Clubs NSW board as well.

Iemma and the other bloke were brought in because Peponis had knowledge that in the not so distant future the NSW Registered Clubs ACT was changing, which would require 2 independant directors onto the clubs board to ensure financial integrity.

There was nothing dodgy about it, and soon all clubs will have to do the same thing.

 

[D- voice]

Adrian Proszenko - SMH
27 September 2018 — 4:16pm

George Peponis has ended an almost lifelong association with Canterbury after stepping down as a director of the leagues club.

Peponis - a former Bulldogs, Blues and Kangaroos captain - has been a long-time chairman of the leagues club. However, he landed on the wrong side of the numbers when he backed Ray Dib at the football club elections, only for a rebel ticket to sweep to power. The new football board then took a majority on the leagues club once some of the successful nominees transferred across as permitted under the constitution.

Peponis had been critical of the Lynne Anderson-led ticket before it was successful at the ballot box, but the pair subsequently smoothed over some of the bad blood that had emerged during a sometimes hostile campaign.

The leagues club board now consists of chairman George Coorey, deputy Peter Callaghan, John Ballesty, Paul Dunn, Steve Mortimer, Peter Winchester, Morris Iemma and George Kanaan. Iemma and Kanaan joined the board as independents on an expanded nine-person committee in a move that briefly threatened the majority held by the bloc from the football club.

However, Peponis found himself in the minority and is understood to have stepped away to spend more time with his family. Peponis, a football club life member and hooker member of the Bulldogs’ ‘Ring of Champions’, remains the chairman of the NSWRL board.

The leagues club has funded the Bulldogs’ football department to the tune of about $5 million over the past five years and Peponis’ exit won’t alter that arrangement.

Canterbury’s bottom line will be in slightly better shape next year after the NRL decided to suspend $125,000 of the $250,000 fine handed to the club over its Mad Monday celebrations.

Dr George Peponis is a true Bulldog great who served the club all his life for the love of the club.
He became a Doctor while still playing he didn't need the after-football job for financial or glory reasons, he and Turvey stood strong by the the club through it's toughest times in history unlike many others who chased the almighty dollar elsewhere and choose to reappear for financial and self glory hunting.
Anyone chooses to take swipe at any of the two would be ill informed ill mannered a Royal family advocate or all the three put together.
What ever reason Dr George quit for I hope it doesn't stop him staying close to the club that he loves and to the true fans that will always love him and have a great soft spot in their heart for him !!!
Thanks Doc !!!

 

[Punchbowl Dog]

Dr George Peponis is a true Bulldog great who served the club all his life for the love of the club.
He became a Doctor while still playing he didn't need the after-football job for financial or glory reasons, he and Turvey stood strong by the the club through it's toughest times in history unlike many others who chased the almighty dollar elsewhere and choose to reappear for financial and self glory hunting.
Anyone chooses to take swipe at any of the two would be ill informed, ill mannered, a Royal family advocate or all the three put together.
What ever reason Dr George quit for I hope it doesn't stop him staying close to the club that he loves and to the true fans that will always love him and have a great soft spot in their heart for him !!!
Thanks Doc !!!

I agree with some of that but it's a shame he tarnished his legacy with an act of treachery against a supposed blood brother