Dean Pay has issued a subtle warning to the next man brave enough to take on the head
coaching job at the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Pay took time out from his
job driving machinery to speak with The Daily Telegraph in the wake of
Trent Barrett’s shock exit from the club.
Barrett is the third coach in five years to be let go at the Bulldogs after following Pay and
Des Hasler out the door.
Pay made a point of saying “I don’t want to sound bitter”.
But the proud former Bulldog also struggled to hide his true feelings when asked if he thought he got a fair go during his stint coaching the troubled club.
“Do you?” Pay responded to the question.
Told no, Pay continued: “Whether I thought I got a fair crack or not, it is not up to me.
“It doesn’t matter because I am not the one doing the hiring or firing. It is out of our hands. It is out of
Trent Barrett’s hands.
“I probably look back on it now by saying there is people in the club there that didn’t think I could do the job.
“And that was their opinion, and they had the power and that is why I had to go.”
Asked what advice he would give to the next man walking through the door to sit behind the same desk, Pay added: “That’s a good question.
“The only advice I could say is what I just said to you.
Dean Pay in his new job.
“That there are people there that didn’t think I could do the job.
“And obviously they are still there now, and they didn’t think Trent could do the job either.”
With that Pay paused, before continuing: “I don’t want to sound bitter about it.
“It is two years gone.
“I would rather just leave it.”
It’s worth noting that like Barrett, Pay made the decision to go before he was pushed.
But he did so with one armed twisted behind his back.
At the time he also had a far better strike rate than Barrett.
Pay’s winning strike rate was 33.3 per cent compared to Barrett’s 12.5 per cent.
Pay was also hamstrung by a salary cap that was in a diabolical mess when he took over. And just as he started to see some clear skies he was sent packing to make way for Barrett.
Pay said he spends his time these days working machinery and planning for some long vacations with his wife.
"We bought a caravan the other day,” he said.
“Me and the old girl are going to go doing some caravanning.
“We’ve already planned a few things.”
Asked if he missed the footy, he continued: “I still watch it.
“I still watch Stick’s team (Ricky Stuart’s Canberra Raiders). Steve Antonelli is at Souths so I take a bit of interest there.
“I spent some time with some good people along the way.
“There is lots of good people.
“I am not bitter about the game or anything like that.”
Asked if he missed coaching, he laughed again: “Not that much."
