Hasler’s future on the agenda

Des Hasler’s future is set to be on the agenda at a meeting of the Canterbury football club board today, with the Bulldogs coach under fierce scrutiny again less than four months after he was re-signed for two more seasons.

The blowtorch is back on Hasler with the Canterbury all but out of the NRL semifinals hunt and figures behind the scenes agitating again for change. Barring a miraculous late-season surge the Bulldogs won’t figure beyond the first weekend of September and for the first time since 2004, Hasler’s first year at Manly, one of his teams will miss the semifinals.

After months of speculation Canterbury handed him a contract extension in April and if directors now choose to part ways with him it would be a stunning backflip.

It has been reported that the Bulldogs would have to pay out Hasler in the range of A$1 million if they were to sack him.

The Bulldogs are adamant today’s gathering is a regular monthly board meeting. But the performance of the team and Hasler will be discussed.

Canberra assistant Dean Pay has been regarded as the favourite to win the job as Canterbury coach should Hasler be moved on.