Dogs chairman bracing for board challenge

Jun 11, 2017 - 6:13 AM Canterbury chairman Ray Dib is expecting to face a challenge for his position next year as anger over the side's lacklustre NRL performance threatens to boil over into the boardroom.

Dib said he understood several of the family club's old boys were preparing a rebel ticket to oppose him at next February's annual general meeting.

There is growing discontent among the club's sponsors and fans after four straight losses including last week's 38-0 flogging at the hands of Penrith.

Dib said he welcomed being held to account by the club's stakeholders and understood his position could come under threat if the side doesn't meet the high standards met by their demanding fan base.

"I know we're a passionate breed," Dib told Triple M. "Our members want success, our fans want success.

"I know there's rumblings in the background, some of the old boys are getting together. And that's fine, it's their constitutional right.

"When there's seven better directors than me, there's going to come a time when I need to step down. I just hope we reserve that right until the end of the season."

Dib has overseen a period of success since taking over from George Peponis in 2010 with the club making two grand finals in that time.

However some fans have grown frustrated with their inability to win a premiership and a playing style that looks disjointed and at times stale.

Dib was allowed to address the Bulldogs playing group without Hasler in the room following last week's loss to the Panthers however denied it was a sign of a rift between him and the coach.

Dib said he decided to do it after being stopped by a long-term club sponsor who threatened to pull their support unless things turned around.

"I just wanted to relay to the players that besides themselves, the fans and the sponsors are all hurting," Dib said.

"And the coach deserves more respect. He puts in more work than anyone else that I know. He's the first to get to Belmore and the last to leave. He doesn't leave any stone unturned.

"The performance that day was unacceptable and the players don't need reminding of that.

"But he's always got the backs of the players and I thought it was my job as the chairman of the board to have the back of the coach."

Source: AAP