Dean Pay coached his final game for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Bulldogs head coach, and the club announced his departure.
It is thought that Pay was notified by the board that his contract would not be renewed for the following season, and he made the decision to leave as soon as possible to offer the team some certainty as it attempts to acquire players before the 2021 season.
Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill announced Pay’s departure.
“Both parties agreed that it was in the best interests of the individual and the club to part ways,” Hill said in a statement.
“These decisions are never easy, especially when they affect someone who has been a long-time member of the Bulldogs family.
“The fact is, however, that the club and Dean have concluded that we need to pursue a different approach to drive the team forward, and Dean agreed that now was the time for both parties to split ways.
“We did not rush this decision and have taken our time to look at what was best for the club in regard to success moving forward.”
Pay has come under fire for his team’s dismal performance, winning only one of nine games this season. Their performance against a very out of form Broncos team over the weekend was thought to be the final straw. Pay’s winning percentage after taking over for Des Hasler in 2018 is a dismal 32 percent.
There are a few prospects for a replacement, with initial reports indicating the club had spoken with Penrith assistant Trent Barrett. Assistant coach Steve Georgallis will take over as an interim solution as the club prepares to face the Dragons, who are strangely the only team they have defeated in 2020.
The 2024 NRL season is quickly approaching, with kickoff scheduled for Las Vegas. Despite salary cap constraints, the Panthers are aiming for a seemingly impossible fourth consecutive championship. The Broncos are trying to improve on last year’s performance, while several other clubs have been polishing their rosters in preparation for a run at the title.
