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Malcolm Noad’s tenure as Bulldogs chief executive is on shaky ground after a rival ticket which had called for his removal seized control of the NRL club’s board.
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On a dramatic day at what was once known as the `family club’, Bulldogs members unanimously voted for change as five members of the rival ticket – Andrew Farrar, Paul Dunn, Barry Ward, Anthony Elias and Ray Dib – won positions as directors.
Figurehead of the rival ticket – former Bulldogs backrower Graeme Hughes – missed out on the board.
But enough of his group was nominated to leave Noad, who is under contract through to the end of the 2009 season, in a precarious position.
“Our ticket had always spoken about the fact that long term they didn’t have any vision for Malcolm Noad,” Hughes said.
“That is obviously a decision now that will go back to the full board.”
Coach Steve Folkes’s position is also under a cloud, with the man who led the club to the 2004 premiership needing a strong start to the season to see his contract extended beyond this season.
None of the new board members spoke to the media today with only chairman George Peponis fronting the press to ready a prepared statement.
Peponis, who along with Noad and re-elected incumbents Peter Cassilles and Philip Charlton will make up the nine-man board, called for unity following an election campaign beset by mudslinging.
Former Federal Minister and newly elected World Anti-Doping Agency President John Fahey has been called in to facilitate a gathering of all the warring factions within the club early next month.
“I hope that after today, the good of the club will be uppermost in everybody’s mind and that we can move ahead with some unity,” Peponis read from a prepared statement.
“I have made a plea to everyone, that when today’s meeting is done and dusted, we need to set aside all the things that have divided us in the past.
“We need to work together, not against each other, to provide the type of club we can be proud of for generations to come.
“The bottom line is that we have to stop fighting amongst ourselves and stop destroying this great club.
“Any individual who cannot do this for the good of the club has been asked to move on.”
Hughes called on Peponis to move forward with changes, claiming the people had spoken.
“I think the membership has voted for a massive change at the club, there’s no doubt that the ticket that I supported has gained power in that aspect and I wish each and every one of them well,” Hughes said.
“Our main issues were the number of players we’ve lost.
“The argument about still using the salary cap of 2002 as some sort of excuse .. I don’t understand that.
“Everybody knows that I’ve had brothers working here even up until 2004 who have reconfirmed with me that we were on a level playing field with everybody else in the NRL from 2004 on.
“We need to ensure that we retain who we want and get who we want to pursue.”
Responses from voting members were mixed, though there was an overwhelming feeling that something had to change.
“We needed a change, a slight change,” said member Bill Diakos.
“I supported the Board that was there and I’m very much in support of George Peponis and Malcolm Noad.
“I personally hope that Malcolm Noad does continue as CEO of the club.”
Another member claimed he wasn’t too sure what had been achieved with today’s result.
“It’s (the infighting) not going to end,” claimed Clayton Drury.
“Obviously they’re working towards some sort of resolution, there are a lot of conflicts that go back a lot of years.
“They’re doing some things to try and resolve that but I think in the end, not a lot’s going to change.”
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