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Paul McGregor survives the axe after emergency board meeting

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9th June, 2020
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Paul McGregor has kept his job for the time being after the Dragons held an emergency board meeting.

Following Monday’s 22-2 loss to the Bulldogs, St George brought forward next week’s scheduled board meeting to Tuesday morning, where it was decided to retain McGregor as head coach for the time being.

The financial cost of sacking McGregor will no doubt have played a significant role in the board’s decision. The coach is said to be on a salary of around $750,000 per year, having signed a two-season extension in April 2019. Reports indicate terminating his contract would require a payout in the region of $1 million.

“Although the board acknowledges the club’s performances so far throughout 2020 have been unacceptable; we will continue to support Paul, his staff and the team through these tough times,” chairman Andrew Gordon said.

“We are committed to Paul as coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons and look forward to seeing him right the wrongs of the opening month of the current campaign.

“We are a club that stands by our people when under pressure. This is a time for loyalty, strength and commitment from the players, coach, board and staff to improve.”

However, Mary is still under all sorts of pressure, and plenty of St George fans will be none too happy about the board’s decision today given the side’s lacklustre recent performances.

Rooted to the foot of the table as the only side without a victory in 2020, the Dragons have gone tryless in the fortnight weeks since the NRL restarted, a stat only compounded by the fact those matches came against two of the competition’s weaker sides in the Warriors and Bulldogs.

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In the Dragons’ 14 games since the start of July last year, only two have ended in victories – both against eventual wooden spooners the Gold Coast Titans.

After the loss to the Bulldogs, McGregor himself said he would understand if the club made the decision to sack him, although insisted he would not quit the job.

“I’ll be disappointed obviously but I understand the situation and there’s conversations around it every day which doesn’t help the team,” McGregor said.

“If that decision is made, I’ll wear it. I’ve certainly got the backing of the players and the staff.

“I’m not scared [of being sacked] if that’s the word you’re looking for. I’m an optimist, but I’m a realist and I know that our team aren’t playing well enough at the moment and I’m the coach of that. I’ve got confidence in my team. At the moment they’ve lost a bit in themselves I think so I accept the blame.”

Having been appointed midway through 2014, McGregor currently has a record of 65 wins and 75 losses.

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