Former Manly coach Trent Barrett has emerged as the most likely replacement after heading a shortlist that also includes Maroons coach Kevin Walters, former Panthers mentor Anthony Griffin, former Blues coach Laurie Daley and current NSW coach Brad Fittler.Since taking over from Des Hasler, Pay has led the blue and whites to consecutive 12th-placed finishes before his team slumped to last place on the ladder this year.
Canterbury officials are attempting to overhaul their roster, but players have been hesitant to commit until there is clarity over who will coach the team. There have also been rumblings of discontent among football club members, some of whom are threatening to call an extraordinary general meeting to oust the current board.
“I think the Bulldogs would be an attractive proposition for a coach if they didn’t have all this boardroom drama going on,” Daley told the Big Sports Breakfast program. “If you had that stability there, and you knew you had the support, you would be in a good position because they have money available, they can go to the market and attract players.
“But with the ongoing behind-the-scenes noises, you couldn’t say to someone with any certainty ‘Go there’ because you don’t know what’s going to happen in 18 months' time.“If it’s Trent, he has one more opportunity. If he fails at his next job, he’s no longer going to be a first-grade coach.“If he sits back and waits, he will get an opportunity somewhere down the path … If I was guiding him, I’d be saying to him ‘be very, very careful’.