McGregor's tenure could be over as Dragons call emergency board meeting to discuss coach's future
St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor may not survive the day in his job with the club calling an emergency board meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss his future.
The Herald has been told Dragons directors have reacted to Monday afternoon's dismal showing against Canterbury by organising a video conference to discuss his future, a meeting of which McGregor has been made aware.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor speaks during a press conference following the Round 4 loss to the Bulldogs.Credit:AAP
The Dragons board was originally scheduled to meet next Tuesday, however the club's dire predicament has forced officials to act swiftly as they contemplate parting ways with the coach as early as today.
The Dragons are the only team in the NRL not to win a game this season, and haven't scored a try since the competition resumed two rounds ago, losing to cellar dwellers the New Zealand Warriors and Canterbury Bulldogs in consecutive weeks.
McGregor, who is in his sixth full season as Dragons coach, is on a contract until 2021 on a deal worth around $750,000 a season, and would receive close to a $1m pay-out should the club decide to end his tenure.
"If they make the decision I'll understand it," McGregor said of his potential sacking following the loss to the Bulldogs on Monday night.
Dragons players dejected during the loss to the Bulldogs on Monday.Credit:AAP
"I'll be disappointed obviously but I understand the situation and there's conversations around it every day which doesn't help the team. 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 axed] 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."
Assistant coach Shane Flanagan is prohibited from taking on the head coaching role under the NRL's strict rules surrounding his return from suspension, leaving premiership-winning club legend Dean Young as a potential interim coach.
Young's appointment is unlikely to extend beyond this year, but it will provide the Dragons time to find a long-term option for next season should they decide to part ways with McGregor in the coming days.
Options include Sydney Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon, Panthers assistants Trent Barrett and Cameron Ciraldo, former Newcastle coach Nathan Brown and England coach Shaun Wane. Whispers around Wayne Bennett returning to the club won't go away, especially if the Dragons can offer him a three-year deal beyond his 2021 expiry at the Rabbitohs.
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