Leagues club declined to take action against chairman George Coorey
Canterbury League Club has declined to take action against club chairman George Coorey following allegations of lewd comments and inappropriate behaviour raised by a number of women.
The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday published a text message Mr Coorey sent in 2018 in which he suggested to a female club member that she and her friends "have to suck off Mullet [another club member]".
George Coorey, chairman of the Canterbury League Club, is alleged to have sent lewd text messages to female club members.Credit:Dean Sewell
In February this year a group of women met with Lynne Anderson, the chairwoman of the Bulldogs football club, to complain about Mr Coorey's behaviour.
"Come and sit on my lap," he would say, sometimes fondling his genital area, they told Mrs Anderson of Mr Coorey's alleged behaviour while sitting with his mates in the sports bar of the club.
"Ask any of the women that used to go to the club. He used to grab his dick and balls when somebody was walking past, stick his tongue out, saying 'come and sit on my lap'."
The crude text message sent by George Coorey in 2018.
"You can ask any of the women. They all know how sleazy he is," said one of the women to the Herald.
On Monday, League Club CEO Greg Pickering issued a statement saying that the club "is deeply concerned about the serious nature of the allegations made against its Chairman in matters reported by the Sydney Morning Herald on 29 August 2020."
He said the club "has considered all of the material which has been made available to it" and that the allegations were "unsubstantiated." Should any further evidence eventuate, "appropriate consideration" would be given, Mr Pickering said.
Bulldogs football club boss Lynne Anderson. Credit:Getty
After the February meeting with the women, Mrs Anderson reported their concerns. Both the league and football clubs appointed an independent investigator.
However, the women said they were reluctant to take the matter further as they were concerned about reprisals. One said, "we are just housewives and these are powerful men".
"If that text message alone isn't enough, I don't know what is," one of the women told the Herald on Monday. She also said "if it is completely confidential" she would be happy to make a statement.
Another said she wouldn't be confident making a statement to the board "because George's friends are on it".
A third woman said she would be happy to make a statement.
Mr Coorey did not respond to the Herald's request for comment and Mr Pickering said in his statement that Mr Coorey "is seeking independent legal advice in the matter".