The Bulldogs have reportedly moved to terminate the contract of Josh Addo-Carr after issuing the star winger with a show cause notice to front the board next week.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Addo-Carr faces the sack at a crunch board meeting next week over his drug scandal that saw him suspended for the club’s first final in eight years.
The 29-year-old was recently hit with a breach notice by the club after testing positive to cocaine during a roadside drugs test last month.
Addo-Carr will front the Bulldogs board on Thursday to show cause as to why he should not be sacked for allegedly misleading officials and bringing the club into disrepute.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told the Herald the Bulldogs privately felt Addo-Carr’s actions did not reflect the culture and standards they want their players to meet but were reluctant to terminate his deal immediately.
The Bulldogs gave Addo-Carr the opportunity to explore his options at rival clubs over the past six weeks out of respect for what he has contributed to the club.
However, Addo-Carr and his manager Mario Tartak have been unable to land a contract and the Bulldogs have reached a point where they believe they need to act.
The club are disappointed with Addo-Carr for disrupting the club’s preparations for their first final in eight years and hurting their chances of advancing further after he was suspended.
They are also unhappy with Addo-Carr for not disclosing all the facts, after Phil Gould publicly backed him.
Addo-Carr did not disclose his positive roadside test, which was later backed up by a second positive test for cocaine, despite the player maintaining his innocence.
The NRL took action against Addo-Carr, suspending him for four matches and fining him $15,000 after accepting a $682 fine and a three-month suspension from driving after testing positive to cocaine on September 6.
Addo-Carr is on a deal worth around $500,000 next season.
The Dragons have shown some interest in signing Addo-Carr at the right price, but Dragons coach Shane Flanagan wants Clint Gutherson as a priority.
“That’s an interesting one,” Flanagan said of Addo-Carr.
“You better go and talk to his manager. What I view a player is worth and what a manager views what a player is worth could be completely different.
I have never spoken to Josh about it.
“Our first priority is waiting to see what eventuates with the Clint Gutherson situation first. Maybe down the track we might possibly look at the Fox.
“He’s a quality player, he’s had a hiccup and we’ll address it. But it’s not on the immediate radar.”
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