Camera IconCredit: News Corp Australia

St George Illawarra fans call for Peter Doust’s axing in online poll

MICHAEL CARAYANNISNews Corp Australia

ST GEORGE Illawarra fans have lost faith in the club’s management — taking aim at underfire chief executive Peter Doust.

In an exclusive Daily Telegraph online poll a whopping 91 per cent of people said they had lost faith in Doust with 85 per cent of respondents calling for his immediate resignation.

Doust refused an opportunity by the Sunday Telegraph to address the growing unrest among his fan base, opting not to comment.

Dragons fans’ responses to our online poll.
Camera IconDragons fans’ responses to our online poll. Credit: News Corp Australia

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Dragons fans flocked to the Telegraph website in record numbers with more than 4500 people completing the survey and more than 2000 people answering within hours of its launch.

The results make for distressing reading for a St George Illawarra club who face the prospect of missing the finals for the fourth time in five years and are more than $7 million in debt. Doust, who has been in the role since 2000, is the longest serving chief executive in the NRL.

While the Dragons fans want Doust axed, he was not the only high profile figure at the club to come under scrutiny.

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Only 24 per cent of people want Paul McGregor to remain as coach next season. McGregor, who guided the Dragons into the finals in his first full season as coach, is contracted until the end of next year.

McGregor appears to have lost the trust of the Dragons faithful.
Camera IconMcGregor appears to have lost the trust of the Dragons faithful. Credit: News Corp Australia

One fan Marty posted: “The board is unaccountable and runs the club like a trade union. It’s all jobs for the boys. There is no due diligence. They are a byproduct of the sausage sizzle and pokies era when sport was sport and business was business.”

Captain Gareth Widdop is also not the fans choice of preferred captain while a resounding 79 per cent of people do not want veteran half Benji Marshall at the club next season.

People were split on the re-signing of off-contract hooker Mitch Rein.

Fan Tim said: Tim “It starts at the top. There appears to be a culture in the club where nobody is accountable. Board members and the CEO most notably. Going from premiers in 2010 to being bailed out by the NRL to the tune of $4m — Doubt and the board have presided over this disaster yet continue in their roles.”

Benji Marshall is also on the nose with fans.
Camera IconBenji Marshall is also on the nose with fans. Credit: News Corp Australia

Negotiations with WIN Corporation for a 50 per cent purchase of the Dragons are ongoing — which is expected to bring sweeping changes to the club. Negotiations took a back while WIN negotiated a new affiliate deal with the Ten Network. WIN Corporation is deemed a saviour by the fans with 83 per cent of people wanting them to buy half of the joint-venture.

Robert added: “I have been a supporter of the Dragons all my life I am 45 years old. It is a disgrace the direction in which the club is going. The CEO Peter Doust must be sacked immediately.”

Despite the Dragons struggles 59 per cent of people agreed with the merger and did not want St George or Illawarra to stand alone.

Dragons fan Sue said: “Enough of the dramatics. Everyone would acknowledge their on field performance is not up to standard but to keep pushing the off field drama, please give it a rest.”