The line, borrowed from the first President of the United States, George Washington, is one that could come back to haunt him.

The Bulldogs are considering going back to the future by swapping Hasler for one of their own, a clipboard holder who has a grasp of the intangible "DNA" that is used to describe the club's culture. That the "Family Club" was losing it under Hasler, as the great clubman and director Steve Mortimer suggested to Fairfax Media during the week, appears to have made his position untenable.

When then-CEO Todd Greenberg poached Hasler from Manly, spearing the son of Peter "Bullfrog" Moore in the process, he broke with decades of tradition. Eight of the past nine Canterbury coaches preceding Hasler had also worn the blue and white as players. Mortimer fell out with the only other exception, although he and Warren Ryan put their differences behind them to deliver back-to-back premierships in 1984-85. However, "Turvey" has indicated that there won't be room for him and Hasler at Belmore if the former Manly mentor is handed a two-year contract extension, which remains unsigned despite six months of negotiation.

That Hasler is under pressure at all is a shock to outsiders. His winning record at the Bulldogs is an impressive 60 per cent, a tick above what he was able to achieve at the helm of the Sea Eagles. But despite contesting the grand final twice during his Canterbury tenure, he has not been able to deliver a premiership, the only gauge by which success is measured at Canterbury. What's more, he has blown the football budget in the process, resulting in some of his most trusted lieutenants being shown the door.

Whether Hasler follows will come down to the mood of the emergency board meeting convened to discuss his future. Had his departure been a fait accompli, powerbrokers would have terminated him already. Those close to the matter have told Fairfax Media that all options - honouring Hasler's contract, extending it and tearing it up - remained in play.

"Everything is on the table," a source said.

One thing all directors are united on is the need for change. Canterbury's junior nursery has been neglected, with rival clubs pillaging their stocks. Retention and recruitment will be overhauled, hence the decision to part ways with talent-spotters Noel Cleal and Jim Whitney.

The playing style, deemed revolutionary when Hasler first took charge, has failed to evolve. The most skilful players tip the scales on the wrong side of 120kg. So poor is the kicking game that often the team dies with the Steeden on the last tackle, rather than risk handing their opponents a seven-tackle set. If Hasler was to somehow survive, he will no longer have an iron grip on all aspects of the football program.

The players, at least publicly, remain behind their coach.

"It's not really warranted," said Moses Mbye on the red carpet of the Rugby League Players' Association Awards, when asked about the criticism of Hasler.

"But when you're losing games, you're going to be criticised. It is what it is, it's whether you want to buy into it or not.

"When you're winning everyone wants to get on board with him and he's fine. His resume speaks for itself, to be honest. He's a quality coach, he'd be in the top two coaches in the game. Everyone is happy with him here."

On Friday at 4pm, Hasler will be grilled by his board. How he responds will determine whether he stays. Perhaps he live by another line from America's founding father: "It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one."