Family-friendly restaurant chain Rashays has doubled down on its decision to suspend a two-year major sponsorship deal with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
The club is currently embroiled in a sex scandal, following allegations two players brought two 17-year-old highschool girls back to a hotel in Port Macquarie earlier this month.
The timing of the incident could not have been worse for the NRL club, which had just put pen to paper on a two-year major sponsorship deal with Rashays.
It is believed the club had even started printing jerseys with the new sponsor on them.
In a statement provided to B&T, Rashays explained its decision to hit pause on the deal.
“We have advised [Bulldogs CEO] Andrew Hill that it was prudent to suspend the major sponsorship deal due to a scandal involving two Bulldog players,” Rashays said.
“The actions do not align with our core values as a company. We trust the club to deal with the situation appropriately and respectfully with all parties involved.
“The integral element of our brand is our focus on family-friendly experiences. We put our customers first, and despite our excitement towards this proposed deal, we need to uphold these values regardless of the magnitude of this partnership.”
However, the statement did leave the door open for a potential renegotiation.
“Rashays has currently suspended discussions with the club while they deal with this situation. We may reassess our position after the appropriate actions have been taken,” Rashays said.
It is being reported this morning that the Bulldogs will sack one of the involved players, Jayden Okunbor, after screenshots of his messages with the teen emerged.
Bulldogs chair Lynne Anderson indicated strong action could be on its way.
“We are not sweeping it under the carpet, we are owning it and facing up to it together as a club,” Anderson told the Herald. “We must respect the NRL process, one we triggered.”
