Hasler is contracted until the end of 2017 but could be gone this week with the coach and board set to meet to discuss his future on Friday.

Hasler, a former Manly premiership-winning player and coach, is thought by many in the Bulldogs fraternity to be moving away from the traditions that once made Canterbury a powerhouse.

Mortimer, director of both the football and leagues clubs, confirmed the Buldogs' fraternity was worried the club was losing its identity under Hasler’s tenure.

"I've had a couple of footballers say to me as a director 'Turvey, we're losing our DNA, the Bulldogs,'" Mortimer told Fairfax Media.

"I sat down with them and I'm saying, 'I think we might be'.

"I'm old enough to have played two years with the Berries and I've got an idea of how the former coaches have strengthened the DNA of the Bulldogs in winning, getting up in the finals and even winning a premiership.

"The players who have come up to me saying we are losing our DNA and I've had a look at it and I understand what they're talking about. That's why the directors [want to] review this and look for the betterment of the Bulldogs to make them the greatest club and team.”

Hasler has taken the Bulldogs to two grand finals and five finals’ series during his five years at the helm.

Mortimer said it was about more than that.

"It's about winning premierships. It's about being up there. It's about developing your own - even though I came from Wagga - good players. That certainly hasn't happened over the last five years."

"When I came on board I didn't understand that he would bring eight or 10 people with him or whatever it may be," Mortimer said.

"To me, I'm old school and I don't think that's appropriate."

The outcome of Friday’s meeting is believed to hinge on the payout of Hasler’s $1.2 million earnings for 2017.

Should a deal be struck, he may walk away.

Canberra assistant and former Canterbury player Dean Pay is reportedly in line to takeover should Hasler move on.