"We have been informed by several credible and respected sources that a PR agency has been hired to build a dirt file on members of the Bulldogs 2018 Reform ticket contesting the upcoming elections," the statement read. "While incredibly disappointed, we are not surprised. Since we outlined our plans to run an alternative ticket for Bulldogs members at the upcoming football club elections, we have been warned by friends, colleagues and members to reconsider, based on the widespread assumption that the current regime would play dirty. "We urge the current regime to think twice before they drag our club into the gutter with accusations and innuendo. It is easy for all to go down the path of dirt digging but this is not what the Bulldogs players, members or fans need at this time of crisis." The Reform ticket also includes Lynne Anderson, who is Chris Anderson's wife and the daughter of late Bulldogs patriarch Peter "Bullfrog" Moore, as well as John Ballesty, John Khoury and Nick Dimas. Fairfax Media approached members of the rival ticket to elaborate on their claims, as well as the PR company involved, but no further comment or explanation was given. Bulldogs chairman Ray Dib was furious when Fairfax Media read the statement to him on Wednesday night.

"I'm not going to play this game with anyone – it's untrue," Dib said. "I'm totally shocked. I will wait until I get a copy of it and then I'll be passing it onto the lawyers, end of story." The sensational claims evoke memories of the ugly battle for control of South Sydney in 2006 when patriarch George Piggins accused Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court of using private investigators to "destroy me, my family and friends in their quest to privatise the club". "Crowe and Holmes a Court used the services of Palladino and Sutherland, a US private investigation firm, to travel to Australia to spy on people opposed to the takeover of the club in a dirt-digging exercise," Piggins told News Corp in 2012. The animosity between the two rival tickets trying to take control of the Bulldogs has been building for some time. It's understood some nominees from the Reform group have taken the step of door-knocking voting members to ask for their support.

Meanwhile, the Reform group has accused the current board of failing to provide them with a current register of members, so it can call them – as they are entitled to do – to garner their support. Dib angrily rejects this. The Bulldogs have about 850 voting members, and they will receive a notice of annual general meeting and a proxy form early next week. At the last election four years ago, about 500 members voted. There is a growing feeling the new board could be split with nominees from both tickets being elected. Members will have a chance to ask questions of the Reform ticket at a forum at Campsie RSL on Thursday night, although it will not answer questions about their allegations. "We believe this behaviour would be an absolute insult to fans and members of our club, which prides itself on being united and supportive of our own," their statement read. "Our club has fallen from its position as a respected and envied club, both on and off the field, and it is now time for members to have their say as to who, and what plans, are best to make our club great again.

"We believe members deserve positive solutions to restore our club to where it belongs rather than a destructive negative campaign [against] those within our own great Bulldogs family. We are looking forward, not back, in a spirit of optimism and renewal. We want what is best for our club. Our members, our players and all stakeholders deserve that after recent lean years."