Canterbury coach Dean Pay will be unable to personally negotiate player contracts after an extensive review of the NRL salary cap problems stemming from the previous regime.
After weeks of speculation around players' futures, the Bulldogs informed their members on Thursday they will be unlikely to make any major signings until the 2021 season.
NRL chairman Peter Beattie and chief executive Todd Greenberg were present at the forum.
The club confirmed they were cap compliant for both this year and the 2019 season, however will be limited to offering minimum wage deals for the five remaining spots on their roster for next season.
Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill declared that they weren't actively shopping players to get under the cap but refused guarantee any of their big-name stars would stay in a bid to alleviate financial pressures.
"Absolutely, we have limitations as to what we can recruit and retain," he said.
"We will get through this next period of 18 months because the club has got some wonderful, experienced people in significant roles.
"The combination of that experience and the fact it's a very strong club with great foundations, we're open and transparent with our members; we have to get through this little hurdle.
"Once we get past it, the future is incredibly bright."
After only being appointed to their roles earlier this year, chairwoman Lynne Anderson and CEO Hill were shocked at the results of a review into their footballing books.
They found that between seven-10 players were on substantially back-ended deals through to 2020, some of which rose from $200,000 to $600,000 by the end of their contracts.
Another six in 2018 are on ratchet clauses designed to increase their pay tied with annual rises in the cap, all of which were negotiated by previous management on the pretence of a $10 million cap.
The salary cap this year is $9.4 million, which forced the club to release former captain James Graham to St George Illawarra despite one year remaining on his deal.
It also means established stars Brett and Josh Morris, and Greg Eastwood, are all but certain to be in their final seasons at the club as the club moves to prioritise junior development.
Matt Frawley, Jeremy Marshall-King, Rhyse Martin and Clay Priest are without contracts next year.
The review forced the club to implement a number of changes to its recruitment and retention strategies, including the formation of a new committee.
Other stipulations include Pay reporting to head of football Andrew Farrar, as well as the establishment of a percentage of their cap to be spent on certain positions.
Any back-ended deals in excess of $100,000 also need to be approved by the board.
BULLDOGS' RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE
Lynne Anderson (chairwoman)
Chris Anderson (board member)
Andrew Hill (chief executive)
Dean Pay (coach)
Andrew Farrar (general manager of football)
Warren McDonnell (recruitment head)
Vince Costa (chief operating officer)
