"This worries me. If Poles was told that he can pick his HC from the pool of George and Polian's final three candidates then the process is tainted. Perhaps this is why Dodds got cold feet?"
Where have you read this?
From what I have read, Poles accepted this job on one condition..
" ‘OK, here's the deal. I'm doing the interviews, me, and I'm making the call. Don't tell me who (Bill) Polian wants to hire or who Ernie Accorsi wants to hire or who Virginia (McCaskey) wants. I'm picking my head coach or I'm getting on a plane to Minneapolis,’"