TigerJunior4
Well-known member
Excellent statement and love the solidarity between all the Wests Tigers supporter groups.Wests Tigers Unite
For ALL Wests Tigers Fans
Press Release
30th December 2024
A diverse group of leading Wests Tigers social media platforms and supporter groups has unified under the banner ‘Wests Tigers Unite’ and launched a petition calling for a review of the governance of the Holman Barnes Group (HBG)
The group's formation came about following months of negative headlines about the ownership and governance of the Wests Tigers NRL club, and more specifically, recent developments in the administration and governance of the NRL club’s majority stakeholder, HBG.
There is a significant amount of frustration and concern among Wests Tigers fans after the HBG board initially unanimously supported the recommendations of an external review into the governance of the Wests Tigers (conducted in late 2023), however, changes on the HBG board early in 2024 left those recommendations floundering.
In more recent times, three pro-review directors have been sidelined and look set to be entirely removed from their positions (and even banned from entering any HBG-controlled premises) based on allegations that seem to be thin at best.
It appears that those who have control of the HBG board are continuing to resist key review recommendations, and there are also deeper concerns among Wests Tigers fans that those now in charge of the HBG are not working in the best interests of the NRL club.
Further, there are significant concerns among the members of Wests Tigers Unite that the corporate governance, primarily the HBG’s long-established Debenture system, fails to provide fair representation to club members or meet community and regulator expectations.
The Wests Tigers Unite petition is calling for a comprehensive external review of the governance of the Holman Barnes Group and will be presented to the HBG, Liquor and Gaming NSW, and the NSW Minister for Liquor and Gaming, The Hon. David Harris, MP.
Members of Wests Tigers Unite include well-known ‘Wests Tigers Life’ podcast contributor Rob Bechara, ‘The Ambush’ Wests Tigers fan group, the Wests Tigers Forum, Tiger Town Podcast, and the Wests Tigers Podcast & Forum.
The petition has currently received over 500 signed submissions, and it is anticipated that further Wests Tigers fan and media platforms will join us in this action in the coming days.
Mr. Bechara says he supports the petition because he is concerned about the procrastination of the implementation of the full recommendations made by the independent and external review.
“I’m also bothered by the continuous unrest amongst board members of Holman Barnes Group and the embarrassment it not only brings to themselves but also the Wests Tigers.
“A united board at ownership level is vital for the stability and success at the Wests Tigers and all decisions made at board level MUST be in the best interests of the Wests Tigers and its future.
“I hope all Wests Tigers fans support this petition. It’s in the best interests of Wests Tigers future.”
The Ambush co-founder Kelly Hollis says supporting the petition was an easy decision.
“Our group has always been about uniting Wests Tigers fans and creating a strong community, both on and off the field. Supporting the Wests Tigers Unite petition is a natural extension of that mission.
“We stand with fans calling for transparency and accountability in the club’s governance to ensure the future of the Tigers is as strong as the passion of its supporters.
“It’s time for the club we love to thrive, and we’re proud to back this important cause.”
Tiger Town Podcast co-owners Toby Burke and Zac Kelsey say they are right behind the movement.
“We feel obligated to support this petition due to our ongoing concerns with the perceived dysfunction at board level of the majority owners of Wests Tigers, the Holman Barnes Group, and, how this has impacted and will continue to impact, a cohesive and congruent Wests Tigers Board; something that is a necessity for a rugby league club to be successful.
“We are only interested in the success and stability of the football club moving forward and are concerned that the current governance structure is preventing necessary progress from taking place, let alone in a timely and expedited fashion.
“The dysfunction, infighting and agendas need to end, once and for all.'
Wests Tigers Podcast & Forum co-founder Joel Helmes says the current governance structure at HBG appears to consistently be proving problematic.
“The Holman Barnes Group, and by extension the Wests Tigers, has become a plaything for a small group of individuals who are not answerable to anyone.
“Under the current set-up there doesn’t appear to be any feasible or tangible mechanisms to enforce good governance, and certainly no direct democratic process that could be triggered to ensure the people in charge of the HBG are accountable.
“It is in my opinion that the Debenture-controlled HBG board fails to meet one of the five priorities of the Liquor & Gaming NSW Delivery Plan 2024 – 2026, namely, ensuring responsible governance, operator integrity, and financial accountability.”
One of the three elected HBG directors set to be removed from their positions was the long-serving Rick Wayde.
Wayde, along with Tony Andreacchio and David Gilbert, have been suspended for several weeks and are likely to have their club memberships revoked, removing them from being able to hold positions on the HBG board.
Wayde says what has happened to him and his two fellow board members shows the HBG governance is not providing the 27,000 Members of the HBG licensed clubs with representation at Board level.
“Tony and I have been through five elections over the past 13 years, being unopposed in early 2024, for a three-year term. During our time we have helped establish a stable environment for the CEO and his executive team to build a strong, company, resulting in record profits over the past three years.
“We have also been the prime movers in the Wests Tigers review and its implementation. That HBG Boardroom stability has disappeared in the current power grab by debenture holders - Julie Romero, Dennis Burgess, Stephen Montgomery, and Vince Tropiano.
“The debenture system has passed its ‘use by’ date.” Mr. Wayde said.
ENDS
Thank you for organising and posting
