Taking a wrecking ball to the club! (Recent Media Reports)

[liltiger]

I see they are still interim so it would be good to see some fresh Balmain & Wests reps (and ones that meet the skills matrix) when they next elect their reps on the Board.

Would just be better to fill one seat with a HBG rep and everyone else independant, once we can financially stand alone we can remove the HBG seat and have a totally independant board worried about Wests Tigers only.

 

[cktiger]

Financial Manager, Commercial Manager, Sports Person (and lawyer) and ex Politician.

Good mix I would say.

When you look at their resumes you’d think the ones already on the board will be so far out of their depth that it’s not funny.
Charlie Viola’s company alone is worth $2.5 billion… he definitely knows money and how to make it.

 

[cochise]

I posted on here a couple of weeks ago a suggestion of doing something similar - and was routinely ridiculed by the vocal minority. Its a very popular scenario across europe and never been done here.

In the UK they are generally an independant body, not run by the club but have access to the board some some board events and meetings (usually referred to as Sporting Trusts). In Germany, several sporting organisations do something similar.

If this can be achieved, and done well, then it would be a good thing for the fans

(Wolverhamton Wanderers as an example: https://www.wolves1877trust.co.uk/)

This was actually one of the ideas I raised when interviewed for the review.

 

[tigertragic]

Should spell it out for people. These people were selected before the petition.

There would have been paperwork signed to be returned and all 3 wouldn’t have done it at the one time. Given the inportance of role and type of people they wouldn’t have signed and returned paperwork within a day. Plus HBG would have actually interviewed them as well not just the agency.

They were selected well before Xmas as these people would have had time of over Xmas /new break

Hmmm that’s why the board remained silent when it could have put the basis of the petition to bed by just saying the independent board members have been selected and we hope to be in a position to announce them in Jan 2025.
They were very bullish in sacking 3 of their own in the dark of night on New Year’s Eve.
But hope your version of events is correct.

 

[Tito Santana]

Love how everyone thinks they know what’s going on. Pathetic.

 

[gallagher]

Love how everyone thinks they know what’s going on. Pathetic.

Lots of interesting theories. Maybe interesting isn't the right word...

 

[coivtny]

Would just be better to fill one seat with a HBG rep and everyone else independant, once we can financially stand alone we can remove the HBG seat and have a totally independant board worried about Wests Tigers only.

Are you saying Montgomery and Stapleton are HBG people because Burgess is the only official HBG rep on the board. You knew this was how the board was going to be constituted all along, why start to question it now?

 

[twentyforty]

Unfortunately the image of Burgess will be the one the media dine out on.

I doubt he has removed himself from the board of HGB.
"The Chair will be elected by the Board at their first meeting on Tuesday 28th January 2025."
Looking forward to seeing the results? Or are they electing a Deputy Chair? Is it simply a formality? Or a vote of confidence in the appointment of Barry O'Farrell? Or has Denny been campaigning hard?

 

[liltiger]

Are you saying Montgomery and Stapleton are HBG people because Burgess is the only official HBG rep on the board. You knew this was how the board was going to be constituted all along, why start to question it now?

I'm saying give Montgomery and Stapleton's seats to two other independants. We're the Wests Tigers that is all the board members on our board should be focused on. Not that we give board seats out because your from Wests or from Balmain. Should be on the board soely because you have the Wests Tigers interests at heart. HBG as financiers can get a seat, now we have the independants in their power and hold over the Wests Tigers is gone. Once we can support ourselves we by rights should have the ability to fill Burgess seat with another independant. Though I don't think under the current constitution we could, so we prob have to have a seat for HBG. But it really doesn't matter now, they have no more power.

 

[BAGNF05]

Well done HBG and WTU for keeping them accountable, hopefully a new dawn of professionalism at OUR club.

 

[coivtny]

I'm saying give Montgomery and Stapleton's seats to two other independants. We're the Wests Tigers that is all the board members on our board should be focused on. Not that we give board seats out because your from Wests or from Balmain. Should be on the board soely because you have the Wests Tigers interests at heart. HBG as financiers can get a seat, now we have the independants in their power and hold over the Wests Tigers is gone. Once we can support ourselves we by rights should have the ability to fill Burgess seat with another independant. Though I don't think under the current constitution we could, so we prob have to have a seat for HBG. But it really doesn't matter now, they have no more power.

I'm quite comfortable giving Wests and Balmain a seat each on a board that has a majority of independents. Juniors are a big part of our future, particularly home-grown juniors, and they come from the Wests and Balmain junior leagues. So it seems to me they're entitled to a seat on the board.

 

[BAGNF05]

I'm quite comfortable giving Wests and Balmain a seat each on a board that has a majority of independents. Juniors are a big part of our future, particularly home-grown juniors, and they come from the Wests and Balmain junior leagues. So it seems to me they're entitled to a seat on the board.

I think the delegates on both sides can probably improve but baby steps. I’m also going off limited hard evidence.

 

[TieDye]

Well done HBG and WTU for keeping them accountable, hopefully a new dawn of professionalism at OUR club.

I disagree with the means but it’s clear we were still in shambles and would’ve started this bright, new era off immediately on the wrong foot.

The fact there are so many non-football brains being quizzed and interviewed about how best to go forward because one petition was previously successful/labelled as the one-stop solution that was readily accepted and implemented in order to get us back on the right track.

You guys kept insisting the changes had been made and ratified heading into this season, now how could you have possibly speculated given all the hidden information regarding these personalities now coming to light?

Again, the sentiment is nice but this was a shirt lifting exercise between board members that should never have been publicised in the first place and honestly (from a WT) has caught several here hands on snakey.

 

[cdinoz007]

This was actually one of the ideas I raised when interviewed for the review.

And yet it was laughed at here. (go back and read the comments)

 

[BAGNF05]

I disagree with the means but it’s clear we were still in shambles and would’ve started this bright, new era off immediately on the wrong foot.

The fact there are so many non-football brains being quizzed and interviewed about how best to go forward because one petition was previously successful/labelled as the one-stop solution that was readily accepted and implemented in order to get us back on the right track.

You guys kept insisting the changes had been made and ratified heading into this season, now how could you have possibly speculated given all the hidden information regarding these personalities now coming to light?

Again, the sentiment is nice but this was a shirt lifting exercise between board members that should never have been publicised in the first place and honestly (from a WT) has caught several here hands on snakey.

I’ve read your post but couldn’t figure out what you’re unhappy about.

 

[Jolls]

Should spell it out for people. These people were selected before the petition.

There would have been paperwork signed to be returned and all 3 wouldn’t have done it at the one time. Given the inportance of role and type of people they wouldn’t have signed and returned paperwork within a day. Plus HBG would have actually interviewed them as well not just the agency.

They were selected well before Xmas as these people would have had time of over Xmas /new break

I think your timeline is a little ambitious. I placed an EOI for a position, not expecting to be considered as I live in a rural location, but to get a good feel for what the selection process involved and how decisions were being made. I did not get to the stage of being interviewed on the short list, but surprisingly I did get though a couple of the selection gates; including an interview with Elevate.

Given when I was notified that I didn't get through the last gate was the first week of December and them having to do face to face interviews etc. I doubt this was sorted "well before Christmas". The process was definitely well underway though.

Given the timing I would think that the final considerations/interviews were done pretty close to Christmas. It is not likely that the decision was made then, but it may have been. It is more likely that the decision was made on return from the Christmas break, after due deliberation.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

I think your timeline is a little ambitious. I placed an EOI for a position, not expecting to be considered in as I live in a rural location, but to get a good feel for what the selection process involved and how decisons were being made. I did not get to the stage of being interviewed on the short list, but surprisingly I did get though a couple of the selection gates; including an interview with Elevate.

Given when I was notified that I didn't get through the last gate was the first week of December and them having to do face to face interviews etc. I doubt this was sorted "well before Christmas". The process was definitely well underway though.

Given the timing I would think that the final considerations/interviews were done pretty close to Christmas. It is not likely that the decision was made then, but it may have been. It is more likely that the decision was made on return from the Christmas break, after due deliberation.

I suppose given there was only one spot for a male in the process you had stiff opposition going up against Charlie.

Your in good company.

Also it proves the process of selecting independents was never reversed or stalled.

 

[innsaneink]

I think your timeline is a little ambitious. I placed an EOI for a position, not expecting to be considered in as I live in a rural location, but to get a good feel for what the selection process involved and how decisons were being made. I did not get to the stage of being interviewed on the short list, but surprisingly I did get though a couple of the selection gates; including an interview with Elevate.

Given when I was notified that I didn't get through the last gate was the first week of December and them having to do face to face interviews etc. I doubt this was sorted "well before Christmas". The process was definitely well underway though.

Given the timing I would think that the final considerations/interviews were done pretty close to Christmas. It is not likely that the decision was made then, but it may have been. It is more likely that the decision was made on return from the Christmas break, after due deliberation.

What's this?
More furphys being dispelled?
We'll I never!

 

[jirskyr]

I posted on here a couple of weeks ago a suggestion of doing something similar - and was routinely ridiculed by the vocal minority. Its a very popular scenario across europe and never been done here.

In the UK they are generally an independant body, not run by the club but have access to the board some some board events and meetings (usually referred to as Sporting Trusts). In Germany, several sporting organisations do something similar.

If this can be achieved, and done well, then it would be a good thing for the fans

(Wolverhamton Wanderers as an example: https://www.wolves1877trust.co.uk/)

I don't recall anyone here (i.e. fans) ridiculing the idea of a fan liaison with the club. Can you quote who was ridiculing you?

I did respond that the club has attempted member liaison groups in the past and they typically wither over time, especially when the management is turned over, because the club is never really willing to offer the fan/member groups any real power. It's true of basically all rugby league clubs, because the clubs want the members but aren't really super interested in handing power / voting rights / a say to those members.

For example some of us here involved with The Ambush since 2020, we had access to the club but they were always clear it was about driving memberships more than giving members a voice or a specific power. And Pascoe was the main driver of that and he's obviously gone, so what remains are the network connections some fans made, and the positive energy and FREE TIME those members give up in large quantities to attempt to improve the overall relationship between club and fans.

The fan trusts that I am aware of, that work well, are in clubs much bigger than anything in Rugby League. Not to say it can't be done, but the club has to offer incentives and move themselves increasingly away from the classic Rugby League Board Room politics that grew with and is entrenched in the game.

 

[BAGNF05]

I don't recall anyone here (i.e. fans) ridiculing the idea of a fan liaison with the club. Can you quote who was ridiculing you?

I did respond that the club has in fact attempted member liaison groups in the past and they typically wither over time, especially when the management is turned over, because the club is never really willing to offer the fan/member groups any real power. It's true of basically all rugby league clubs, because the clubs want the members but aren't really super interested in handing power / voting rights / a say to those members.

For example some of us here involved with The Ambush since 2020, we had access to the club but they were always clear it was about driving memberships more than giving members a voice or a specific power. And Pascoe was the main driver of that and he's obviously gone, so what remains are the network connections some fans made, and the positive energy and FREE TIME those members give up in large quantities to attempt to improve the overall relationship between club and fans.

The fan trusts that I am aware of, that work well, are in clubs much bigger than anything in Rugby League. Not to say it can't be done, but the club has to offer incentives and move themselves increasingly away from the classic Rugby League Board Room politics that grew with and is entrenched in the game.

Richo “if you make decisions based on the fans you’ll eventually end up sitting with them” (or something like that)

Important to listen to fans and hear their views but I’m happy the big fella is the signal caller.