Breaking news: HBG takeover

[tigahhh]

The keys hitting the table with his resignation will be the only thing your likely to hear

im so afraid you’re right. if richo goes the club is done for. i will be out the door with him

 

[Tiger_Bond]

I’m now convinced that these MF’s at HBG have a long term plan and that they are sabotaging the TIGERS brand on purpose with an end game plan to bring back the Magpies brand as the whole picture is starting to become clear and there is truth to the banned directors claim. It only makes sense that they are trying to make the Tigers brand so toxic and the NRL has to kill it and rebrand.

 

[coivtny]

@BZN - Where are you now?????????? We all tried to warn you about these deadset muppets, but you kept toeing the line.

They've just imploded the club!!!!

Bet that felt good.

 

[tigahhh]

west tigers faithful about to do an episode on YT for those interested to discuss ….

 

[cochise]

@BZN - Where are you now?????????? We all tried to warn you about these deadset muppets, but you kept toeing the line.

They've just imploded the club!!!!

He will still defend them.

 

[hammertime]

He will still defend them.

If he does, he has to be Dennis Burgess himself or senile. No other logical conclusion.

 

[George Piper's #1 fan]

Whats the go with the removal of the 4 independent directors including Barry? Doesn’t smell good

Maybe they were competent

 

[magpies forever]

Like I said . Balmain should pull out of the merger as its stands and reform a new one with Cambo. The same club minus the anchor around its neck.

And be a minority shareholder with 10% value? I'm not against exploring the option of engaging / merging with Wests Campbelltown, it may well be a possible option.

Although, I'd like to hear NRL HQ thoughts on this debacle. I think the license has to be in play- and as they're admitting 2 new teams with a not great player talent base totally getting rid of a basket case Wests Tigers would increase numbers of players available. Get rid of Tiger and the Magpie (if thafs what these idiots are thinking) from the NRL and at best a State Cup feeder side.

Man, this club does my head in.

 

[tigahhh]

 

[BAGNF05]

I hope Richo puts HBG on blast on his way out the door and PVL strips the license off them. They’re incompetent. Move to a fan-owned model.

 

[matchball]

No surprise here. They been doing this when Mike Bailey was alive. Dennis is just carrying on his work.

 

[coivtny]

He will still defend them.

No need for that comment. Why drag him into it? He didn’t bring this about. Pretty lowbrow comment in fact.

 

[Demps]

Former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell has been sacked as chairman of Wests Tigers in a purge of the board by the NRL club’s owners.

The joint venture has been plagued by dysfunction at boardroom level since the merger between Balmain and Wests in 1999, and the latest round of firings plunges it into more turmoil.

Wests Tigers’ majority owner, Holman Barnes Group, confirmed on Monday a removal notice had been issued to the club’s four independent directors – O’Farrell, Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell.

They were only appointed to the board at the start of the year as part of sweeping recommendations arising from an independent review.

But HBG chief executive Daniel Paton said the new structure had not proven effective and was marked by poor communication between the owners and the Tigers’ board.

HBG, which runs the sprawling Wests Ashfield League Club, said it had been left out of the loop on some commercial announcements despite maintaining two directors on the Wests Tigers board including its chairman, Dennis Burgess.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, one issue that led the HBG board to take action was the colour scheme of next season’s Wests Tigers home jersey, which was deemed to be too gold – a traditional colour of Balmain.

“While it [the appointment of independent directors] has worked in some areas, it hasn’t worked in others,” Paton said. “And the Holman Barnes board has been left in the dark on some commercially sensitive announcements.

Further to this, the Holman Barnes board doesn’t believe the communication between the boards has been satisfactory.”

O’Farrell joined the board, firstly as interim chair, in December 2023, after the board then chaired by Lee Hagipantelis was removed in its entirety by HBG.

He declined to comment on Monday.

Paton said the governance changes would not impact Wests Tigers chief Shane Richardson or coach Benji Marshall.

“We don’t want to micro-manage the football operations, and we have full faith in Shane Richardson as CEO and Benji Marshall as coach,” he said. “We do, however, need to be consulted on decisions that will impact the club’s financial future.

“Yes, the club recently turned a profit, but we’re looking at the next 15 years, not just year to year.”

Paton said Balmain remained a huge part of the joint venture following concerns last year that it would have zero representation at board level.

Loading “Balmain isn’t going anywhere, we’re proud and committed supporters of Balmain; Balmain are very much a part of this joint venture, they maintain their 10 per cent share, and retain their seat on the board,” Paton said.

Holman Barnes Group owns 90 per cent of Wests Tigers and Monday’s axings appear to be a move to regain control of the football club.

“Our focus is on stability, unity and success both on and off the field,” Holman Barnes Group said in a statement. “Holman Barnes Group and the Wests Tigers share a deep commitment to the players, members, fans and communities, and we will continue to work together to build a strong, sustainable and successful long-term future for the

Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell sacked amid board purge – and a wrong colour jersey

The Holman Barnes Group - which owns 90 per cent of the joint venture – confirmed O’Farrell and the three other independent directors on the club’s seven-person board had been removed.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Hmmm, maybe Dennis watched the story about the legacy of Les Boyd and got all sentimental over the Magpies circa 1978??

Geez, HBG get rid of Dennis and bring back Rick Wayde!!

 

[BAGNF05]

Boycott any licensed club connected to Wests Tigers. Don’t give them a cent of your money. Germs.

 

[Demps]

They’re probably filthy with the commercial decision of having an orange jumper as the home jersey.

✅️

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, one issue that led the HBG board to take action was the colour scheme of next season’s Wests Tigers home jersey, which was deemed to be too gold – a traditional colour of Balmain.

 

[Tom Shines]

It was the orange jersey folks

 

[rex2ce]

Absolute shit show.

Will never get better

 

[jadtiger]

Morons complete and utter morons.

 

[Tigerdazz2]

And be a minority shareholder with 10% value? I'm not against exploring the option of engaging / merging with Wests Campbelltown, it may well be a possible option.

Although, I'd like to hear NRL HQ thoughts on this debacle. I think the license has to be in play- and as they're admitting 2 new teams with a not great player talent base totally getting rid of a basket case Wests Tigers would increase numbers of players available. Get rid of Tiger and the Magpie (if thafs what these idiots are thinking) from the NRL and at best a State Cup feeder side.

Man, this club does my head in.

Though that would be ideal, Wests Campbelltown doesn't have the $$ to run a NRL team.

What would be better is if HBG made Wests Tigers a public company and float it on the stock exchange. I don't want some wealthy backer owning too much of the club though, limit the shares that a single investor can purchase.