Breaking news: HBG takeover

[hammertime]

There is absolutely a chance they have bungled this up.
There is also a chance they had a genuine reason for dismissing the independent board members and if that is the case everyone glass been jumping to conclusions for no good reason.

I think there is a second tier to this too. Even if some decisions were mistakenly believed it was in the normal operations of the business and not taken to board, then is dismissing the board the correct action? Where's the escalation to the board?

WT would have had to deliberately circumvent the board multiple times after escalation to result in something as extreme as dissolution of the board.. and it would have involved richo who has not been sacked.

 

[Spartan117]

Richo is the most important person in all this mess.

Hope he doesn't walk

 

[Tom Shines]

So that was “everything he was working on for the past 18 months” ?

If that’s true, I’m starting to think Richo may not be Penske material 🥺

It’s not a straight forward task to implement… and all that effort is now wasted …

in addition he has worked on two stadium upgrade deals involving multiple different governments that may now be in question …

 

[BAGNF05]

So that was “everything he was working on for the past 18 months” ?

If that’s true, I’m starting to think Richo may not be Penske material 🥺

Now you’re just trolling. Wests Tigers had turned things around under an independent board and were set up for further improvement in 2026. The actions by HBG to sabotage that are selfish and likely unlawful.

 

[Telltails]

How does this effect Richo exactly ?

Your kidding right.. he made it very clear that he would only work with an independent board and as of this morning he hasn't lost one ...they are all gone at the hands of the people who agreed to those conditions. Do you think that may send a message that there support is not what he believed it to be

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

It’s not a straight forward task to implement… and all that effort is now wasted …

in addition he has worked on two stadium upgrade deals involving multiple different governments that may now be in question …

Why would any of that now be in question?

To quote Dan Paton - “the governance changes will not impact Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson or coach Benji Marshall.”

 

[Tito Santana]

Totally agree champ, they are history. The Tigers last won a comp in 1969, and were poo from 91 onwards and the magpies well let's not go there. Both should be wiped out fully, I would even scrap Leichardt and Campbell Town and just build a new stadium and have one home, let the losers who want to live in the past stay there and watch re runs of past floggings.

As a member of the ATC and the recent Rosehill potential sale debacle, I voted in favour of selling it. You know why? Because the sport is dying and no one goes there and the ATC would have become $5 billion richer.

The vote to retain it won. You know why? Because all these old farks that will die in the next 10 years that never go the races had fond memories of the days when it was somewhat popular. Now the ATC are broke as opposed to potentially being the richest race club in the world.

Case in point. You have a board of these old people rusted on Magpies fans (debenture holders) which irrespective of their connection to the past, are jeopardising the future of the club. Selfishly.

The only way for this to change is for a hostile takeover.

To those that still have the Balmain grudge against Wests and vice versa, fark off! If you’re not here to support Wests Tigers go support someone else.

 

[BAGNF05]

Why would any of that now be in question?

To quote Dan Paton - “the governance changes will not impact Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson or coach Benji Marshall.”

Why are we quoting a nobody bean counter? Shouldn’t Richo speak for himself.

 

[Tom Shines]

Why would any of that now be in question?

Because governments don’t like handing over money that benefits incompetents who are on the nose with the locals … some of the money for LO is coming from Darcy Byrne who seems pretty angry with all this

 

[hammertime]

Regarding the Magpies returning. If that was off the back off some democratically elected representatives at HBG level with market tested data saying it was good for the club, then sure. Do it. Thats how it should work.

The core of all our problems is the debenture system. Getting rid of that is the only way for us to not repeat this time and time again.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

Now you’re just trolling. Wests Tigers had turned things around under an independent board and were set up for further improvement in 2026. The actions by HBG to sabotage that are selfish and likely unlawful.

If by “trolling” you mean I hold a view that differs from yours, then yes, well spotted ...

My comment was made in direct response to Shiny Tom’s sweeping claim 🤷‍♂️

 

[Tom Shines]

If by “trolling” you mean I hold a view that differs from yours, then yes, well spotted ...

My comment was made in direct response to Shiny Tom’s sweeping claim 🤷‍♂️

I tried my best to answer your pretty dumb question below … hope I helped a little bit 🤷

How does this effect Richo exactly ?

 

[BAGNF05]

Richo is the most important person in all this mess.

Hope he doesn't walk

I sincerely hope he’s up for this stink. He doesn’t strike me as a walk away man and his opponent seems like they are fairly stupid.

 

[Telltails]

Why would any of that now be in question?

To quote Dan Paton - “the governance changes will not impact Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson or coach Benji Marshall.”

And you believe that.
Quoting the governance of this organization to sure up that things are on track.. yeh right.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

Your kidding right.. he made it very clear that he would only work with an independent board and as of this morning he hasn't lost one ...they are all gone at the hands of the people who agreed to those conditions. Do you think that may send a message that there support is not what he believed it to be

I would never kid over such a serious matter

As for the CEO working without a quartet of Independents on the Board. I would liken it to an elected Government not having the numbers in the Senate. Sure Richo would prefer a rubber stamp, but that’s now gone and he’ll just have to suck it up and negotiate with his upper house.

 

[diedpretty]

The eels ? They enforced the removal of the board . But the difference between us and the eels is the debenture bullshit . You can create a ticket and run for the eels . You can’t do that with HBg/wests . The club is literally at the mercy of incompetent fools.
I know in other leagues around the world with incompetent owners running franchises the ARLC equivalent did force sales .
It’s funny though because I think if the people running HBG were presented with the option , well the club now for the good of the club , and retain ownership , have the license revoked and put the club in jeopardy ie. wests don’t own the club anymore … I think they’d chose the latter .

The NRL didn't step in over the eels - Liquor and Gaming removed the board and put an administrator in charge - the only involvement the NRL had was dishing out penalties for salary cap cheating.

 

[BAGNF05]

And you believe that.
Quoting the governance of this organization to sure up that things are on track.. yeh right.

What’s Payton’s history in running a professional football club?

Let me guess… nil.

 

[UnderTheBus]

Regarding the Magpies returning. If that was off the back off some democratically elected representatives at HBG level with market tested data saying it was good for the club, then sure. Do it. Thats how it should work.

The core of all our problems is the debenture system. Getting rid of that is the only way for us to not repeat this time and time again.

Correct. Surely someone has dirt on Burgess that can involve a liquor and gaming review into the club and it's constitution. He's been there far too long and is essentially the last man standing in all of the boardroom mess that has transpired the past 10 years, in particular the past 12 months. May or may not work, but if hundreds of people filed a complaint with Liquor & Gaming into the running of HBG/Wests Ashfield questioning whether those in charge are fit and proper persons, it may prick their ears. What else is there to lose?

 

[Tom Shines]

I would never kid over such a serious matter

As for the CEO working without a quartet of Independents on the Board. I would liken it to an elected Government not having the numbers in the Senate. Sure Richo would prefer a rubber stamp, but that’s now gone and he’ll just have to suck it up and negotiate with his upper house.

Do you think Richo a good guy or a bad guy ?

 

[BAGNF05]

I would never kid over such a serious matter

As for the CEO working without a quartet of Independents on the Board. I would liken it to an elected Government not having the numbers in the Senate. Sure Richo would prefer a rubber stamp, but that’s now gone and he’ll just have to suck it up and negotiate with his upper house.

He doesn’t suffer fools like his long-time predecessor.