AP: Should all the [feeder teams, such as NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg, etc] be playing under the Wests Tigers jersey, banner and logo, given it is supposedly one club?
DP: “That’s something for the new Wests Tigers board to start getting their head around and make decisions on.”
AP: What’s the position of the Holman Barnes Group on that?
“The Holman Barnes Group obviously has a number of teams under their umbrella, Wests Tigers and Wests Magpies being two of those, as well as the registered clubs. So we support all our teams.”
AP: Will the Holman Barnes Group now start sticking their beak into football, interfering and meddling in football matters?
DP: “No, it’s not for the Holman Barnes Group to get involved with football operations and player signings. But it is their responsibility to ensure that due diligence is done correctly around the selection of those players. So it’s just ensuring that governance and those systematic measures are in place.”
AP: You said yourself that the board structure hasn’t worked in the past. Now Wests Tigers fans are seeing more [boardroom] changes, and the football club hasn’t really improved significantly. Why should they believe you this time when you say you’re acting in their best interests and that it’s not about the individuals on the board?
DP: “That’s right, it has been a mess in the past. There’s been a clear disconnect between boards [and the] decision making that needed to happen. What’s different this time is that for the first time we’re seeing the Holman Barnes Group board, the Wests Magpies board, the Wests Tigers board and even the Balmain board being more unified than they ever have before.
“So the decision making should be more seamless now and allow the football department to do what they need to do with on-field success.”