HBG, Independent Directors Sacked

[Telltails]

I'm up for anything at this point that has nothing to do with the HBG group.
Im so sick of backing a failed organization who in their wisdom again sabotaged any forward progress that was made - after what most consider was a significant step forward

If your an old Maggie supporter I get the defensiveness, but how much crap are you prepared to endure as a supporter of WTs to accommodate this useless lot of blow ins who have no idea,how to successfully run an NRL club, but can successfully get rid of the only person who does. Stupidly they think they can continue to survive this and expect supporters to keep the faith.

You either support the WTs or you support HBG because one is at odds with the other.

 

[Tom Shines]

Is the club for sale ? Who knows, but for 50million I would say it’s highly likely Wests Leagues will take the money and have one less headache to look after.

I doubt it … the money doesn’t go to the debenture holders … what do they care about putting another $50 million on the balance sheet ?

I agree it would be a good outcome … I doubt it’s what Richo is waiting for though … this would take a long time to sort out ..

 

[weststigers]

Just emailed the club to advise Iam not renewing my membership and could they remove my details from all their data bases. 65 years of Balmain/Weststigers over

I'm sure it was done respectfully, but we need to remember not to direct anger to the club. Your email is far better served in an HBG inbox with abdo and/or V'Landys cc'd

The poor staff at WT have to deal with all the angry fans...I'd prefer silence from the fans at WT HQ and server errors at HBG from the fans expressing their views on why their cold hard will be staying in their pocket this year.

 

[Vicious]

“It’s not a harmonious set-up. Wests would be better off without Balmain and Balmain would be better off without Wests.”
Sounds a lot to me like he wants sack off Wests & bring in Balmain as a sole entity.

I doubt the name would change from Wests Tigers, just no Wests Magpies as the feeder club and probably not much black in the jersey.
It hasn’t happened yet, so it’s pure speculation at this point, but for all old Magpies supporters there is nothing that can be done about it if HBG decide to sell.

 

[Ecto-1]

Can you please share the email used.

Over 116 pages of posts within the last 72 hours.

Let’s put this energy into emails about all our experiences and our feelings towards this to the NRL - we have to make this a no brainer for them to remove the HGM.

I sent an email too and got the same response back.

 

[twentyforty]

Look I’m guessing like everybody else but I think it’s possible that the four independent board members will be replaced by four new independent members or a combination of existing and new independents.
In my opinion that is in the best interests of the club.
If I believe Paton and I tend to believe him the real issue was communication and overreach by the WT board into decisions they were not authorised to make. I wonder how well the agreement was documented that told the WT board what decisions it had control of and what decisions it should refer up. I suspect it was badly drafted and a source of confusion for all.
The only think I’m still totally confused about it what the hell the two HBG members on the WT board were doing. Surely they must have known the WT board they were sitting on were exceeding their brief.
If anyone deserved to be sacked it was those two.

Communication and overreach? That’s how they frame it. How many board members get sacked for that reason? Not too many I reckon, because it would reflect very poorly on those who sack them. Communication is a two way street.
No doubt in my mind, the reason for the sackings coincided with the shocking realisation that the voting balance was skewed toward the independent members. Normally that would not be seen as a negative but when it comes to increased orange on the away jersey or having a WT reserve grade team etc., heads need to roll,

 

[Surfers Paradise WT Fan]

aabdo@nrl.com.au
reception@nrl.com.au

Done and done

 

[innsaneink]

Not sure it’s a hoax at all. The story’s running in The Australian. Apparently old man Laundy is a lifelong Balmain supporter. Now wouldn’t that be funny if Laundy bought out HBG and reinstated the Balmain Tigers if the NRL let him.
Imagine the current outrage (such as it is) switching to joy and the current joy (such as it is) turning to despair.
Would love to read the forum for a few days if that happened.

He was invited to a Tigers board meeting many years ago....not sure if WTs or BTs...just to observe....he said he was treated like shit by one director

 

[Vicious]

I doubt it … the money doesn’t go to the debenture holders … what do they care about putting another $50 million on the balance sheet ?

I agree it would be a good outcome … I doubt it’s what Richo is waiting for though … this would take a long time to sort out ..

Yeah but 50 million is a lot of money tj consider when Wests Tigers could potentially be worth next to nothing in a couple of years time.
They could be getting tired of all the headaches that come their way and be happy to sell.

 

[PrattenParkMagpie]

The only think I’m still totally confused about it what the hell the two HBG members on the WT board were doing. Surely they must have known the WT board they were sitting on were exceeding their brief.
If anyone deserved to be sacked it was those two.

This is what I have major problem with.

Surely it is Dennis Burgess' job that if something comes up that required HBG approval he raises the need for approval and it is placed on the agenda for the next meeting, then he takes it back to the HBG board for approval or not.

That is his job as the HBG representative, and if Dennis can't attend any meeting it is the responsibility of HBG to send an alternate representative to act on the boards behalf and in their interests for any meetings Dennis can't attend, not to mention the HBG board should be acquainting themselves thoroughly with the Wests Tigers board minutes to be correctly informed about any and all matters and business being raised.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Direct quotes


The billionaire has revealed he will explore the possibility of buying out the Holman-Barnes Group, who currently own 90% of the Wests Tigers, and have come under fire for firing four independent board members after nine months in the job.
“It would be the only way they are ever going to survive,” Laundy told The Daily Telegraph.
“I can’t see how this (joint venture) can ever work so I’d be happy to look at buying Wests’ 90 per cent.
“Yes, I’m certainly prepared to look at it.
“I have a soft spot for Balmain, and I will always be a Balmain person."

Going from one extreme to another. As if they’d sell to someone with heavy Balmain leanings.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Yeah but the Wests Leagues will get their way and force the sale to go ahead of they wa t the cash.
I don’t think Wests Leagues would be too happy with all the headaches that come their way and would be happy to sell for a good price which 50 million sounds to be.

Maybe Laundy can offer a sweetener to each of the 20 debenture holders as part of the offer!

 

[weststigers]

Yes I do apologise ..it’s a genuine story and he has been quoted…

Unfortunately , even if he is genuine … the chances of this happening are minimal …. The NRL would have to force it through

Tommy I'm telling you, people with money wait around for these opportunities and he can smell something might be on in the not too distant future.

He's sending a message to the NRL to say he's a quick solution if they ever wanted to leverage the NRL licence against HBG.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's already been on the phone to PVL.

 

[Yossarian]

It’s funny, because what you’re describing is how a lot of Western Suburbs fans (not all) have felt for the past 26 years.
I think if the perception of the merger had been more even handed (the media have been the worst offenders there), then none of this current stuff would ever have happened.

There’s no justification for how the HBG crowd have carried on.
Again, I understand how some former WS fans may feel alienated but Wests are half the name and get just as many home games as LO. What you describe might as well be 0%. As I said I’d be as interested as I would be to watch the Dolphins play home games at LO. They’d be tenants not a team I’d feel a connection with.

 

[Tom Shines]

Yeah but the Wests Leagues will get their way and force the sale to go ahead of they wa t the cash.
I don’t think Wests Leagues would be too happy with all the headaches that come their way and would be happy to sell for a good price which 50 million sounds to be.

Who is the Wests Leagues Club? Isn’t it just the board members we all know and love ? Otherwise it’s a building filled with poker machines …

 

[coivtny]

Communication and overreach? That’s how they frame it. How many board members get sacked for that reason? Not too many I reckon, because it would reflect very poorly on those who sack them. Communication is a two way street.
No doubt in my mind, the reason for the sackings coincided with the shocking realisation that the voting balance was skewed toward the independent members. Normally that would not be seen as a negative but when it comes to increased orange on the away jersey or having a WT reserve grade team etc., heads need to roll,

Just can't agree. Even the village idiot would realise with four independents you can never have the numbers on a 7 person board. Their only chance would be if they had an independent in their pocket and that was always going to be unlikely.
Personally, if I was in a position of power, I'd sack Board members who continually failed to refer decisions up the line for approval after a warning or two. By decisions I mean those previously agreed as needing to be referred. I'd do it in a heartbeat.
I can't understand, however, how the two HBG members on the board were not the first to go. As members of both boards they had no excuse.

 

[coivtny]

This is what I have major problem with.

Surely it is Dennis Burgess' job that if something comes up that required HBG approval he raises the need for approval and it is placed on the agenda for the next meeting, then he takes it back to the HBG board for approval or not.

That is his job as the HBG representative, and if Dennis can't attend any meeting it is the responsibility of HBG to send an alternate representative to act on the boards behalf and in their interests for any meetings Dennis can't attend, not to mention the HBG board should be acquainting themselves thoroughly with the Wests Tigers board minutes to be correctly informed about any and all matters and business being raised.

We're furiously in agreement. Will you be at Pratten on December 13.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Laundy buying the Tigers would be the best outcome we could hope for, only con would be his age hopefully his kids would have interest to carry on the legacy.

If it's a possibility, then thousands need to get to the rally and really make HBG squirm, make them feel that it's not worth the trouble keeping.

 

[Tom Shines]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's already been on the phone to PVL.

Well…PVL is the only one that can force this through …Will Wiggy and the others cop it sweet though ?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Laundy buying the Tigers would be the best outcome we could hope for, only con would be his age hopefully his kids would have interest to carry on the legacy.

If it's a possibility, then thousands need to get to the rally and really make HBG squirm, make them feel that it's not worth the trouble keeping.

If their secret plan is to cut out the orange, bring the Magpies back etc, why would they sell to someone who’d take the club to the other extreme? Seems unlikely.