wstigers11
Well-known member
HBG is the majority on WT board
Delving deep inside Wests Ashfield
- Thread starter FinestTigers
- Start date
king_sirro
Well-known member
You moron. The Wests Tigers board sacked themselves...you idiot
mtd#2
Well-known member
Nice try Kev.
The Holman Barnes Group (HBG), led by CEO Dan Paton, were responsible for extending Benji Marshall’s contract. The reinstated board members were not part of the group that initiated the extension, as it was driven by the club owners during the 10-day period when the independent directors were sacked.
Sounds like the state government didn't force Balmain Leagues to do buy anything.
It reads more like the directors had no idea what they were doing and drowned in debt:
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Actually sounds like you have no idea of the machinations.Sounds like the state government didn't force Balmain Leagues to do buy anything.
It reads more like the directors had no idea what they were doing and drowned in debt:
FinestTigers
Well-known member
The Great Leichhardt Oval Dressing Room Siege:
In 1979, Tommy accidentally walked into the Balmain change rooms after full-time, sat down on Neil "Bing" Pringle’s gear bag, and started wrapping his own ankles with Balmain strapping tape. When Bing pointed out he was in the wrong room, Tommy didn't budge: 'Under Clause 4 of the Suburban Boundary Act, any room where I’ve tackled you behind the try-line becomes a sovereign territory of the Western Suburbs Magpies for forty-five minutes after the siren.
In 1979, Tommy accidentally walked into the Balmain change rooms after full-time, sat down on Neil "Bing" Pringle’s gear bag, and started wrapping his own ankles with Balmain strapping tape. When Bing pointed out he was in the wrong room, Tommy didn't budge: 'Under Clause 4 of the Suburban Boundary Act, any room where I’ve tackled you behind the try-line becomes a sovereign territory of the Western Suburbs Magpies for forty-five minutes after the siren.
Name-calling tells me a lot about you and your supporters.
Leck
Well-known member
Do you understand politics, or how prime Sydney commercial, residential and retail development works?
The dopiest woman in politics ever, Kristina Keneally, screwed up Balmain and Rozelle.
In the end, our Balmain Leagues Club was left to rot for over 15 years because she had a dumb Metro transport idea. But due to the geography of the area, it’s been proven that it could never happen.
In the end, we were left with the worst company ever to administer the Wests Tigers.
HBG must go.
FinestTigers
Well-known member
Legend has it that back in the mid-2000s, an executive from HBG, rubbed a dusty old pokie machine and summoned a mischievous Genie.
The wish? "Make us the undisputed rulers of the Wests Tigers joint venture, and make sure those proud Balmain Tigers fans have nowhere to drink but our place in Ashfield."
The Genie grinned and replied: Granted. But to ruin Balmain, I'm going to have to use local planning laws and State Government transport policy.
Here is the exact timeline of how the curse unfolded:
2004–2007: The Debt Trap
Balmain Leagues Club starts drowning in debt. Desperate for cash, Balmain signs a deal with developers to turn their Victoria Road home into massive high-rise apartments.
The Genie’s Twist: The Genie whispers into the ear of Leichhardt Council: "Object to everything." The planning approvals grind to a complete halt, leaving Balmain stuck holding multi-million dollar debts with zero cash flow.
2008: The State Government Chaos Agent.
Balmain tries to push their redevelopment through to avoid going broke.
The Genie’s Twist: The Genie pops over to Macquarie Street and implants a wild idea into Premier Nathan Rees’ head: The CBD Metro. A $5 billion driverless train line running straight from the CBD to Rozelle. Where’s the terminal station going? Right directly on top of the Balmain Leagues Club, of course. The state government freezes all private development plans for compulsory acquisition.
March 28, 2010: The Trap Slams Shut.
Premier Kristina Keneally takes the reins and pushes the CBD Metro full steam ahead.
The Genie’s Twist: Believing the bulldozers are arriving next Tuesday, Balmain Leagues Club locks its doors for the final time. Staff pack up, the beer taps are drained, and patrons are ushered out the door.
Late 2010: The Ultimate Keneally U-Turn
Just months after forcing the club to close, Kristina Keneally realizes the Metro is way too expensive and abruptly cancels the entire project.
The Genie’s Twist: Balmain is officially cursed. They don't get state government money, their building is closed, their original developer deal is dead, and they can't afford to turn the lights back on.
2011–2018: The Ghost Town Years.
HBG watches from Ashfield as the old Balmain site transforms into Sydney’s most iconic, fire-damaged, heavily-graffitied eyesore.
The Genie’s Twist: For eight straight years, any time a developer tries to save the site, the Genie triggers a local council protest, an arson attack, or a Land and Environment Court battle. Balmain’s debt accumulates interest while the building literally disintegrates.
October 2018 – 2019: HBG Collects the Prize.
Completely bankrupt, broken, and homeless, Balmain Leagues Club officially enters voluntary administration.
The Genie’s Twist: HBG steps in like a hero in shiny armor. Balmain members have no choice but to vote for an amalgamation with Wests Ashfield. HBG officially takes complete financial control of the joint venture, leaving Balmain as the junior partner sipping schooners on Western Suburbs turf.
2023–2028: The Long Aftermath
Construction finally begins on 'Rozelle Village' to rebuild the site.
The Genie’s Twist: It only took two decades, a canceled metro, multiple fires, complete corporate surrender, and an estimated completion date of 2028 for Balmain fans to finally get a room inside a apartment building to watch an NRL game again.
The Genie returns to his lamp, satisfied with a job well done.
Tbh wasn't it Bouncing Benny Elias and his mates who was given the site to develop?
By the members of BLC?
I'm an old BLC member and one thing WA can never compare with is this incompetence of BLC.
This all was on BLC.
And Benny and friends.
