http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-ceo-justin-pascoe-says-to-survive-unpopular-decisions-need-to-me-made/story-fni3gpz1-1227566613017?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
tl/dr version:
* nothing doing re: relocation
* big club, big brand - need to convert the many 'fans' into members
* one home ground eventually
* same old re: Farah
* Lawrence and others also given permission to look elsewhere
* guarded words re: Taupau, though could just be Dean Ritchie's standard stirring
**Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe says to survive unpopular decisions need to me made**
Dean Ritchie Exclusive
The Daily Telegraph
>
NEW Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe has rejected suggestions his club could be part of a Sydney cull, declaring: “We will be around for another 100 years.”
>
But Pascoe has warned fans his club will need to make some “unpopular” decisions to ensure long-term sustainability.
>
His comments come in reaction to sports editor-at-large Phil Rothfield column on Monday suggesting nine clubs in Sydney was excessive. The Wests Tigers were placed firmly in the crosshairs as the first team in line to exit.
>
Nearly 68 per cent of fans agreed on Monday in an online poll that nine Sydney clubs was simply too many.
>
On Monday, Pascoe addressed a range of issues plaguing his club.
>
FIRING LINE
>
We asked Pascoe straight up: Is it sustainable to keep nine clubs in Sydney?
>
“I don’t think it’s a question asked in isolation,” Pascoe said. “If clubs focus properly internally on their processes and their procedures and governance, and understand where the right investments need to be made, I think there is room for sustainable clubs.
>
New Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe says his club will not be culled.
>
“And certainly our organisation is trying to prove itself to be sustainable over the next three years. Financially we are setting ourselves to be one of the very few clubs that would be independent of funding (from the NRL) in the next three to five years.”
>
STAYING IN SYDNEY
>
Given the club’s mountain of issues, on and off the field, many believe Wests Tigers should be first Sydney team to go.
>
“We will be around for another 100 years,” Pascoe said. “As long as the competition is in existence, we will be a part of it.
>
“And we will be a force in that competition. We are a big brand. We are a brand made up of two foundation clubs. We have 250,000 fans of which we are now diligently planning to try and convert as many of those to members.
>
“We, like everyone else, have a licence with the NRL and we’ll certainly be doing everything in our power to maintain our position in the NRL for the long-term. There is no indication otherwise. Our position is to become more financially sound year on year.”
>
Would the club ever consider relocating from Sydney?
>
“There has been no communication or correspondence and that’s certainly not within our strategic planning,” Pascoe said.
>
“We are finalising plans for a centre of excellence (at Liverpool) which would put us into the greatest growth area of Sydney, which is the south-western corridor.”
>
FRONT OFFICE
>
Wests Tigers have for many years deal with a dysfunctional board, financial issues and management problems.
>
“This is a re-engineering process,” Pascoe said. “We have all come in at a stage where it needs a severe amount of change to make the organisation sustainable.
>
“We are in the process of doing that right now. Unfortunately, a lot of our decisions will not be popular but we need all of our members and fans to understand and hopefully be proud we are making the decisions that we believe are the right decisions for the sustainability of this organisation.
>
“It’s not just for the short-term but the medium and long-term. We are about building a winning organisation. To do that, we need to make some changes. That’s a fact. And not just from a playing roster perspective. That’s across the stadia, fan engagement strategies, all parts of the business.”
>
LEICHHARDT OVAL
>
Will the club continue to play at one of one of rugby league’s most iconic venues long term?
>
“I am in the process of meeting with all the relevant councils,” Pascoe said. “Whatever happens in the future, I think, for the strength of this brand, we need to look at defining one home.
>
“For the strength of the brand Wests Tigers, moving forward, and developing equity back into the Wests Tigers brand, and still giving respect to the foundation clubs, we need to find a home.”
>
LEADERS UNDER FIRE
>
Marina Go has attracted heavy criticism for her performance as club chairperson.
>
“Unfounded,” was all Pascoe offered.
>
A horrible first season results-wise, coupled with the Robbie Farah drama, has also heaped pressure on coach Jason Taylor.
>
“No, Jason Taylor has the full support of the board and myself,” Pascoe said.
>
Ominous words, indeed.
>
ROBBIE FARAH
>
Will he stay or will he go?
>
“We will honour Robbie’s contract obligations — our position has never changed,” he said. “If Robbie Farah decides to stay for 2016 and 2017, he will be a part of this organisation and he is a highly respected part of this organisation.
>
“This is not too dissimilar to Jamie Soward (at Penrith) and Manly offering players the opportunity to look elsewhere. We offered Robbie, Chris Lawrence and a few others the opportunity to look elsewhere.”
>
MARTY TAUPAU
>
The crowd favourite has reportedly signed with Manly for 2017 but is seeking a release to join the Sea Eagles for next season.
>
“He is a contracted player for 2016, at this stage,” Pascoe said. “That position hasn’t changed as of this conversation right now.”
>
At this stage?
>
“Marty Taupau is a contracted player and we would love him to be part of the organisation for 2016,” he said.
>
Has Taupau asked for a release, Pascoe said: “Not to me, no.”
tl/dr version:
* nothing doing re: relocation
* big club, big brand - need to convert the many 'fans' into members
* one home ground eventually
* same old re: Farah
* Lawrence and others also given permission to look elsewhere
* guarded words re: Taupau, though could just be Dean Ritchie's standard stirring
**Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe says to survive unpopular decisions need to me made**
Dean Ritchie Exclusive
The Daily Telegraph
>
NEW Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe has rejected suggestions his club could be part of a Sydney cull, declaring: “We will be around for another 100 years.”
>
But Pascoe has warned fans his club will need to make some “unpopular” decisions to ensure long-term sustainability.
>
His comments come in reaction to sports editor-at-large Phil Rothfield column on Monday suggesting nine clubs in Sydney was excessive. The Wests Tigers were placed firmly in the crosshairs as the first team in line to exit.
>
Nearly 68 per cent of fans agreed on Monday in an online poll that nine Sydney clubs was simply too many.
>
On Monday, Pascoe addressed a range of issues plaguing his club.
>
FIRING LINE
>
We asked Pascoe straight up: Is it sustainable to keep nine clubs in Sydney?
>
“I don’t think it’s a question asked in isolation,” Pascoe said. “If clubs focus properly internally on their processes and their procedures and governance, and understand where the right investments need to be made, I think there is room for sustainable clubs.
>
New Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe says his club will not be culled.
>
“And certainly our organisation is trying to prove itself to be sustainable over the next three years. Financially we are setting ourselves to be one of the very few clubs that would be independent of funding (from the NRL) in the next three to five years.”
>
STAYING IN SYDNEY
>
Given the club’s mountain of issues, on and off the field, many believe Wests Tigers should be first Sydney team to go.
>
“We will be around for another 100 years,” Pascoe said. “As long as the competition is in existence, we will be a part of it.
>
“And we will be a force in that competition. We are a big brand. We are a brand made up of two foundation clubs. We have 250,000 fans of which we are now diligently planning to try and convert as many of those to members.
>
“We, like everyone else, have a licence with the NRL and we’ll certainly be doing everything in our power to maintain our position in the NRL for the long-term. There is no indication otherwise. Our position is to become more financially sound year on year.”
>
Would the club ever consider relocating from Sydney?
>
“There has been no communication or correspondence and that’s certainly not within our strategic planning,” Pascoe said.
>
“We are finalising plans for a centre of excellence (at Liverpool) which would put us into the greatest growth area of Sydney, which is the south-western corridor.”
>
FRONT OFFICE
>
Wests Tigers have for many years deal with a dysfunctional board, financial issues and management problems.
>
“This is a re-engineering process,” Pascoe said. “We have all come in at a stage where it needs a severe amount of change to make the organisation sustainable.
>
“We are in the process of doing that right now. Unfortunately, a lot of our decisions will not be popular but we need all of our members and fans to understand and hopefully be proud we are making the decisions that we believe are the right decisions for the sustainability of this organisation.
>
“It’s not just for the short-term but the medium and long-term. We are about building a winning organisation. To do that, we need to make some changes. That’s a fact. And not just from a playing roster perspective. That’s across the stadia, fan engagement strategies, all parts of the business.”
>
LEICHHARDT OVAL
>
Will the club continue to play at one of one of rugby league’s most iconic venues long term?
>
“I am in the process of meeting with all the relevant councils,” Pascoe said. “Whatever happens in the future, I think, for the strength of this brand, we need to look at defining one home.
>
“For the strength of the brand Wests Tigers, moving forward, and developing equity back into the Wests Tigers brand, and still giving respect to the foundation clubs, we need to find a home.”
>
LEADERS UNDER FIRE
>
Marina Go has attracted heavy criticism for her performance as club chairperson.
>
“Unfounded,” was all Pascoe offered.
>
A horrible first season results-wise, coupled with the Robbie Farah drama, has also heaped pressure on coach Jason Taylor.
>
“No, Jason Taylor has the full support of the board and myself,” Pascoe said.
>
Ominous words, indeed.
>
ROBBIE FARAH
>
Will he stay or will he go?
>
“We will honour Robbie’s contract obligations — our position has never changed,” he said. “If Robbie Farah decides to stay for 2016 and 2017, he will be a part of this organisation and he is a highly respected part of this organisation.
>
“This is not too dissimilar to Jamie Soward (at Penrith) and Manly offering players the opportunity to look elsewhere. We offered Robbie, Chris Lawrence and a few others the opportunity to look elsewhere.”
>
MARTY TAUPAU
>
The crowd favourite has reportedly signed with Manly for 2017 but is seeking a release to join the Sea Eagles for next season.
>
“He is a contracted player for 2016, at this stage,” Pascoe said. “That position hasn’t changed as of this conversation right now.”
>
At this stage?
>
“Marty Taupau is a contracted player and we would love him to be part of the organisation for 2016,” he said.
>
Has Taupau asked for a release, Pascoe said: “Not to me, no.”
