**'Disrespectful': Tigers boss has not kissed and made up with Cleary**
By Christian Nicolussi
August 28, 2020 — 12.01am
Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe has revealed he has still not spoken to Ivan Cleary since he "disrespected" the club by walking out to coach his son at Penrith.
It has been more than 18 months since Cleary departed the Tigers for the Panthers, but there is still plenty of emotion existing between the western Sydney clubs as they plan to lock horns again on Saturday night.
There was no shortage of bad blood between the two sides when they last met in round eight, which included a triumphant Cleary blowing a kiss to a Tigers fan after full-time.
Cleary's big-money signings of Josh Reynolds, Moses Mbye and Russell Packer continue to impact on the Tigers' ability to spend up on the open market for 2021, but the way the coach departed so swiftly remains a sore point for the Tigers chief.
"I've said before I'm passionate about the Wests Tigers and I'm focused on ensuring we achieve the success the fans have been patiently waiting for," Pascoe told the Herald.
"Anyone who treats the club disrespectfully through their behaviour, I have a right to be upset about."
Much has been made about Reynolds, Mbye and Packer taking up around $2 million in the salary cap, and how offloading at least one of them would give the Tigers some money to play with.
There have been repeated reports the Tigers only have $300,000 to spend next year but Pascoe said "that's completely wrong". While he would not confirm the amount, its understood the Tigers have just north of $1m available for 2021.
Mbye, the Queensland Origin representative who was linked to an early move to the Gold Coast, acknowledged all big earners at struggling clubs were forever in the firing line.
"You've got to keep winning games because that's what keeps your club out of the headlines, the negative headlines anyway," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"When you're a player on the higher end of the pay bracket, the criticism is warranted and I think that's fair."
Pascoe could sympathise with the supporters' unrest and said: "I understand our passionate fans are frustrated we haven't played finals football for eight years. I get it.
"Yes I'm the CEO, I'm responsible for all things that happen at the club, and when things don't work out as planned, I'll cop it on the chin.
"What I do know is it is a lot easier to attract players to this club than it was five years ago, and even three years ago.
"We've now created the environment so younger players want to come here. We were losing over $4m annually a few years ago and we have turned the business around to be a sustainable business. We are embarking on the development of $80m for a Centre of Excellence, which will be the most-envied Centre of Excellence along the east coast of Australia.
"We also have some of the best coaching staff you can get including some of the most highly respected high performance staff in rugby league."
Adam Doueihi, Joey and Luciano Leilua have been handy pick-ups this year, while there is a lot of excitement about Shawn Blore, Tommy Talau, Jake Simpkins and incoming prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
Josh Addo-Carr has been linked to a return to the Tigers, but there is little interest in his $800,000 price tag.
The Tigers need to win to be any chance of ending their eight-year finals hiatus. One bonus is they welcome the return of on-loan Harry Grant while Penrith lose their own dummy-half Api Koroisau to a calf strain.
By Christian Nicolussi
August 28, 2020 — 12.01am
Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe has revealed he has still not spoken to Ivan Cleary since he "disrespected" the club by walking out to coach his son at Penrith.
It has been more than 18 months since Cleary departed the Tigers for the Panthers, but there is still plenty of emotion existing between the western Sydney clubs as they plan to lock horns again on Saturday night.
There was no shortage of bad blood between the two sides when they last met in round eight, which included a triumphant Cleary blowing a kiss to a Tigers fan after full-time.
Cleary's big-money signings of Josh Reynolds, Moses Mbye and Russell Packer continue to impact on the Tigers' ability to spend up on the open market for 2021, but the way the coach departed so swiftly remains a sore point for the Tigers chief.
"I've said before I'm passionate about the Wests Tigers and I'm focused on ensuring we achieve the success the fans have been patiently waiting for," Pascoe told the Herald.
"Anyone who treats the club disrespectfully through their behaviour, I have a right to be upset about."
Much has been made about Reynolds, Mbye and Packer taking up around $2 million in the salary cap, and how offloading at least one of them would give the Tigers some money to play with.
There have been repeated reports the Tigers only have $300,000 to spend next year but Pascoe said "that's completely wrong". While he would not confirm the amount, its understood the Tigers have just north of $1m available for 2021.
Mbye, the Queensland Origin representative who was linked to an early move to the Gold Coast, acknowledged all big earners at struggling clubs were forever in the firing line.
"You've got to keep winning games because that's what keeps your club out of the headlines, the negative headlines anyway," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"When you're a player on the higher end of the pay bracket, the criticism is warranted and I think that's fair."
Pascoe could sympathise with the supporters' unrest and said: "I understand our passionate fans are frustrated we haven't played finals football for eight years. I get it.
"Yes I'm the CEO, I'm responsible for all things that happen at the club, and when things don't work out as planned, I'll cop it on the chin.
"What I do know is it is a lot easier to attract players to this club than it was five years ago, and even three years ago.
"We've now created the environment so younger players want to come here. We were losing over $4m annually a few years ago and we have turned the business around to be a sustainable business. We are embarking on the development of $80m for a Centre of Excellence, which will be the most-envied Centre of Excellence along the east coast of Australia.
"We also have some of the best coaching staff you can get including some of the most highly respected high performance staff in rugby league."
Adam Doueihi, Joey and Luciano Leilua have been handy pick-ups this year, while there is a lot of excitement about Shawn Blore, Tommy Talau, Jake Simpkins and incoming prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
Josh Addo-Carr has been linked to a return to the Tigers, but there is little interest in his $800,000 price tag.
The Tigers need to win to be any chance of ending their eight-year finals hiatus. One bonus is they welcome the return of on-loan Harry Grant while Penrith lose their own dummy-half Api Koroisau to a calf strain.
rihannafan1
Well-known member
Thanks for sharing.
- COE done Dec 2021 or Jan 2022
- will observe contract w Bankwest until its done (but sounded like they won't after that).
- our social media accounts are envied by many other clubs
- 2nd best away attendance figures and 3rd to 4th best home attendance, again alluded to sleeping giant fanbase
- roster decisions are made by committee
-Wests Tigers Foundation has been very successful
- roster emphasis on stability through resignings and acquisition of excellent young players (specifically mentioned Stefano, Blore, Simpkin, AD, Nofa, BJ, LL, Liddle)
- Maguire very committed to turning things around
- COE will be the only one to have community access (ie. should generate considerable cash)
- club has increased Maguire's coaching budget to include more high performance staff
- COE done Dec 2021 or Jan 2022
- will observe contract w Bankwest until its done (but sounded like they won't after that).
- our social media accounts are envied by many other clubs
- 2nd best away attendance figures and 3rd to 4th best home attendance, again alluded to sleeping giant fanbase
- roster decisions are made by committee
-Wests Tigers Foundation has been very successful
- roster emphasis on stability through resignings and acquisition of excellent young players (specifically mentioned Stefano, Blore, Simpkin, AD, Nofa, BJ, LL, Liddle)
- Maguire very committed to turning things around
- COE will be the only one to have community access (ie. should generate considerable cash)
- club has increased Maguire's coaching budget to include more high performance staff
Elderslie_Tiger
Well-known member
@the_third said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215123) said:
There you go keyboard warrior's its all there go get him BUT remember this is a marathon not a 100 metre sprint the clean up has begun and with a bit of luck some of our overpaid players will be gone at seasons end There are some up and coming guys WT'S are looking at and with a bit of luck and the 1 million we have with more to come at our disposal signings will happen it was pleasing that with JACs asking price we are not interested.So our new mantra should be CONTINED PATIENCE !
avocadoontoast
Well-known member
@the_third said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215116) said:
Hmm..
gallagher
Well-known member
@avocadoontoast said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215155) said:
Contrary to others views
avocadoontoast
Well-known member
@gallagher said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215164) said:
Can't recall him ever copping anything on the chin either.
twentyforty
Well-known member
@gallagher said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215164) said:
Absolutely gall, if a CEO doesn’t accept responsibility for his/her organisation’s systems, procedures, culture and ultimately it’s level of success, then it’s a sure sign of lack of leadership. The buck has to stop somewhere?
rustycage
Well-known member
@avocadoontoast said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215168) said:
His suspension is one thing.
StarswithStripes
Well-known member
Seemed like a good interview to me. Acknowledges things aren’t great on field but points to the future. It’s hard to accept poor performance and results and I’m one that struggles with that and wants to get critical. I think he is a good administrator, not perfect. He would do himself some favours with the fans if he was more visible and spoke honestly like he did in that interview and without the fluff.
Tigerbuck63
Well-known member
@the_third said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215116) said:
All i am going to say is that we have not made finals again...
That's really what the fans expect as well as a long term financially viable club.
Some of that also comes back to the CEO in the time that he has been there 5 seasons now still not made finals.
It has not helped that he made a decision to offer Farrah an ambassadorship and it cost us $650k over the past two seasons in salary cap... Nothing was said if he was also still paid whilst stood down?
Ultimately the boards decision but i don't think he has done a great job since FARAHGATE.
jrtiger
Well-known member
Pascoe's pet projects have always been his corporate relationships and the centre of excellence. both of them are in strong positions and off field we are getting a lot of things right. the things he hasn't gotten right in his time have been to do with the football department (Farah, Cleary debacle, salary cap issues) but the additions of Madge, Hartigan and Gray have ensured that there will be less influence from JP in those areas.
I think we're still looking at 2022 in terms of being a top 4 side and the premiership window opening, but with levels of success that we have had, the financial figures of the club will tell you he's done a damn good job.
I think we're still looking at 2022 in terms of being a top 4 side and the premiership window opening, but with levels of success that we have had, the financial figures of the club will tell you he's done a damn good job.
avocadoontoast
Well-known member
@rustycage said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215237) said:
He didn’t stand down voluntarily. He was de registered.
rustycage
Well-known member
@avocadoontoast said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215293) said:
He copped it on the chin. Didn't whinge about things and came back with minimal fuss. Even though many strongly disagreed with the ruling.
avocadoontoast
Well-known member
@the_third said in [Pascoe Held to Account](/post/1215294) said:
Copping it on the chin would have been resigning.
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