OFFICIAL Q&A Club discussion with Shaun Mielekamp

king_sirro said:
That was my first thought, its he fans fault now lol. This club is dying a very slow and painful death and it 100% HBG fault
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This CEO will come on here and blame fans for division when our HBG owners refuse to call our NSW cup team the Wests Tigers and force the team to wear away jerseys at home games.

HBG sacked the independent board over a jersey being too orange then were forced to reinstate them after NRL intervention but it’s the fans fault.

We’ve had some of the biggest scores put on us in the game yet it’s the fans causing division and angst.

We’ve even had the NRL having to appoint independent board members after the 2014 yet he blames the fans.

It’s beyond farcical.
 
ShaunMielekamp said:
Liltiger - I am doing this and agree that there are some systemic challenges at the club that is keeping us in this loop. I can guarantee you that I am currently looking into the issues as I see them and more importantly looking to focus on how to fix them. I'll be honest I don't have the answers right now but I'm am not going to stop until it is clear for everyone where we need to get to.

One of the biggest challenges is bringing all the fans together - it's actually one of the most significant rifts i have ever seen in a club and does have an impact on the entire organisation.

Is there ever a world where fans who are either Wests Tigers only, fans who are West Tigers and Wests Magpies fans and fans who are Wests Tigers and Balmain Tigers could all be in collective support of the club? I initially thought that the only way to achieve this was to win football games on the field - however there is a connection here between the two and when i see the younger generation of fans coming together and not caring if the jersey being worn next to them has a Pepper, Victor or Phillips brand on the front it gives me a lot of hope for the future.

Just a thought for one of the items we need to find a way to resolve if the club is ever going to truly move forward.
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How can you possibly sit here and blame Wests Tigers fans for abysmal on-field performances and division?

It’s beyond disrespectful.

The Wests Tigers fans are the most loyal and passionate fanbase in the comp. We’ve stuck solid through 25 years of ineptitude, on-field flogging, board room drama, administrative incompetence, media gaffes, instability, and constant leaks.

We’ve been ridiculed by the NRL media, players and NRL fans alike and still show up and support the club.

Before you point the finger at fans, maybe you should re-examine the independent review that found HBG weren’t up to running an NRL club. Richo himself said they would squabble about things like the colour of socks and the size of rhe magpie on the jersey.

Seems not much has changed given the club plays home games in the away strip and there’s been zero rationale put forward by yourself or the board about it.

You talk about fans driving division when our State Cup Team is named the Magpies and plays home games out of Lidcombe or when board members put up a Magpies chant at Campbelltown home game.

The fans deserve better than the constant stream of incompetence dished up by yourself, the players, the board and the owners.

Have fun dealing with record low membership and merchandise sales, and crowd numbers next year because fans aren’t going to keep copping this.

Particularly when the CEO is making us scapegoats for division and poor player performances.
 
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I’ll just add 98% of Wests Tigers fans just want to see Wests Tigers be a successful, united club. We don’t care about Balmain or Wests and just want to see the best interests of the Wests Tigers being reflected in our pathways, branding, and strategic decision-making.

Unfortunately that’s not been the case and we’re forced to watch this club be in constant turmoil because there’s a rank culture of self-interest and pettiness.

Maybe the CEO and everyone involved in the club should look inward before blaming fans.
 
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Hi Shaun,
To be fair any division within the fan base has been perpetuated by historical dysfunction.at board level.
If the board were all pulling in the same direction the fans would have no reason to take sides.
The board has a history of factional infighting that has created a sense that personal agendas, and self interest by those in privileged positions on the back of an antiquated election process, take precedent ahead of what is needed to run a successful sporting organisation.

With due respect the management is responsible wholly and solely for our lowly position in a professional sporting competition and until they own that, make change, you should be more concerned about holding on to fans, rather than trying to bring them together.

Good luck with membership sales I think that will be your next biggest challenge.
 
And am sure you noticed yesterdays crowd..sub 10000 against a Sydney based team!!
Less thn one third of capacity at the best viewing stadium in SydneyThe team and management have lost cred with the supporter group
Over to you
 
Pringle Gold said:
This CEO will come on here and blame fans for division when our HBG owners refuse to call our NSW cup team the Wests Tigers and force the team to wear away jerseys at home games.

HBG sacked the independent board over a jersey being too orange then were forced to reinstate them after NRL intervention but it’s the fans fault.

We’ve had some of the biggest scores put on us in the game yet it’s the fans causing division and angst.

We’ve even had the NRL having to appoint independent board members after the 2014 yet he blames the fans.

It’s beyond farcical.
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Wait for the next few weeks. Its going to be record setting....
 
Pringle Gold said:
How can you possibly sit here and blame Wests Tigers fans for abysmal on-field performances and division?

It’s beyond disrespectful.

The Wests Tigers fans are the most loyal and passionate fanbase in the comp. We’ve stuck solid through 25 years of ineptitude, on-field flogging, board room drama, administrative incompetence, media gaffes, instability, and constant leaks.

We’ve been ridiculed by the NRL media, players and NRL fans alike and still show up and support the club.

Before you point the finger at fans, maybe you should re-examine the independent review that found HBG weren’t up to running an NRL club. Richo himself said they would squabble about things like the colour of socks and the size of rhe magpie on the jersey.

Seems not much has changed given the club plays home games in the away strip and there’s been zero rationale put forward by yourself or the board about it.

You talk about fans driving division when our State Cup Team is named the Magpies and plays home games out of Lidcombe or when board members put up a Magpies chant at Campbelltown home game.

The fans deserve better than the constant stream of incompetence dished up by yourself, the players, the board and the owners.

Have fun dealing with record low membership and merchandise sales, and crowd numbers next year because fans aren’t going to keep copping this.

Particularly when the CEO is making us scapegoats for division and poor player performances.
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The worst run Australian sporting organisation over the last 15 years.
 
Please guys I am not blaming the fans at all - it is exactly the opposite, that not what I said at all and very apologetic if something I wrote could be interpreted this way. I am trying to find a way despite everything that has happened to bring fans together as I know it is part of the solution. My question was is this possible? I believe it is.

There is no way at all this is the fans and members fault - absolutely was not what i was trying to say.

The best part of the club is the loyal fans and the strength in numbers is what I gives me great hope that there is a way through this.
 
ShaunMielekamp said:
Please guys I am not blaming the fans at all - it is exactly the opposite. I am trying to find a way despite everything that has happened to bring fans together as I know it is part of the solution.

There is no way at all this is the fans and members fault - absolutely was not what i was trying to say.
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Hi Shaun,

The fans are more united than any other club's. We all want success, and we all suffer together every year through false hope and unfulfilled promises.

The club's owners are the ones who aren't united.
 
ShaunMielekamp said:
Please guys I am not blaming the fans at all - it is exactly the opposite. I am trying to find a way despite everything that has happened to bring fans together as I know it is part of the solution.

There is no way at all this is the fans and members fault - absolutely was not what i was trying to say.
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You quite literally said:

“One of the biggest challenges is bringing all the fans together - it's actually one of the most significant rifts i have ever seen in a club and does have an impact on the entire organisation.”

You’re just being obtuse now and cowardly. You don’t even have the conviction to stand behind your own words.
 
You want fans to get behind the club when it’s the worst sporting franchise in the country.

It’s mind boggling how incompetent and rotten the joint is yet you blame fans for it and still want our support?

You’re a disgrace.
 
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