OFFICIAL Q&A Club discussion with Shaun Mielekamp

[TigerBurnsy]

If the Tigers didn't have such a loyal fan base we would've folded by now, literally the only thing the club has over other teams and lucky to have any fans by now tbh

 

[Pringle Gold]

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

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.

 

[Pringle Gold]

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.

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.

 

[Pringle Gold]

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 in guy interests of 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.

 

[tigerbenji]

Shaun, I am an 18 year member & love Wests Tigers. Please tell me why I should join again, I am a supporter not a fan, just give us supporters some hope for the future.