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Revised structure key to Tigers' prosperity, says Trodden
December 18, 2012
Glenn Jackson - SMH
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OUTGOING Wests Tigers chairman David Trodden believes the sooner the joint-venture club is no longer referred to as just that - a joint-venture club - the more the club can prosper.
Having stepped aside from the Tigers chairmanship last Thursday night, Trodden said he believed the club needed to ''revisit'' its current structure.
''I don't see the joint-venture structure as a structure for the long term,'' Trodden said. ''I certainly think it's time for the organisation to revisit its structure and to think about what the best structure would be to take the organisation to that next level. At some point of the joint venture, you have to get to a point where the joint-venture structure is not the most appropriate structure to take you forward.
''We now have one State Cup team, rather than two. For Wests Tigers to take that next step in its evolution, the club needs to concentrate on things they have in common, rather than the things which split them. [And] in order to take that next step, you probably need somebody who is not identified with things which happened in the past.''
Despite operating as a joint-venture for 13 years, Wests Tigers remains mired in political infighting between Balmain and Western Suburbs. That was illustrated by a Western Suburbs RLFC extraordinary general meeting on Saturday at which a motion was passed to attempt to field a separate Magpies team in the NSW Cup next season. The motion prevailed despite the rich Wests Ashfield leagues club having stated it would only fund a Magpies squad in the third-tier Bundy Cup competition next year. The Wests Ashfield board will now consider the proposal, but will more than likely reject it.
While Trodden's decision to stand down after eight years as the alternate chairman came before that motion, it is that sort of political environment that contributed to his decision. He has been known to be frustrated that he has been unable to carry out the sort of change he hopes for, due to the conflicted forces involved in the club.
Trodden, who will likely step aside from his role as chairman of the powerful NRL club council, has been alternating chairman for the past eight years, as part of an ongoing agreement between the two joint-venture parties. For now, he will be replaced by Balmain Tigers nominee Nick DiGirolamo, before the Wests nominee, expected to be Mike Bailey, takes the chair.
Trodden, the chairman of Balmain RLFC, also made it clear he believed the club would be better served dispensing with the alternate chairmanship system in the future.
''It does make it difficult, in terms of public perception,'' Trodden said. ''It creates a perception of lack of unity in the joint venture, whether that's the fact of the matter or not.''
Trodden said he believed Wests Tigers had a ''hugely positive future''. But it would be more likely ''without the politics of the merger, which may have at different stages in the past constrained it a bit'', he said. ''We play the most attractive football in the NRL, have arguably the greatest personality players in the NRL, and have a fantastic supporter base. The opportunities for Wests Tigers are limitless, and properly managed, they have a really exciting future.
''I am passionate and I will remain passionate about both the sport and our club, and I see nothing but good things for both. But I genuinely believe that you have an obligation … you go into these positions and you do your best, and once you've had a crack, you move over and let somebody else do the same thing. It's unhealthy for someone at an organisation to stay there, year after year after year, and doesn't bring any more energy or vitality or new ideas.''
December 18, 2012
Glenn Jackson - SMH
\
\
OUTGOING Wests Tigers chairman David Trodden believes the sooner the joint-venture club is no longer referred to as just that - a joint-venture club - the more the club can prosper.
Having stepped aside from the Tigers chairmanship last Thursday night, Trodden said he believed the club needed to ''revisit'' its current structure.
''I don't see the joint-venture structure as a structure for the long term,'' Trodden said. ''I certainly think it's time for the organisation to revisit its structure and to think about what the best structure would be to take the organisation to that next level. At some point of the joint venture, you have to get to a point where the joint-venture structure is not the most appropriate structure to take you forward.
''We now have one State Cup team, rather than two. For Wests Tigers to take that next step in its evolution, the club needs to concentrate on things they have in common, rather than the things which split them. [And] in order to take that next step, you probably need somebody who is not identified with things which happened in the past.''
Despite operating as a joint-venture for 13 years, Wests Tigers remains mired in political infighting between Balmain and Western Suburbs. That was illustrated by a Western Suburbs RLFC extraordinary general meeting on Saturday at which a motion was passed to attempt to field a separate Magpies team in the NSW Cup next season. The motion prevailed despite the rich Wests Ashfield leagues club having stated it would only fund a Magpies squad in the third-tier Bundy Cup competition next year. The Wests Ashfield board will now consider the proposal, but will more than likely reject it.
While Trodden's decision to stand down after eight years as the alternate chairman came before that motion, it is that sort of political environment that contributed to his decision. He has been known to be frustrated that he has been unable to carry out the sort of change he hopes for, due to the conflicted forces involved in the club.
Trodden, who will likely step aside from his role as chairman of the powerful NRL club council, has been alternating chairman for the past eight years, as part of an ongoing agreement between the two joint-venture parties. For now, he will be replaced by Balmain Tigers nominee Nick DiGirolamo, before the Wests nominee, expected to be Mike Bailey, takes the chair.
Trodden, the chairman of Balmain RLFC, also made it clear he believed the club would be better served dispensing with the alternate chairmanship system in the future.
''It does make it difficult, in terms of public perception,'' Trodden said. ''It creates a perception of lack of unity in the joint venture, whether that's the fact of the matter or not.''
Trodden said he believed Wests Tigers had a ''hugely positive future''. But it would be more likely ''without the politics of the merger, which may have at different stages in the past constrained it a bit'', he said. ''We play the most attractive football in the NRL, have arguably the greatest personality players in the NRL, and have a fantastic supporter base. The opportunities for Wests Tigers are limitless, and properly managed, they have a really exciting future.
''I am passionate and I will remain passionate about both the sport and our club, and I see nothing but good things for both. But I genuinely believe that you have an obligation … you go into these positions and you do your best, and once you've had a crack, you move over and let somebody else do the same thing. It's unhealthy for someone at an organisation to stay there, year after year after year, and doesn't bring any more energy or vitality or new ideas.''
