Wests Tigers could call Campbelltown home due to Balmain’s financial woes

[goldcoast_tiger]

There is no doubt that there is to many Sydney teams , it's a question of when the NRL will act on it and reduce the teams in Sydney?
When it happens ? what do people want….us joining another Club like Penrith or a Parramatta ? for example , the general poor Crowds of many NRL sides suggest that Clubs are simply not getting the revenue through the gates and many Clubs are needing a lot more Memberships to stay afloat , the NRL has already topped up 3 Clubs to help them out through there Financial troubles and with the game now becoming a T.V Heaven on Foxs Sports crowds will continue to struggle .

I have also said that in the past goldcoast tiger that the 1st Club to able to get to Perth will insure there survival and like you said they will be playing in Sydney at least 8 times .
Many won't like the idea but the fans you will loose in Sydney over the decision to go to Perth ? i'm sure eventually you will get the support in Perth and rubber stamp our future.....won't be an easy transition for many btu it's only a matter of time before the NRL acts on it .

I fully understand that those who go to every home ground as well as their other games in Sydney, wouldn't like it, as I wasn't happy about that when I moved to Qld.
And that was in 1980, so there wasn't much on tv then.
Even now I only get to see a couple of games live. But I still get to see every game that they play.
Even if we do get better at times, I can't see us really getting to being one of the big fish unless we are prepared to make the hard decisions that are needed.
Just for once I'd like to see us take the initiative , and not always trying to catch up.
Now I'm going to the shelter, as I think I hear arrows :laughing:

No arrows GCT but to move away from your team and continue to follow them is one thing but to move a team away from its origins to develop a whole new supporter base on the other side of the country - sorry no way.
If some fans feel disconnected to the club, by living on the other side of Sydney how long do you think fans will support a club whose main focus would be to establish its profile/ links in Perth?
If all the energy goes toward pleasing and engaging the Perth fans and they are successful in doing so,there is very little need to then put any time into maintaining their links to old fans. And if they are unsuccessful well they wont be coming back.
Wrong message to send to the NRL - dont think any other Sydney clubs are talking about it, nor should we.

It's a matter of time before the NRL acts on reducing Clubs in Sydney Telltails, then what are we going to do then? Rest assured Wests Tigers will be one of those as Balmain won't be funding the Club any longer.
Fact of the matter is most people watch the Footy from home and people only go to our games when we are winning, we can't be relying on funds when we are only winning and even then the Crowds are still low.

It's a touchy subject i know and many won't like it after what we been through in merging but to ensure our Survival we need to act IMO or 15,000 - 20,000 members is what's required to be in Sydney…..then again there won't be any guarantees.

I don't know what makes you think that any team that shifts West, won't spend plenty of time staying connected with their old supporters in Sydney.
They'd be lunatics to not see the value of that.
Whoever ends up there, will have to play about half their games on the East Coast. And have supporters at those games as well. If people don't want to cross Sydney to watch their team now, what good are they to the club, and we might as well be in Perth..
Moving away and having the team move isnt actually much difference. The only difference when I did it was that there was almost no games on tv. Let alone ALL of Wests Tigers games .
Why should the club hold itself back for supporters who never go to the games.
Then they'd have to watch it on TV….....aaaarrrrr ....isn't what most of them are doing now?????

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

The only way to stop all the squabbling , is bite the bullet, and move to Perth.
There'd stillprobably be approx 8 or 9 games a year is Sydney,
Perth would be a one team town with all the benefits that come with that. We'd pick up a whole lot of new supporters and get helped by the NRL to do it.
And we have the perfect name for it
IMO it's the perfect way to go. Something has to give in Sydney eventually. And we'd gaurantee our future.
Unless we start to regularly pull bigger crowds and get to be better off financially. Well just continue to develop kids an d then worry about when other clubs were coming knocking.
The price of housing and the lifestyle will be a good incentive for players to come to the club as well.
It probably won't happen, but sooner or later some club is going to see the benefits and go for it, but we'l still be grizzling about cCambelltown and LO

I agree with a lot of what you said. But what you said was exactly why we should grab the chance of being a team in a one team town.
Our good attendance days ate still not good.
If we could do a shift successfully, then we should be able to pull a crowd much better than we pull here.
Sydney is fully saturated, and nothing much will change, until at least two, maybe more teams are gone
Forget the fact that we are immune gecause we merged before.
When the NRL decide to finally fix the game in Sydney all bets will be off.

There is no doubt that there is to many Sydney teams , it's a question of when the NRL will act on it and reduce the teams in Sydney?
When it happens ? what do people want….us joining another Club like Penrith or a Parramatta ? for example , the general poor Crowds of many NRL sides suggest that Clubs are simply not getting the revenue through the gates and many Clubs are needing a lot more Memberships to stay afloat , the NRL has already topped up 3 Clubs to help them out through there Financial troubles and with the game now becoming a T.V Heaven on Foxs Sports crowds will continue to struggle .

I have also said that in the past goldcoast tiger that the 1st Club to able to get to Perth will insure there survival and like you said they will be playing in Sydney at least 8 times .
Many won't like the idea but the fans you will loose in Sydney over the decision to go to Perth ? i'm sure eventually you will get the support in Perth and rubber stamp our future.....won't be an easy transition for many btu it's only a matter of time before the NRL acts on it .

I'm not really a fan off moving the whole club to Perth. However a couple of trial games and maybe one NRL game to gauge the interest would be good for the club.

As for last Monday Nights game at Leichhardt, that was a fantastic crowd. It's hard to see many Monday nights crowds in the NRL that are going to be bigger than that or have an atmosphere to match what we saw at Leichhardt. There is genuine excitement in the area again with all our juniors coming through. Woods grew up down the road and is a lovable Captain.

The Easter game at ANZ will also be great. ANZ works for these big games against the Bulldogs and Parra.

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

The only way to stop all the squabbling , is bite the bullet, and move to Perth.
There'd stillprobably be approx 8 or 9 games a year is Sydney,
Perth would be a one team town with all the benefits that come with that. We'd pick up a whole lot of new supporters and get helped by the NRL to do it.
And we have the perfect name for it
IMO it's the perfect way to go. Something has to give in Sydney eventually. And we'd gaurantee our future.
Unless we start to regularly pull bigger crowds and get to be better off financially. Well just continue to develop kids an d then worry about when other clubs were coming knocking.
The price of housing and the lifestyle will be a good incentive for players to come to the club as well.
It probably won't happen, but sooner or later some club is going to see the benefits and go for it, but we'l still be grizzling about cCambelltown and LO

I agree with a lot of what you said. But what you said was exactly why we should grab the chance of being a team in a one team town.
Our good attendance days ate still not good.
If we could do a shift successfully, then we should be able to pull a crowd much better than we pull here.
Sydney is fully saturated, and nothing much will change, until at least two, maybe more teams are gone
Forget the fact that we are immune gecause we merged before.
When the NRL decide to finally fix the game in Sydney all bets will be off.

There is no doubt that there is to many Sydney teams , it's a question of when the NRL will act on it and reduce the teams in Sydney?
When it happens ? what do people want….us joining another Club like Penrith or a Parramatta ? for example , the general poor Crowds of many NRL sides suggest that Clubs are simply not getting the revenue through the gates and many Clubs are needing a lot more Memberships to stay afloat , the NRL has already topped up 3 Clubs to help them out through there Financial troubles and with the game now becoming a T.V Heaven on Foxs Sports crowds will continue to struggle .

I have also said that in the past goldcoast tiger that the 1st Club to able to get to Perth will insure there survival and like you said they will be playing in Sydney at least 8 times .
Many won't like the idea but the fans you will loose in Sydney over the decision to go to Perth ? i'm sure eventually you will get the support in Perth and rubber stamp our future.....won't be an easy transition for many btu it's only a matter of time before the NRL acts on it .

I'm not really a fan off moving the whole club to Perth. However a couple of trial games and maybe one NRL game to gauge the interest would be good for the club.

As for last Monday Nights game at Leichhardt, that was a fantastic crowd. It's hard to see many Monday nights crowds in the NRL that are going to be bigger than that or have an atmosphere to match what we saw at Leichhardt. There is genuine excitement in the area again with all our juniors coming through. Woods grew up down the road and is a lovable Captain.

The Easter game at ANZ will also be great. ANZ works for these big games against the Bulldogs and Parra.

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

The only way to stop all the squabbling , is bite the bullet, and move to Perth.
There'd stillprobably be approx 8 or 9 games a year is Sydney,
Perth would be a one team town with all the benefits that come with that. We'd pick up a whole lot of new supporters and get helped by the NRL to do it.
And we have the perfect name for it
IMO it's the perfect way to go. Something has to give in Sydney eventually. And we'd gaurantee our future.
Unless we start to regularly pull bigger crowds and get to be better off financially. Well just continue to develop kids an d then worry about when other clubs were coming knocking.
The price of housing and the lifestyle will be a good incentive for players to come to the club as well.
It probably won't happen, but sooner or later some club is going to see the benefits and go for it, but we'l still be grizzling about cCambelltown and LO

Sorry FT I accidently put this in the wrong place

I agree with a lot of what you said. But what you said was exactly why we should grab the chance of being a team in a one team town.
Our good attendance days ate still not good.
If we could do a shift successfully, then we should be able to pull a crowd much better than we pull here.
Sydney is fully saturated, and nothing much will change, until at least two, maybe more teams are gone
Forget the fact that we are immune gecause we merged before.
When the NRL decide to finally fix the game in Sydney all bets will be off.

There is no doubt that there is to many Sydney teams , it's a question of when the NRL will act on it and reduce the teams in Sydney?
When it happens ? what do people want….us joining another Club like Penrith or a Parramatta ? for example , the general poor Crowds of many NRL sides suggest that Clubs are simply not getting the revenue through the gates and many Clubs are needing a lot more Memberships to stay afloat , the NRL has already topped up 3 Clubs to help them out through there Financial troubles and with the game now becoming a T.V Heaven on Foxs Sports crowds will continue to struggle .

I have also said that in the past goldcoast tiger that the 1st Club to able to get to Perth will insure there survival and like you said they will be playing in Sydney at least 8 times .
Many won't like the idea but the fans you will loose in Sydney over the decision to go to Perth ? i'm sure eventually you will get the support in Perth and rubber stamp our future.....won't be an easy transition for many btu it's only a matter of time before the NRL acts on it .

I'm not really a fan off moving the whole club to Perth. However a couple of trial games and maybe one NRL game to gauge the interest would be good for the club.

As for last Monday Nights game at Leichhardt, that was a fantastic crowd. It's hard to see many Monday nights crowds in the NRL that are going to be bigger than that or have an atmosphere to match what we saw at Leichhardt. There is genuine excitement in the area again with all our juniors coming through. Woods grew up down the road and is a lovable Captain.

The Easter game at ANZ will also be great. ANZ works for these big games against the Bulldogs and Parra.

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

WE HAVE MERGED - that's our bit for reducing teams in Sydney!

St. George and Illawarra have merged, maybe they should add the Sharks.

Now, how about Parramatta and Penrith have a go.

OR ( I am in favor of this) "Pride of the League" and the "Rorters" - they have the smallest area in Sydney. Why two teams?

Doesn't matter who's winning, who has more members - the idea is to reduce Sydney teams for the benefit of all and the NRL. Glad we have done our bit.

Perth - well if they deserve a team (one thing to get a few people once a year, different when you have to do it a dozen times a season), forget people from here going, they would have to do it all over there. The odd Sydney teams out are Manly and Canterbury - maybe they can merge, or one to Perth and one to Adelaide.

Problem solved - must send this off the Todd.

Russ, do you believe that that will be a factor when the Rationalizing of teams takes place in Sydney. Remember we are not exactly the Luvvies of the league.
There'll be plenty in front of us to be looked afterto be looked after.
None of the influential clubs will go. That's a certainty.
A team in Perth brings another state into the league. And before the super league Perth were getting decent crowds , with very little help from the league and Superleague
I'm not saying it's a given that we'll go, but I'd rather go on our terms than be pushed.
And the future in Sydney doesn't look much different to me than its always been.
( I'm not talking about players). Mainly crowds, grounds, and supporters who want to stay home and watch tv.

 

[glebe_tiger]

I'm actually baffled at peoples idea that we even contemplate a move to Perth. As many have said we've eaten the pill with the merge, not sure what moving interstate would do. What happens if the team has a bad run for X amount of seasons? Do we merge or move again?

Expansion needs new teams with a fresh identity. I'm all for a game a season in a non-NRL state on one condition, that it paid us big. The eels had a deal with NT to play a game up there at $1m per game for 3yrs. Something like that would do us good financially and make the ANZ 100k per game look silly.

The double edged sword is the game has plenty of money coming in from tv rights but with foxtel so cheap its making it harder for the 50/50 fans to get out to the games. Something Greenberg needs to face head on.

I'm genuinely concerned about the state governements big new stadium policy and the $1.5b proposed spend. Does anyone actually believe we will get bigger crowds at a rejigged ANZ and bigger capacity parra stadium?

 

[Russell]

WE HAVE MERGED - that's our bit for reducing teams in Sydney!

St. George and Illawarra have merged, maybe they should add the Sharks.

Now, how about Parramatta and Penrith have a go.

OR ( I am in favor of this) "Pride of the League" and the "Rorters" - they have the smallest area in Sydney. Why two teams?

Doesn't matter who's winning, who has more members - the idea is to reduce Sydney teams for the benefit of all and the NRL. Glad we have done our bit.

Perth - well if they deserve a team (one thing to get a few people once a year, different when you have to do it a dozen times a season), forget people from here going, they would have to do it all over there. The odd Sydney teams out are Manly and Canterbury - maybe they can merge, or one to Perth and one to Adelaide.

Problem solved - must send this off the Todd.

Russ, do you believe that that will be a factor when the Rationalizing of teams takes place in Sydney. Remember we are not exactly the Luvvies of the league.
There'll be plenty in front of us to be looked afterto be looked after.
None of the influential clubs will go. That's a certainty.
A team in Perth brings another state into the league. And before the super league Perth were getting decent crowds , with very little help from the league and Superleague
I'm not saying it's a given that we'll go, but I'd rather go on our terms than be pushed.
And the future in Sydney doesn't look much different to me than its always been.
( I'm not talking about players). Mainly crowds, grounds, and supporters who want to stay home and watch tv.

This is a fact - not a Balmain/Wests dig.

Balmain and Wests knew that a team was going to be cut, each thought it was going to be them, so they merged. However Balmain was not the one that was going to be cut.

You say - "I'm not saying it's a given that we'll go, but I'd rather go on our terms than be pushed.

That was Balmain's thought as well, and they made the wrong decision.

We could end up doing a similar thing with your scenario when we don't have to.

What is the difference between the NRL saying you have to go to Perth or you have no licence and us voluntarily going to Perth because we are gun shy?

We still end up in Perth!

At least if you fight it - you may not end up there.

Oh! and by the way - after 15 years? how many juniors have played in the NRL for Melbourne? That is a long wait in Perth.

 

[tigerbalm]

Move all the games to Campbelltown and I give it 5 years before the whole thing goes broke. Will be the end of my support too.

See ya!

 

[Patts]

The NRL's latest on rationalisation is clubs are now getting big enough grants to look after themselves. That is, there will be no more bail outs or top ups. That means they're going to let a couple of teams go bust and drop out if the comp. Todd has even repeated this since taking over the top job when rothfield asked him about the number of teams in Sydney.
I call bullsh!t though because they're not about to let Newcastle or Melbourne fold.
I'm glad this the JV is being disbanded. Having one side borrowing millions from the NRL has been bad business for the Wests Tigers. We need one owner who can help support the football club. Weather that be Wests Ashfield or a private owner.

 

[gallagher]

WE HAVE MERGED - that's our bit for reducing teams in Sydney!

St. George and Illawarra have merged, maybe they should add the Sharks.

Now, how about Parramatta and Penrith have a go.

OR ( I am in favor of this) "Pride of the League" and the "Rorters" - they have the smallest area in Sydney. Why two teams?

Doesn't matter who's winning, who has more members - the idea is to reduce Sydney teams for the benefit of all and the NRL. Glad we have done our bit.

Perth - well if they deserve a team (one thing to get a few people once a year, different when you have to do it a dozen times a season), forget people from here going, they would have to do it all over there. The odd Sydney teams out are Manly and Canterbury - maybe they can merge, or one to Perth and one to Adelaide.

Problem solved - must send this off the Todd.

Russ, do you believe that that will be a factor when the Rationalizing of teams takes place in Sydney. Remember we are not exactly the Luvvies of the league.
There'll be plenty in front of us to be looked afterto be looked after.
None of the influential clubs will go. That's a certainty.
A team in Perth brings another state into the league. And before the super league Perth were getting decent crowds , with very little help from the league and Superleague
I'm not saying it's a given that we'll go, but I'd rather go on our terms than be pushed.
And the future in Sydney doesn't look much different to me than its always been.
( I'm not talking about players). Mainly crowds, grounds, and supporters who want to stay home and watch tv.

This is a fact - not a Balmain/Wests dig.

Balmain and Wests knew that a team was going to be cut, each thought it was going to be them, so they merged. However Balmain was not the one that was going to be cut.

You say - "I'm not saying it's a given that we'll go, but I'd rather go on our terms than be pushed.

That was Balmain's thought as well, and they made the wrong decision.

We could end up doing a similar thing with your scenario when we don't have to.

What is the difference between the NRL saying you have to go to Perth or you have no licence and us voluntarily going to Perth because we are gun shy?

We still end up in Perth!

At least if you fight it - you may not end up there.

Oh! and by the way - after 15 years? how many juniors have played in the NRL for Melbourne? That is a long wait in Perth.

There already has been perth juniors in the NRL. Curtis Rona would be the latest.

 

[cqtiger]

I'm way up here in Rockhampton with no chance of actually attending home games. Do I care if my team is in Sydney or Perth? No.

If we get kicked out it will be because of trumped up criteria that certain teams can't meet - like home game attendance and membership numbers.

 

[Go_Moltzen]

Interesting history of Wests. Western Suburbs footy team were based in Campbelltown for only 13 seasons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Suburbs_Magpies
\
\
The Western Suburbs Magpies (originally Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club) are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly referred to, were one of the nine foundation clubs of the first New South Wales Rugby League competition in Australia. The club, as a sole entity, departed the top-flight competition in 1999 after forming a 50–50 joint venture with Balmain Tigers to form the Wests Tigers

The club was one of the foundation members of the Sydney rugby football league competition in 1908\. **Founded at a meeting on 4 February 1908 at Ashfield Town Hall.**

**Home grounds**[edit]
**St Luke's Park** was the home ground of the Western Suburbs club in 1910 and 1911.[8] They started playing their matches at **Pratten Park in Ashfield** in 1912, but after pressure from local residents there the council refused the club permission to use that ground, forcing them to return to **St. Luke's Oval** from 1915 to 1919.[9] The Magpies have played at three home grounds since foundation. They returned to **Pratten Park** in 1920, remaining there until 1966\. They then moved to **Lidcombe Oval** in 1967.[10] This was due to Ashfield council not allowing the club to play matches on a Sunday (as this was the church day). **In 1987**, they moved to **Campbelltown's Orana Park** (located in adjacent Leumeah), which, after a $25 million renovation, is now called **Campbelltown Stadium** which is now one of the home grounds of the Wests Tigers. The Magpies' lower grade sides play most home games at Campbelltown Stadium, with the occasional game moved to Lidcombe Oval.

**There is no Western Suburbs leagues Club**. The Magpies are financially supported by the **Wests Ashfield Leagues club**.

 

[Go_Moltzen]

**Balmain Tigers are on the brink of collapse but won’t lose identity in Wests Tigers merged brand**
March 22, 2016 10:09am
Lisa HerbertsonInner West Courier Inner West

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/sport/balmain-tigers-are-on-the-brink-of-collapse-but-wont-lose-identity-in-wests-tigers-merged-brand/news-story/0ee441625b60fd6bb417808d92ad2a9f

Balmain Tigers are facing extinction, with the NRL giving the club until March 31 to pay back its loan of $5.4m.

A spokesman for the NRL said that if Balmain could not come up with the cash, the club would then have six months (until October 31) to sell their shares in the Wests Tigers joint venture.

“If Balmain is unable to sell its shares then Wests would be able to secure the shares for a nominal fee — and they would then be required to repay the $5.4 million loan,” he said.

“The NRL is working with the clubs to try to secure the best outcome for the Wests Tigers and the fans.”

While there’s a real prospect of the Wests Tigers licence reverting to Western Suburbs there is no chance of the Wests Tigers joint venture going back to the Western Suburbs name, black and white colours or magpie mascot due to a heritage deed in the club’s constitution.

Balmain Leagues Club’s Finance Committee Chairman James Myatt said that he couldn’t say too much about the issues at the club.

“I think what’s being reported is about a fairly well-known agreement, and I can confirm we are definitely in discussions at the moment,” he said.

“The amount is probably just shy of $5.4m, but that’s semantics really.

“The 31st (of March) is a trigger date only though — there is a process after that so it doesn’t mean it’s all over.”

Wests Ashfield CEO Simon Cook said that regardless of what happens, it will continue to be business as usual for the NRL club, and fans from both Wests and Balmain clubs.

“Whatever happens, the Wests Tigers brand won’t change,” Mr Cook said.

“We’re having constructive conversations with Balmain and the NRL right now to try to find a solution.”

Mr Cook said that a decision about where the club played its games would be up to the re-formed board.

“It’s a decision for the Wests Tigers board,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to speculate on that at this point.”

But the idea of losing Leichhardt as a home ground could be a reality for fans, according to former Western Suburbs chairman Jim Marsden, who said an increase of games at Campbelltown should happen if the licence were to revert to the Western Suburbs.

“That’s the way it should be,” he said. “My view is the more games played at Campbelltown the better, provided the games are within the limitations of Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

“For bigger games, and there will be bigger games as the team wins more, those games should be played at a bigger stadium.

“I’d even keep Leichhardt Oval in the mix for historical purposes, but it would only be for one game.”

But, while keen to get more games at Campbelltown, Mr Marsden said there were no circumstances under which the Wests Tigers brand would or could be changed.

“The club won’t revert to the magpies,” he said. “There is a heritage deed in place protecting the club’s name and colours which doesn’t cease to exist regardless of who is in control of the club.

“The ability of the club to rebrand is not commercially viable.”

Mr Marsden said while it was sad to see Balmain struggling financially, he too wouldn’t want the club to abandon the Wests Tigers brand.

“If the licence reverts to Western Suburbs, so be it,” he said. “If that occurs I would think the club would continue as is.

“Wests Tigers is a brand and a successful brand and it should remain in place whoever ends up with the licence.”

 

[innsaneink]

I feel old

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

I moved to LIdcombe in late 1966 and thought that they were already playing in LIdcombe then but can't be.

 

[Go_Moltzen]

**Balmain Tigers are on the brink of collapse but won’t lose identity in Wests Tigers merged brand**
March 22, 2016 10:09am
Lisa HerbertsonInner West Courier Inner West

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/sport/balmain-tigers-are-on-the-brink-of-collapse-but-wont-lose-identity-in-wests-tigers-merged-brand/news-story/0ee441625b60fd6bb417808d92ad2a9f

Balmain Tigers are facing extinction, with the NRL giving the club until March 31 to pay back its loan of $5.4m.

A spokesman for the NRL said that if Balmain could not come up with the cash, the club would then have six months (until October 31) to sell their shares in the Wests Tigers joint venture.

“If Balmain is unable to sell its shares then Wests would be able to secure the shares for a nominal fee — and they would then be required to repay the $5.4 million loan,” he said.

“The NRL is working with the clubs to try to secure the best outcome for the Wests Tigers and the fans.”

While there’s a real prospect of the Wests Tigers licence reverting to Western Suburbs there is no chance of the Wests Tigers joint venture going back to the Western Suburbs name, black and white colours or magpie mascot due to a heritage deed in the club’s constitution.

Balmain Leagues Club’s Finance Committee Chairman James Myatt said that he couldn’t say too much about the issues at the club.

“I think what’s being reported is about a fairly well-known agreement, and I can confirm we are definitely in discussions at the moment,” he said.

“The amount is probably just shy of $5.4m, but that’s semantics really.

“The 31st (of March) is a trigger date only though — there is a process after that so it doesn’t mean it’s all over.”

Wests Ashfield CEO Simon Cook said that regardless of what happens, it will continue to be business as usual for the NRL club, and fans from both Wests and Balmain clubs.

“Whatever happens, the Wests Tigers brand won’t change,” Mr Cook said.

“We’re having constructive conversations with Balmain and the NRL right now to try to find a solution.”

Mr Cook said that a decision about where the club played its games would be up to the re-formed board.

“It’s a decision for the Wests Tigers board,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to speculate on that at this point.”

But the idea of losing Leichhardt as a home ground could be a reality for fans, according to former Western Suburbs chairman Jim Marsden, who said an increase of games at Campbelltown should happen if the licence were to revert to the Western Suburbs.

“That’s the way it should be,” he said. “My view is the more games played at Campbelltown the better, provided the games are within the limitations of Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

“For bigger games, and there will be bigger games as the team wins more, those games should be played at a bigger stadium.

“I’d even keep Leichhardt Oval in the mix for historical purposes, but it would only be for one game.”

But, while keen to get more games at Campbelltown, Mr Marsden said there were no circumstances under which the Wests Tigers brand would or could be changed.

“The club won’t revert to the magpies,” he said. “There is a heritage deed in place protecting the club’s name and colours which doesn’t cease to exist regardless of who is in control of the club.

“The ability of the club to rebrand is not commercially viable.”

Mr Marsden said while it was sad to see Balmain struggling financially, he too wouldn’t want the club to abandon the Wests Tigers brand.

“If the licence reverts to Western Suburbs, so be it,” he said. “If that occurs I would think the club would continue as is.

“Wests Tigers is a brand and a successful brand and it should remain in place whoever ends up with the licence.”

RE: _“If Balmain is unable to sell its shares then Wests would be able to secure the shares for a nominal fee — and they would then be required to repay the $5.4 million loan,” he said._

ie, If interested in full ownership of Wests Tigers then Wests Ashfield have to pay $5.4 million.

 

[balmain boy]

Another article re-hashing the same things? What's the point. Bloody telecrap, perhaps this forum needs a rule around posting articles from crap sources… We need standards! :slight_smile: