Statement just published on
https://holmanbarnesgroup.com.au/ and posted on Twitter.
Happy New Year!
As we embark on a bright and exciting 2025, the Board, CEO and whole Team at Holman Barnes Group wish to address the members and Wests Tigers faithful directly about false and divisive reports regarding our Group and the Club.
Like you, we were taken aback to hear some of the reports about our alleged intentions and actions. Make no mistake; those reports are nonsense and scandalous gossip. For the record, the position of Holman Barnes Group regarding a number of recently raised matters is as follows:
FACT: The Holman Barnes Group is absolutely and unequivocally committed to the Joint Venture. The Wests Tigers is a wonderful club and we’re proud of our association. We’re proud of the successes we’ve enjoyed as Wests Tigers and are looking forward to those that lie ahead. We’re also proud of the amazing achievements and histories of Wests Magpies and Balmain Tigers respectively. Any reporting or suggestion that we’re not committed to Wests Tigers is untrue.
FACT: At the end of the 2023 NRL season, the Holman Barnes Group commissioned an all-encompassing review into the governance of Wests Tigers. We stand by the recommendations in that review, which were adopted unanimously by the Board in December 2023. We believe that good governance is essential to the running of Wests Tigers.
FACT: The Sydney Morning Herald article “Explosive emails, allegations and threats” referenced an email sent by our Chair to the Board dated 6 December 2023, not 2024 that expressed concern about the review process. As your Board, we each have a duty to act in the best interests of Holman Barnes Group. This may mean querying and challenging the status quo from time to time. Whilst concerns were raised over the review process, upon its completion, the review provided recommendations that were endorsed unanimously by all parties, that is, Holman Barnes Group, Wests Magpies and Balmain Tigers.
FACT: The Holman Barnes Group Board has never discussed or raised any proposal to “bring back the Magpies” and the term “wind back the review” has never been used or mentioned.
FACT: The review recommendations have largely been implemented, despite reports to the contrary. The review recommended an interim Board and Chair for a period of no less than 6 months. This structure remains in place and has performed admirably in supporting Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson and his Team during 2024. We thank them.
More coming as I copy it from the web PDF.