WT & NRL to halt board room drama

[wtfl1981]

It seems individuals and groups (including fans of WT) seem to blame the WT board structure for all the 'issues'

What about poor decision making of those in the past who have operated and managed WT? CEOs, finance people, sales managers, poor membership numbers, why are they not being held to account?

What about those who allowed Balmain Leagues to be run into millions in debt and ruin Balmain FC, provide $0 to juniors and dent WT capital.

The historical divisions in the Wests group has not helped either.. All sorts of people are responsible for what WT is today (business wise)

Apart from the dramas at Parramatta, WT is the only NRL club where the board is mentioned constantly for being responsible for day to day matters or blamed constantly for all the problems with WT.. Its only of such high profile (WT board) because it derives from two sides each looking after their own legacy and business interests.. The media thrive off it and its used to drive a wedge between fans and confuse the league community as to what it does.

The reason the NRL are taking seats on the WT board is to basically bail them out under the guise of 'restructure' or 'independent' board etc etc.. Truth is, Balmain directors want NRL men in boardroom to save the financially stronger Wests Group from having to much control of WT. (Not a full takeover or a revert to magpies but real influence and control of WT). This is the real reason the NRL have come to table with the cash.

WT will still have to pay that NRL money back..

Wests Ashfield, Magpies FC & Balmain FC still OWN WT. Until that changes (completely sold off from these parties) there will always be a financial and foundation club influences controlling WT in some way.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[LaT]

"It seems individuals and groups (including fans of WT) seem to blame the WT board structure for **all the 'issues**'"

No, just no.

 

[wtfl1981]

"It seems individuals and groups (including fans of WT) seem to blame the WT board structure for **all the 'issues**'"

No, just no.

The forum is chock of block full of it.. Dozens of threads relating to blaming the board, getting rid of the board, changing structure of board, even remember the comment of having the CEO sack the board.. Perhaps not all issues but a lot of issues (past and present)

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[LaT]

Yes ok, they blame the board for all the issues. Every single problem, no exaggerations and zero exceptions. Well spotted.

 

[Knuckles]

"It seems individuals and groups (including fans of WT) seem to blame the WT board structure for **all the 'issues**'"

No, just no.

The forum is chock of block full of it.. Dozens of threads relating to blaming the board, getting rid of the board, changing structure of board, even remember the comment of having the CEO sack the board.. Perhaps not all issues but a lot of issues (past and present)

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

The board is ultimately accountable 1981 …. It's the same with any corporation the buck stops with the board.

Just on the point you made about Balmain being worried about the Magpies taking full control ... I can understand their concern given in 1984 they oversaw us go broke and if it wasn't for Rick Wayde wouldn't exist today. Then the same board oversaw us go broke again in 1999\. Both times we went broke we were thrown a lifeline from Campbelltown in 1987 and Balmain in 2000 ..... I'm not sure we will have nine lives but geez three isn't bad ! Poor old Newtown only had one.

 

[happy_tiger]

"It seems individuals and groups (including fans of WT) seem to blame the WT board structure for **all the 'issues**'"

No, just no.

The forum is chock of block full of it.. Dozens of threads relating to blaming the board, getting rid of the board, changing structure of board, even remember the comment of having the CEO sack the board.. Perhaps not all issues but a lot of issues (past and present)

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

The board is ultimately accountable 1981 …. It's the same with any corporation the buck stops with the board.

Just on the point you made about Balmain being worried about the Magpies taking full control ... I can understand their concern given in 1984 they oversaw us go broke and if it wasn't for Rick Wayde wouldn't exist today. Then the same board oversaw us go broke again in 1999\. Both times we went broke we were thrown a lifeline from Campbelltown in 1987 and Balmain in 2000 ..... I'm not sure we will have nine lives but geez three isn't bad ! Poor old Newtown only had one.

And Newtown made a GF the previous year

Wests hadn't seen a GF for close to twenty years by that stage

We were extremely lucky to survive Knuckles

 

[system]

What about poor decision making of those in the past who have operated and managed WT? CEOs, finance people, sales managers, poor membership numbers, why are they not being held to account?

They are all gone, as such they paid the price (in many cases too late) for their failings.

The board members on the other hand? Still kicking back in corporate facilities at every home game on the WT's dime with full food and drinks packages

 

[owley_girl]

I always found it odd that Dennis Burgess had a spot on the WT board. Lovely bloke but his only agenda at least before his appointment was a well stated effort to keep the Magpies alive. Without turning this into a Magpies v Balmain fest, we really need people on the WT board whose main focus is WT.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

Knuckles mate,

Your recollection of magpie history is flawed.

Firstly, Wests were not broke in 1984 or 1999.
Wests met all their financial obligations in full on every occasion unlike teams like Cronulla who purchased many players and then put them on half pay.

In 1983 Wests as a foundation club who helped form RL were voted out of the league in a motion moved by K Arthurson and seconded by P Moore both delegetes of non foundation clubs I might add and then in a vote all clubs including Balmain voted for Wests extinction except for the delegetes of Souths, Canberra and Newtown.
Newtown voluntarily chose to opt out for what was meant to be a couple of years till they sold their Stanmore club to meet player obligations.
This vote on Americas cup day 1983 was found to be illegal by the equity court and Wests were reinstated.
In 1984 the NSWRL under Quayle and Arthurson incorporated the NSWRL in order to strip clubs of their rights and then decided to omit Wests again.
Wests again went to court and won reinstatement pending appeal to to High Court. They lost this case after a year but the judges were not unaminoous voting 4-2 very rare it happens. All in the while were improving and paying our bills including legal ones so we were never broke!
Then in 86 improving further and having picked up sponsorship by Jim Masterton who wanted to become a private owner and was blocked by the league they wanted to kick Wests out again. Then were we told by by the league that they wouldn't kick us out if we relocated our games to Campbelltown.
So you see the whole time Wests were not rich but solvent and capable of paying extensive legal bills and our exclusions and relocation were cast upon us by outside interference.

Now as for Balmains management it must be asked how they came to be in this parlous state with a closed club?

Who was in charge?
I certainly wouldn't want any of them controlling the WT.

And also for me I want the WT to be a new club built on the foundation of the founders with a historical and real link to both Wests and Balmain.

And for me there was nothing wrong with our management till 2011 when we released Fifita and Gibbs. Till that time we were successful finishing mid table or higher with a premiers cup and the best sponsored and watched team in Sydney. The management must take credit for this.

Our problems began after this as Balmain fell into financial problems and we couldn't match payments to players inside or outside the cap.

 

[pHyR3]

this will end well…..

 

[Knuckles]

Knuckles mate,

Your recollection of magpie history is flawed.

Firstly, Wests were not broke in 1984 or 1999.
Wests met all their financial obligations in full on every occasion unlike teams like Cronulla who purchased many players and then put them on half pay.

In 1983 Wests as a foundation club who helped form RL were voted out of the league in a motion moved by K Arthurson and seconded by P Moore both delegetes of non foundation clubs I might add and then in a vote all clubs including Balmain voted for Wests extinction except for the delegetes of Souths, Canberra and Newtown.
Newtown voluntarily chose to opt out for what was meant to be a couple of years till they sold their Stanmore club to meet player obligations.
This vote on Americas cup day 1983 was found to be illegal by the equity court and Wests were reinstated.
In 1984 the NSWRL under Quayle and Arthurson incorporated the NSWRL in order to strip clubs of their rights and then decided to omit Wests again.
Wests again went to court and won reinstatement pending appeal to to High Court. They lost this case after a year but the judges were not unaminoous voting 4-2 very rare it happens. All in the while were improving and paying our bills including legal ones so we were never broke!
Then in 86 improving further and having picked up sponsorship by Jim Masterton who wanted to become a private owner and was blocked by the league they wanted to kick Wests out again. Then were we told by by the league that they wouldn't kick us out if we relocated our games to Campbelltown.
So you see the whole time Wests were not rich but solvent and capable of paying extensive legal bills and our exclusions and relocation were cast upon us by outside interference.

Now as for Balmains management it must be asked how they came to be in this parlous state with a closed club?

Who was in charge?
I certainly wouldn't want any of them controlling the WT.

And also for me I want the WT to be a new club built on the foundation of the founders with a historical and real link to both Wests and Balmain.

And for me there was nothing wrong with our management till 2011 when we released Fifita and Gibbs. Till that time we were successful finishing mid table or higher with a premiers cup and the best sponsored and watched team in Sydney. The management must take credit for this.

Our problems began after this as Balmain fell into financial problems and we couldn't match payments to players inside or outside the cap.

If we weren't broke, what was I doing helping out at the Burwood Park save the Magpies fete ?And what was Bob Hawke doing at Wests Ashfield at the Save the Magpies dinner ? And how was it that we couldn't keep all our players if we had enough money to compete ? You may well be right in a legal sense we weren't legally bankrupt at the time …. But it was clear to one and all we couldn't compete. Mate I lived through that whole era and have a scrap book full of all the events from 1983-86 so I will standby what I have written.
As for Balmains plight ... Well I am no expert on that ... But as an outsider looking in, it appears the casino took a lot of money away from the leagues club then the NSW government pulled the rug from under them with the culling of the Metro transport project. I couldn't blame the board for that ..... But the Magpies board back in '83 and '99 .... Well mate ... We'll have to agree to disagree on that one !

 

[Russell]

Agree with you Innsaneink - too much 50/50 appeasement.
Agree or disagree with who is to blame for the plight we are in - doesn't matter. We can point the finger all day it is not going to fix it.
We have a good CEO, a very good coach and staff, a brilliant group of young players in the NRL and knocking at the door.
Membership is increasing, home games on days and times that we wanted etc. HOW GOOD IS THE FUTURE LOOKING?
The board is being adjusted to fit the current situation and independent members will take the pressure off the we want control group.
We can always find fault and we can all look at a half empty glass - how about we see it as half full, be positive and all look forward to winning the premiership in 2016.

 

[Russell]

Agree with you Innsaneink - too much 50/50 appeasement.
Agree or disagree with who is to blame for the plight we are in - doesn't matter. We can point the finger all day it is not going to fix it.
We have a good CEO, a very good coach and staff, a brilliant group of young players in the NRL and knocking at the door.
Membership is increasing, home games on days and times that we wanted etc. HOW GOOD IS THE FUTURE LOOKING?
The board is being adjusted to fit the current situation and independent members will take the pressure off the we want control group.
We can always find fault and we can all look at a half empty glass - how about we see it as half full, be positive and all look forward to winning the premiership in 2016.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

I too was helping at these charity events and yes we were poor but by 84 sponsors returned and before the move to Campbelltown we eere on the up but sadly there was always outside interference. Our problem as is Balmains now is our club wasn't behind us in the 70s when we could very well have kept our stars.

 

[Knuckles]

Yes, that's for sure. I also forgot to mention the Lidcombe Oval save the magpies rock concert …. They made a fortune out of that.

As Happy said above its a miracle we are still in the comp given all we've been through in the last 30 years.

 

[phil1986]

Yes, that's for sure. I also forgot to mention the Lidcombe Oval save the magpies rock concert …. They made a fortune out of that.

As Happy said above its a miracle we are still in the comp given all we've been through in the last 30 years.

Mate are you Phil rothfield, just read all of your last 3 posts…
Anything positive to say about the wests tigers?

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

 

[Basil_Tiger]

Gee,a bit harsh,he's just telling the facts as they were,i don't know all the ins and outs but Wests were still be written off as a NRL Team before the JV was announced,thats an Obituary that lasted nearly 20 years.

 

[Knuckles]

Yes, that's for sure. I also forgot to mention the Lidcombe Oval save the magpies rock concert …. They made a fortune out of that.

As Happy said above its a miracle we are still in the comp given all we've been through in the last 30 years.

Mate are you Phil rothfield, just read all of your last 3 posts…
Anything positive to say about the wests tigers?

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

Lol
A bloke name Phil asking if I'm Phil …... Geez I dunno

You couldn't have read my last three posts too well .... They each refer to Wests Magpies and the history of their survival.

 

[happy_tiger]

Gee,a bit harsh,he's just telling the facts as they were,i don't know all the ins and outs but Wests were still be written off as a NRL Team before the JV was announced,thats an Obituary that lasted nearly 20 years.

We made the Top 5/8 a few times in those twenty years

Wonder who the NRL will appoint as their representatives on the board ??

 

[Magpie_Magic]

It seems individuals and groups (including fans of WT) seem to blame the WT board structure for all the 'issues'

What about poor decision making of those in the past who have operated and managed WT? CEOs, finance people, sales managers, poor membership numbers, why are they not being held to account?

What about those who allowed Balmain Leagues to be run into millions in debt and ruin Balmain FC, provide $0 to juniors and dent WT capital.

The historical divisions in the Wests group has not helped either.. All sorts of people are responsible for what WT is today (business wise)

Apart from the dramas at Parramatta, WT is the only NRL club where the board is mentioned constantly for being responsible for day to day matters or blamed constantly for all the problems with WT.. Its only of such high profile (WT board) because it derives from two sides each looking after their own legacy and business interests.. The media thrive off it and its used to drive a wedge between fans and confuse the league community as to what it does.

The reason the NRL are taking seats on the WT board is to basically bail them out under the guise of 'restructure' or 'independent' board etc etc.. Truth is, Balmain directors want NRL men in boardroom to save the financially stronger Wests Group from having to much control of WT. (Not a full takeover or a revert to magpies but real influence and control of WT). This is the real reason the NRL have come to table with the cash.

WT will still have to pay that NRL money back..

Wests Ashfield, Magpies FC & Balmain FC still OWN WT. Until that changes (completely sold off from these parties) there will always be a financial and foundation club influences controlling WT in some way.

_Posted using RoarFEED 2013_

Agree 100% mate.

And thats the sad thing. Someone talks of unnecessary 50 50 appeasement but this has never been so. In the early years Balmain kinda had a touch more influence and thinking this would ebb and flow over time thought Wests would have a run now. But no this doesn't seem to be allowed. And Balmain not accepting an extra member from Wests for a couple of years is not an admission that Wests are incapable and as some here are saying the directors are the problem but worse its an admission that Balmain will not be reopening the club and don't even have a viable plan back to solvency and that makes me sad and the WT will miss their input and the club cedes control to outsiders.

And as others have said it has been a long obituary for Wests. A few short years after we were "broke" we went on a huge buying spree netting a club champion cup.

And knuckles if any of the facts I talked about re Wests were inaccurate let me know. And by the way the rock concert in late 83 at Lidcombe dre 17k netting 95k to help pay legal costs imposed from outside.

And I want Balmain to get back on their feet and the WT to continue a successful 50 50 jv. We won a very very special cup together worth 3 of the style Easts won this year and the young players have enormous potential.