The Wests Tigers have been thrown into chaos with the departure of CEO Justin Pascoe and Lee Hagipantelis and the dismissal of its entire board, according to media reports.
Two big names have been drafted in to tide the club over with former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell taking over as interim Chairman and ex-South Sydney supremo Shane Richardson as the interim CEO.
The club board are set to meet this Tuesday night, but the major figures have already resigned and the meeting has now been pushed back to Wednesday to allow for legal documents to be drawn up.
“We are determined to be successful for our members and fans and that process begins in the front office,” said our members and fans and that process begins in the front office,” Tony Andreacchio, chair of Holman Barnes Group who own the club, to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Lee and Justin faced enormous challenges, but they have left a legacy which gives us a strong base for the future. But one thing is clear – this club is determined to provide the leadership required to be successful in the NRL.”
Benny Elias, speaking to Fox League, described it as the club’s “greatest step forward in a decade”.
“It’s fantastic, great news for the club,” he said. “They’ve had the courage to make a massive decision which is the club’s greatest step forward in the past decade.
“It was definitely time for a massive change, an upheaval. They’ve had the courage to do it and congratulations to them.
“This has got to be the turning point and now they’ve got to replace (the board) with credible people. They need to do a thorough recruitment process of the people that are going to take it on from here because it’s a big job.
Club legend Garry Jack laid into the outgoing regime.
“I didn’t think it would happen, the review by the Holman Barnes Group has been coming to this,” he said on 2GB radio.
“I can’t believe it’s happened, I think it’s a really positive day for the Tigers.
“I think Barry O’Farrell will be an excellent chairman. To be honest, the guys that have been there, Pascoe, Hagipantelis, the board, have overseen two wooden spoons for the Tigers. Who keeps their job if you get two wooden spoons?
“Coaches go, players go, but they’re in their ivory towers, they’ve been there for 10 years and stayed on. It’s about time they’re accountable for their actions.”
Holman Barnes Group has been conducting an independent review into the operations of the Tigers following years of poor performances on the field.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe and chair Lee Hagipantelis. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
The review was spear-headed by former NRL financial chief Tony Crawford and business figure Gary Barnier, MD at Benchmarking Matters and Cooperage Capital.
“I participated in it so it would be nice to see the outcome but from what I can see from a macro point of view is they’ve made the right decision,” said Elias of the review.
“It’s almost spot on (to Elias’ recommendations), I’m very pleased. There needed to be change at the top, that’s exactly what they needed and they’ve done it, it’s great. They’ve listened to the review. I’m very excited.
“It’s the best news I’ve heard out of the Wests Tigers in a long, long time. Thank god.”
The ownership of the Tigers is split between the Holman Barnes Group (90%), the rebranded Wests Ashfield Leagues Club organisation, plus a remaining 10% from the Balmain club.
Dave Gilbert for Holman Barnes, Danny Stapleton for the Balmain Tigers and an as-yet-unannounced Wests Magpies member will form the rest of the new board alongside O’Farrell and Richardson.
The move also throws a major sponsorship arrangement up in the air, as Hagipantelis is the Principal at Bryden’s Lawyers, the legal firm who are currently the biggest corporate partner of the Tigers.
Barry O’Farrell returns to the club, where he was previously chair in 2019 before ceding the position to Hagipantelis.
Richardson has been around rugby league for decades and famously led South Sydney to the Premiership in 2014, breaking one of the longest droughts in the sport. He was also involved with Penrith in their 2003 Premiership and at various clubs in the Super League.
He has an established relationship with Crawford and recently featured in a long series of podcasts on the state of the NRL in 2023 along with host James Graham, coach Jason Demetriou, player Dale Finucane and journalist Danny Weidler.
More to follow
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Not my club, I didn’t understand the ownership structure. I had never realised the board of the club was subservient to another entity that could sack the entire board and the CEO whenever they wanted. My only questions is: If another entity owns 90% and can exercise this decisive authority and control… why did it take them so long to act, aren’t they also responsible for the past 10 years of chaos and disappointments?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I hope not too many rusted on Dragons supporters read your comment and take it seriously. Pretty sure there's not enough beds in ICUs for all the heart attacks this might cause.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
The point is their future isn’t at Concord or Ashfield or Rozelle, it’s at Campbelltown.
Don
Roar Rookie
Ashfield is closer to Concord than Roselle. It’s called Wests Tigers COE. Change to Wests Magpies COE. Half the paint is black already. Paint the orange white or black. Change the signage, logos and other branding. The existing signage and fit out would be being depreciated, and they should also be able to claim scrapping any parts of the existing fit out that can’t be rebranded as an immediate tax deduction. Given their size and numerous renovations, extensions and refurbishments, Wests Leagues would have the depreciation and writing off of fit outs and FF&E down to a fine art.
Tony
Roar Guru
They've got nothing on the Dragons Board
matth
Roar Guru
They are looking to recruit the ex-Tigers board as we speak :laughing:
Redcap
Roar Guru
"Then we need to convince them to bring back a version of the black jersey with the white V." Yes! That thing they've been running around in since the merger - neither one thing or other other - is an abomination!
Noel
Roar Rookie
What's Andrew Leeds up to these days, while we're at it? :silly:
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Any chance the Dragons could follow suit, Tony?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
That would be superb. I'm not a Wests man, but that club has some fabric, sadly, the Tiger brand is a dying one thanks to Sydney's changing face.
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
Pe(Turkey) Doust?
andrew
Roar Rookie
As long as Elias has a say I can't see the Tigers completely disappearing Stuart. Imagine the sight of the old Magpies jersey playing again in the NRL.
Tony
Roar Guru
There's quite a few turkeys holding down Board roles in NRL clubs
Gwendolyn
Roar Rookie
Even scientist turkeys fail to see the bigger picture
Cam Watts
Roar Rookie
"Is that the kind of man you need, loquacious type?" Well said Brad, I mean Phil!
Greg
Roar Pro
The bigger problem with the move it to Campbelltown rhetoric is as Don pointed out it is Wests Ashfield that owns the brand. They are 2.5km from Leichardt oval. It is therefore in their best interests to maintain the inner west identity.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
To be fair, turkeys very rarely vote for anything. Their grasp of democracy is shaky at best.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Yes, the man who thought he was another Raper
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Benji and Richo will be good for the club. Glad to finally see Lee Hagipantelis & Co go, unsurprisingly he "didn't see this coming" ...maybe the back to back wooden spoons were a hint, and just maybe he should have listened more to Tim Sheens, Ivan Cleary and/or Michael McGuire.
Phil
Roar Rookie
"turkeys very rarely vote for Christmas." Gold.