Following the Holman Barnes Group’s effort to revoke the memberships of three directors, a civil war broke out among the Wests Tigers’ owners.
Employees at Wests Ashfield and three other Holman Barnes Group [HBG] venues have been told not to let David Gilbert, Tony Andreacchio, and Rick Wayde on the property.
The primary financial supporter of the Wests Tigers is HBG, previously the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, with Balmain Tigers RLFC holding a small stake.
The three had previously served as directors of the Wests Tigers, who are currently trying to rebuild after losing three straight games. It is anticipated that the three directors will challenge the ruling.
This masthead made an effort to get in touch with HSG chair Julie Romero and CEO Simon Cook, as well as Wayde, Andreacchio, and Gilbert.
Another political conflict that started when the factions were fighting for control of Wests Tigers is the most recent development.
Tension between the Wests and Balmain portions of the joint venture has long existed within the NRL club; in August, Balmain director Gery Leo demanded that Balmain immediately cut off its connection with the Western Suburbs half of the merger.
Last year, Wests Tigers’ boardroom and management saw a significant upheaval when chairman Lee Hagipantelis and long-time CEO Justin Pascoe were fired after an independent evaluation of the team.
As the HSG looks to select new independent directors, it is anticipated that Barry O’Farrell, the current chair of the Wests Tigers, would reapply for his job. O’Farrell, who served as the club’s chair in a prior capacity, is anticipated to undergo a process that calls for him to fulfil a skills matrix.
Hagipantelis’ firm, Brydens Lawyers, has been appointed as the Tigers’ new primary sponsor for the upcoming season.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall and CEO Shane Richardson are in charge of the football program, and there are worries that the most recent round of internal strife is an unwelcome distraction. This week marked the return of the first group of Tigers players to preseason training.
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