There’s always the danger of coming off as a traditionalist, perhaps even a dinosaur, but I think there’s an issue with the current governance/ownership of the Wests Tigers that we should all be made aware of.
And that problem, at least in my eyes, is the now (for all intents and purposes) lack of any form of member (or even fan) checks and balances.
The club (or perhaps as it can now more accurately be described as a ‘franchise’) has become something I presume most of us as football club members weren’t expecting when Wests Tigers was first mooted.
Or, perhaps it has become something some members back then feared.
For those of us who went along as paid-up football club members of either Western Suburbs Magpies or Balmain Tigers in 1999 and voted for the joint venture, we were promised a joint venture that would compete in the NRL and the continuation of our traditional Magpies and Tigers in the senior NSWRL competition (State Cup, etc).
With this, we assumed at the time, would be the continuation of two standalone football club boards controlled by the Balmain and Wests members.
But, a couple of decades later, what we have today is nothing like what most of us thought we were getting.
Yes, Balmain Tigers Football Club (BTFC) has been dragged down by the tragedy that became the Balmain Leagues Club redevelopment in Rozelle.
But, despite the Tiger’s woes, BTFC still today owns 10% of the company that holds the NRL license – Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Pty Ltd.
It’s only a small share, sure, but as a current BTFC member, I should be still entitled to have my say as to who sits on the BTFC board, and indirectly who then our one representative is on the Wests Tigers board.
But, as far as I can tell, BTFC hasn’t held an Annual General Meeting in years. There have been no AGM notifications posted anywhere, as far as I can tell.
Am I a paid member with voting rights or not? When is the next AGM?
BTFC memberships are now handled by Wests Ashfield and I have reached out to the membership department to clarify these issues, at the time of writing I haven’t received a response.
Now, that’s Balmain, but I have to say my eyes have really been opened about what’s going on with our comrades over at the Magpies.
Yes, the Western Suburbs Magpies Football Club (WSDRLFC) still exists and functions along the lines of a traditional football club.
The WSDRLFC will be holding an AGM at Wests Ashfield a little later this month and when the current three-year term for the club’s directors expires members will be able to again cast a vote for the representatives they so choose.
But, not for the whole board, just a minority of three board positions out of seven.
I really don’t see the point of going in and lodging a vote – the WSDRLFC board is controlled by Wests Ashfield (or, as it is now known as ‘Holman Barnes Group’ (HBG)) which appoints the majority of four directors.
Ironically, like BTFC, WSDRLFC now also has only one director appointed to the Wests Tigers board.
The proof of this control has been evident just last week when the member-elected Chairman of the WSDRLFC, Shannon Cavanagh, was hauled across the coals for questioning some of the decisions made by the Wests Tigers board.
Mr. Cavanagh, a registered charted accountant and lifelong Magpies (and Wests Tigers) fan, got involved with the Magpies first as a sponsor and volunteer, before running successfully for the board.
He was elected Chairman by his fellow WSDRLFC members to advocate for the Magpies and he has been seeking clarification around a number of matters.
One of these matters is his concern, and I presume those also of the rank and file Magpies members, that there is an alleged push from within the Wests Tigers/HBG to replace the Western Suburbs team with a Wests Tigers side in the NSW Cup competition.
Now, it doesn’t really matter where you sit with that, what matters is what the original joint venture agreement said in relation to that issue.
Another issue that Mr. Kavanagh sought clarification around was the lodgement of ASIC documents, in particular, in relation to the appointment of one Wests Tigers board member, that same board member happens to also be the WSDRLFC representative on the Wests Tigers board.
That, to me at least, tells me that WSDRLFC is now a toothless tiger (for want of a better term) and membership of that football club has no direct involvement in the running of Wests Tigers.
You could also say that the member-elected board members don’t really even get any power over the Magpies, because, ultimately, it’s what HBG wants (if the four directors vote along those lines).
Further to all this, Mr. Cavanagh now faces expulsion from the WSDRLFC board, and may even have his membership canceled, that’s despite his two fellow member-elected board members reportedly backing him.
The Wests Tigers Chairman, Lee Hagipantelis, has publically alleged that Mr. Cavanagh “has construed a pattern of behavior” that “leaves him as being not a fit and proper person to fill the role of WSDRFC Chairman, or indeed, hold a membership.”
Mr. Cavanagh has no real right of reply, no voice to explain his side of the story, and I don’t think that’s right. If the four HBG directors vote together he will be expelled from the football club with no recourse available.
Where is the evidence that Mr. Cavanagh acted inappropriately?
If what happened to Mr. Cavanagh is an example, can I now have my BTFC membership cancelled by writing this article or by sharing my opinions about the organisation on the Wests Tigers Podcast?
I understand that things change, but we now essentially have no rights at all.
Also, if at some point in the future Wests Tigers face a crucial decision, just like what we as Wests and Balmain members did in 1999, that decision will be completely out of our hands as fans and members.
I think that’s a great pity.
Thank you for your objective commentary of this situation. AS a Magpies tragic I always thought that this rubbish that has been going on for the past 4-5 years was a Balmain take over. Perhaps it was presented this way to split the membership. There is little doubt that is driven by enormous egos and has little to do with the success of the franchise. The 20 faceless men (The Debentures Holders) who retain all the power should be named (and perhaps shamed). Nothing good has come from the appointment of Lee H as Chairman of the Board. His ego and lack of nous outshines all the blunders made since we last played finals football.
Well said Graham …I have had my say on my own page.
Wests Tigers continue being the joke of the NRL.
It is a disgrace that there is no accountability for those who have presided over respective portions of the current decade of failure.
The egos of the CEO and Chairman are apparent for all to see. They don’t believe anyone has the right to question their decision making despite them failing to achieve anything remotely resembling success on the field.
The Debenture Holders appoint the majority of the Wests Ashfield board who in turn appoint the majority of the Wests Tigers board.
The fan has a token say that means nothing – if those appointed by election fail to toe the line, they are removed. There is absolutely no point in fans getting involved with the club – their voice carries no weight, nor does their elected representatives.
There’s no easy solution to this problem that you have described very well in this post. All of the people you refer to are passionate supporters of the club (first and foremost) and the fact they dedicate their time to sitting on the board is worth commending them on.
In regards to the board of WT, I don’t know any club directors personally though I am not of the view that any of them are suitably qualified to occupy their position. This is perhaps an easy assessment to make by me as an outsider given the WT club (of which I am a member) has not has a successful season for 10+ years.
Getting ‘suitably qualified’ people on the board is always a subjective assessment. The club’s chairman has achieved in business but his recent comments regarding the Cavanagh situation on radio were childish to say the least.
Successful clubs in NRL and AFL also see turnover at board level which I have often found confusing too. My proposed solution to our current problems at board level are as follows:
1. Next WT board election to be held 1 Jan 2024;
2. Anyone paid up for a ’24 WT membership has a right to vote.
3. The elected board sit in office for a period of 3 years from the date of election.
4. If the club makes the finals in 2 out of the next 3 years then the existing board automatically earns a new 3 year term
5. Failing to make the finals 2 out of 3 years results in another election on 1 Jan 2027.