On the eve of their latest rebirth, Wests Tigers are facing more internal drama following claims that club bosses are not accountable and are part of the reason the club has struggled on the field for the past decade.
Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club chairman Shannon Cavanagh says Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe need to acknowledge they are at least part of the problem at the club that finished with the wooden spoon last season.
Cavanagh is speaking out today before a disciplinary hearing he will front this week relating to a conversation he had with Pascoe in front of a club sponsor.
“They [Pascoe and Hagipantelis] are really lacking in self-awareness if they can’t acknowledge they are a big part of the issues at the club,” Cavanagh said. “I think they don’t listen and they can’t handle criticism at all. There is an arrogance that exists at the club and I don’t know why they would feel like that given the way the Wests Tigers have performed.”
The disciplinary hearing relates to a conversation Cavanagh had with Pascoe at the launch of the Tigers’ centre of excellence. During a lengthy and sometimes heated conversation, Cavanagh was asked by Pascoe who he thought should run the club. He suggested SEN radio host Jimmy Smith.
“He asked me out of the blue and I said Jimmy,” Cavanagh said. “And when I think about it he would be good. He played for Wests, knows footy and he has an MBA. I think he’d be a good choice.”
This column has the letter of complaint written by Hagipantelis tearing strips off Cavanagh. The letter to the Wests club says in part: “Mr Cavanagh’s conduct was reprehensible. In his capacity as Chair of Wests Magpies, he has not only embarrassed himself, but also your Club. More importantly from my perspective, and what is of particular concern to my Board, is that said conduct occurred in the presence of, and in fact engaged, sponsors of Wests Tigers. It has been now necessary for me to proffer a formal apology on behalf of Wests Tigers to Mr Fabry and to the other Sponsor with whom I spoke, for Mr Cavanagh’s misconduct.
“What is most galling is the arrogant presumption of Mr Cavanagh that he is in any position to level criticism of the Wests Tigers. To my understanding, confirmed by my discussions with our CEO, Mr Justin Pascoe, Mr Cavanagh has had absolutely no involvement in our Club’s operational matters ... In those circumstances, Mr Cavanagh has no foundation, let alone any entitlement, to criticise our CEO, Mr Justin Pascoe, the culture of our organisation and the manner in which it is operated or make any comment with respect to staff.
“... This is not the first occasion Mr Cavanagh has embarrassed himself by engaging in vitriol and criticism, in a public setting, of the Wests Tigers. The conduct being the subject of this complaint should therefore not be construed as a one-off but, somewhat disturbingly, a pattern of conduct.
“It is the view of the Wests Tigers Board that Mr Cavanagh is not a fit and proper person to fill the role of Chairman of Wests Magpies, or indeed, hold a membership.”
Cavanagh denied that he was in any away aggressive or out of line in his conversation with Pascoe. In a letter detailing the night, Cavanagh writes: “After I arrived home, I sent him [Pascoe] a direct message via Instagram at 11:56pm which said: ‘Thanks for the hospitality??? If that is Wests Tigers culture, we have problems. Very poor.’
“I also sent a text message to Simon Cook, the CEO of Wests Ashfield at 11:18pm which said: ‘Wow, Justin’s a great guy. And his mates’. I believe that my response to Mr Pascoe’s question concerning the CEO of Wests Tigers was reasonable given the facts that: (a) Wests Tigers have not made the finals whilst Mr Pascoe has been CEO since 2015; b) in 2022, Wests Tigers finished last; c) the media has branded the organisation with the terms such as ‘basket case’, ‘laughing stock’ and ‘embarrassment’, and; d) in 2018 the NRL suspended Mr Pascoe for six months due to ... not disclosing contracts as required under salary-cap regulations.”
Hagipantelis and Pascoe were contacted but declined to comment. Cavanagh’s hearing is this week.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
I don't think there is a winner in that argument, they all come across really poorly.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Without the full context, it is hard to assess this fully.
We do know, based on past conduct, that Lee and Justin are both incredibly sensitive to criticism. So sensitive that Justin even referred to the criticism inhis Ask the Boss segment with Brooksy.
Cavanagh sounds like a jerk but I would like to understand why Pascoe asked him that question. The article doesnt say it, but the question Pascoe asked sounds like it came off the back of Cavanagh having a go at him. If thats the case, I am more on the side of Pascoe and Lee on this one.
Lee’s letter sounds a little silly. It certainly wouldnt have been my approach but, then again, Lee isnt known as being the most nuanced of lawyers.
I should add - the fact Cavanagh has gone to the media about this should be enough, in and of itself, to see him removed as Chairman.
There are two certainties in life.
Danny Wieldler making a mountain out of dust and him mentioning Sonny Bill Williams in each and every column he writes.
PS: Lee (love him or hate him) has poured millions into this club. Justin Pascoe has us in a very good financial position. Two reasons to keep them. As for football results, look to Professional Coaches who we have handsomely paid and Professional Footballers who turned out less than professional, remembering that we lived out of the worst facilities in the league. We now have the best. I think we should keep Lee and Justin for a little while longer.
The Almighty Frog
I should add - the fact Cavanagh has gone to the media about this should be enough, in and of itself, to see him removed as Chairman.
The fact he recommended Jimmy Smith should be enough.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
It’s been handled the wrong way by all. Just a meeting at a different time out of the spotlight to address any issue/ issues.
@kenny4517 Thats ridiculous. Since when do we ever do the right thing. Next you'll want to win a Premiership.. Shame on you.
The Frog!!!
@garry we now know why Jimmy Smith constantly bags out the club makes sense now
Lee’s approach to this indicates why he isn’t the right person to be Chair. Lee approaches everything as a lawyer. I am a lawyer myself but a lawyerly approach is usually not the right one.
FYI I don’t care how much money Lee puts in. He does that for commercial reasons. Gee, he sponsors half of the NRL.
@the-frog Sorry I thought we are a professional organisation. I forgot we are not, will not happen again.
Obviously there is still plenty of the old grudges and infighting beneath the surface. I couldn’t care less to be honest what these dinosaurs think. That the chairman of Wests Magpies wants to have a go at Pascoe at the opening of the COE is petty and pathetic. Is it surprising? No, petty politics is what suburban rugby league has been about for 100 years. Pascoe and Lee make a lot of mistakes but they have lucked into the current situation where sheens and Benji seem to be leading the NRL club out of the mess of the last decade. Wests Ashfield as the owner of the club should weed out those who are not part of the future professional organisation.
To a certain extent perhaps but there’s also a time & place for that kind of discussion I would’ve thought. If Cavanagh has the best interests of the club at heart then his behaviour in front of sponsors is a poor way to show it. If he had issues he had to go about it through the right channels and not drag the club through the mud again. One final point I’d like to make is the club had made the finals 3 times in 15 years before Pascoe etc came over. They were also a financial basket case. Who was to blame for that?Goodbye dinosaur
Cavanagh? His four points though make a solid argument.
