Amazing day, amazing news. Full credit to everyone who got this off the ground, and also to the HB board for actually following through with it.
I have no hard feelings for Pascoe - a good person from my experience, just a bit awkward and without the RL knowledge to drive a top level NRL club.
As for this bloke - good riddance. Pathetic behaviour on the way out, and I'd expect nothing less.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Can anyone post the text of the SMH article??
‘Disrespectful and disgraceful’: Inside the day of chaos at the Wests Tigers
ByMichael Chammas
December 12, 2023 — 7.45pm
Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis drove his black Ferrari into the club’s Concord headquarters on Tuesday morning unaware of the events that were about to unfold over the next few hours.
Together with chief executive Justin Pascoe, the two faces of the Wests Tigers front office hosted 65 of the club’s corporate partners at a luncheon which doubled as an opportunity for the club’s key stakeholders to oversee the team’s training session, run by Tigers legend Benji Marshall.
At that point, the biggest issue on Pascoe’s plate would have been David Nofoaluma’s late showing to training. Two hours later, both he and Hagipantelis were gone.
There was an eerie similarity to the drama that surrounded the departure 18 months ago of former coach Michael Maguire, who was marched out of the club’s facility just hours after presiding over a training session that morning.
Once the executioners, on Tuesday Hagipantelis and Pascoe became the executed.
“I feel there has been gross disrespect shown to the Wests Tigers and to myself personally by my fellow directors,” Hagipantelis told the Herald on Tuesday night.
“We were never paid the respect of being involved or consulted as to the review. Even to this day we have never been engaged or informed as to the results of the review or the recommendations.
“Now it appears unlikely that we will ever see the report. I think the process was disgraceful …”
When Hagipantelis returned to Bryden’s Lawyers head office in Liverpool after the Tigers corporate luncheon, he received a phone call from Balmain director Danny Stapleton and Wests Ashfield director Tony Andreacchio.
It was relayed to him that at a meeting the night before, the club’s shareholders had agreed to the recommendations put forward in an independent review into the club’s governance carried out by former NRL chief financial officer Tony Crawford and businessman Gary Barnier. The board was dismissed. Hagipantelis, whose firm sponsors the Tigers to the tune of $1 million a season, was gone.
The news of the upheaval at the club has startled rookie coach Marshall, who has deals worth over $1.1 million a season on the table to Jarome Luai and Addin Fonua-Blake, two of the NRL’s highest-profile free agents.
Those close to Marshall, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, have told the Herald that he has raised concerns about the predicament of the club, with Hagipantelis also confirming that he had spoken to Marshall following his removal from the board.
“They have in my view created great harm to that club, and in particular that football department, and even more particular, Benji,” Hagipantelis said.
“They have removed from Benji his support system which primarily involved Justin. They have worked together extraordinarily hard for months to put together a football department, coaching structure and roster that will turn things around for the club.
“I know they’ve been working together really hard on some recruitment deals involving some very high-profile players. There’s no doubt this would jeopardise that.
“It would be completely ignorant for anyone to suggest that the major disruption to the organisational structure of the club will not impact on recruitment and retention. I have already been inundated by calls from player managers expressing grave concern with what has occurred.”
By the time Hagipantelis got off the phone to Stapleton and Andreacchio, an email had been sent to shareholders informing the club’s key figures that Pascoe had resigned.
The CEO, unbeknown to many of his staff members working at the $70m centre of excellence that will be the legacy of his much-maligned tenure, quietly made his way out the exit doors for the last time.
Pascoe’s successor, former South Sydney CEO Shane Richardson, was already lined up to take over his position and was preparing to front the media on Wednesday.
Former South Sydney CEO will take over from Justin Pascoe on an interim basis.
Former South Sydney CEO will take over from Justin Pascoe on an interim basis.CREDIT:CHRISTOPHER PEARCE
Crawford, who developed a close relationship with Richardson from their time working together at the NRL, recommended Richardson as the interim chief executive for the next six months.
A recommendation was also made to appoint former Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell as Hagipantelis’ replacement on a new four-man board for the next six months.
The same figures at Balmain who had privately expressed their dismay with the club’s major shareholder, the Holman Barnes Group, over their conduct in embarking on the review had now backed the recommendations that were being presented to them.
The HBG members on the Wests Tigers board were willing to remove themselves and needed the support of the Balmain and Western Suburbs sides of the joint venture to follow through on the recommendations.
That support was given on Monday night with Stapleton retaining his position on a new-look board as the elected Balmain-appointed director.
All of the above is mere detail to many of the Tigers fans now rejoicing in the departure of the board that has overseen one of the most tumultuous periods in NRL history.
For months, even years, the fans have pleaded with banners, protests and petitions begging for the club’s key figures to stop what they branded the “Pascoe Fiasco”. On Tuesday, they got their wish, and then some.
Congratulations Steve, Joel, Garry, Declan and Eddie!!!!!!!!
I'm in shock!
What a service you have provided for our club. Q lesson in being respectful and focussing on outcomes.
Wow!!!! What a result!!!
The most professionally run process this club has ever undertaken
Top 8 2023
Get an good insight into how Shane Richardson works
Also talks quite a lot about Wests Tigers
Top 8 2023
Lee acting pretty much as I thought. As the reality sets in I’m expecting a pretty significant temper tantrum in the coming days. At least Pascoe had the class to leave quietly.
In reference to the Lee article …. As if player managers would be upset they’re gone ? Doesn’t make sense, outside of using them as leverage .
Especially with richo replacing Justin . If you actually wanted to close a deal would you rather Lee/Justin or Richo .
like I said if you wanted to leverage - club , would you pick any other club exco than the tigers ? Honestly … maybe the dragons ?
the cognitive dissonance is hilarious.
Lee showing his true colours now. Throwing his toys out of the cot. Was it ever about the best for West’s Tigers with Lee or just about Lee? Me thinks I know the answer now. Not a surprising answer at all though.
Lee acting pretty much as I thought. As the reality sets in I’m expecting a pretty significant temper tantrum in the coming days. At least Pascoe had the class to leave quietly.
There's another rant in the Tele tonight, and he'll be on SEN tomorrow morning.
All this shit does is justify his removal.
Lee clearly has no self awareness. By making it all about how unfairly he has been treated it is just highlighting he’s not fit for the role. Surely he saw this coming.
Most of his quotes don’t make sense player managers calling him, it’s unfair for Benji, the review was unfair. It’s all just so desperate.
