The Wests Tigers meeting that could have multimillion-dollar sponsorship ramifications

Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has broken bread with former chair Lee Hagipantelis in a move that could have multimillion-dollar ramifications for the club.

Wests Tigers hold high-powered meeting.

Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has broken bread with former chair and major sponsor Lee Hagipantelis as he attempts to salvage the club’s multimillion-dollar deal with Bryden’s Lawyers.

This masthead understands that Richardson caught up with Hagipantelis last week, the first time the pair had met since the club’s leadership structure was replaced late last year.

Hagipantelis, the principal of Bryden’s Lawyers, was the highest-profile casualty of the overhaul as the Tigers removed their board as well as former chief executive Justin Pascoe.

Pascoe was replaced by Richardson, who now finds himself in the crosshairs over the signing of youngster Solomona Faataape, who is managed by a company he part owns.

It is understood the Player Agent Accreditation Scheme are looking into the matter after receiving at least one complaint from another player manager.

The NRL is also monitoring proceedings and may yet take action to remove any conflict of interest. Richardson, meanwhile, is focused on ensuring the Tigers can find a way to heal after the traumatic events of last year, when the club’s leadership structure was cast aside following an independent investigation into club’s operations.

Tigers interim CEO Shane Richardson. Picture: David Swift

Ex-Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis.

Hagipantelis was furious that he was among the casualties, launching a scathing attack on the owners of the club after they voted for the board to be removed en masse.

At the time he said he would honour the remaining year of his sponsorship deal but would reserve a decision on extending his involvement until he knew who was running the club.

Richardson is that man, having been appointed for an initial six-month term with the option for a longer deal which he is expected to take up.

That may, however, change should he be forced to make call between his role at the Tigers and his stake in Rich Digital, the management company he owns in conjunction with his son Brent.

There is every chance that the NRL may decide Richardson must do one or the other. Chair Barry O’Farrell is the other key figure with his hands on the wheel at the Tigers, having replaced Hagipantelis as chair of the club when the board was removed.

Richardson has taken it upon himself to smooth things over with Hagipantelis as he looks to ensure the club doesn’t enter the season with bad blood coursing through the corridors of Tigertown.

While not long the chair of the Tigers, Hagipantelis still holds enormous sway given the size of his sponsorship deal with the club and his relationship with key figures including coach Benji Marshall.

Prior to Hagipantelis’ removal as chair, Marshall was an outspoken supporter of both he and Pascoe in an interview with this masthead.

“One thing will say with Justin and Lee in particular I think they do get a bad rap sometimes,” Marshall said. “I didn’t see this when I was playing but working with them now, they actually have genuine care and want the club to be better.

“Lee chips in x amount of his own money and has a genuine care for the club. I have seen it first hand. He cops quite a lot of flak.”

Originally published as The Wests Tigers meeting that could have multimillion-dollar sponsorship ramifications