Former Test star Ben Elias emerges as a frontrunner in Wests Tigers chairman search
In what shapes as the most important decision in the Wests Tigers’ tumultuous history, the club have launched their search for a new chairman, with a former legend among the leading candidates.
In arguably the most important decision in the club’s tumultuous 25-year history, the haemorrhaging Wests Tigers have launched their search for a new chairman with a former Test star the leading contender to claim the position.
This masthead had been told three candidates for the club’s top job are Ben Elias, Leo Epifania and Dennis Burgess.
Burgess, who may struggle to claim the chairmanship after revelations emerged last weekend that his Instagram account follows hundreds of sexually explicit pages, is chairman of Wests Magpies and Holman Barnes Group, while Epifania is on the Wests Tigers board and Elias is a Tigers legend with a powerful business CV.
The club’s chair position was vacated last week when the Holman Barnes Group dumped Barry O’Farrell, a former NSW Premier, and three other independent directors from the joint-venture board.
That decision was followed by the demise earlier this week of Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson.
With two leadership positions unfilled, the club desperately needs to immediately find a strong chairman to end the internal infighting.
When contacted about the possibility of becoming Wests Tigers chairman, Elias would only say: “It would be an honour and privilege to be chair of such a great club. We need to make some strong decisions and we need to do it soon because the NRL kicks off in less than three months’ time.
“I am totally supportive of Benji Marshall and the priority for the club is to put out these fires and move forward in a positive manner.”
Elias served on the Wests Tigers board when the club won the 2005 grand final and was previously a Tigers development officer and marketing manager. He also served five years on the Perth Glory A-League club board.
A former NSW and Kangaroos hooker, Elias is known to have a line to the top end of town.
Epifania, who played 23 games for Wests in the 1980s, is also in the running but questions remain about whether he would suit the role.
Wests Tigers are also looking for a CEO to replace Richardson. The club is expected to name an interim chief executive with current general manager of football, Shaun Mielekamp, the favourite.
Manly’s Tony Mestrov is still being heavily considered but Mielekamp is understood to have the inside running.
Naming an interim chief executive allows the club some breathing space to appoint a chairman before deciding on a full-time CEO.
Regarded as a blue-collar administrator, Mielekamp is a former Central Coast Mariners chief executive and merchandise and marketing manager at Penrith and South Sydney.
The appointment of Mielekamp would allow for continuity given he already works for Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is known to be fed-up trying to protect his players from the boardroom drama.
A rally to protest how the club is being run will be held at 10.30am this Saturday where fans will march 1km from Pratten Park to Wests Leagues, Ashfield to demand that Holman Barnes Group directors resign.
“At this rally, fans and members will call on Peter V’landys and the NRL, as well as Liquor and Gaming NSW, to intervene and fix the shambolic governance of Wests Tigers once and for all,” said Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne.
Benji set to make call on future amid Tigers boardroom chaos
