Wests Tigers respond to NRL in bid to reinstate CEO Justin Pascoe
The Wests Tigers have launched their bid to have deregistered CEO Justin Pascoe reinstated following alleged salary cap infractions by submitting a formal response to the NRL.
The Wests Tigers have launched their bid to have deregistered CEO Justin Pascoe reinstated following alleged salary cap infractions by submitting a formal response to the NRL.
The Tigers had until January 31 to respond to a heavy three-pronged penalty dished out by the NRL prior to Christmas which included Pascoe’s removal from head office, a massive $750,000 fine and an additional $639,000 stripped from their 2019 salary cap.
However, in a determined bid to fast-track a resolution and gain clarity over Pascoe’s tenure and their salary cap for the upcoming season, the Tigers provided a detailed submission to the NRL on Tuesday.
“We needed to respond to the allegations and we’ve done that,’’ Tigers chair Marina Go told The Telegraph.
“I can’t comment on what that response looks like because at this point it’s confidential.
“We’re now in the process of waiting for the NRL to respond to our submission.’’
The $639,000 relates to an undisclosed agreement made in 2016 to pay Robbie Farah as an ambassador of the club when he finishes his career.
The Tigers claim the role was created as an act of goodwill during a time where the name of one of their club legends was being dragged through the mud as a result of a fallout with coach Jason Taylor.
The Tigers have told the NRL at no stage was the role designed to cheat the salary cap.
However, the NRL claims the agreement was made before Farah left to play for South Sydney and that it should have been disclosed and included in the salary cap.
Rocked by the allegations and vast impact of the trio of penalties, the Tigers had originally indicated the club was ready to take on the NRL via the courts to prove their innocence.
However, the club believe their formal submission to the NRL should be suffice to show the “Robbie role” was far from a deliberate attempt to flout the salary cap rules and nor did they attempt to derive a competitive advantage.
Refrained from having any communication with the club since December 19 last year, Pascoe is believed to be reeling from the allegations.
He was set to be celebrated as the first club boss in 20 years to turn a profit for the joint-venture club — the result of a staggering $5 million overhaul in his three seasons in charge.
Pascoe’s livelihood and immediate future as an administrator of the game aside, the notice has the proposed $750,000 fine and reduction of $639,000 from the club’s salary cap impacting their recruitment and retention for 2019 and beyond.
Despite the uncertainty, each of the club’s major and marquee sponsors have offered their unwavering support to the club.
The Tigers are eager for the matter to be resolved prior to the club’s first trial match against the Warriors on March 2.
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