A director of the Holman Barnes Group, the majority owner of the Wests Tigers, has warned of a growing movement at board level to “see the Western Suburbs Magpies replace the Wests Tigers in the NRL”.
A text message sent by former HBG chairman turned director Tony Andreacchio to several club members and seen by the Herald outlines concerns over the direction of the organisation in charge of the Wests Tigers, which is currently chaired by Julie Romero.
Balmain, Western Suburbs and Wests Tigers fans at Leichhardt Oval.Credit: Getty Images
Andreacchio, who is one of three board members currently suspended and expected to be removed as early as this weekend after facing a disciplinary hearing over alleged misconduct, has moved to try and expose the internal power play that could rock the foundations of the Wests Tigers.
“If the plan devised by these … individuals unfolds as expected later this week, our removal as directors will be finalised and our club membership will be banned indefinitely,” the text message sent by Andreacchio said.
“Consequently, the HBG will fall under the control of a cabal of four, supported by an outdated debenture holder system (currently comprising only 18 individuals). Their misguided ambition is to see the Western Suburbs Magpies replace the Wests Tigers in the NRL competition.”
When contacted for comment on Friday afternoon, Andreacchio – who previously served as chairman of the HBG for two-and-a-half years until he was overthrown by Romero in March this year – refused to discuss the text message but admitted he had grave fears for the future of the Wests Tigers.
The Wests Tigers are coming off three wooden spoons.Credit: NRL Photos
“I’m not going to comment on a very private text message,” Andreacchio, a HBG director of 12 years, told this masthead.
“All I will say is that my only concern is the best interests of the Wests Tigers. Some on the board couldn’t cope with losing their blazers as part of the review. If I was a passionate Wests Tigers fan, of which I am, I would be very worried about the future of the merger.”
Romero did not respond to attempts to contact her on Friday.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told this masthead that a high-ranking Wests Tigers official recently approached Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys with the same concerns.
Holman Barnes Group directors Tony Andreacchio and Dennis Burgess.Credit: SMH
The official contacted V’landys after learning that HBG director Dennis Burgess, who now holds a position on the Wests Tigers board, had been talking of an intention to bring back the Magpies in the NRL.
The allegations raised with V’landys included a claim that Burgess had told Balmain chairman Danny Stapleton at a game this year, “We’re bringing back the Wests Magpies”.
Burgess declined to comment when contacted on Friday night. “I have nothing to say,” he said.
The Wests Tigers official wanted to warn the NRL of the plan they believed was being devised by the new leadership of the HBG.
The Herald has also obtained a separate document, compiled by two club members and sent to Liquor and Gaming NSW. The document is a request for Liquor and Gaming NSW to appoint an administrator to the HBG, as happened at the Parramatta Eels almost a decade ago.
In the letter, it is claimed “There has been a total breakdown in the management of HBG in that the board is completely dysfunctional and the relationships so toxic, it is impossible for the board to operate effectively, or at all”.
The HBG, formerly known as the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club Group, is currently split into two factions. The faction on the outer consists of Andreacchio and directors Rick Wayde and David Gilbert, all of whom were once on the board of the Wests Tigers.
They are under investigation for what Wayde last month described as “trivial” allegations made against him and two other board members, among them not sitting with other directors at functions, calling an official’s wife “darl” and telling another she was in the wrong corporate box at a game.
Other allegations against a particular director includes referring to fellow board members as a “f—ing softie”, a “f—ing suck” and “parrots” in a raised voice.
It was further alleged that Andreacchio was in breach of his constitutional duty after he opposed attempts by a fellow director to change the Western Suburbs Magpies jersey to black and white in the lower grades, because he believed all teams should play under the Wests Tigers banner, including NSW Cup.
The trio of suspended directors were the driving force behind the implementation of the independent culture and governance review that led to the exit of former Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe and chairman Lee Hagipantelis.
Since then, Andreacchio has been overthrown as chair, with Romero and Burgess replacing the duo at the helm of the powerful club in March with the backing of fellow directors Stephen Montgomery (recently added to Wests Tigers board) and Vincent Tropiano.
The HBG has over 27,000 members. The board consists of seven members, two of whom are elected by general members and five of whom are elected by the remaining 18 living debenture holders. The constitution makes it difficult to effect significant change at a board level.
Andreacchio’s text message also claims that the Romero-aligned directors in power at HBG are opposed to the appointment of Shane Richardson as Wests Tigers chief executive and Barry O’Farrell as chairman.
Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell, coach Benji Marshall and CEO Shane Richardson.Credit: Getty
“Whether I remain or return as a director is not the key issue,” the director said in his message to select members.
“What matters most is the continued success and prosperity of the HBG and the long-overdue revival of the Wests Tigers.”
The rise of Romero has also drawn the ire of Balmain. In August, this masthead reported that Balmain director Garry Leo was calling for Balmain to break away from the Wests Tigers and begin a campaign to reinstate the foundation club back in the NRL. Leo has since resigned from his role on the Balmain board.
At the heart of his frustration was growing angst over the behaviour and actions of the HBG, shared by some of his directors.
In a series of private emails obtained by the Herald, Balmain directors described the Wests Tigers majority owner as “incompetent”, “Machiavellian” and a “bunch of tin pots”.
The HBG board recently asked O’Farrell to reapply for his job after the expiry of his interim contract as chairman of the Wests Tigers following the removal of Hagipantelis on the back of a culture and governance review.
Balmain chairman Danny Stapleton, who is also a representative on the Wests Tigers board, sent an email to Balmain directors in August stating: “the split on the [HBG} board is real and decisive” and that Balmain had “challenges on our hands with the unrest at HBG board level”.
Stapleton also stated: “My understanding, and I have not been told formally, is that the controlling faction at HBG Board now wants to unwind the outcomes and recommendations of the review process and take back the control and running of Wests Tigers.”