The Wests Tigers are dealing with extra off-field turmoil with chair Lee Hagipantelis reportedly on the point of being overthrown.
The SMH experiences the membership’s majority shareholder, the Holman Barnes Group, invited Hagipantelis to face down from his function simply days after being reappointed nevertheless it was rejected.
Board member Tony Andreacchio, talking on their behalf, invited Hagipantelis to stop and mentioned he had solely been prolonged as unbiased director – not as chairman, which had been reported occurred till November 2025.
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However Hagipantelis has strongly rejected this suggestion he was not prolonged in each roles.
Now Tigers higher-ups are contemplating bringing in former NSW premier and ex-Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell, plus former Australian Olympic Committee John Coates, onto the board.
It comes as an exterior governance and tradition evaluation will study the roles of Hagipantelis and CEO Justin Pascoe.
Hagipantelis’ exit may place the membership’s near-$1 million a yr sponsorship cope with his firm Bryden’s Lawyers beneath menace.
“At the moment we have an external review on the whole club,” Andreacchio mentioned.
“It’s probably an inappropriate time to make any formal or informal comment at the moment. This review is very critical.
“The Holman Barnes Group is one of the major shareholders and are very much behind it. I think any comment doesn’t serve any purpose at the moment. Currently he is the chairman.”
The Tigers board at the moment has seven administrators however can maintain as much as 9.
“Independent directors are always open up to review to see who is available and who would like to come on,” Andreacchio mentioned.
“It’s something we’re holding off on until the end of this review. Until then, there’ll be no further action. I don’t want to derail the review in any shape or form.”
However a type of concerned within the unbiased evaluation has had his function questioned.
Gary Barnier and former NRL chief monetary officer Tony Crawford are conducting the evaluation, however Barnier is one in all 13 Wests Tigers Foundation members who donated $100,000 to the membership over a four-year interval.
“I took the decision to provide money to the club through that Foundation 13, which meant I could contribute – because I can afford to contribute – but I get nothing in return for it,” Barnier mentioned.
“It’s just like a super-high level of membership, I suppose. That’s the beginning and end of it. I’m not getting paid for this review.
“I’ve offered to do it because of my emotional connection and my family’s emotional connection with the club. That’s all it is. I can’t think of any possible conflict of interest.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au