A civil war has erupted at the owners of Wests Tigers after the Holman Barnes Group moved to cancel the memberships of three directors.
Staff at three of the venues owned by the Holman Barnes Group [HBG], including Wests Ashfield, have been instructed not to allow Rick Wayde, Tony Andreacchio and David Gilbert from entering the premises.
The owners of Wests Tigers are at war with each other.Credit: NRL Photos
HBG is formerly known as the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club and is the main financial backer of the Wests Tigers, with Balmain Tigers RLFC owning a minor share.
Gilbert is also a director of the Wests Tigers, who are attempting yet another rebuild after earning three consecutive wooden spoons. The three directors are expected to contest the decision.
This masthead attempted to contact Wayde, Andreacchio and Gilbert, as well as HSG CEO Simon Cook and chair Julie Romero.
The latest development is yet another political skirmish that began when the factions were battling for control of Wests Tigers.
The NRL club has a long history of tension between the Wests and Balmain sides of the joint venture; as late as August, Balmain director Gery Leo called for Balmain to immediately sever ties with the Western Suburbs side of the merger.
Wests Tigers received a huge shake-up of its management and boardroom last year when long-time chief executive Justin Pascoe and chairman Lee Hagipantelis were removed from their positions following an independent review of the club.
The current Wests Tigers chair, Barry O’Farrell, will be expected to reapply for his position as the HSG also seeks to appoint new independent directors. O’Farrell, who has acted as chair in a previous stint at the club, is expected to go through a process that will require him to meet a skills matrix.
The Tigers are yet to announce a new major sponsor for next year, a position that has been filled by Hagipantelis’ firm, Brydens Lawyers.
There are concerns that the latest round of infighting is an unwanted distraction to the football program overseen by Tigers CEO Shane Richardson and coach Benji Marshall. The first wave of Tigers players returned to preseason training this week.
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