Wests Tigers are again facing off-field chaos, with four directors including former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell sacked over a series of disputes including the colour of next season’s jersey.
The joint venture club removed chairman O’Farrell and fellow independent directors Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell, leaving majority owner Holman Barnes Group – which runs the Wests Ashfield League Club – in full control.
They joined the board in January, as part of major changes following the axings of past chairman Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe, and their exits throw doubt on the future of current chief Shane Richardson given he was a close ally of O’Farrell.
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The board was intended to be independent but the majority owners still control most key areas of the club.
Code Sports reports a series of recent decisions including the colour of the 2026 jersey, which is “too gold”, and the club’s stadiums policy which they were not given the opportunity to veto are to blame for the schism.
“The Holman Barnes board has been left in the dark on some commercially sensitive announcements,” Holman Barnes chief executive Daniel Paton told Code Sports.
“The Holman Barnes board does not believe communication between the boards has been satisfactory.
“We don’t want to micromanage the football operations. We do have to be consulted on decisions. Balmain isn’t going anywhere. We are proud and committed supporters of Balmain.
“Balmain are very much a part of the joint venture. (We want a Leagues) club back in Rozelle.
“The changes are at the governance level.”
Paton told the Nine papers they continued to support both Richardson and coach Benji Marshall, who has led the Tigers to 15 wins and 33 losses in two seasons at the helm.
“We have full faith in Shane Richardson as CEO and Benji Marshall as coach,” Paton said.
“We do, however, need to be consulted on decisions that will impact the club’s financial future.
“Yes, the club recently turned a profit, but we’re looking at the next 15 years, not just year to year.”
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