A director from the bulk proprietor of the Wests Tigers has made a bombshell declare concerning the merger’s future, claiming an urge at boardroom degree to revive the Western Suburbs Magpies to the NRL.
With the Magpies having merged with Balmain in 1999 to type a three way partnership within the aftermath of the Tremendous League wars, the partnership has not been with out its justifiable share of friction during the last 25 years.
In a textual content message leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald, Tony Andreacchio, a former chairman of the Holman Barnes Group who’s going through expulsion from the board over misconduct allegations, claims the ousting of himself and two different board members – Rick Wayde and David Gilbert, additionally underneath investigation over alleged misconduct – is a part of a ploy to carry the Magpies again into existence on the Tigers’ expense.
“If the plan devised by these … people unfolds as anticipated later this week, our elimination as administrators shall be finalised and our membership membership shall be banned indefinitely,” Andreacchio’s textual content reads, as reported by the SMH.
“Consequently, the HBG will fall underneath the management of a cabal of 4, supported by an outdated debenture holder… their misguided ambition is to see the Western Suburbs Magpies substitute the Wests Tigers within the NRL competitors.”
Tigers officers have beforehand contacted NRL head honcho Peter V’landys with fears a clique throughout the board led by HBG director Dennis Burgess is planning to revive the Magpies.
Chatting with the SMH, Andreacchio refused to touch upon the textual content message, however claimed Tigers followers needs to be ‘very apprehensive’ about the way forward for their membership.
“I’m not going to touch upon a really non-public textual content message,” Andreacchio mentioned.
“All I’ll say is that my solely concern is the most effective pursuits of the Wests Tigers. Some on the board couldn’t address dropping their blazers as a part of the evaluate.
“If I used to be a passionate Wests Tigers fan, of which I’m, I might be very apprehensive about the way forward for the merger.”
Andreacchio’s declare follows an August report that the Balmain aspect of the merger was eager on splitting with the Magpies and re-establishing themselves as a standalone NRL membership.
Making issues much more troublesome for Balmain is that they personal a mere 10 per cent of the Wests Tigers, having misplaced 15 per cent to HBG in change for them paying their $3.2 million debt to the NRL.
HBG owns the opposite 90 per cent, with a 3rd of that owned by the Magpies.
The Tigers are embroiled in a darkish interval for the membership, having did not make finals since 2011 and with three consecutive wood spoons to their identify.
