Fearing the \u201cdeath\u201d of the Wests Tigers following the dismissal of four of the club\u2019s independent board members, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has organised a rally to \u201csave\u201d the joint-venture NRL outfit.<\/p>\n
Former NSW premier Barry O\u2019Farrell, as well as Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell were on Monday sacked by the Holman Barnes Group, the Wests Tigers\u2019 majority owners, less than 12 months after being elected to the board.<\/p>\n
The quartet\u2019s axing reportedly stemmed from a series of disputes, including next season\u2019s jersey being \u201ctoo orange\u201d.<\/p>\n
The turmoil has led to Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson considering his own future at the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell is going on?\u201d Byrne posted on Instagram.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s as clear as day that allowing the Holman Barnes Group to eliminate independent directors from the Wests Tigers board could mean the death of our famous rugby league club. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to fight to save the mighty Wests Tigers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Byrne-organised rally will take place on Saturday week at Pratten Park, and will be followed by a march towards Wests Ashfield Leagues Club. where fans will \u201cdemand\u201d that the Leagues Club board, the Holman Barnes Group, resigns.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust when our club was really starting to make progress, improving its performance on the field, improving its financial performance, getting our governance right with independent directors, the same people who oversaw 15 years of failure, and three wooden spoons, are trying to drag the club back down by sacking all of the independent directors who are overseeing Wests Tigers,\u201d Byrne said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not something that Tigers fans will take lying down. It\u2019s time that we fought to make sure that our club can be successful and sustainable into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n