Richardson expected to make call in latest Tigers twist
Scott Bailey |
Shane Richardson is expected to make a call on his future as Wests Tigers CEO on Monday, in a move likely to leave the NRL club without a chief executive or chairman.
One week after the Tigers’ owners removed four independent directors from the club’s board, Richardson is tipped to follow them out the door on Monday.
Richardson has spent the past seven days mulling over his future in the role, having remained silent since the Holman Barnes Group sparked chaos last Monday.
The veteran administrator had been a strong proponent of the club having an independent board, while having also worked closely with ousted chairman Barry O’Farrell.
If Richardson does quit as Tigers CEO, the joint venture will be without a full-time chief executive and chairman just three months out from the start of the NRL season.
Former Manly boss Tony Mestrov has been linked to the role of CEO, but there are questions over whether he will end up in the job.
AAP has learned the Tigers’ recently promoted general manager of football Shaun Mielekamp could also be an option to take the role on an interim or full-time basis.
Mielekamp was the CEO of Central Coast Mariners between 2015 and 2024, lifting them from the bottom of the ladder and financial difficulties to back-to-back champions.
He had previously spent time as merchandise and marketing manager at Penrith and South Sydney, and arrived at the Tigers at the start of last year as head of community.
The Tigers had appeared to be taking steps forward both on and off the field over the past year, before last week’s board drama.
As recently as January the Holman Barnes Group had appointed four independent directors to the seven-person board, on the advice on an external report.
Last week’s decision to remove those directors has been met with resounding public opposition, and calls for the NRL to intervene.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has vowed to look into the matter, but it remains unclear if they will be in a position to intervene.
At the same time, it has emerged that a complaint has been made to the NRL about Richardson and financial dealings while at the Tigers.
The alleged issue relates to the use of a digital marketing company Richardson has a part ownership in with his son.
Sources close to Richardson maintain that the veteran administrator had been transparent in all dealings, and appointments for work had been approved by the club’s board after a tender process.
The Tigers board is set to meet next Monday for the first time since the removal of the independent chairs, where it is expected the new board structure will be discussed.
AAP
