Wests Tigers Chairman Lee Hagipantelis has explained why the club decided to stick with coach Michael Maguire following a lengthy internal review.
Many believed the review, which ended last week, would spell the end for Maguire at Leichhardt, with media reports on Monday stating that his sacking was imminent.
While the club finished 13th and missed finals for a 10th straight year, the Tigers shocked the rugby league world on Tuesday by announcing that Maguire would be kept on as coach next season.
Having come to a final decision, Hagipantelis says he’s relieved that the “lengthy process” has come to the correct decision.
“Speaking from myself, a sense of relief,” Hagipantelis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“It was a difficult and lengthy process, but one I think we had to go through
“I have expressed regret that much of it played out in the public domain, which remains a challenge from our club and something I’ll be addressing personally moving forward.
“But it was a process I think that realised a lot of benefit for the club, and realised a lot of benefit for us individually as board members, hopefully for Michael as well and the football department.”
Hagipantelis said that Maguire kept his job as the review unequivocally found him to be the “best person” for the role.
“Commitment by the board by the fact that Michael is the best person for the Wests Tigers at this time,” Hagipantelis said.
“He has expressed a commitment to this club, supported by his passion and dedication for the role, he’s evidently qualified.
“The players respond well to him, we have a very young and exciting roster that I think will benefit from his experience, and Michael put his case forward with eloquence, with passion, and was very convincing.
“The entire board, lead primarily by the football committee, left with no doubt that Michael Maguire was the man to take the club forward.”
While Hapipantelis has no doubt Maguire is the right man to take the club forward, he did concede that the review highlighted areas of concern that he and the football department will work on to remedy.
“We strive for perfection, but we’re not blind to the imperfection,” Hagipantelis said.
“There were areas of concern that were expressed, within and without the organisation that had to be expressed.
“To be fair to any person within an organisation that has some level of criticism raised, they have to be given the opportunity to respond and we did that.
“We followed due process, we spoke with Michael at length on more than one occasion.
“As I say, he responded to all of the concerns, he acknowledged some, others will be addressed in another way internally.
“None of us are beyond criticism and none of us are perfection in our roles, that includes the board, the CEO, myself personally.
“All of us are capable of doing better.”
Maguire will be supported by newly appointed coaching director Tim Sheens going forward.
It’s hoped the pair can lead the club to their first finals series since 2011 next season.
Listen to the full chat here.