Outgoing Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has opened up on his dismissal from the club’s board.
News broke on Tuesday afternoon that a clean-out had taken place at Concord which has seen Hagipantelis, CEO Justin Pascoe and the entire board dismissed.
Replacing the pair is former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell, who takes over as interim chairman, and ex-South Sydney chef Shane Richardson, who steps in as caretaker CEO.
Hagipantelis revealed exclusively on SEN 1170 Breakfast why the decision has been made to implement an upheaval of the board and how he received the news following a review by Holman Barnes Group (HBG).
“It was about 2:20pm yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from Danny (Stapleton), who is the chairman of the Balmain Tigers and was a fellow director,” Hagipantelis said.
“He was with Tony Andreacchio, the chair of the Holman Barnes Group, who was also a fellow director. They rang to let me know that the shareholders, all three - Balmain, Holman Barnes and West Magpies - had accepted the recommendations of the review which included the dismissal of the entire board effective immediately, the constitution of an interim board, the appointment of an interim chair and CEO, and that it would be reviewed again in six months’ time.
“And there would be an immediate review and consequential consideration of Justin’s position as well. That’s how it came to my attention.”
Hagipantelis admits he did not quite see this overturn coming, citing a leak to the Daily Telegraph as the reason why it all changed so quickly.
“I was at the Balmain Christmas party dinner on Saturday night and received numerous assurances of support,” he added.
“Well, that lasted 48 hours. Apparently there was a shareholders’ meeting on Monday night and the shareholders adopted the recommendations of the review.
“Now, this review has never been shown to us, we haven’t seen the report, we haven’t seen the recommendations, we were told that we would be given the report and an opportunity to respond to it. So we were misled there.
“What happened was, as I understand it, is the outcome of the shareholders’ meeting was leaked to (Michael) Carayannis, and given these people none of this is a surprise. So they hit the panic stations yesterday with frantic phone calls being made, forcing an outcome much earlier than what they had expected.
“I am told we will never see the report, I’ve got no entitlement to it now given I’m no longer chair of the board, so be it.
“The manner in which it was done by shareholders - these are people who sit as directors of the shareholders but also sit as directors on the Wests Tigers board. So I share a board with these people who sit there having a fiduciary duty to the organisation yet behind the scenes, scurrying in the shadows, putting together plans for the demise of the board.
“How is that not a breach of their fiduciary duty? Why would they not come forward and say there is an obvious conflict with me continuing in this role and I need to step down?
“It boggles belief. It is a world with which I am not familiar.”
Despite the situation, the firm’s principal says he plans to honour the sponsorship agreement between Brydens Lawyers and the Wests Tigers for season 2024.
But he has been upset by how the entire scenario has played out.
“It’s interesting to use the word ‘honour’ in these discussions, but the answer is yes,” he said further.
“I have one year left on my contract, I will honour that. But having said that, I know that they were on the phone yesterday to alternate sponsors ascertaining their preparedness to come on if I withdraw.
“Why not ring me directly and ask me? Why go through the back door? Why go scurrying around in the shadows?
“I could not be more disappointed with the misconduct and the deceit.”
Hagipantelis is now prepared to walk away from the role he has held at the Tigers to focus on his work with Brydens.
“We move on. I get back (to work) today, I’ve got a full day of appointments, conferences and reviews with staff. I will throw myself into that,” he added.
“I’ve said what I needed to say, I’ve put it on the record, and we move on.”
Listen to more from Hagipantelis below: