The payout, NRL probe and a dead magpie: Richo’s last stand as Tigers CEO

Outgoing Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson says a potential NRL investigation into his business dealings and conduct at the joint-venture will not impact a seven-figure payout after deciding he could no longer work with the club’s owners.

Wearing a full suit and running shoes on a steamy Monday afternoon, Richardson held court with a six-minute monologue on the turmoil-riddled Tigers, having decided to walk away 18 months into a four-year deal worth about $750,000 a year.

As he did, Richardson called for the club to back coach Benji Marshall for the long term and for ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys to ensure Tigers fans are looked after, hinting that NRL intervention might be the best way to do so.

The veteran administrator noted that he started his tenure as interim CEO two years ago, almost to the day, vowing to take the Tigers from basket case to NRL behemoth.

Not until after he ended the media conference on Monday did anyone notice that a dead magpie lay in the dirt just a metre from where Richardson had stood.

Make of the magpie symbolism what you will. Majority owners the Holman Barnes Group have denied suggestions there is a push by certain directors to remove Balmain from the joint venture with the Western Suburbs Magpies.

Richardson reiterated the point: “It’s the Wests Tigers”.

“This is a truly great club, and it’s the Wests Tigers.”

HBG was not thrilled that Richardson, with 32 years in the business, called his own press conference after the four independent directors he championed, including chairman Barry O’Farrell, were removed last week.

Several of Richardson’s comments pointed to the constant brawling and bumbling in the boardroom forcing him out the door, though he insisted none of the dirtiest laundry would be aired, and it wasn’t – presumably with those lucrative exit clauses in mind.

“I’ve had my go at [working alongside the Tigers owners], and I haven’t been able to do it,” he said.

“So it’s up to the shareholders, the club and the NRL to move forward on that.”

On the prospect of an NRL integrity unit probe into a potential conflict of interest regarding the Tigers’ use of the Enrichd Group – a company Richardson part owns with his son Brent – for marketing, branding and digital consultancy services, he was emphatic.

“I’ve got no qualms whatsoever, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with my decision,” Richardson said, responding publicly to this masthead’s report for the first time.

“Not even a sleepless minute, and it had nothing to do with my decision. It makes no difference in my contract in any way, shape or form but, more importantly, I’ve got no concerns whatsoever.”

Along with declaring rugby league has not seen the last of him, Richardson said he would have no issue talking to the NRL should an investigation take place.

Sources not authorised to speak publicly have told this masthead that the HBG is considering launching its own probe into the matter.

Meantime, general manager of football Shaun Mielekamp is set to take over from Richardson in an interim capacity. There are strong suggestions the former Central Coast Mariners CEO will land the job full-time ahead of external options such as Manly’s Tony Mestrov, ex-Dragons boss Ryan Webb and former Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher.

Richardson was effusive and optimistic about Mielekamp’s ability to remove exit clauses from Jarome Luai’s $1.2 million deal, and to extend the contract of rising fullback Jahream Bula.

More praise came for Marshall: “I’m really proud of how he’s grown as a coach. He’s grown from a novice coach, not knowing much except being a wonderful talent and understanding the game, to a quality human being and man manager in that time … Just stick with Benji Marshall”.

Richardson made special mention of numerous front-office staff as well in pointing to the progress the club had made in attracting fans to games and in finalising a long-term stadium strategy. Of O’Farrell, he put him on a par with former Rabbitohs chairman Nick Pappas as the best he has worked with.

In response, HBG chief executive Daniel Paton, in a carefully worded statement, thanked Richardson for his service.

“His resignation paves the way for a new path forward for the football club … ,” Paton said. “We again wish to reassure our fans and the broader NRL of our commitment to the joint venture.

“We intend for everyone to move forward together as one, and will be driving this reality through a new CEO and leadership.”

Again, make of that what you will. Two years ago, Richardson and O’Farrell had been charged with that exact remit.

As he walked away from the Tigers for the final time, Richardson joked that he and the ex-NSW premier “might just break out a Yellow Tail” bottle of wine to mark the occasion.

Fittingly for a tenure with everything good, bad and Tigers to it, Richardson’s exit had a bit of everything to it. Dead magpie and all.

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