The Wests Tigers are bracing for a major leadership vacuum, with chief executive Shane Richardson expected to announce his departure on Monday. This move would leave the NRL club without a permanent CEO or chairman just three months before the start of the new season.
Boardroom Chaos Sparks Leadership Crisis
The anticipated exit comes one week after the club's owners, the Holman Barnes Group, sparked turmoil by removing four independent directors from the board. Richardson, a veteran administrator, has spent the past seven days considering his position and is now tipped to follow the ousted directors out the door.
Richardson had been a strong advocate for an independent board and worked closely with former chairman Barry O'Farrell, who was also removed in last week's dramatic shake-up. His potential resignation would plunge the joint venture into a state of unprecedented instability at a critical time for football operations.
Potential Replacements and Financial Scrutiny
In the wake of the impending leadership change, several names have emerged as possible successors. Former Manly Sea Eagles boss Tony Mestrov has been linked to the CEO role, although his appointment is not guaranteed.
Another candidate is Shaun Mielekamp, the Tigers' recently promoted general manager of football. Mielekamp, who joined the club at the start of last year as head of community, could be considered for the job on an interim or full-time basis. He boasts a strong track record, having led the Central Coast Mariners from financial trouble and the bottom of the A-League table to consecutive championships between 2015 and 2024.
Complicating matters, it has emerged that a complaint has been lodged with the NRL regarding Richardson and financial dealings during his tenure. The allegation concerns the use of a digital marketing company that Richardson partially owns with his son.
However, sources close to Richardson assert that the administrator was transparent in all dealings. They state that any appointments for work were approved by the club's board following a proper tender process.
Public Backlash and NRL's Next Move
The decision to purge the independent directors has been met with significant public criticism, leading to calls for the NRL to intervene in the club's governance. ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys has vowed to examine the situation, though it remains uncertain if the governing body has the power to step in.
The Tigers had shown signs of progress on and off the field over the past year. In a move that now seems ironic, the Holman Barnes Group had appointed the four independent directors to the seven-person board as recently as January, acting on advice from an external report.
The club's new-look board is scheduled to meet next Monday for the first time since the dismissals. This meeting is expected to focus on discussing the future board structure, as the Tigers navigate one of the most turbulent periods in their history.
