New Wests Tigers board named

West Tigers’ new board say they will meet on Sunday to discuss coach Mick Potter’s future at the embattled NRL club.

Wests Tigers on Friday unveiled their long-awaited new board including three NRL-appointed independents – Rosemary Sinclair, Lucio Di Bartomoleo and Marina Go.

The three new members join Tony Andreacchio and Simon Cook from Wests with NRL boss Dave Smith saying two representatives from the Balmain side would be added when that organisation was financially viable.

The reshaped board is tasked with ending debilitating factional infighting at the joint venture club.

But one of their first tasks will be deciding the future of Potter, who comes off contract after Saturday’s final round clash with Cronulla after a tough, controversy-marred season.

Go, the chief executive of media company Private Media, said making a decision on the head coaching position would be a priority.

“It will absolutely be on our first agenda on Sunday,” Go said.

“We are open to the entire realm of possibility and a decision has not been made.

“I won’t comment on the timing but clearly we understand that there is a sense of urgency around this.”

Go said the board would seek Tigers’ chief executive Grant Mayer’s recommendation, with his position at the club appearing safe.

“Absolutely. We’re looking forward to working with Grant,” she said.

“As you would appreciate we haven’t had a meeting with Grant yet.”

Potter, who survived an attempt to oust him mid-season, said he was eager to meet with the new board to share his vision for the team.

“I do want to stay in charge of the club as far as being head coach is concerned,” he said.

“It’s a good gig and there’s plenty to be hopeful for with the Wests Tigers. There’s some young players that have got some real good futures and the senior guys are very good to coach.

“I’d like to talk to the new board.

“It would be nice to have a conversation and present what I think we can do going forward.”

Smith admitted it’s taken “longer than we would have liked” to form the new board but said it would bring an end to infighting.

“We set out to unify the board because it’s a great club and the fans deserve it,” Smith said.

“What we have here is a board of five people with an extensive range of experience who are connected to the community and I think it will go from strength to strength.”

Potter, who goes into the final round clash having guided the struggling side to six straight defeats, said having a new board in place would bring much-needed stability.

“There were people previously with very good intentions but we just seem to be fighting against one another within the organisations,” he said.

“I think just having some independence will just add that stability to the organisation.

“We need to progress because I think we’ve been caught in a rut for quite some time so this will free us up and I think it will be a really good thing.”

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