On the show that he sponsors, SEN Breakfast hosted by Andrew Voss, former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipentelis revealed that he deeply regrets ever taking on the role, describing it as a mistake in hindsight.
Reflecting on his time with the Tigers, Hagipentelis didn’t hold back, openly expressing his dissatisfaction with the position. When asked if he missed the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, Hagipentelis was blunt: “Not only do I not miss being the chairman, I regret taking on the role.”
“Wow,” Voss responded, clearly taken aback by the frankness of the statement.
Hagipentelis didn’t mince words as he expanded on his reasoning: “I think it was a mistake. There’s no upside to the role.”
He explained that the chairmanship of Wests Tigers was largely symbolic, offering little in terms of true power or influence. Despite the public-facing nature of the position, Hagipentelis felt he had little ability to implement any meaningful changes or steer the club in the direction he believed it needed.
“It’s an honorary role,” Hagipentelis continued. “You do not have any real authority or power to affect any change. You sit on a board of eight people. The real authority and power lies with those who own the club, that’s the Holman Barnes Group, of course. So of the eight, five of them came from the Holman Barnes Group. You are the figurehead.
“You’ve got to go out there and front the media all the time. You cop the hits.”
Hagipentelis compared his role at Bryden’s Lawyers, his legal firm, noting how different it was to be in charge of his own business.
“In Bryden’s Lawyers, for example, it’s a one-man show. It’s me,” he said.
Check out our latest Wests Tigers Coach’s Report with Coach Adel Hage breaking down the Raiders game.
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