So Dolphins, Cowboys, Storm all get someone and Tigers are once again left holding their junk in their hand.
Some things never change.
To make matters worse -
‘Not going to be dictated to’: Major sponsor walks out on Tigers after ‘disrespectful’ treatment
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The Wests Tigers have suffered a significant blow ahead of their first official game of 2024 with a major sponsor walking out on the club following “disrespectful” treatment.
News Corp revealed on the weekend that FAB Industrial Logistics — an import and export specialist company — will no longer be the Tigers’ back-of-jersey or sleeve sponsor.
The company poured $800,000 into the club to hold those positions but has pulled its support after interim CEO Shane Richardson raised the idea of putting Allied Express — a direct competitor of FAB Industrial Logistics — on the Tigers’ jersey too.
It was a kick in the guts to FAB Industrial Logistics’ managing director Neil Fabry, who “blew up about it” according to Phil Rothfield on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.
“It’s been a tough couple of years for the club but I put in more money last year — my family’s money — when the club was struggling,” Fabry told News Corp after informing the Tigers on Friday of his decision to pull his sponsorship.
“Then I sat down with Shane Richardson and I was told that they wanted to put one of my competitors on the jersey as well.
“He said to me, ‘If you love the club, you’ll let it happen’.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be treated this way.
“It was so disrespectful.
“I have a contract that says I’m exclusive in my area of business. I told him (Richardson), ‘There’s not a chance you can use a rival. If you put them on, take me off, and stick it up your a**e. I’m not going to be part of it and I’m not going to be dictated to’.
“None of this happened when (former CEO) Justin Pascoe was here.
“I still love the club but I don’t like the people in charge.”
Richardson was approached by News Corp for a response and claimed that the Tigers were willing to respect Fabry’s wishes.
“We did ask him about putting another sponsor on the strip but he said it was a conflict. So we told him we wouldn’t do it. He knows that,” Richardson said.
FAB Industrial Logistics is a family-owned company, which Fabry has had great individual success through including being named Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Year in manufacturing, wholesale and distribution for 2023.
It comes as Rothfield shared he has “great doubts” another major sponsor of the Tigers, Bryden’s Lawyers, will continue its relationship with the club beyond this season after the axing of former club chairman Lee Hagipantelis.
“Their roster needs work and obviously their commercial department needs work because you can’t be in danger of losing your two biggest sponsors on the back of two wooden spoons,” he said.
“It’s very difficult to attract corporate support at the best of times.”
To be fair to the tigers, reading the comments by the sponsor, this seems more like a sponsor looking for an excuse to get out as they were friendly with the previous management who got the boot.
