Wests Tigers claim Sydney Roosters undercut their sponsorship with Proton
By Stuart Honeysett
October 20, 2009
Wests Tigers are furious over a last-ditch approach and alleged bargain-basement offer from Sydney Roosters that threatens to derail their potential new sponsorship deal with car manufacturer Proton.
The Tigers are hoping to hear from the Malaysian-based company as early as Tuesday on which club it will opt for and it is believed the deal could go either way.
The Tigers are particularly disappointed with the actions of Roosters chief executive Steve Noyce, who played a major role as the former boss of Wests Tigers in luring Proton to the joint-venture club in 2006.
The Roosters are desperate to find a new sponsor and generate some positive publicity after major backer Samsung pulled the pin on its six-year association with the club from Sydney's eastern suburbs over a string of damaging headlines this season.
The Australian has reported the Roosters' offer undercut the Tigers' bid by at least $200,000 and could include other contra in the form of possible advertising to help promote Proton's new model.
Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys did not want to go into any detail when contacted on Monday but said he was still hopeful the car manufacturer would continue its four-year association with his club.
Humphreys said he intended to contact Noyce soon to discuss the matter and he would also raise it when he visited NRL headquarters over another issue.
"We're very close to re-signing Proton and we've been working on that with the good people from Proton in recent weeks," Humphreys said.
"I am aware of a last-minute proposal from the Roosters which has been made on very attractive terms."
Noyce declined to go into details of the Roosters' offer but said he was shocked at any suggestions he had done something underhanded to sway Proton's decision.
"I've spoken to the guys at Wests Tigers and explained the situation," Noyce said.
"Obviously Proton consider there may be some opportunities for them to link with the Roosters and my job if we don't have a major sponsor is to get proposals out to potential clients to create win-win partnerships.
"Samsung were after brand awareness when they were on the sponsorship trail and they to their credit and with the Roosters and other people's help have now got great brand awareness.
"I'm a bit shocked to think anyone would ever think I'd do anything underhanded."
It is believed Samsung flagged its intentions to withdraw its corporate support some time ago and there was speculation the Roosters then approached Proton in a bid to sign them up and minimise the negative publicity over losing a major sponsor.
The Tigers have a reputation as a relatively cleanskin club under the watchful eye of veteran Test coach Tim Sheens and to counter this obstacle it is believed the Roosters offered Proton a much cheaper deal to sweeten the pot.
The Tigers are bitterly disappointed given they had been working hard on a deal with Proton which, like other major companies, was re-evaluating its position on sponsorships as it continued to battle the effects of the global financial crisis.
However, it is understood a positive upturn in sales in the last few months and the Tigers' impressive end to the season - they finished ninth and just missed out on a spot in the finals - saw the company keen to continue its association.
Noyce said on Sunday he was confident of landing a new sponsor before the club's opening game of the season against South Sydney in March but he would not slash the price of the jumper in the process.
He said the club was using new coach Brian Smith - a strict disciplinarian with a reputation for rebuilding clubs and restoring their image - as a selling point.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26233550-5018866,00.html
