Justin Pascoe has the task of rescuing the embattled Wests Tigers after being announced as the club's new chief executive.
Fairfax Media revealed on Tuesday that Pascoe was the favourite to become the Tigers boss. "He's a sensational appointment," Tigers chairwoman Marina Go said. "We did a global search, we interviewed some fantastic candidates internationally. We are thrilled we are able to find a candidate of his calibre."
He steps into the role following a one-year stint as head of NRL at the Panthers. Pascoe stepped down from his post at the Panthers on Thursday via a club statement: "Panthers head of rugby league Justin Pascoe has tendered his resignation effective immediately. The Panthers have accepted his resignation and wish Justin the best in his future endeavours."
Pascoe was one of five people interviewed by the Tigers board last week and made the shortlist of two candidates after the club received about 160 applications. The Tigers have not had a chief executive since Grant Mayer resigned in June.
For the past year, Pascoe has run the Panthers NRL team, working alongside Phil Gould and Panthers group chief executive Warren Wilson. He was the Panthers' chief commercial officer and worked as general manager of strategy and sales at the Western Bulldogs and spent time working in Los Angeles.
His first task will be to work through Robbie Farah's contract. While Farah has been told he can leave at the end of the season, the skipper is set to dig in his heels and remain at the club. Farah said there was no movement on his future. "I haven't been sacked or anything like that," Farah said. "I have a contract there for two years and that's the way it is.
"I just have to get on with the job because there's nothing to update. As things stands, I'm a Tigers player, that's the way I see it, I've got two years on my contract, and that won't change."
Farah dismissed talk that the club's management would have to make a choice between himself or coach Jason Taylor.
"There has been no issue from my end at all, and there won't be," Farah said. "I'm a professional. This has never been about me and Jason Taylor. I don't know how it's turned into that to be honest, because from my end it's never been an issue. I think Jason Taylor is a great coach who is doing a great job at the Tigers, and for me, I've always been there to lead and be the captain of the club to the best of my ability. How it has turned into what it has has blown me away."
