'Wild man' Holman Barnes Group chairman under fire over explicit Instagram follows as Wests Tigers saga takes bizarre twist

The continued dramas at the Wests Tigers have taken a bizarre turn, with the chairman of the Holman Barnes Group, Dennis Burgess, under fire over his Instagram account due to the X-rated pages he follows.

The eccentric figure behind the controversial ownership group's social media account - using the handle wildmandenny - has been cast into the public eye following the decision to turf independent directors were turfed from the club's board and Shane Richardson stepped down as chief executive.

Burgess follows over 4500 accounts on Instagram, with over 200 of them ranging from risque models to sexually explicit material.

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While he's not doing anything illegal, the conduct of a person in charge of a professional sports organisation engaging with that type of content doesn't pass the pub test.

The pressure on Burgess is coming from all angles after the departure of Richardson, who had become a popular figure among fans of the joint venture.

Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne took to social media to vent his frustration on Monday.

"In the last seven days, we have seen four independent directors removed and now the CEO is gone," Byrne said in a video posted to X.

"This is the evidence that the Holman Barnes Group has to be stopped.

"We want everyone to get down to Pratten Park this Saturday … to draw a line in the sand and send a message to the NRL and NSW Government that it's time to intervene in the governance of the Wests Tigers.

"If we don't act now, the West Tigers are going out the back door."

The desire now from those pleading for change is for the NRL to take on a temporary administration of the Wests Tigers and sort out the mess.

One source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Wide World of Sports that those at league headquarters - namely ARLC chairman Peter V'landys - needed to "roll the sleeves up" to help save the club from falling into the abyss.

Byrne echoed those sentiments earlier this week, calling on both V'landys and NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris to step in before it's too late.

"I'll be writing to Peter V'landys and to David Harris separately, calling for each of them to intervene in the Wests Tigers' situation," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"In the case of minister Harris, I'm going to call for his agency to put an administrator in place to run the Holman Barnes Group.

"We want some transparency on how much has been spent of members' money on legal fees in the past year … I think that is the smoking gun for intervention by Minister Harris."

V'landys confirmed that they would look into the conduct of the Holman Barnes Group.

"We will look into it," he told The Herald.

"I'm not saying they have done anything wrong, but naturally we are concerned."

It would be similar to the overhaul at Parramatta in 2016 when the entire board was sacked following a salary cap scandal.

This weekend, fans and prominent figures at the club will meet for a rally at Pratten Park as the push to oust the Holman Barnes Group heats up.

Joel Caine - an inaugural member of the Wests Tigers after the merger - will be in attendance, as will Balmain icon Steve "Blocker" Roach.

Organisers are also pushing for the likes of Chris Lawrence, Beau Ryan and Robbie Farah to make an appearance and help gain steam for the desired changes.

Ryan would be a major coup if organisers can get him over the line, given his national platform as a breakfast radio host on Triple M alongside ex-teammate Aaron Woods.

The rally, which is being spearheaded by Byrne, could attract hundreds if not thousands of the club's rusted-on supporter group from both sides of the merger.

"It's as clear as day that allowing the Holman Barnes Group to eliminate independent directors from the Wests Tigers board could mean the death of our famous rugby league club," the mayor said in a statement last week.

"The fact that the same people who oversaw fifteen years of failure and three wooden spoons, have now launched a coup to take back total control over Wests Tigers makes clear how dire the situation is.

"At this rally, fans and members will call on Peter V'landys and the NRL, as well as Liquor and Gaming NSW, to intervene and fix the shambolic governance of Wests Tigers once and for all. It's time for Wests Tigers fans and Wests Ashfield Leagues Club members to stand up and save our football team before it's too late."

The event will start at 10.30am at Pratten Park and will see fans march to Ashfield Leagues Club, where they will demand the Holman Barnes Group resign.