Colourful Sydney Kings part-owner Paul Smith and former NRL executive Paul Kind are set to become key stakeholders in the Western Bears if, as widely expected, they become the league’s 18th franchise next month.
Smith and Kind’s Total Sport and Entertainment has for months been in secret negotiations with a WA consortium of businessmen, including chairman Peter Cumins.
The sports marketing company’s involvement was outlined in the bid document lodged with the NRL three weeks ago.
“We’ve come in at the 11th hour,” Smith told this masthead on Monday. “We’re not suggesting at all that we’ve driven the process. We’ve been presented with an opportunity to take 15 per cent. We’re not desiring majority positions on this.
“With the structure of the ownership group, particularly a new set-up, there will be a contest of ideas in the …