Overwhelming support from the members of the Wests and Balmain leagues clubs has ratified their proposed amalgamation, with the Tigers now having only 10 per cent equity in the Wests Tigers NRL joint venture and their licensed premises controlled by the Magpies wealthy Ashfield operation.

Balmain members voted 90-5 on Wednesday night to endorse the amalgamation of the licensed properties of the two foundation football clubs, with a sole dissenter amongst the 220 Magpie members who voted the following night.

Michael Maguire's team is now only 10 per cent owned by Balmain. Credit:NRL Photos

Once Balmain members agreed to merge the operations, effectively handing Ashfield control, it was fait accompli that Wests members would support it with a required 75 per cent of the vote.

Long-term Magpies stalwart and Wests Tigers board member Rick Wayde, who moved the motions for the amalgamation, said: ‘‘We’re very heartened by the overwhelming acceptance of the merger of both leagues clubs. It reinforces the progress we are making to create a very viable Wests Tigers."

Under the agreement, Balmain will hand operations of their successful Flemington Markets club to Ashfield while Wests will fund the Tigers junior league expenses of $350,000 a year for five years.

Wests will also pay Balmain’s debt of $3.2 million to the NRL, which is due next year. Members of Balmain will become members of Wests, finally uniting all stakeholders.

Balmain chairman Leslie Glen stressed to members of the Tigers' 1969 premiership team at a recent 50-year reunion that while the licensed clubs had amalgamated, the 111-year old football club still existed, albeit as a source of junior players for the NRL.