"did they ask Tom to tank the share price and they would get on board?"
Neither Tom, Suresh, the BOD or anyone else inside the company would or could tank the share price. That kind of thought has to stop. Do you actually believe that management is not focused on doing everything possible to move the company forward? Sometimes it has to get done in the absence of communication with shareholders until such time as critical steps have been overcome.
When critical and material events actually happen the shareholders will be advised.