I think a key indicator of the quality of the current senior management set-up is that it has continued to operate effectively for three and a half months without anyone at the top. Senior staff know their jobs and do them well, which in turn reflects well on Steve Kavanagh and Peter Varney who set up the team. Even the latest pricing announcements - half and five-game tickets - are all mine, set out in detail for my staff because I knew the owners were going to sack me. Prothero has had very limited input to the running of the club, which he repeatedly says is not his job. Slater and Jimenez are largely invisible and rarely communicate with most staff; all of the heavy-lifting last season was done by Kav and PV. In short, the management ain't - or wasn't - broken.
When the team was relegated to League One staffing costs were cut right down, except at senior level, so we had the nonsense of £500k a year being spent on Waggott, Capelin and Kavanagh, while junior staff were being made redundant to save £10k. In fact, we didn't need either Waggott or Capelin, as events demonstrated. So that's one example of successful cost cutting.
Since 2008 the staff have had one pay rise of about 2 per cent - understandable in League One and perhaps in the terms of the wider economy, but dismal in the context of promotion and the extra work they've done as the business has picked up again. They suffered when the team went down through no fault of their own but got no reward when the team went back up (I don't complain about the effect of this at my level).
Now someone living in Cheshire has arrived to work part-time on more than the previous full-time chief exec. Still the junior staff get nothing, not even an explanation, as communication is as bad internally as it is externally. Kav and PV could do nothing to change the pay situation, because there was no money to pay basic bills over the summer. Many staff work six day weeks, sometimes with an evening game thrown in, for barely the minimum wage. Most are required to work matchdays for no additional pay.
Personally I have no issue at all with new ideas or a reorganisation, providing people there now at all levels and who have served the club well in very difficult times are treated with respect and according to employment law. Business assumptions should be challenged, including the model which in my view has served the club very well off the pitch. However, it makes no business sense to discard lightly the accumulated knowledge within the organisation or the wealth of relationships built up over many years with supporters and suppliers, which is the current risk.
As an example I had no discussion whatsoever with Prothero about why our ticketing policies are what they are, what the medium term strategy was or the business case for Valley Express. Bluntly there is no one left who can provide that information, which a prudent organisation would at least consider even if it chose to change the policies. If they apply this approach to the stadium and safety issues, there will be a bigger problem.
It appears the cost savings of the new structure may just be spent on Part-time Prothero and next Paul Elliott, who will expect similar rewards. I've seen no evidence that Paul, in particular, has relevant organisational experience or commercial skills to bring to the business. I'm sure, on the other hand, he will be a fine ambassador and effective window dressing for the board as more Charlton people disappear.
I understand that what matters to all of us most is the team. Me included. But if you have absent owners, a part-time link man with new and relatively inexperienced senior managers with limited knowledge of the business you may find the impacts are felt there too. And that's before we get to Chris Powell's situation.
While concern and interest about the behind the scenes activity of the club are healthy, I personally find it uncomfortable reading this thread. Many of us will have had experience in business, and disenfranchised employees can often paint a negative picture of events without having an objective view point of the bigger picture. For a forum that influences many of the supporters of the club I hope a balanced discussion can be had, and any product of the discussion is one that is well thought out with regards to the long term future and health of the club as a whole.
TBH part time or not, it's the value one brings to the business that matters. Branson works 8 hours a week as he's got top managers reporting to him. That aside, the main concern for me is the loss of committed staff who may be less skilled but the Value of their passion for the job often outweigh the skill shortfalls if the competency is applicable. A mix of the two can boost efficiency if done correctly.
To me, the investment in first the academy and now the staffing shows a steely determination to have a lean and mean fighting machine that could take us back to the premiership once funds are put in the playing squad. They're putting all the ducks in line here.
For me a cold and efficient machine that keeps us in the Premiership is less desirable than a warm, fan-centred, frustrating in terms of efficiency team that keeps us yo-yoing between the divisions, creating despondency and exhilaration in us all - that'd do me!
What investment in (non-football) staffing? From my incomplete but significant knowledge of the numbers, these are cuts.
TBH part time or not, it's the value one brings to the business that matters. Branson works 8 hours a week as he's got top managers reporting to him. That aside, the main concern for me is the loss of committed staff who may be less skilled but the Value of their passion for the job often outweigh the skill shortfalls if the competency is applicable. A mix of the two can boost efficiency if done correctly.
To me, the investment in first the academy and now the staffing shows a steely determination to have a lean and mean fighting machine that could take us back to the premiership once funds are put in the playing squad. They're putting all the ducks in line here.
For me a cold and efficient machine that keeps us in the Premiership is less desirable than a warm, fan-centred, frustrating in terms of efficiency team that keeps us yo-yoing between the divisions, creating despondency and exhilaration in us all - that'd do me!
What investment in (non-football) staffing?
".......the club has engaged a professional sports recruitment agency to help it fill new senior management team positions at The Valley. The posts will all report to the "non-executive" executive vice chairman Part-time Prothero and are chief operating officer - essentially overlapping Mick Everett's job, chief finance officer - likely to be offered to current head of finance David Joyes if he chooses to stay, and chief marketing officer, recruitment of which is being mysteriously held up for process reasons".
Three new posts, more than covered by the removed costs of employing a chief executive and a head of club development, even before taking into account that the finance post exists already under another title.
Further savings from resignation of club development manager and any other posts removed as a result of the reorganisation, which I predict.
I ask again, specifically of Addicted and balham red, what evidence have you as customers seen with your own eyes of deterioration in the off-field performance of the customer facing business of Charlton Athletic, which would warrant such wholesale axe-swinging? It is not a big business and as customers we are bound to see and experience any deficiencies in this area.
So what are these deficiencies? What is the 'big picture' which I am unable to see?
I think it's a kind of inferiority complex built largely on familiarity. Some people choose to believe that people who are also fans cannot be as good as those with a more conventional business background or who come with fancy titles or big salaries. It was argued here for Part-time Prothero over Varney and, sadly and hilariously, to justify Waggott. Normally sensible people actually posted that you had to pay £200k a year to get someone of his calibre.
That's the same by the way as you might expect pay a local authority chief exec with responsibility for a £1bn budget as well as public protection issues like child safety.
A more historic example would be Matt Chambers, much lauded by my old pal Richard Redden, who was appointed as commercial director and has since held a string of impressive sounding positions in bigger companies than CAFC. But the clue is that he keeps moving on!
Personally I've seen no deterioration in services as a customer since the departure of PV, SK or RE. I'm sure others have - particularly those left at the Club.
Indeed as an outsider looking in, everything appears to running swimmingly. SCP is still getting players in, the Youth team are developing nicely, Valley Express is still running, the Club shop has had an upgrade, there are still various promotions on-going, even some of the potholes in the West Stand Carp Park have gone.
Now there may be some serious plate spinning going on behind the scenes, but then again I'm not privy to it. I'm disappointed at the manner of the departure of the 'Charlton 3' (and Wendy), but again, I'm not privy to the plans of the owners - but I am pleased they have plans in place now to resolve the situation.
What have you seen go downhill over the past couple of months Prague?
I think it's a kind of inferiority complex built largely on familiarity. Some people choose to believe that people who are also fans cannot be as good as those with a more conventional business background or who come with fancy titles or big salaries. It was argued here for Part-time Prothero over Varney and, sadly and hilariously, to justify Waggott. Normally sensible people actually posted that you had to pay £200k a year to get someone of his calibre.
That's the same by the way as you might expect pay a local authority chief exec with responsibility for a £1bn budget as well as public protection issues like child safety.
A more historic example would be Matt Chambers, much lauded by my old pal Richard Redden, who was appointed as commercial director and has since held a string of impressive sounding positions in bigger companies than CAFC. But the clue is that he keeps moving on!
Is that it - three valued employees are fans and therefore not good enough?
Cant see how further confidential information about strategy and other such goings on being leaked out of the club and posted on public message boards for all and sundry to see, speculate upon and jump to conclusions based on such speculation can be good for the club to be honest.
Worries me that such info (much of it potentially damaging and detrimental to the club), often without solid foundation or balance is still leaked particularly in the manner it is causing understandable concern amongst worried fans.
Perhaps a more professional and business like approach at the club is what is being sought.
The board have been here nearly 2 years and like it or not have got us in a position better than we were in when they took over on and off the pitch.
We all im sure have an eternal gratitude to the likes of RM and PV and rightly so as they live and breath charlton and are absolute heros to the club. However perhaps their love of the club often clouded their judgement and may have hindered business decisions which contributed to the post Curbishley demise.
Perhaps the new lot who have no real love for Charlton and in my mind are here to make a long term profit whilst enjoying the ride are better placed to progress the club in the cut throat environment of the modern football world.
Dont like seeing anyone lose jobs especially when their passion and comitment to their jobs have been immense but i cannot understand why a board of people who's end game and exit plan likely requires leaving the club in a much healthier position in all areas than when they took over would consciously do things detrimental to this.
They've been there for nearly 2 years and have seen enough to assess what fits in with their strategy and what doesnt. As painful and disgruntling as some of these decisions may appear when speculated upon i dont understand the logic that the decisions they make are obviously bad for the club's progress.
If as has been widely speculated (and as i believe despite having no evidence) that the original money man pulled out then the subsequent investment that has gone on player wise doesnt add up to me. Keeping solly and haggling for a higher price (as I would expect any board to do) for stephens doesnt make sense to me if they are trying to cut their losses or strip the club of its assets.
I think the board could be a lot more open in communication with things if only to extinguish speculation but then it is not as if there have been protests outside the valley or anything....the only evidence of fans being disgruntled with the board I have seen has been on internet forums such as this one sandwiched between "Would ya" threads and debates about disliked foods.
And perhaps a snippet article in the Daily Mail which gave an overbearing impression of being paraphrased from posts on here and quite obviously had little other foundation.
Hardly credible reason to warrant a board of businessmen to publicly disclose all the workings of a their private business.
If people are that concerned about the boards intentions why are they not outside the stadium before and after games protesting for clearer communication?
I might be completely wrong and the board are going to deliberately or inadvertently screw us into an unrecoverable position so badly that we will long for the day we were struggling in league one on the brink of folding every week with people like RM directing things and familiar faces telling us how bad things were with feverant communication....and if so ill be at the front of the line seeking retribution.
But nothing that has happened since they took over has given me an incline of that impression. Quite the opposite.
Dont get me wrong im under no illusion that they are like the palace board and fans of the club who want to repay loyal addicks for years of misery and insecurity and one day have statues of themselves outside the ground. I see them as shrewd business people who want to see a return on their investment which logically can only be realised by getting us back to the premiership and having a business on paper that is extremely attractive to investors to take of their hands. And they probably want to enjoy this process and want the fans to enjoy it with them by attaining the success that is necessary for it to happen.
Airman Brown has already pointed out in commendable detail how he and others have responded professionally to ensure that immediate deterioration does not follow their departure. He wrote:
"I think a key indicator of the quality of the current senior management set-up is that it has continued to operate effectively for three and a half months without anyone at the top. Senior staff know their jobs and do them well, which in turn reflects well on Steve Kavanagh and Peter Varney who set up the team. Even the latest pricing announcements - half and five-game tickets - are all mine, set out in detail for my staff because I knew the owners were going to sack me.
Now, over to you. What did you see/experience in the last year to warrant such wholesale axe-swinging?
I'm finding it very difficult trying to be Devil's Advocate in this thread without the feeling that I'm dissing some people who I have the greatest respect for.
Just to confimr that the current Board haven't earned that from me just yet - but I can see what they're trying to do in what would appear to be some kind of financial adversity.
I think it's a kind of inferiority complex. Some people choose to believe that people who are also fans cannot be as good as those with a more conventional business background or who come with fancy titles or big salaries. It was argued here for Prothero over Varney and, sadly and hilariously, to justify Waggott. Normally sensible people actually posted that you had to pay £200k a year to get someone of his calibre.
That's the same by the way as you might expect pay a local authority chief exec with responsibility for a £1bn budget as well as public protection issues like child safety.
A more historic example would be Matt Chambers, much lauded by my old pal Ruchard Redden, who was appointed as commercial director and has since held a string of impressive sounding positions in bigger companies than CAFC. But the clue is that he keeps moving on!
Your comments on this subject are of interest, Airman, thanks.
On the Steve Waggott issue, I believe that you would say that he was not a great CEO, but as a mere fan , I would always add that I speak as I find. He dealt efficiently and courteously with any issues I presented to him ( regarding NWKA matters) and as such, I did not find him lacking.
As a long term employee of our Club, I totally respect your viewpoint on others in post, but would make the point that we fans can only make our own judgements based on any personal contact we have had .
No way saying that we have the full "picture" but that sometimes our perceptions of staff differ from those working alongside them.
I'm finding it very difficult trying to be Devil's Advocate in this thread without the feeling that I'm dissing some people who I have the greatest respect for.
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Know exactly what you mean. When i post what i post it is not a slant against any individuals even if in direct opposition to their point of view nor meaning to be disrespectful to them i am just trying to give my view of how i see it.
Is it evidence of professionalism or even sensible to start the recruitment process for a new business structure covertly without consulting the existing senior managers who will be affected by that structure?
The people who decided to do that are responsible for it coming into the public domain in this way.
In the post Curbs years do you think that the following things contributed to the demise:
1. Ticket pricing strategy 2. the provisions of Valley Express/Valley Away on a break-even basis 3. Marketing campaigns to get more bums on seats 4. The functioning of sales outlets 5. The general match-day operation of the stadium
If you do not, but on the other hand think these things worked quite well, especially by comparison with benchmark clubs such as Palarse and Spanners, can you please explain me why the club would want to get rid of the people who delivered these things?
Is it evidence of professionalism or even sensible to start the recruitment process for a new business structure covertly without consulting the existing senior managers who will be affected by that structure?
The people who decided to do that are responsible for it coming into the public domain in this way.
No and will probably lead to other legal procedures for those who find themselves in that unfortunate situation through no fault of their own.
Is it evidence of professionalism or even sensible to start the recruitment process for a new business structure covertly without consulting the existing senior managers who will be affected by that structure?
The people who decided to do that are responsible for it coming into the public domain in this way.
In the post Curbs years do you think that the following things contributed to the demise:
1. Ticket pricing strategy 2. the provisions of Valley Express/Valley Away on a break-even basis 3. Marketing campaigns to get more bums on seats 4. The functioning of sales outlets 5. The general match-day operation of the stadium
If you do not, but on the other hand think these things worked quite well, especially by comparison with benchmark clubs such as Palarse and Spanners, can you please explain me why the club would want to get rid of the people who delivered these things?
Perhaps they believe that,
1. The pricing strategy is wrong and has reduced income. 2. Valley Express should be making money 3. Marketing can be significantly improved - text messages/e mails from the Red Card database for instance 4. Sales from the outlets is probably outstripped by internet sales - hence the closure (at some cost) of the Bexleyheath outlet. 5. We can improve significnalty the non matchday operation of the stadium.
Who knows? Perhaps their hand has been forced by the PV departure?
In the post Curbs years do you think that the following things contributed to the demise:
1. Ticket pricing strategy 2. the provisions of Valley Express/Valley Away on a break-even basis 3. Marketing campaigns to get more bums on seats 4. The functioning of sales outlets 5. The general match-day operation of the stadium
If you do not, but on the other hand think these things worked quite well, especially by comparison with benchmark clubs such as Palarse and Spanners, can you please explain me why the club would want to get rid of the people who delivered these things?
Never implied that any such people contributed to the demise and I find the list quite obtuse as they are all obvious beneficial legacies of those who initiated and implemented them so of course I don't see those 5 points as contributing to the shambles. New management change staff all the time. Could be for a number of reasons such as personality clashes, lack of trust, not sharing same outlook, difference of opinion .....anything.
Ive seen many good hard working loyal staff sacked, moved on or choose to leave despite being good at their jobs for such reasons yet the companies have gone on to achieve great success.
Just beause people werent part of cause of the problem and their contributions were beneficial doesnt mean that not retaining them is bad for business in the long run.
Id imagine 99% of success at a football club derives from what happens on the pitch. Win every game and play champions league football and it gives you the money to improve every aspect of the club as you have the money to do so then. I put our demise down to not retaining Curbishley and/or lack of contingency planning for his departure. When he left we were exposed as to how much his success on the pitch kept the club going.
Well Addicted, lets see if any of those things are changed and whether that leads to improvement. However I would fro example remind you of what Airman Brown wrote above:
"As an example I had no discussion whatsoever with Prothero about why our ticketing policies are what they are, what the medium term strategy was or the business case for Valley Express."
If the new regime wants to make the changes you suggest, yet have not gained those understandings before making such decisions, then in marketing terms that is reckless incompetence.
If people are that concerned about the boards intentions why are they not outside the stadium before and after games protesting for clearer communication?
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Protesting outside the stadium may be the only option you can envisage in order to show concern. There are some supporters showing concern in other, and possibly more positive and effective ways.
"As an example I had no discussion whatsoever with Prothero about why our ticketing policies are what they are, what the medium term strategy was or the business case for Valley Express."
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The bloke was a top boy at Umbro...im sure he knows a few things about the 4Ps and the marketing mix and will soon get to grips with it.
We aren't sending rockets into space or splitting atoms.
TBH part time or not, it's the value one brings to the business that matters. Branson works 8 hours a week as he's got top managers reporting to him. That aside, the main concern for me is the loss of committed staff who may be less skilled but the Value of their passion for the job often outweigh the skill shortfalls if the competency is applicable. A mix of the two can boost efficiency if done correctly.
To me, the investment in first the academy and now the staffing shows a steely determination to have a lean and mean fighting machine that could take us back to the premiership once funds are put in the playing squad. They're putting all the ducks in line here.
For me a cold and efficient machine that keeps us in the Premiership is less desirable than a warm, fan-centred, frustrating in terms of efficiency team that keeps us yo-yoing between the divisions, creating despondency and exhilaration in us all - that'd do me!
What investment in (non-football) staffing?
".......the club has engaged a professional sports recruitment agency to help it fill new senior management team positions at The Valley. The posts will all report to the "non-executive" executive vice chairman Part-time Prothero and are chief operating officer - essentially overlapping Mick Everett's job, chief finance officer - likely to be offered to current head of finance David Joyes if he chooses to stay, and chief marketing officer, recruitment of which is being mysteriously held up for process reasons".
Those agencies don't come cheap.
In fact the fees for recruiting 2-3 high level staff if the salary figures of £500k quoted above for Capelin etc are accurate and thus comparable could be £100k and certainly not less than £50k.
We could be into selling a player territory to fund it if money is as tight as has been alleged.
I'm not convinced of the wisdom of all this either.
"As an example I had no discussion whatsoever with Prothero about why our ticketing policies are what they are, what the medium term
strategy was or the business case for Valley Express."
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The bloke was a top boy at Umbro...im sure he knows a few things about the 4Ps and the marketing mix and will soon get to grips with it.
We aren't sending rockets into space or splitting atoms.
What did he work part time for them as well he must be rolling in it.
No but im just praying that his experience of being a Senior VP at a global sports brand, involving tying up a deal with Nike has lent a modicum of transferrable skills that can be put to use with ticket pricing strategies and the like at a second tier football club.
Comments
When the team was relegated to League One staffing costs were cut right down, except at senior level, so we had the nonsense of £500k a year being spent on Waggott, Capelin and Kavanagh, while junior staff were being made redundant to save £10k. In fact, we didn't need either Waggott or Capelin, as events demonstrated. So that's one example of successful cost cutting.
Since 2008 the staff have had one pay rise of about 2 per cent - understandable in League One and perhaps in the terms of the wider economy, but dismal in the context of promotion and the extra work they've done as the business has picked up again. They suffered when the team went down through no fault of their own but got no reward when the team went back up (I don't complain about the effect of this at my level).
Now someone living in Cheshire has arrived to work part-time on more than the previous full-time chief exec. Still the junior staff get nothing, not even an explanation, as communication is as bad internally as it is externally. Kav and PV could do nothing to change the pay situation, because there was no money to pay basic bills over the summer. Many staff work six day weeks, sometimes with an evening game thrown in, for barely the minimum wage. Most are required to work matchdays for no additional pay.
Personally I have no issue at all with new ideas or a reorganisation, providing people there now at all levels and who have served the club well in very difficult times are treated with respect and according to employment law. Business assumptions should be challenged, including the model which in my view has served the club very well off the pitch. However, it makes no business sense to discard lightly the accumulated knowledge within the organisation or the wealth of relationships built up over many years with supporters and suppliers, which is the current risk.
As an example I had no discussion whatsoever with Prothero about why our ticketing policies are what they are, what the medium term strategy was or the business case for Valley Express. Bluntly there is no one left who can provide that information, which a prudent organisation would at least consider even if it chose to change the policies. If they apply this approach to the stadium and safety issues, there will be a bigger problem.
It appears the cost savings of the new structure may just be spent on Part-time Prothero and next Paul Elliott, who will expect similar rewards. I've seen no evidence that Paul, in particular, has relevant organisational experience or commercial skills to bring to the business. I'm sure, on the other hand, he will be a fine ambassador and effective window dressing for the board as more Charlton people disappear.
I understand that what matters to all of us most is the team. Me included. But if you have absent owners, a part-time link man with new and relatively inexperienced senior managers with limited knowledge of the business you may find the impacts are felt there too. And that's before we get to Chris Powell's situation.
For a forum that influences many of the supporters of the club I hope a balanced discussion can be had, and any product of the discussion is one that is well thought out with regards to the long term future and health of the club as a whole.
I wouldn't hold my breath.
Further savings from resignation of club development manager and any other posts removed as a result of the reorganisation, which I predict.
So what are these deficiencies? What is the 'big picture' which I am unable to see?
I think it's a kind of inferiority complex built largely on familiarity. Some people choose to believe that people who are also fans cannot be as good as those with a more conventional business background or who come with fancy titles or big salaries. It was argued here for Part-time Prothero over Varney and, sadly and hilariously, to justify Waggott. Normally sensible people actually posted that you had to pay £200k a year to get someone of his calibre.
That's the same by the way as you might expect pay a local authority chief exec with responsibility for a £1bn budget as well as public protection issues like child safety.
A more historic example would be Matt Chambers, much lauded by my old pal Richard Redden, who was appointed as commercial director and has since held a string of impressive sounding positions in bigger companies than CAFC. But the clue is that he keeps moving on!
Indeed as an outsider looking in, everything appears to running swimmingly. SCP is still getting players in, the Youth team are developing nicely, Valley Express is still running, the Club shop has had an upgrade, there are still various promotions on-going, even some of the potholes in the West Stand Carp Park have gone.
Now there may be some serious plate spinning going on behind the scenes, but then again I'm not privy to it. I'm disappointed at the manner of the departure of the 'Charlton 3' (and Wendy), but again, I'm not privy to the plans of the owners - but I am pleased they have plans in place now to resolve the situation.
What have you seen go downhill over the past couple of months Prague?
I don't buy that.
Worries me that such info (much of it potentially damaging and detrimental to the club), often without solid foundation or balance is still leaked particularly in the manner it is causing understandable concern amongst worried fans.
Perhaps a more professional and business like approach at the club is what is being sought.
The board have been here nearly 2 years and like it or not have got us in a position better than we were in when they took over on and off the pitch.
We all im sure have an eternal gratitude to the likes of RM and PV and rightly so as they live and breath charlton and are absolute heros to the club. However perhaps their love of the club often clouded their judgement and may have hindered business decisions which contributed to the post Curbishley demise.
Perhaps the new lot who have no real love for Charlton and in my mind are here to make a long term profit whilst enjoying the ride are better placed to progress the club in the cut throat environment of the modern football world.
Dont like seeing anyone lose jobs especially when their passion and comitment to their jobs have been immense but i cannot understand why a board of people who's end game and exit plan likely requires leaving the club in a much healthier position in all areas than when they took over would consciously do things detrimental to this.
They've been there for nearly 2 years and have seen enough to assess what fits in with their strategy and what doesnt. As painful and disgruntling as some of these decisions may appear when speculated upon i dont understand the logic that the decisions they make are obviously bad for the club's progress.
If as has been widely speculated (and as i believe despite having no evidence) that the original money man pulled out then the subsequent investment that has gone on player wise doesnt add up to me. Keeping solly and haggling for a higher price (as I would expect any board to do) for stephens doesnt make sense to me if they are trying to cut their losses or strip the club of its assets.
I think the board could be a lot more open in communication with things if only to extinguish speculation but then it is not as if there have been protests outside the valley or anything....the only evidence of fans being disgruntled with the board I have seen has been on internet forums such as this one sandwiched between "Would ya" threads and debates about disliked foods.
And perhaps a snippet article in the Daily Mail which gave an overbearing impression of being paraphrased from posts on here and quite obviously had little other foundation.
Hardly credible reason to warrant a board of businessmen to publicly disclose all the workings of a their private business.
If people are that concerned about the boards intentions why are they not outside the stadium before and after games protesting for clearer communication?
I might be completely wrong and the board are going to deliberately or inadvertently screw us into an unrecoverable position so badly that we will long for the day we were struggling in league one on the brink of folding every week with people like RM directing things and familiar faces telling us how bad things were with feverant communication....and if so ill be at the front of the line seeking retribution.
But nothing that has happened since they took over has given me an incline of that impression. Quite the opposite.
Dont get me wrong im under no illusion that they are like the palace board and fans of the club who want to repay loyal addicks for years of misery and insecurity and one day have statues of themselves outside the ground. I see them as shrewd business people who want to see a return on their investment which logically can only be realised by getting us back to the premiership and having a business on paper that is extremely attractive to investors to take of their hands. And they probably want to enjoy this process and want the fans to enjoy it with them by attaining the success that is necessary for it to happen.
I'll answer your question. Nothing, yet.
Airman Brown has already pointed out in commendable detail how he and others have responded professionally to ensure that immediate deterioration does not follow their departure. He wrote:
"I think a key indicator of the quality of the current senior management set-up is that it has continued to operate effectively for three and a half months without anyone at the top. Senior staff know their jobs and do them well, which in turn reflects well on Steve Kavanagh and Peter Varney who set up the team. Even the latest pricing announcements - half and five-game tickets - are all mine, set out in detail for my staff because I knew the owners were going to sack me.
Now, over to you. What did you see/experience in the last year to warrant such wholesale axe-swinging?
I'm finding it very difficult trying to be Devil's Advocate in this thread without the feeling that I'm dissing some people who I have the greatest respect for.
Just to confimr that the current Board haven't earned that from me just yet - but I can see what they're trying to do in what would appear to be some kind of financial adversity.
On the Steve Waggott issue, I believe that you would say that he was not a great CEO, but as a mere fan , I would always add that I speak as I find. He dealt efficiently and courteously with any issues I presented to him ( regarding NWKA matters) and as such, I did not find him lacking.
As a long term employee of our Club, I totally respect your viewpoint on others in post, but would make the point that we fans can only make our own judgements based on any personal contact we have had .
No way saying that we have the full "picture" but that sometimes our perceptions of staff differ from those working alongside them.
The people who decided to do that are responsible for it coming into the public domain in this way.
In the post Curbs years do you think that the following things contributed to the demise:
1. Ticket pricing strategy
2. the provisions of Valley Express/Valley Away on a break-even basis
3. Marketing campaigns to get more bums on seats
4. The functioning of sales outlets
5. The general match-day operation of the stadium
If you do not, but on the other hand think these things worked quite well, especially by comparison with benchmark clubs such as Palarse and Spanners, can you please explain me why the club would want to get rid of the people who delivered these things?
1. The pricing strategy is wrong and has reduced income.
2. Valley Express should be making money
3. Marketing can be significantly improved - text messages/e mails from the Red Card database for instance
4. Sales from the outlets is probably outstripped by internet sales - hence the closure (at some cost) of the Bexleyheath outlet.
5. We can improve significnalty the non matchday operation of the stadium.
Who knows? Perhaps their hand has been forced by the PV departure?
New management change staff all the time. Could be for a number of reasons such as personality clashes, lack of trust, not sharing same outlook, difference of opinion .....anything.
Ive seen many good hard working loyal staff sacked, moved on or choose to leave despite being good at their jobs for such reasons yet the companies have gone on to achieve great success.
Just beause people werent part of cause of the problem and their contributions were beneficial doesnt mean that not retaining them is bad for business in the long run.
Id imagine 99% of success at a football club derives from what happens on the pitch. Win every game and play champions league football and it gives you the money to improve every aspect of the club as you have the money to do so then. I put our demise down to not retaining Curbishley and/or lack of contingency planning for his departure. When he left we were exposed as to how much his success on the pitch kept the club going.
"As an example I had no discussion whatsoever with Prothero about why our ticketing policies are what they are, what the medium term strategy was or the business case for Valley Express."
If the new regime wants to make the changes you suggest, yet have not gained those understandings before making such decisions, then in marketing terms that is reckless incompetence.
We aren't sending rockets into space or splitting atoms.
In fact the fees for recruiting 2-3 high level staff if the salary figures of £500k quoted above for Capelin etc are accurate and thus comparable could be £100k and certainly not less than £50k.
We could be into selling a player territory to fund it if money is as tight as has been alleged.
I'm not convinced of the wisdom of all this either.