Further below, is my recollection of my question put to Meire in the QanaA pre-Southend game.
I think I can give a pretty much verbatim account as I read out my prepared question, took notes, and Meire had little to say in reply.
We only had 45 minutes and I believe there is to be a fuller account the CASTrust website and I don't want to speak for others who asked questions - all of which were in one way or another critical of the regime - with one notable exception. A chap said she /the club should be proud of what she/they have done in providing the cheapest seats to watch football in London. Not a question of course but one well received by Meire. It immediately occurred to me that if seat pricing was his sole criterion (which is the implied logic) then on that basis, were Millwall or Palace to offer cheaper seating would the 'questioner' simply up sticks and go there? Anyway..........
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Preamble: CJ:
KATRIEN. YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES BUT YOU HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF ALL.
AS CEO, YOU HAVE PERSONALLY PRESIDED OVER A CATASTROPHIC THREE AND A HALF YEAR PERIOD FOR CHARLTON ATHLETIC
WHILST MANAGERS HAVE COME AND GONE YOU HAVE STAYED IN YOUR SINECURE POST WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY BUT WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHATSOEVER.
YOU CLING TO A MEANINGLESS MANTRA OF 'NOT DOING FAILURE' WHEN ALL THE EVIDENCE PRESENTS OTHERWISE.
IF YOU REALLY HAD THE BEST INTERESTS OF THIS CLUB AT HEART YOU SHOULD HAVE RECOGNISED THIS LEVEL OF FAILURE AND RESIGNED
Question: CJ
IN FACT, THE DECENT AND MOST GRACIOUS THING YOU COULD DO IS RESIGN RIGHT NOW TODAY
THAT’S RIGHT ISN’T IT?
Response: KM
WELL THATS YOUR OPINION
Follow up: CJ
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DEFEND THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF FAILURE?
b>Response: KM
ITS YOUR OPINION
Follow up: CJ
SO,
RELEGATION TO THIRD TIER
LOWEST LEAGUE POSITION SINCE 1926
DISAFFECTION OF FANS
PUBLIC AND IN-GAME PROTESTS
LOSS OF AROUND 4,000 STHOLDERS
DWINDLING CROWDS
NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY,
NO ACCOUNTABILITY,
NOTHING?
Response: KM
IT IS FOR SURE OUR RESPONSIBILITY BUT FOR YOUR QUESTION......(voice trailed off)
Final comment: CJ
NO REAL RESPONSE THEN.
END
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Comments
"b>Response: KM
ITS YOUR OPINION"
It's not though is it - football is actually a pretty easy industry to identify objective measurements of success, league "ranking", crowds, trophies, financial security - by any of those objectives she has been an abject failure. That isn't an opinion it's a demonstrable fact.
I had expected a much more robust defence and it was noticeable, later in the session, that she trotted out some of the very well-rehearsed arguments she has put forward before when similar questions to mine were asked about her performance and why she has not been sacked as would have been the case in any parallel business situation.
For example: she came out with the "I must be doing a good job because I am still here " defence first employed on the Jim White Talksport radio interview.
She embellished it somewhat (and I paraphrase as was scribbling down the notes)
"Roland Duchatelet employs people all over the world and if he thought I wasn't doing a good job I wouldn't be here"
Come on Rubashow, earn your corn, come up with somthing better than that.
The University of Leuven must be so proud that they gave that award last year to an intellectual giant of Meire stature.
I must be doing a good job because I'm still here FFS!
Whatever is the case, it is one she clearly is more than willing to employ and its as if the logic stands up without question.
In fact, Roger Carter, in VOTV 132 picked up on this exact flaw in the argument and stated:
'Using this theory, everyone who has a job and has not been sacked is clearly doing very well.'
Meire is still in post because she has indeed done nothing wrong in RD's eyes because she is pursuing his vision to the letter with the focus (openly admitted at the QandA) being the training ground (i.e. for the purposes of the player farming) and the new website (for the purposes of fan engagement by way of feedback 'currency' - yes that was the marketing term used).
Are you fucking kidding me!!!
Her position is indefensible, and the whole world knows it, but she was never going to agree with you.
Whatever the reason for her not being sacked already is probably going to be enough for her to keep the job until Roland sells. It almost certainly must be personal but even if she is lying to him he must be able to see that our league position is shocking relative to how much money she has spent.
Katrien isn't only deluded, she doesn't even live up to her own delusions.
She has totally embraced (marketing word) the drive towards on-line data currency feedback.
That way you can do it all on-line with your dedicated subscribers (even take bookings for Curry Night) without having to engage face to face with real fans. Job done.
I suspect that her bedtime reading is not the most recent programme (or indeed VOTV) but Digital Marketing weekly!
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The New Data Currency In A Digital World
First-, Second- & Third-Party Data In A Data Currency World
Accordingly, there’s been a shift in the essential data currency for marketers. Within the search world, that currency has mainly been keyword data. But within the world of display and social, that currency is largely behavior and audience characteristic data.
As a marketer, this involves deriving as much value as possible from your first-party data, but it also means looking across the landscape of third-party data to provide an additional layer of intelligence and color in your targeting efforts. Finally, with the increasing use of data management platforms (DMP) and retargeting platforms, there is a new opportunity to use what’s known as second-party data............
When we were relegated Mandy Rice Davis denied it last year, her denial was the fruits of the management culture at Charlton. I sometimes imagine that if you sent Tony Cajones out to buy a loaf of bread, he would return with a colouring in book and insist it was edible.
This post made my day !
Her position is untenable. I suspect even the egotistical Katrien realises that by now.
She embedded this position in her talksport interview trotting out the line that she must be a success because she has a job.
Bob Willis: Geoffrey, what the hell's going on? I won the toss and decided to bat, beause I thought you were going to score a hatful and we'd be in a great position before lunch. But no, you've run out your batting partner. Every single one of them. Nine consecutive ducks. Each run out was entirely your fault. This is a cataclysmic shambles. We are nought for nine. This is the worst performance in the history of the England team. What have you got to say for yourself?
Geoffrey Boycott: I must be doing a good job, because I am still here.
Cupid stunt
More to the point, her direct association with how bad things have got since Roland took over.
It's surprising and unwise she is even attempting these fans meetings especially when it's too late and it's going to be Impossible to change people's opinion.
It's human nature to not want to give in and admit your wrong, especially when you have been offended along with perhaps a bruised self opinion. (Charlton fans moaning at her)
The only reasonable thing she can do is to hold official "fans apology meetings", Where instead of deflecting, twisting or putting very obvious unrealistic spins on things that everyone laughs at.
She says sorry for every major blunder, but ......soon as she honestly openly apologises for one thing, then it's going to move on to the next thing then the next thing, until all her defences are down and it gets embarrassing for herself. She's made too many evident mistakes she can't run away from.
When in a job. How can you possibly admit your not good enough for it? Where does that leave you?
Her stubbornness is necessary for her own well being, but it's a ticking time bomb she will have to give into sooner rather then later.
Doing the right thing will benefit her a lot further down the road.
Apologise. Drop the association with Roland. Say you got it wrong but you have learnt greatly from the experience due to your age.
Explain the regrets but of course don't dis credit yourself too much. Even if evidence does that itself.
She's scared that as soon as she admits defeat, even though in this case she hasn't got a leg to stand on. She's scared that no future employer will take her seriously enough and that's the big money career out the window.
She has to keep that self belief.
We've all seen the Apprentice when that Suger fella decides to not fire the worst person at the task, because they majorly stick up for themselves and give it all mouth in the boardroom till the death.....Even if they were shit.
Simple analogy. Pretty relevant.
Close Encounter Of The Turd Kind?