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I'm guessing the script will be 100% "poor little Rochdale". Never mind the struggles of other clubs, NOBODY will have had it as bad as "poor little Rochdale". We can't compete with anyone, ever, because we are "poor little Rochdale". Being in 4 consecutive relegation dogfights in League One will be repeated as "historic success". Ambition and positivity will not be mentioned as those present salute each others abilities. Add lashings of extra "poor little Rochdale" for good measure.
[Post edited 2 Mar 2021 21:14]
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Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:03 - Mar 10 with 2935 views
In unanswered questions, to reiterate, the Trust were asked could they collate questions to ensure that any that weren’t answered could be afterwards when they meet with the board so answers could appear on their site.
That route was not taken up.
Their role now should be to confirm with supporters, members or not, if there are any unanswered questions or follow up ones that fans want answering which they will collate, following agreed processes around communication.
Can someone explain to me all the negativity aimed towards Bottomley? Unless I’ve missed something, he seems to talk with the club’s best interests in mind, cares about the club (hence the hard to watch emotional outpour tonight) and gets us noticed in the media. I don’t have the wool over my eyes, I’m aware mistakes have been made, which he’s acknowledged; but he seems a genuine, hard-working CEO? If someone could genuinely and politely explain to me what I’ve missed then please enlighten me, I’m not a blindly positive fan, but one who wants the best for the club like everyone else. As for the forum, sounds like we’re in a worse financial position than we realised, but I trust the board to get us through this predicament. They’re all passionate fans, something which a lot of clubs are very jealous of. Final take home message for me was that whether we like it or not, Brian seems to be here for the foreseeable.
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Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:24 - Mar 10 with 2480 views
Having a think back to what I hoped to learn from the forum...
Why did Altman and Marcelli put the stoppers on joining the board? We don't know...
BBM's future at Dale? He may have another year on his contract... or not... maybe. What we do know is that the CEO thinks so highly of BBM that it brings him to tears.
A reasoned response to the recent scrutiny of our CEO? It wasn't mentioned. Given his role at the club, it is an important topic. I can understand that it's also a sensitive topic but it's become an elephant in the room.
They did set themselves a high bar by saying they would discuss every topic that they had received questions about. Unless people are writing fake questions and not sending them in, not every topic was discussed.
I don't feel any better but I don't really feel any worse either. It was all pretty much as expected. Tony Pockney came across well and I'm rather sad we didn't get to have a grotto.
Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:23 - Mar 10 by DareToCalvin
Can someone explain to me all the negativity aimed towards Bottomley? Unless I’ve missed something, he seems to talk with the club’s best interests in mind, cares about the club (hence the hard to watch emotional outpour tonight) and gets us noticed in the media. I don’t have the wool over my eyes, I’m aware mistakes have been made, which he’s acknowledged; but he seems a genuine, hard-working CEO? If someone could genuinely and politely explain to me what I’ve missed then please enlighten me, I’m not a blindly positive fan, but one who wants the best for the club like everyone else. As for the forum, sounds like we’re in a worse financial position than we realised, but I trust the board to get us through this predicament. They’re all passionate fans, something which a lot of clubs are very jealous of. Final take home message for me was that whether we like it or not, Brian seems to be here for the foreseeable.
Good question.
There was a bit of a thread about it not too long ago. Here's a link.
Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. by BigKindo19 Feb 2021 13:43 It gives me great sadness to have to add yet another thread re the parlous state of Rochdale AFC. In recent times, in remaining silent, I have constantly had to bite my bottom lip. Alas enough is enough and my feelings should be laid bare.
I first attended a match at the Dale in 1949 and have been a season ticket holder for many years, perhaps more than I care to remember especially if I added up the cost. Not so much in recent seasons but I have occasionally attended away matches and been warmly greeted by fellow Daleys in hostelries as far away as Barnet, Wycombe, Torquay, Newport, Brentford etc. I have experienced many highs and sadly the many lows coupled with following a poorly supported club. But despite not being born in Rochdale, the Dale have been my team. My defence of the club following snide and sarcastic comments from supporters of other ’bigger’ clubs has honed the sharpness of my retorts. But now the same commentators have turned to express concern and sadness, and question what has gone wrong at Dale..
Unless things change within the upper echelons of the Club I fear that this will be my and my wife’s last season of attending. Ah I hear you mutter. ‘another wanting rid of BBM.’ Well although that may help the situation, but as others have so eloquently written, BBM. might become the sacrificial lamb in an attempt to divert attention away from the serious situation at the club. If BBM departs there will be no changes further up the pecking order.
My feelings are that the wheels started to come off on the appointment of the current C.E.O. Mr David Bottomley. The club is no longer family friendly orientated and Mr Bottomley appears to have ignored the need for customers and appears to take us, well certainly in my case, for granted. What a very strange way to run a business.
On August 21st 2020 I sent Mr Bottomley a polite email requesting the Club’s policy for the forthcoming season re Blue Badge Car Parking pass holders. I sent a reminder email to him on September 17th. 2020. I thereafter received a response from the then Club Secretary. On October 2nd. 2020 I sent a further email to Mr Bottomley, which I felt to be constructive, re the Club’s offer to refund season ticket monies. Again no response. In week ending October 16th. I received a telephone call from another Board Member i.e. the Club’s courtesy call made to those considered vulnerable during the pandemic. The subject of my email was raised, a requested copy was forwarded, and I was assured that the matter would be taken up with the C.E.O. I also understand that similar approaches were made by the Trust on my behalf. To date I have heard nothing from Mr Bottomley. I have not even had the courtesy of an acknowledgment re my last email. What a very odd way to treat any customer either long-standing or new.
Having successfully run my own business for 40 years I certainly know the value of paying loyal customers, and suppliers, and as a Director the need to comply with the various statutory bodies examples being the Information Commissioners Office, Trading Standards Office, P.R.S. Licensing etc. I am extremely interested to know that when the position of C.E.O. became available, and prior to Mr Bottomley’s appointment, was the position advertised, how many applications were received, how many were interviewed and who decided whom was the best candidate? Or, perhaps, as rumours suggest you opted to fulfil the position yourself. There appears to be some disquiet over a previous decision to take away the ‘Club privileges’ from two ex long-serving (suffering?) Directors, privileges which thankfully were later re-instated. But the rumour mill has also thrown up that other ex long-standing Directors are currently banned from the Club. Is this fact or an Apocrypha?
Hopefully the previous paragraph has given Mr Bottomley a platform, an opportunity, to respond and refute these constantly circulating rumours to the benefit of the Club, his own position and the Club’s loyal supporters. Answers are needed and quickly before the situation deteriorates. But will he respond? Previous experience says no and that ignorance is bliss.
And now yesterday’s news that the Chairman had decided to stand down. ‘For personal reasons’ can mean a multitude of things. Hopefully it is not a health issue. I had several occasions to speak with him after matches and I found him to be polite and he always thanked me for attending the match.
So it appears that the question I pose, perhaps, is that Team Rochdale has become Team Bottomley. In the end all Empires sooner or later collapse. The problem is the remaining detritus which has to be garnered up by others in an attempt to restore the norm. This has all makings and content of a Shakespearean Tragedy and however long the situation is spun out the end result will be the same.
Can anybody provide an answer? I certainly know what my solution would be.
Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:23 - Mar 10 by DareToCalvin
Can someone explain to me all the negativity aimed towards Bottomley? Unless I’ve missed something, he seems to talk with the club’s best interests in mind, cares about the club (hence the hard to watch emotional outpour tonight) and gets us noticed in the media. I don’t have the wool over my eyes, I’m aware mistakes have been made, which he’s acknowledged; but he seems a genuine, hard-working CEO? If someone could genuinely and politely explain to me what I’ve missed then please enlighten me, I’m not a blindly positive fan, but one who wants the best for the club like everyone else. As for the forum, sounds like we’re in a worse financial position than we realised, but I trust the board to get us through this predicament. They’re all passionate fans, something which a lot of clubs are very jealous of. Final take home message for me was that whether we like it or not, Brian seems to be here for the foreseeable.
From what I gather. His checkered past, in particular the Hasbro price fixing. The impression he was put into the position of CEO without due process (I think that's the term) Belief that he was part of the conspiracy to oust/overthrow Dunphy. He hasn't answered Big Kindo's email. Feelings that he is turning Rochdale into the David Bottomley show.
'Only happy when you've got it often makes you miss the journey'
Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:32 - Mar 10 by James1980
From what I gather. His checkered past, in particular the Hasbro price fixing. The impression he was put into the position of CEO without due process (I think that's the term) Belief that he was part of the conspiracy to oust/overthrow Dunphy. He hasn't answered Big Kindo's email. Feelings that he is turning Rochdale into the David Bottomley show.
Thanks James and Tom for the responses. An interesting read there from the thread I missed. However, the fact part of your answer says ‘conspiracy’ suggests a lot of the negativity is bandwagon-related, with many not taking the time to go against the crowd. I’m personally embarrassed by all the abuse he receives, again, unless I’ve missed something obvious while he’s been in charge I don’t think he’s done anything blatantly wrong to warrant such abuse. He gets the club and it’s philosophy, and i think we could do a lot worse.
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Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:42 - Mar 10 with 2192 views
Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:36 - Mar 10 by DareToCalvin
Thanks James and Tom for the responses. An interesting read there from the thread I missed. However, the fact part of your answer says ‘conspiracy’ suggests a lot of the negativity is bandwagon-related, with many not taking the time to go against the crowd. I’m personally embarrassed by all the abuse he receives, again, unless I’ve missed something obvious while he’s been in charge I don’t think he’s done anything blatantly wrong to warrant such abuse. He gets the club and it’s philosophy, and i think we could do a lot worse.
Agree about the personal abuse and he's had a face to face and written apology from me.
Doesn't mean the facts are wrong.
I now wonder if there is more to come out of Extensiongate, because Graham did not look to be aware of BBM's contract extension.
In parts it was refreshingly honest, at other times it was dull as dishwater and at others, just plain bizarre.
I realise not everybody’s question will have been read out (ok, maybe Rob Hume/Hulme excepted) but the management team and BOD had to front up tonight and whether we think they’re making a good fist of it or not, they clearly care. Passionately. I don’t buy DB turning on the tears, that looked very genuine and in fairness, I’m sure he is under a lot of stress, coupled with the stick he receives on here - of which I’ve been guilty. That’s definitely not to say that he is beyond criticism as he definitely isn’t but it’s clear to me that everybody wants what’s best for the club - they may just have varying ideas of how to go about achieving it.
Frances tried her best to justify the switch from the Goldbond to Lotto but it was clear she didn’t believe what she was saying and you hope the club sticks to its word that they may look to reintroduce cash collections in future.
As for BBM’s contract extension, where to start? For one, I couldn’t believe GR (who looked and spoke like he’d just woke from a deep sleep) didn’t know when BBM’s contract was up but for BBM to just casually confirm that he’s here for another year was unintentionally comedic and bizarre.
Tony Pockney was refreshingly honest again and I don’t doubt we’re absolutely skint but it still doesn’t change the fact that BBM what’s grossly mismanaged the squad available to him this season, regardless of budget or injuries.
Also I accept that the board are invested in BBM but don’t try to palm off the fan base by basically claiming that our loanees are here because of BBM and that we’re incredibly lucky to see them at Spotland. That’s complete and utter tripe. As numerous others have said, we’re not here as some sort of testing ground for players to iron out their mistakes - if we were, we may as well become a ‘Premier League 2’ club as the likes of Benitez and Klopp have so keenly espoused in the past.
There’s still 12 games to go this season and yes, we may well end up in League Two, but I want the board and management team to start demonstrating that lessons are being learnt.
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Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:49 - Mar 10 with 2121 views
Think we'd have had a bit more plain speaking if he'd been there, but there's every chance the vacuum - and vacuity - on show tonight will be allowed to continue for some time yet
Or at least until someone realises that BBM's contract extension to 2031 expired ten years previously
Fan's forum 10.3.2021 on 22:48 - Mar 10 by IOMDale
Struggling to get my head around that tonight.
In parts it was refreshingly honest, at other times it was dull as dishwater and at others, just plain bizarre.
I realise not everybody’s question will have been read out (ok, maybe Rob Hume/Hulme excepted) but the management team and BOD had to front up tonight and whether we think they’re making a good fist of it or not, they clearly care. Passionately. I don’t buy DB turning on the tears, that looked very genuine and in fairness, I’m sure he is under a lot of stress, coupled with the stick he receives on here - of which I’ve been guilty. That’s definitely not to say that he is beyond criticism as he definitely isn’t but it’s clear to me that everybody wants what’s best for the club - they may just have varying ideas of how to go about achieving it.
Frances tried her best to justify the switch from the Goldbond to Lotto but it was clear she didn’t believe what she was saying and you hope the club sticks to its word that they may look to reintroduce cash collections in future.
As for BBM’s contract extension, where to start? For one, I couldn’t believe GR (who looked and spoke like he’d just woke from a deep sleep) didn’t know when BBM’s contract was up but for BBM to just casually confirm that he’s here for another year was unintentionally comedic and bizarre.
Tony Pockney was refreshingly honest again and I don’t doubt we’re absolutely skint but it still doesn’t change the fact that BBM what’s grossly mismanaged the squad available to him this season, regardless of budget or injuries.
Also I accept that the board are invested in BBM but don’t try to palm off the fan base by basically claiming that our loanees are here because of BBM and that we’re incredibly lucky to see them at Spotland. That’s complete and utter tripe. As numerous others have said, we’re not here as some sort of testing ground for players to iron out their mistakes - if we were, we may as well become a ‘Premier League 2’ club as the likes of Benitez and Klopp have so keenly espoused in the past.
There’s still 12 games to go this season and yes, we may well end up in League Two, but I want the board and management team to start demonstrating that lessons are being learnt.
As big a fan as I was of Tony Pockney from the last forum, that has all but gone tonight.
He's a terrible salesman.
I would hope that the Trust, as a body with a shareholding roughly equal to any director on show tonight, can access board minutes that show when and by whom the manager's contract was extended.
After all, the announcement was a major photo opportunity that has been missed.