| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. 13:43 - Feb 19 with 21702 views | BigKindo |
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.
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 09:08 - Feb 25 with 3636 views | BigKindo |
No. | | | |
| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 09:28 - Feb 25 with 3596 views | judd |
There's time yet... | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 10:50 - Feb 25 with 3512 views | nordenblue |
Is anybody in the least bit surprised by this? | | | |
| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 10:52 - Feb 25 with 3513 views | BigKindo |
The gestation period of our pet elephant was shorter. | | | |
| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 11:28 - Feb 25 with 3461 views | DaleiLama |
And it's still in the room, but at least it's being discussed openly now. | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 11:34 - Feb 25 with 3442 views | SuddenLad |
I told you I was worried about the smell, but hopefully, the elephant has got used to it by now.
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| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 11:50 - Feb 25 with 3392 views | D_Alien |
Can we leave pachydermophobia out of this, please? | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 11:56 - Feb 25 with 3378 views | SuddenLad |
Howdah others feel about that? | |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 12:03 - Feb 25 with 3355 views | D_Alien |
They should take a back seat  | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 12:09 - Feb 25 with 3335 views | DaleiLama |
I'll listen to any bal-anced argument if that Alps? | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 18:09 - Feb 25 with 3151 views | judd |
Interesting that you have linked that charter.
On 1st May 2019, with regards recruitment, it read:
"Employment with the Club
The club is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal opportunity within our own organisation and will endeavour to encourage similar commitment from others within the game.
Equality at the Club means that in none of our activities including when vacancies arise across the Business will we discriminate against any person on the grounds of the age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status or civil partnership race, nationality, ethnicity (race), religion or belief, ability or disability or pregnancy and maternity and we will ensure this applies within the recruitment and Selection process by way of;
- The advertisement of Employment
- The selection of candidates for employment or promotion.
- Employment location or working environment
- Pay and employment terms and conditions.
- Internal training and development opportunities
- Football development schemes
- External education activities and qualifications
On 10th May, the Trust reported:
"We received questions from two Trust members that related to the appointment of the Chief Executive, the Club Charter and a number of questions associated with this. These were put in full to the Chairman and the Board of Directors. The club responded to these in their entirety by stating that The Board of Directors have made the decision to appoint the current CEO and retain full confidence in his appointment and the selective process applied."
The club charter was subsequent to 1st May at the earliest, possibly coincidentally, amended to read as it does below:
"The club is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal opportunity within our own organisation and will endeavour to encourage similar commitment from individuals and organisations within the game.
Equality at the Club means that in none of our activities including when vacancies arise across the Business will we discriminate against any person on the grounds of the age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status or civil partnership race, nationality, ethnicity (race), religion or belief, ability or disability or pregnancy and maternity. On some occasions operational reasons may mean that we need to fill a role either quickly or by business need. Generallywe will follow the the recruitment and Selection process by way of;
- Employment opportunities being advertised whenever possible
- The selection of candidates for employment or promotion.
- Employment location or working environment
- Pay and employment terms and conditions.
- Internal training and development opportunities
- Football development schemes
- External education activities and qualifications" | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 18:15 - Feb 25 with 3133 views | D_Alien |
Wow
Whenever is it not possible to advertise employment opportunities? | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 18:24 - Feb 25 with 3099 views | 442Dale |
Had to check, but yes, it really is showing as “Generallywe will follow the the recruitment and Selection process by way of;” with no gap between the first two words and the duplication of a word. | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 18:26 - Feb 25 with 3088 views | judd |
As I said...less haste, more speed? | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 19:08 - Feb 25 with 2969 views | BigKindo |
I thought that was one the moon's of Uranus | | | |
| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 19:20 - Feb 25 with 2929 views | SuddenLad |
Clumsy attempt to change the goalposts. | |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 21:15 - Feb 25 with 2728 views | mikehunt |
The whole of the Dale Family are equalbut some are more equal than others. | |
| The worm of time turns not for the cuckoo of circumstance. |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 21:33 - Feb 25 with 2684 views | judd |
If you read the whole charter I am sure that the equality champion name and job title is specified early on. | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 23:06 - Feb 25 with 2543 views | D_Alien |
"On some occasions operational reasons may mean that we need to fill a role either quickly or by business need."
The more i think about this, the more disingenuous it becomes. What this section of the amended charter involves is what is usually known as someone stepping into a role in an 'acting' capacity, to cover "business need" until a substantive appointment can be made by responsible recruitment methods. To suggest a permanent appointment has to be made in such circumstances is utterly unprofessional and the club should be ashamed for having this particular sentence in its charter
[Post edited 25 Feb 2021 23:38]
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 16:06 - Feb 26 with 2235 views | BigKindo |
Well a week has passed since I posted this thread. Thank you to all those who sent me private messages. I wasn't happy to read BBM being included in the thread. That was never the intention of this thread. It was to highlight alleged situations further up the food chain starting with particular reference to my being ignored and also to present a platform for the CEO to refute rumours emanating around the actions or inactions within the Club. Alas, to date, that opportunity has not been taken. Unfortunately silence and the expressions 'I have no comment to make at this time and/or there is no case to answer.' can quite wrongly lead to people pointing a finger without having full knowledge of the facts - perhaps guilt by default. I would not want that to happen. To the four down voters, suffolkdale, 56years, Frites and 2045004247 it would have been good if you could have produced a positive contribution to perhaps give a more balanced view. [Post edited 26 Feb 2021 16:10]
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 18:08 - Feb 26 with 2105 views | James1980 |
I am trying to work out what the ultimate goal might be. Is the vision for Rochdale AFC to be a trendy club. Playing the in vogue footballing style, managed by our man at C&A manager. The local kids pointing out to their school mates saying 'look that lad on the left wing went to our school.' That maybe in this new groovy set up. The powers that be short shortsightedly feel there is no place for a cash collection on the door step lottery.
Also do they actually not really care about some of the old guard of the fanbase? Do they think 'a few old duffers moaning about the music the price of pies and not playing 1980s style football wouldn't be a great loss' because they think 'local hipsters will descend down Sandy Lane in their droves if they hear there are less main stand moaners and the likes of Mr Angry are getting enraged with another Saturday afternoon, Tuesday evening pursuit' [Post edited 26 Feb 2021 20:13]
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 22:03 - Mar 1 with 1801 views | judd |
I wonder if a response was ever emailed to the OP? | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 23:52 - Mar 1 with 1680 views | D_Alien |
Last week's departure of Andrew Kilpatrick left an "invisible man" vacancy at the club
As seems to be his wont, DB may have stepped into the role uninvited | |
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| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 07:14 - Mar 2 with 1555 views | 1907 |
Just downvoted that by accident apologies | | | |
| Is it Team Rochdale or is it Team Bottomley. on 07:49 - Mar 2 with 1524 views | judd |
Invisible?
Nah. | |
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