| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm 18:54 - Jun 1 with 62368 views | RAFCBLUE |
A beautiful evening this evening at Spotland for one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the season.
Team news when we have it, but the Board are expected to play a flat back 5.
Zoom is filling up nicely with many in attendance. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 20:44 - Jun 3 with 5544 views | tony_roch975 |
Graham Morris listed the following - Richard Knight, Jonathon Whitworth, James Garsfield, Simon Gage - apologies for any misspelling | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 20:53 - Jun 3 with 5484 views | RAFCBLUE |
"We welcomed the opportunity to hold open dialogue with shareholders about how we move forward and, having listened to all that was said on the evening, we believe it was right and appropriate to withdraw the four resolutions which had been proposed for releasing new shares."
They were invited to reflect to withdraw the resolutions having listened for 30+ minutes to more than 15 different people all tell them the resolutions were not a good idea!
Even now, the spinning of the story continues; truly shocking. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 20:58 - Jun 3 with 5459 views | RAFCBLUE |
That shirt wasn't a Dale shirt - it was an Inter Milan shirt and it was 18 for Iván Zamorano | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 21:07 - Jun 3 with 5425 views | tony_roch975 |
suggests our Dan has more favourite football teams than David Cameron | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 21:30 - Jun 3 with 5337 views | AtThePeake |
To be honest the pure football hipster vibes I'm getting from this are making him appeal to me far more than if it was a Dale shirt. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 23:41 - Jun 3 with 4986 views | Sandyman |
It's been a momentous few days after a devastating year or so.
Off the field, the mismanagement has been carnage, embarrassing and shameful. The BBM contract extension affair is so ridiculous and contemptible towards fans, shareholders and the media. It exemplifies that basic honesty < self-interest is the modus operandi in the boardroom. We have a damn good idea who is behind that. The shareholders certainly did.
I'm sure some smart Dale fan(s) can do one of those "Downfall" videos to typify the bunker mentality on offer by our so-called custodians. We need a laugh.
The Dale Trust statement nails it completely without bitterness or rancour. Plenty of us feel that way.
It is one of the most shameful moments in the clubs history that the CEO is still in employment here, today, after the shareholders clearly showed they have no confidence in him. Yes, not an easy bridge to cross legally, but if someone loved the club as much as he lied that he did, he'd walk away with at least some integrity. Unless he wants a big payout for going, like those "executives" who got "10-15%" pay rises . Mr Smallwood's questioning of those percentages and the reply from the top table spoke volumes. People are talking about a season card boycott if "he" is still in employment. Personally, I can't wait to renew my season card on July 1 but knowing my payment might go into the pay packet of this CEO disgusts me. Excellent though the pricing is, RAFC won't see a penny til he's gone for good. We need people who put the club first, not their wallet.
This needs sorting fast and certain "custodians" would be advised to walk away because we'd like to see efforts concentrated to form a team worthy of representing the club on the pitch in preference to a debate about tired, ineffectual boardroom ego's. Walk away now, and lets get due diligence / EFL tests done and in place for people who care about the club in a manner the current incumbents have totally forgotten about.
bury and gullible we are not.
UP THE DALE
BOTTOMLEY OUT AS CEO. [Post edited 3 Jun 2021 23:48]
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 00:05 - Jun 4 with 4935 views | mikehunt |
Hear hear! Bottomley out as CEO ASAP
Is this something another EGM could take care of should he stubbornly cling on to the position? [Post edited 4 Jun 2021 8:41]
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| The worm of time turns not for the cuckoo of circumstance. |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 08:58 - Jun 4 with 4616 views | SuddenLad |
Sandyman, I have nothing but 100% agreement for this. As a club/business, RAFC now has it's most influential and highest paid employee running the show, knowing full well that the majority of shareholders have no faith in him and that the fan/customer base want rid of him. How is that allowed to continue?
The acting Chairman and remaining Directors are either ill or fully engaged in their own daily businesses whilst this man has the keys to the shop and is still running the show as though nothing has happened and as if Tuesday was all a strange dream and meant nothing. He is reportedly continuing in his role, entirely unsupervised, not monitored and has a free rein to do whatever he wishes. Unbelievable.
He should be put on 'gardening leave' and without delay, for the protection of everyone - including himself - and primarily for the good of the club.
God forbid that anything goes wrong from here, because there will be no excuses for any remaining Directors, no hiding place and absolutely no doubt who will be held responsible.
The mere (so far not denied) allegation of issuing/awarding 30% pay rises, without undergoing the normal procedures/ratification is surely worthy of further investigation, if only to establish whether it is true. If it is, and it can be shown that procedures were ignored, then implement whatever disciplinary procedures are necessary, but for goodness sake, don't let the situation fester unresolved as it is. Get on with an enquiry and in the meantime, suspend the CEO whilst due process takes place. It's the sensible, proper and professional thing to do.
In the meantime, players contracts are up in the air, budgets have to be discussed and arranged, transfers considered, outside sponsorship needs attention and a whole host of other club business needs to be undertaken. Time is of the essence, so let's not mess about. The skeleton Board are duty bound to serve the club in the best way possible at all times.
Now is the time for them to act. Sadly, we can't do it for them. More's the pity. | |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm (n/t) on 12:27 - Jun 4 with 4330 views | R17ALE |
[Post edited 4 Jun 2021 13:47]
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm (n/t) on 19:43 - Jun 4 with 3807 views | loulas |
Absolutely well said! Not heard a good thing about the guy! | | | |
| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 20:31 - Jun 4 with 3682 views | boromat |
I do have some sympathy (probably not the right word) with the board at the moment. They're now down to 3 and to instantly sack or get rid of the CEO right away would put a lot of strain on them. I think priorities and timing is everything in the current situation. 1st priority should be sorting the board out. Next should be the structure of the club including the position of the CEO. I really don't want the current board deciding who the next CEO is I'd rather that be done by the 'new' board whoever that may be. [Post edited 4 Jun 2021 22:33]
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm (n/t) on 21:02 - Jun 4 with 3594 views | mightydale |
Me neither 'talks the talks but can't deliver' is one of the comments I've heard, so yea he'll fit right in with the current board. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 21:10 - Jun 4 with 3573 views | finberty |
Given what has been revealed by some excellent research and briefings in the last few weeks, leading to last Tuesday's events, are people now as prepared to believe the 'official version' of events from twelve months ago, featuring The Board versus Hendo?
I know it won't change a thing, but asking for a friend. | | | |
| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 21:31 - Jun 4 with 3505 views | nordenblue |
They were as full of shit then as they are now | | | |
| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 06:46 - Jun 5 with 3223 views | James1980 |
Because the message about Hendo came from our usually silent former chairman I was perhaps gullible in believing he would only have written the message he did if he strongly believed he was writing the truth. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 09:48 - Jun 6 with 2610 views | 1907 |
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there.
What I would hope the club are doing in the interim is involving some form of special advisers, maybe former directors or senior employees who we still have a good relationship with. They will be able to keep check on Bottomley through the summer so that we can be in as good as position as possible come August. Hopefully then we will have the new board in place and we can move forward, dismiss Bottomley and start afresh. | | | |
| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 10:37 - Jun 6 with 2524 views | RAFCBLUE |
I don't see how you can have any sympathy for the Board. Empathy perhaps but this is a situation of their own making.
Let us not forget that less than a week ago the then Board (so Kelly, Pockney, Rawlinson and Bottomley) were all pushing this new investment on terms which disadvantaged shareholders and put the club at risk. They were also in an exclusivity period which is suspected with Martin Halsall, whom they refused to deny involvement with when directly asked.
The day before the AGM, Bottomley sells shares to Grindrod to allow him a seat on the Board via private transfer - exactly the thing they were criticising so "Dave's mate Nick" can vote on club business. Remember that he has not put any new money into the club.
Tuesday's vote was momentous and has given control back to the shareholders. In removing Bottomley and Rawlinson the Board is only three but is still the same people who wanted that to happen.
The issue that Pockney, Kelly and Grindrod have now is threefold.
1. They were being played from behind by the CEO who really ran the show and manipulated events to suit his agenda. None of the three of them are in the club anywhere near full time whereas the CEO is.
2. They've admitted publicly at an AGM and privately that they do not have the resources to run the club - see the announcement on the official site prior to the AGM.
3. The shareholders and Trust are watching them like hawks and so there is no move that they can pull that will not be scrutinised, challenged or even brought to an EGM if the circumstances needed it.
The longer the CEO is left in situ the longer the issues fester. A more fan orientated CEO I suspect would have resigned by now after all that is coming out and is still to come out about his reign and would be looking to pass the torch at the very minimum as a fan.
Someone said to me privately a few days ago post AGM - can you really imagine Bottomley back on the terraces after he goes as CEO and become just a plain old Dale fan?
Our problem is that we are only 8 weeks from the season starting and a proper CEO would be sorting out the contracts of those offered them, trying to secure the best players, arranging pre-season friendlies, securing new sponsors for next season.
If the CEO can't do those things (i.e. his job) then the Board should take him to task. If they can't do that then they should all go as well. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 11:04 - Jun 6 with 2474 views | kel |
He could always go and watch Oldham… | | | |
| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 11:06 - Jun 6 with 2470 views | mikehunt |
Agree with that, RAFC.
Wondered whether a bit more publicity about these events might flush the buggers out or do we prefer to keep a lid on these events?
Can’t say I follow every news outlet but would have thought the press would love a story like this: particularly after the events at Old Trafford. [Post edited 6 Jun 2021 11:07]
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| The worm of time turns not for the cuckoo of circumstance. |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 11:20 - Jun 6 with 2441 views | RAFCBLUE |
I doubt the ticket office there would sell him a ticket, given facts now disclosed. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 11:38 - Jun 6 with 2402 views | RAFCBLUE |
DB must be sweating on that happening you would think.
For all of his overt courting of the publicity as CEO at Rochdale, the publicity is not now good publicity and as was said in a previous post, when the limelight was truly on him last Tuesday he didn't make one attempt to respond properly or fully to any of the shareholder questions about pay rises and the going on at the club where has has been its leader.
All that it takes is some of the topics that came out at the Rochdale AGM last Tuesday to properly come out alongside the many references which are available via Google to the goings on at Hasbro.
Its all there in the public domain about his actions, just some people might need pointing to it:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/555de4c3ed915d7ae200016b/hasbro.p
Directly from that PDF it says:
The Office of Fair Trading said:
"The Director considers that agreements between undertakings that fix prices are among the most serious infringements caught under the Chapter I prohibition. He will therefore impose a financial penalty on Hasbro. However, the Director will not impose financial penalties on any of the ten distributors as Hasbro had taken the initiative in fixing prices and the distributors were in a substantially weaker position"
Paragraph 35 says:
David Bottomley, Hasbro’s Sales Director, when asked by OFT officials if he had been involved in these dealings with the Distributors,gave the following answer:
“Yes, I was an instigator of it. [The] letter [was] driven by my approach to a problem with Club Group. addressed [a] meeting of Club Group members, and this is the follow up letter. Had evidence that Club Group and distributors were trying to compete with each other.”
These are the Office of Fair Trading's own words. Their report issued on 28 November 2002.
According to Linkedin Mr Bottomley left Hasbro in November 2002 having joined them in September 1998. [Post edited 6 Jun 2021 11:41]
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 11:55 - Jun 6 with 2341 views | judd |
Subsequent to that prosecution, Hasbro blew the whistle on the same actions it had taken in price fixing with Argos and Littlewoods, who then got lumbered with multi million pounds fines, and Hasbros near £16m was rescinded for being grasses. This fines and Hasbro leniency were appealed unsuccessfully.
The whole event saw a lengthy statement made by Hasbros US parent company to the stocks and securities commission, incredibly damning of the shambolic management of the UK business.
Now, go and read how these events were dealt with when questioned by the Trust. [Post edited 6 Jun 2021 11:59]
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 12:07 - Jun 6 with 2316 views | SuddenLad |
We have survived for over 100 years without Bottomley. We are almost in as much peril as we have ever been with him at the helm. The Directors should make the role of CEO redundant, with immediate effect and then seek to appoint someone in a different, newly defined role to take the club forward.
Whichever way it happens, Bottomley needs to be removed from the club at the earliest opportunity. He has no credibility, no respect,no-one has confidence in him and he is an embarrassment.
I can't understand why he hasn't been dismissed, or even done the honourable and decent thing and handed in his resignation. He can/will do more damage the longer he stays there and as more stories are now emerging it is creating more waves and creating more anger.
Just begone FFS. | |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 14:49 - Jun 6 with 2103 views | RAFCBLUE |
Hasbro don't concern us judd. They are a faceless American corporate who did not have control of their UK operation at a time when it was breaching competition law.
Interesting they did not have control of their UK operation and then once the smoke began to appear from the fire they stepped in.
Bottomley's CV on LinkedIn makes interesting reading for his time at Hasbro. He describes himself as UK Group Sales Director which was "Head of UK Sales and Trade Marketing Functions with a team of 42 people, responsible for achievement of UK Profit and Sales Targets, and continued development of Major Retail distribution and implementation of trade marketing plans."
I guess that colluding in price fixing must be a "implementation of trade marketing plans."
No mention of the OFT. | |
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| AGM / EGM /AGM / EGM Match update thread - kick off 7pm on 15:23 - Jun 6 with 2042 views | judd |
42 people?
Interestingly, in an article written by Shelina Begum of the MEN (which I think was published in Business Insider North West) on 13th August 2019, it was claimed he was "group sales director and had up to 85 people working under him".
I say interestingly because on 16th August the article was edited to correct the previous assertion that he had founded Rochdale Ambassadors which, coincidentally, was challenged on here at the time. | |
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