Les Hodge Departs

Hilly - 25th May 2010 18:33:17

Sad to see Les depart, and the rest of the match day programme team.

I hope this PR Firm, don't end up pumping out the same old crap week after week in the programme like "On this day 10 years ago...." blah blah blah.

Having fan pieces made the programme worth reading.

shadwellman - 25th May 2010 18:35:58

Shoddy treatment to a stalwart of the club.Incidently, what cost is this PR firm to the club.

wylam_rangers - 25th May 2010 18:37:33

I suppose that using one PR firm versus several freelancers makes economic sense (but they'd better be bloody good). I'm disappointed to see these departures and I hope Les and Ray, in particular, will stay with the fan base.

Has this cull extended to Peter Grant?

Santino - 25th May 2010 18:41:30

Thanks to Les, Ray and Andrew for their hard work, sorry to see them go.

DL5 - 25th May 2010 18:56:02

Bad PR this, what's the PR team doing about it? oh wait...

Beano - 25th May 2010 19:00:01

wylam_rangers wrote:I suppose that using one PR firm versus several freelancers makes economic sense (but they'd better be bloody good). I'm disappointed to see these departures and I hope Les and Ray, in particular, will stay with the fan base.

Has this cull extended to Peter Grant?

I'm disappointed for Les as he has done an excellent job, especially in allowing many of his photos to appear online for us to enjoy at no expense, which is highly commendable. I hope the PR company don't lose touch with the fans, the programme was one of the only things that hadn't.

However, I would definitely like to see a change to the pre-match rubbish we've been served. It would be nice to see some competitions that generate interest or something to build the atmosphere, not the turgid stuff we've seen at the Arena.

Bring back the crossbar challenge for the car! (Bringing back excellent memories of Ron Greener getting 2 hits out of 3)

wylam_rangers - 25th May 2010 19:03:27

Is this part of a new media package?

Website/Commentary/Highlights etc

Quakers World was dead in the water this last season and this just might be the Club's ill-considered solution.

Kev Luff will hopefully respond to this if he is in the know.

Hilly - 25th May 2010 19:03:50

Beano wrote:

wylam_rangers wrote:I suppose that using one PR firm versus several freelancers makes economic sense (but they'd better be bloody good). I'm disappointed to see these departures and I hope Les and Ray, in particular, will stay with the fan base.

Has this cull extended to Peter Grant?

I'm disappointed for Les as he has done an excellent job, especially in allowing many of his photos to appear online for us to enjoy at no expense, which is highly commendable. I hope the PR company don't lose touch with the fans, the programme was one of the only things that hadn't.

However, I would definitely like to see a change to the pre-match rubbish we've been served. It would be nice to see some competitions that generate interest or something to build the atmosphere, not the turgid stuff we've seen at the Arena.

Bring back the crossbar challenge for the car! (Bringing back excellent memories of Ron Greener getting 2 hits out of 3)

I have to agree - half time entertainment just isn't what it used to be is it?!

ted_do - 25th May 2010 19:05:14

why dose this happen every time, why do a non league club need a PR firm (ex/still Boro). Its like ground hog day at that place, but will the old stalwarts still be there next time??.
I suppose the chairman has put the money in so he can call the tunes, but only a foolish person would alienate the few fans left at a non league football club, and they all wonder why no one in Darlington is bothered about DFC.

aveda - 25th May 2010 19:08:09

I hope it's not Graham Robb again

TFDM - 25th May 2010 19:31:14

wylam_rangers wrote:Is this part of a new media package?

Website/Commentary/Highlights etc

Quakers World was dead in the water this last season and this just might be the Club's ill-considered solution.

Kev Luff will hopefully respond to this if he is in the know.

Wylam, I haven't been involved in the site, bar a couple of match reports, since around the end of March when I informed the club I would be stepping to one side. With a new job and other things going on I didn't have the time to commit any more. I've said I'll always be happy to do a report if they are in bind so I can't really tell you anything about their intentions for the site next season.

However I do know that the BBC commentary should be streamable off the Tees website as they are no longer bound by Football League agreement - surely this is another nail in the coffin for the Player / World service unless some investment is made in it (something which I pestered long ago when I was full time at the club but it fell on deaf ears).

Darlo Fonz - 25th May 2010 19:42:56

Gutted. His photos were second to none. Will miss him.

QuakerPete - 25th May 2010 19:43:32

Beano wrote:

wylam_rangers wrote:I suppose that using one PR firm versus several freelancers makes economic sense (but they'd better be bloody good). I'm disappointed to see these departures and I hope Les and Ray, in particular, will stay with the fan base.

Has this cull extended to Peter Grant?

I'm disappointed for Les as he has done an excellent job, especially in allowing many of his photos to appear online for us to enjoy at no expense, which is highly commendable. I hope the PR company don't lose touch with the fans, the programme was one of the only things that hadn't.

However, I would definitely like to see a change to the pre-match rubbish we've been served. It would be nice to see some competitions that generate interest or something to build the atmosphere, not the turgid stuff we've seen at the Arena.

Bring back the crossbar challenge for the car! (Bringing back excellent memories of Ron Greener getting 2 hits out of 3)

My excellent memory says it was Brian Henderson

TFDM - 25th May 2010 19:48:34

I know I posted above but it didn't seem right to see this lost above...

I'd just like to say a big thank you to Les, Andrew and Ray for their combined efforts in everything they did. Les in particular was not only a fantastic photographer (probably the best I've seen during my time on the circuit) but also a thoroughly smashing bloke as well. Whoever is providing the photos next season will be very hard pressed to beat Les' output and quality. I enjoy taking pictures a fair bit when I get chance to travel and I don't know how the hell Les gets the snaps he gets. Some of the evening shots he produces are absolutely amazing (both technically and from a picture point of view).

Having travelled up and down the country with Les etc to away games in the past I know how disappointed he'll be in the decision. Hopefully we will still see him on a matchday as he does photos for other publications as well such as the Sunday Sun.

The same goes for Ray and Andrew. When I did the programme a while back they were fantastic in helping me out with contributions and advice. Without them I'm not sure where I would have started. Also they took the programme forward after I departed and built upon it. Without doubt over the last couple of seasons it has been the best it has ever been. I know for a fact they slogged away some weeks at it. Given the fixture congestion we had this season at points they were doing something silly like three programmes in the space of a week and half - that really is an amazing output considering all the writing and organisation that goes into them.

I'm lucky enough to have known all three of them for a while now. They are not only top fellas but they had the club at heart and it showed in the work that they did. Whilst I realise that its inevitable that times change whoever picks up their work will have a lot to live up.

Going out to a place like Eastbourne borough, doing their work at the match, not leaving until well after most of us are well into our drinking shoes, then travelling home and continuing to do all their work on photos and programmes etc was some effort. All three of them did it week in, week out. Good luck to those who take on their work, I hope they do well, but they've got big shoes to fill in terms out output and quality.

wylam_rangers - 25th May 2010 19:51:35

TFDM wrote:

wylam_rangers wrote:Is this part of a new media package?

Website/Commentary/Highlights etc

Quakers World was dead in the water this last season and this just might be the Club's ill-considered solution.

Kev Luff will hopefully respond to this if he is in the know.

Wylam, I haven't been involved in the site, bar a couple of match reports, since around the end of March when I informed the club I would be stepping to one side. With a new job and other things going on I didn't have the time to commit any more. I've said I'll always be happy to do a report if they are in bind so I can't really tell you anything about their intentions for the site next season.

However I do know that the BBC commentary should be streamable off the Tees website as they are no longer bound by Football League agreement - surely this is another nail in the coffin for the Player / World service unless some investment is made in it (something which I pestered long ago when I was full time at the club but it fell on deaf ears).

Bugger - but thanks Kev for the prompt reply.

This does smack of a knee-jerk. Once again the Club makes a massive change which impacts on fan loyalty without any prior warning or explanation and some people still don't understand why the Supporters' Club and the Trust should be more actively involved in such decisions.

wylam_rangers - 25th May 2010 19:54:30

TFDM wrote:I know I posted above but it didn't seem right to see this lost above...

I'd just like to say a big thank you to Les, Andrew and Ray for their combined efforts in everything they did. Les in particular was not only a fantastic photographer (probably the best I've seen during my time on the circuit) but also a thoroughly smashing bloke as well. Whoever is providing the photos next season will be very hard pressed to beat Les' output and quality. I enjoy taking pictures a fair bit when I get chance to travel and I don't know how the hell Les gets the snaps he gets. Some of the evening shots he produces are absolutely amazing (both technically and from a picture point of view).

Having travelled up and down the country with Les etc to away games in the past I know how disappointed he'll be in the decision. Hopefully we will still see him on a matchday as he does photos for other publications as well such as the Sunday Sun.

The same goes for Ray and Andrew. When I did the programme a while back they were fantastic in helping me out with contributions and advice. Without them I'm not sure where I would have started. Also they took the programme forward after I departed and built upon it. Without doubt over the last couple of seasons it has been the best it has ever been. I know for a fact they slogged away some weeks at it. Given the fixture congestion we had this season at points they were doing something silly like three programmes in the space of a week and half - that really is an amazing output considering all the writing and organisation that goes into them.

I'm lucky enough to have known all three of them for a while now. They are not only top fellas but they had the club at heart and it showed in the work that they did. Whilst I realise that its inevitable that times change whoever picks up their work will have a lot to live up.

Going out to a place like Eastbourne borough, doing their work at the match, not leaving until well after most of us are well into our drinking shoes, then travelling home and continuing to do all their work on photos and programmes etc was some effort. All three of them did it week in, week out. Good luck to those who take on their work, I hope they do well, but they've got big shoes to fill in terms out output and quality.

Well said, and I'd like to add that it's up to all of us to keep the new setup on its toes.

fat tony - 25th May 2010 20:02:15

aveda wrote:I hope it's not Graham Robb again

Is he the PR guy that Houghton used to get the Echo onside while he was raping the club? I'll be furious if we've now gone and hired his company.

RenoRaines - 25th May 2010 20:50:01

New program? Good idea. Leave all the old stuff behind and move on. There were a few egos being massaged. The only person worth Reading was gav ellis anyway.

Andrew Wilkinson - 25th May 2010 21:13:00

As far as I am aware it is not Graham Robb.

beatroute66 - 25th May 2010 21:42:13

Andrew Wilkinson wrote:As far as I am aware it is not Graham Robb.

Praise the lord for that - the man is an utter oaf.

fergies50yarder - 25th May 2010 21:56:18

i was wondering if Ray or Andy Wilkinson were given the opportunity to meet with Raj before they were dispensed with? I hope they were as they both backed Raj when the club were in admin, so its the least they deserved or did someone else play judge and jury?

JABWootton - 25th May 2010 22:10:59

You'll be able to spot the photographer of ours a mile off.
He'll be the only one in a shirt and tie eating prawn sandwiches

Darlo Cockney - 25th May 2010 22:18:36

fergies50yarder wrote:i was wondering if Ray or Andy Wilkinson were given the opportunity to meet with Raj before they were dispensed with? I hope they were as they both backed Raj when the club were in admin, so its the least they deserved or did someone else play judge and jury?

That is a very valid point. I know that Ray in particular was very actively involved with discussions of the future of the Club before Raj took over and was a great supporter of his becoming Chairman. We all know that Andy has also been a great supporter of the Club for many years and that Les is a legend.

Sad day - hope that the Club have really thought the implications of this through - not popular with the fans I have spoken to at all.

DC

QuakerPete - 25th May 2010 23:03:01

Why do we need a PR company?

RUMPLESTILTSKIN - 26th May 2010 05:37:46

I'd like to add my best wishes. It is sad when things like this happens but nowadays it seems to be happening more and more. My company ahs just gone through a redundancy period for the second time in just ver 18 months. Good people, who have workd long and hard for the company are going. It is wrong, no loyalty but we cannot stop it. It never seems to be those at fault that suffer. I don't blame Raj for it. Good luck Les and thanks.

bedaledarlo - 26th May 2010 09:23:00

I think this is a little bit different.

There are redundancy stories everywhere and it is indeed very sad when good people are let go because there isnt the work for them to do.

I dont think this is the same. Someone will still be taking the pictures and someone will still be filling in the program content. I think Les and Ray are ideal for those roles. Not many people i can think of have the requisite skills and experience to do the job as well as they do. Just based on competency alone, they are the right blokes.

Their loyalty is another issue that cannot be questioned either.

However Raj has decided to get someone else to do it. Someone who no doubt wont have bushy hair like chewbacca and a taste for good ales.

oldboyaughton - 26th May 2010 11:07:41

Sad day to see some old faces go but life goes on a new start, a clean sweep onwards and upwards, at the end of the day given time this thread will be like every other thread old news, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT, PS PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS

eddierowlesbeard - 26th May 2010 11:30:48

After the programme had come on so much in recent seasons, this feels like a step too far.

We had a committed team working for a club they knew inside out - and who were aware of our history which most of the last few regimes have shown little time for - and it is difficult to see how they'll be able to consistently produce interesting articles without the help of the fans.

No doubt this is a cost-cutting exercise but in these strapped-for-cash times it is hard enough to get people to buy a programme. Remove some of the more interesting articles written by fans and it is harder still...

Allan Quatermain - 26th May 2010 12:45:04

RenoRaines wrote:New program? Good idea. Leave all the old stuff behind and move on. There were a few egos being massaged. The only person worth Reading was gav ellis anyway.

Rubbish.

Our programme won 2 awards in the last 2 years because it has improved considerably over the last few years and is now a good read.

That content is there due to the efforts of Ray and Andrew in particular, but also of the contributors who submitted their articles through dedication and a wish to do something without payment for the club and its fans. These contributors know what fans want to read about and therefore write it.

Does anybody think that articles are going to be written for free by the new PR company, whoever it is? Do you think it will be original or just syndicated articles which you will be able to pick up by googling 'DFC'.

This PR company, whoever it is, will have other clients, possibly with higher profiles, who may demand their resources when we would also like them. Who do you think will be taking photographs in Hampshire on a Tuesday evening in February when, for instance, clients of the stature of Middlesbrough FC have a home tie the same night.

I hope Ray and Andrew were indeed offered the opportunity to discuss their continued involvment with this part of the 'matchday experience' because if not, I would understand them feeling very disappointed.

I could go on ranting about this for a long time but I wont.

divas - 26th May 2010 12:47:11

Some official comment from the club might be nice.....just so we can see the reasoning behind the decision.

onewayup - 26th May 2010 14:57:04

i've been told that ray and andrew have not had a chance to state their case'
very poor from the club as all three have supported the club and the new owner to the hilt and done as much for the club PR over and above the call of duty, what message are the club sending out.

RUMPLESTILTSKIN - 26th May 2010 15:04:49

bedaledarlo wrote:I think this is a little bit different.

There are redundancy stories everywhere and it is indeed very sad when good people are let go because there isnt the work for them to do.

I dont think this is the same. Someone will still be taking the pictures and someone will still be filling in the program content. I think Les and Ray are ideal for those roles. Not many people i can think of have the requisite skills and experience to do the job as well as they do. Just based on competency alone, they are the right blokes.

Their loyalty is another issue that cannot be questioned either.

However Raj has decided to get someone else to do it. Someone who no doubt wont have bushy hair like chewbacca and a taste for good ales.

It's not different, someone does the jobs of those made redundant in every walk of life. Don't kid yourself that people are made redundant simply because there is no work to do. They are made redundant due to not enough work to go around. e.g the post office/royal mail or whatever its called nowadays made posties redundant but the post was still delivered.

I was saying no loyalty from the employer to long servers, not those who are redundant.

I also meant that Raj was not to blame for the predicament that has led to the redundancies.

Apart from that we agree on everything.

bedaledarlo - 26th May 2010 20:02:36

RUMPLESTILTSKIN wrote:

bedaledarlo wrote:I think this is a little bit different.

There are redundancy stories everywhere and it is indeed very sad when good people are let go because there isnt the work for them to do.

I dont think this is the same. Someone will still be taking the pictures and someone will still be filling in the program content. I think Les and Ray are ideal for those roles. Not many people i can think of have the requisite skills and experience to do the job as well as they do. Just based on competency alone, they are the right blokes.

Their loyalty is another issue that cannot be questioned either.

However Raj has decided to get someone else to do it. Someone who no doubt wont have bushy hair like chewbacca and a taste for good ales.

It's not different, someone does the jobs of those made redundant in every walk of life. Don't kid yourself that people are made redundant simply because there is no work to do. They are made redundant due to not enough work to go around. e.g the post office/royal mail or whatever its called nowadays made posties redundant but the post was still delivered.

I was saying no loyalty from the employer to long servers, not those who are redundant.

I also meant that Raj was not to blame for the predicament that has led to the redundancies.

Apart from that we agree on everything.

Rumple (i love your user name!) I admire your cynicism in terms of why the man lays the worker off. I agree that this is often the case.

Shouldn't that move you in turn to raising questions of Raj?

Obviously we cant blame him for the economy / state of the club, we can however question how much the PR company down the A66 is costing and what value you place on these guys as an intrinsic part of the club. Are the smoggies even cheaper? Are they Raj's mates - he's a Boro fan after all?

Darlo Cockney - 26th May 2010 21:58:38

Where was the consulttion between the Club and the fans ????

Surely the Club should have asked the Trust or Supporters club what they thought of this strange move in sacking the people that have served the Club well for so many years and who are not just "employees", but people who are Darlo fans through and through and do their job for love much more than for the money.
Bad move Raj.

DC

RUMPLESTILTSKIN - 26th May 2010 22:10:37

bedaledarlo wrote:

RUMPLESTILTSKIN wrote:

bedaledarlo wrote:I think this is a little bit different.

There are redundancy stories everywhere and it is indeed very sad when good people are let go because there isnt the work for them to do.

I dont think this is the same. Someone will still be taking the pictures and someone will still be filling in the program content. I think Les and Ray are ideal for those roles. Not many people i can think of have the requisite skills and experience to do the job as well as they do. Just based on competency alone, they are the right blokes.

Their loyalty is another issue that cannot be questioned either.

However Raj has decided to get someone else to do it. Someone who no doubt wont have bushy hair like chewbacca and a taste for good ales.

It's not different, someone does the jobs of those made redundant in every walk of life. Don't kid yourself that people are made redundant simply because there is no work to do. They are made redundant due to not enough work to go around. e.g the post office/royal mail or whatever its called nowadays made posties redundant but the post was still delivered.

I was saying no loyalty from the employer to long servers, not those who are redundant.

I also meant that Raj was not to blame for the predicament that has led to the redundancies.

Apart from that we agree on everything.

Rumple (i love your user name!) I admire your cynicism in terms of why the man lays the worker off. I agree that this is often the case.

Shouldn't that move you in turn to raising questions of Raj?

Obviously we cant blame him for the economy / state of the club, we can however question how much the PR company down the A66 is costing and what value you place on these guys as an intrinsic part of the club. Are the smoggies even cheaper? Are they Raj's mates - he's a Boro fan after all?

I can only guess that it must be cheaper, otherwise it makes no sense. I still don't feel that Raj has done anything wrong if the end result is saving the club money. He did not cause it to happen, he inherited the problem, which was made worse by low crowds. (I am not blaming the fans, but low income would not have helped the situation Raj found himself in.) Having said that I have the deepest sympathy for anyone made redundant as more often than not it's the innocent that suffer.

Spyman - 26th May 2010 22:21:36

Darlo Cockney wrote:Where was the consulttion between the Club and the fans ????

Surely the Club should have asked the Trust or Supporters club what they thought of this strange move in sacking the people that have served the Club well for so many years and who are not just "employees", but people who are Darlo fans through and through and do their job for love much more than for the money.
Bad move Raj.

DC

As usual, this is being blown out of all proportion.

I'd be surprised (although I may be wrong), if any of the interested parties (Les, Ray etc) are rewarded sufficiently for their efforts as it stands, and even more surprised if any of them rely on this work financially.

I'd also be surprised if some of the previous contributors are not asked to contribute articles in the future, but I have to say over the last couple of years the programme has looked more an more like a whose who of Darlo fans. While I don't question their loyalty, or object to their views, and no offence intended, we are reading the views of Kev, Scott and others every fortnight - it got a little boring.

I'm positive that the club have thought this through, and can't help but think there's more than a little bit of sentimentality in play from many of those who have posted on this thread.

uncovered - 26th May 2010 22:42:18

Spyman wrote: While I don't question their loyalty, or object to their views, and no offence intended, we are reading the views of Kev, Scott and others every fortnight - it got a little boring.

Mr Spyman!!!!

on a side note, writing for the programme was a nightmare. you can only write about a certain amount of subjects over a 5 year period. Although I loved Gavin Ellis' column. Did you know that Gav doesn't use computers, so he used to write out his column and Ray or Andrew would type it out for him. and on another sidenote to this sidenote, I was listening to Mr Ellis tonight on BBC Tees. Very funny and very knowledgable bloke, memory like an elephant.

anyway I am off, you have hurt me spy!

bedaledarlo - 27th May 2010 09:01:45

Spyman you're not actually Raj are you?

- Your support for the farce and PR disaster that was the treatment of Steve Foster

- The almost eye-watering support for Raj keeping Staunton no matter how bad things got.

- Now the blase attitude to getting rid of the Darlo stalwarts Ray and Les, who supported his tenure in the first place.

On all three of these areas you have backed the chairman. It isnt over-reaction for people to show solidarity and support for people who they feel make the club what it is, is it?

Aren't we Darlo fans first and cold non-biased observers of what the club does behind the scenes second?

uncovered - 27th May 2010 09:04:29

He clubs new media provider is martin walker. He already works for the club but is now doing more work I guess.

wylam_rangers - 27th May 2010 09:12:18

uncovered wrote:He clubs new media provider is martin walker. He already works for the club but is now doing more work I guess.

Oh dear!

Take a look at http://www.martinwalkerpr.co.uk

Darlo_Pete - 27th May 2010 23:56:12

Oh dear he gets a recommendation from Nick Loughlin at the Echo, says it all really.

Spyman - 28th May 2010 11:55:40

bedaledarlo wrote:Spyman you're not actually Raj are you?

- Your support for the farce and PR disaster that was the treatment of Steve Foster

- The almost eye-watering support for Raj keeping Staunton no matter how bad things got.

- Now the blase attitude to getting rid of the Darlo stalwarts Ray and Les, who supported his tenure in the first place.

On all three of these areas you have backed the chairman. It isnt over-reaction for people to show solidarity and support for people who they feel make the club what it is, is it?

Aren't we Darlo fans first and cold non-biased observers of what the club does behind the scenes second?

Scott, sorry, no offence intended. The examples given are some of my favourite contributions to the programme but I think it could do with more variety. That is all.

Bedale, I'm not Raj, nor have I ever met Raj. However:

I defended Raj over Foster, because the future of the club is bigger than one player. Raj did what he thought he had to do at the time. This was unfair on Foster, I said as much at the time, but this is the harsh reality of football.

I backed Staunton at the time because I could never have seen someone like Davey being interested in the job. Rather than see another inexperienced manager come in and reshape the team again, I thought stability was our best bet. I never proclaimed Staunton to be a good manager, just that stability with a bad manager is better than instability with a bad manager.

Finally, regarding the current situation - I'm only backing the club as far as we don't know the ins and outs of it, and that while Les, Scott, Ray etc have all done more than most of us for the club, the club doesn't owe them a living and needs to make the decision that is best for the club, while appreciating the help it has received from fans, volunteers and others along the way. The people involved shouldn't begrudge the club this, and just because they've helped the club over the years, I'm sure they would only want what is best for Darlington FC - whther this includes them or not shouldn't matter.

bedaledarlo - 28th May 2010 12:34:07

Ok Spy, fair do's on the Staunton thing. I can understand you feared it might get worse. How much worse it could have got i dont know, but I understand your fear.

In terms of Fozzie you took your time to say that was unfair didn't you?!

On the current one, its a touche moment really. Until you know the ins and outs its pretty difficult for you to call it an overreaction on anyone else's part?

All we know is a foul and repugnant smelling smoggy has come in (or had his workload ramped up) to replace two Darlo stalwarts. Bad crack, the fact they wont complain / begrudge maybe makes it easier for Raj to do it...?

You went to see Paul Weller someone said.......... he'd not stand for this treatment of the worker!!

1Superlidds - 28th May 2010 13:43:34

am sure all those affected will stay have a role to play in the programme and about the club.

At the moment the club is very much in transitional stage, there will be things we as fans agree or disagree with, the club will make mistakes. The programme make up is clearly an issue they feel should be controlled from within.

Not sure what will be happening with the photography side. Perhaps we will simply revert to having the photographer from the local rag turning up and the club having rights to use photo's as and when required (do many lower and non-League clubs have a club photographer or is it a luxury?) perhaps if the post is put out to tender Les may even re-apply under the new conditions?

Am sure these are decisions RS will have thought long and hard about, he will be aware of their dedication to the club, he will be aware of Ray's early support for him during Administration but its a business and if he is to run it as a prudent business he has to make tough decisions and there can be no sentimental jobs handed out, its sad but all we can do is thank them for their efforts and wish the guys all the best in the rest of their succesful careers....to be fair its not like he is banishing them to the dole

uncovered - 28th May 2010 17:11:26

jUst like to make it clear that I received nothing from the club for writing in the programme. I have never recieved anything from the club, and don't expect to. I am not whinging either about any decision, the programme is bloody hard work and I am glad they have moved on.

My gripe would be that people of the likes of ray, andrew and les, people who helped the club out when they came asking, should really have been treat with more respect.

DFC123 - 28th May 2010 18:03:56

sad to see him go, always enjoyed his fans photos depsite the fact that in 14 home games this season i was NEVER in them

NonLeagueFodder - 29th May 2010 00:17:33

shadwellman wrote:Shoddy treatment to a stalwart of the club.Incidently, what cost is this PR firm to the club.

Seems a bit shite to me, even as a Poolie

Our PA bloke retired after thirty years and got a great send off from fans and the club alike

People like this are the lifeblood of clubs