FAO Rooks

[silverfox]

Many people at the club claim to be Blades and say they care.

A few show it in their work.

Pity they have to go first.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Good luck Mick, you've been a good servant to that club.

I was mascot on two different occasions as a child and you made it a fanstastic experience for me and the other kids. Nice bloke and well liked by everyone at the club. You'll be missed.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I'm gutted. Never met him but he always seemed a top bloke going what others have said.

What a sad way to shorten this very long list!



http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20111111-key-personnel-214196.aspxger:
Emma Wylie 0871 995 1889

Retail Manager, Superstore:
Lisa Crossland 0871 663 2489

Head of Finance:
Debbie Hopson 0871 995 1899

Premier Sports - Managing Director:
Steve Bailey 0114 221 3110

 

[Northyorksblade]

Top, top Blade. Helped us out on several occasions. I can't believe I won't see you on match days. The Lane will be a poorer place without you. All the very best for the future. Dave and Lyn
Just makes you realise how bad it's got at the Lane if Mick's gone

 

[Gareth]

A huge part of Sheffield United has died for me today and I really don’t think this can ever be replaced. Mick Rooker was the life and soul of Sheffield United, he emphasised everything that was good about the club and ALWAYS did what was in the best interest of the Football Club, if only we had a few more people like Mick we might not be in this mess. You can moan about prices for coaches and call him what you like but Mick Rooker robbed you blind, smiled whilst doing it and placed your hard earned cash directly into the coffers of Sheffield United. It takes a very special person to bring in the cash that Mick did every year, this will hurt the club financially.

Sadly I know Mick because of the death of my Dad... It was and still remains the only positive to come from a very difficult time in my life and the absolute sledge hammer of losing my Dad so suddenly was softened by Mick. Mick responded to a post on BladesUnited in 2008 and I have spoke with him for hours every week since. Mick calls up on Father’s day and other keys dates for chat, he attended my Wedding and in 1 weeks time will be attending the wedding of my Mum. This has absolutely nothing to do with football but this is who Mick Rooker is, this is what Sheffield United have lost not just for me but for others who will only experience the cold hard reality that Sheffield United is no longer a Football Club for people.

Mick will find employment in no time at all and of course I wish him well however difficult that could prove to be. I will be cancelling all of my SuperDraw memberships with immediate effect as Mick really was the only reason why I joined, it seemed like every time I bumped into him I’d signed up to something else that he was running.
One of kind and completely irreplaceable, Sheffield United is weaker because of this his next venture will certainly be stronger, wherever that is...

No doubt I’ll get my 8am Saturday call, telling me to get up and stop been a lazy chuff!

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I remember that on BU Gareth. Rooks really came through for you( and McCabe too if I recall correctly)

 

[Gareth]

Indeed... Rooks was, has and will continue to be amazing. He really was the true posative to come from such a difficult period in my life. He is now a true friend despite his constant advances on my wife.

You're right I did also meet McCabe... One conversation he suggested I should have patience, personally I think he's taking the piss now

 

[Rustyblade]

Family club, my arse.

Looks like things can only get......worse.

We're dying on our feet, aren't we?

 

[Sirius]

Beyond reason. All the best Mick, a great guy, always got time for every single Blade, whoever is behind this has made a serious, SERIOUS error of judgement.

Right now I feel that whoever is behind this should have gone instead of Mick. I never met youMick but you are a legend amongst true Blades.

 

[Princess Annes Dog]

Just another sign that our once proud club is well and truly on the way down the pan. We can't afford to pay players to play (thank goodness in the case of Monty), we have a manager resigned to losing one of our better players at any moment and now this.

You're better off out of it Rooks mate, fucking shambles of a companty being run by a clown. Get a job where you might be appreciated Mick, has to be an improvement on working your bollocks off for the way you were looked after.

Good luck for the future mate, hope you get sorted quickly and I hope you get something decent. Thanks for all the help over the years, much appreciated.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Not a good thing to happen. It really makes you wonder what the likes of McCarthy and Winter are up to taking their £70k plus salaries and decimating the life blood of the club, we have really sunk to a new low when people like Mick Rooker are forced to leave the club. FFS McCabe get a grip of the football club I know Winter has a decent pedigree Ive been told he didnt know what roles any of his staff performed and I cant see what McCarthy offers the club, wasnt he supposed to be something to with Sheffield FC which obviously makes him a prime candidate for a top job with SUFC its not what you know its who you know. we dont need them both surely

 

[LA Blade]

Wow, met him several times when I get back there and he would always help getting me tickets or whatever there.

 

[northernblade]

EDIT BY FOXY - Apologies, didn't see SotonBlade had already created a thread... Merged mine into this one...

Mick has left the club today which came as a shock to me. I've not needed the assistance of Mick, but I know plenty that have.

I know he posts on here and helps where he can. Just like to say all the best Rooks and I hope the club don't live to regret you leaving the club.

 

[northernblade]

BYE MICK
HILLSBOROUGH HERE YOU COME
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
always nice to people face to face
tell them what they want to hear and spend clubs money to help them
BYE

 

[Crouchy]

There's always a possibility that he's taken voluntary redundancy, but nevertheless, I think that Mick qualifies as a non-playing Blades Legend and I think that the club is poorer for his departure. Much poorer.

 

[Linz]

Not a good thing to happen. It really makes you wonder what the likes of McCarthy and Winter are up to taking their £70k plus salaries and decimating the life blood of the club...

It does appear that Foxy's plea for sensitivity until the final outcomes are known has fallen on deaf ears. The intention of the thread was to thank a man who, for whatever reason, isn't working for Sheffield United any more and may see the same happen to mates and colleagues. This isn't really the place for speculation as to who they may be.

What people need to remember is that just because we're talking about a football club doesn't mean we're talking about players on their £8k a week or whatever ridiculous amount they get. We're talking about people, Sheffield people in most instances, with kids to look after and mortgages to pay. Just because they work for a football club, it doesn't mean they're on the kinds of wages where redundancy is an opportunity for a spot of gardening leave.

What they do get for working for a football club is complete strangers, who profess to have no knowledge as to the day to day workings of the backroom team nor their job role, naming them on a public forum and saying they should lose their jobs.

Classy.

My view is that I hope all cost-cutting avenues were explored before redundancies of the "fixtures and fittings" had to be made, which is surely the final straw.

Do we need the ticket office to be open the hours it is? Would removing the booking fee from the online system encourage people to buy tickets that way, freeing up staff hours to use in other areas of the ground? Ditto shop. Both employ casual staff which are a shame to lose but that is the nature of casual work.

It's nice to have community groups using the pitch in the evenings, but do we actually see any cost benefit considering the wear and tear on the pitch, having to pay staff to be around, lights on etc.?

If we're really in a state, then knee-jerk reactions and short-term thinking won't get us anywhere.

 

[beightonblade]

Best wishes and good luck Mick. (and the rest)

Very sad day in the history of Sheffield United.

 

[shorehamview]

If ever a bloke deserved a statue it's Mick Rooker. I don't know anyone who knows him who has a bad word to say about him. I've met him once, and only briefly, but he was as nice to me as if he'd known me forever.

The answer to most fans' problems was "Ask Rooks, he'll help you out." Regardless of the reason for him leaving I'm sure we would all want to wish him the very best for the future, and thank him for all he has done in the past.

 

[Coily]

Very sad news that Mick has left the club.

When I had an issue with the club with regards my sons brick in the wall on John Street - which incidentally still looks poorly done but is by the by right now - Mick took the trouble to call and update me on what was happening which no one else at the club had bothered to do. I wish him well in his future career.

 

[Northyorksblade]

And how many people have garden fences and patios created and slaved over by Mick? Who's going to build those now eh Muttley et al?

 

[Crouchy]

And how many people have garden fences and patios created and slaved over by Mick? Who's going to build those now eh Muttley et al?

That's a damn good point. The tiling in my bathroom still looks brand new.

 

[chipsncake]

A massive error of judgement on behalf of the owner. To many Mick is Mr Sheffield United and the last person we should be looking at to be removed from the wages sheet.

Mr McCabe , it may not be too late to realise what a monumental mistake you have made, for once do the right thing and reinstate the man, it not only makes sense but will show us you are a human being after all.

 

[mattbianco1]

Never met the bloke but I know a few people that know him and all the stuff i've read on here is echoed by them.

It's a sad state that the club is currently in. I know two people personally that are in danger due to the whole predicament. Obviously I won't name them but it's worrying for them both. Afterall, we've all got cars and mortgages to pay for.

 

[ghandi]

A massive error of judgement on behalf of the owner. To many Mick is Mr Sheffield United and the last person we should be looking at to be removed from the wages sheet.

Mr McCabe , it may not be too late to realise what a monumental mistake you have made, for once do the right thing and reinstate the man, it not only makes sense but will show us you are a human being after all.

Mr McCabe will claim he isn't control of the day to day running of the club and the decision wasn't his unlike when there is any success (very little these days) he suddenly appears in a puff of smoke from Brussels.

 

[gavtheblade]

He did a lot for the disabled supporters club when my mum was running it a few years back,he always found time to sort out tickets and on some occasions even drop them off for us at home.
For the life of me,under which ever situation by which this has come to pass,sheffield united will regret this day,mark my words.
Thanks mick for your loyalty and service to this once great club,they dont deserve you pal.
Another nail in the bramall lane coffin,were going backwards.

 

[Bergen Blade]

My view is that I hope all cost-cutting avenues were explored before redundancies of the "fixtures and fittings" had to be made, which is surely the final straw.

Do we need the ticket office to be open the hours it is? Would removing the booking fee from the online system encourage people to buy tickets that way, freeing up staff hours to use in other areas of the ground? Ditto shop. Both employ casual staff which are a shame to lose but that is the nature of casual work.

It's nice to have community groups using the pitch in the evenings, but do we actually see any cost benefit considering the wear and tear on the pitch, having to pay staff to be around, lights on etc.?

If we're really in a state, then knee-jerk reactions and short-term thinking won't get us anywhere.

Probably some decent suggestions there, but I think we all know that the main problem is the wage bill of the playing staff. Fans, forum members and local media have been naive for years when it comes to United's money spending. People are realising now what a mistake it was to dish out ridiculous contracts to average players while plugging holes in the squad with multiple loan and short terms signings. But at the time, newspaper articles, forum posts, radio phone ins were foolishly uncritical of the financial aspect of our spending.

 

[Wapping Blade]

A massive error of judgement on behalf of the owner. To many Mick is Mr Sheffield United and the last person we should be looking at to be removed from the wages sheet.

Mr McCabe , it may not be too late to realise what a monumental mistake you have made, for once do the right thing and reinstate the man, it not only makes sense but will show us you are a human being after all.

It's not in anyone's hands to reinstate people in a redundancy situation (assuming that's what it is).

 

[chipsncake]

It's not in anyone's hands to reinstate people in a redundancy situation (assuming that's what it is).

Don't quite understand what you are saying. Can you expand a little please?

 

[essex blade]

BLADES LEGEND .

 

[Wapping Blade]

Don't quite understand what you are saying. Can you expand a little please?

Positions, not people get made redundant so the club has decided that various positions are no longer needed and these are formally declared in the redundancy process. If they reinstate one person without going through due process, all the other people being made redundant could claim unfair dismissal.

The one way to keep someone is to make a role that is exactly tailored to them so that they can re-apply for it but I suspect that if that is done too obviously then there would still be grounds for complaint.