Stephen Bettis speaks to local Media

[KMC-1889]

Oversees the day to day running of a business with over 300 full and part time employees?

Do we really need a CEO (and all the costs that come with that) to run what would be considered a small SME in any other industry?

Remember, if we believe everything we're told, he doesn't get involved in the football, the money or the infrastructure. You could recruit a half competent Head of Operations on £60-£100k to cover the remaining responsibilities. I've worked in SLTs in factories with 3-400 employees, 24/7 operations and more turnover than United and we've earned a fraction of what Bettis does.

 

[dexter101]

Do we really need a CEO (and all the costs that come with that) to run what would be considered a small SME in any other industry?

Remember, if we believe everything we're told, he doesn't get involved in the football, the money or the infrastructure. You could recruit a half competent Head of Operations on £60-£100k to cover the remaining responsibilities. I've worked in SLTs in factories with 3-400 employees, 24/7 operations and more turnover than United and we've earned a fraction of what Bettis does.

So who runs the company on a day to day basis? The board can't do that.

Unless you are suggesting Wilder is given complete control...

 

[KMC-1889]

So who runs the company on a day to day basis? The board can't do that.

Unless you are suggesting Wilder is given complete control...

That’s my point, you don’t need a ceo and the associated costs run a business day to day. That’s not what a ceo does.

I don’t think anyone at the club understands how anything works. They’re all just blagging it.

 

[dexter101]

That’s my point, you don’t need a ceo and the associated costs run a business day to day. That’s not what a ceo does.

I don’t think anyone at the club understands how anything works. They’re all just blagging it.

But you do need someone to run a business on a day to day basis. Whatever you call them, someone has to be in charge and be responsible. Someone has to take vision into strategy into delivery and make sure everyone below them is accountable.

This is why I don't get the fact that the board sacked Wilder, replaced him without any proper due diligence in the recruitment and got James Bord to oversee recruitment.

None of that should have been theirs to action. That is the role of the CEO to deliver. The board should have given the CEO instruction to take the football club in a different direction and Bettis then moved it forward. That way, he is then accountable for whether it has been done well or not.

Genuinely interested why you have said he isn't a money man. Surely that is his role, to run a business that is able to be as profitable as possible. Larger projects like Dore, he is tied in terms of what money is there to allocate to the project, but if we have £100m in the bank, he would then be able to move forward on these projects? At present, he can't because there isn't the money there and the owners aren't giving him the money to use.

 

[KMC-1889]

.Genuinely interested why you have said he isn't a money man. Surely that is his role, to run a business that is able to be as profitable as possible. Larger projects like Dore, he is tied in terms of what money is there to allocate to the project, but if we have £100m in the bank, he would then be able to move forward on these projects? At present, he can't because there isn't the money there and the owners aren't giving him the money to use.

I’m sat here furiously agreeing with you. That’s exactly what our CEO should be doing, but where is the evidence any of this exists? If our owners aren’t capable of defining a vision or a workable strategy why isn’t the CEO managing upwards and helping them create one? He’s been in place through a few promotions seasons so he should have a grip on what is needed? Or do we have to admit it was a combination of good form/momentum and a sprinkling of good fortune?

On top of this, his tone through any interview is to give a detailed explanation of a situation, and then when asked for a resolution it’d always someone else, either Wilder or the Owners.

 

[dexter101]

I’m sat here furiously agreeing with you. That’s exactly what our CEO should be doing, but where is the evidence any of this exists? If our owners aren’t capable of defining a vision or a workable strategy why isn’t the CEO managing upwards and helping them create one? He’s been in place through a few promotions seasons so he should have a grip on what is needed? Or do we have to admit it was a combination of good form/momentum and a sprinkling of good fortune?

On top of this, his tone through any interview is to give a detailed explanation of a situation, and then when asked for a resolution it’d always someone else, either Wilder or the Owners.

I get where you are coming from now

I suppose in his defence of his performance as CEO, he has been able to navigate an up and down 10 years and still end up with a business that it relatively stable, owner investment aside.

 

[I should coco]

Do we really need a CEO (and all the costs that come with that) to run what would be considered a small SME in any other industry?

Remember, if we believe everything we're told, he doesn't get involved in the football, the money or the infrastructure. You could recruit a half competent Head of Operations on £60-£100k to cover the remaining responsibilities. I've worked in SLTs in factories with 3-400 employees, 24/7 operations and more turnover than United and we've earned a fraction of what Bettis does.

Our turnover last year was £79m, which I'd say is larger than an SME.
We operate under a complex regulatory environment (Company Law, FA rules, EFL rules, H&S regs for a company with 30k regular 'visitors' etc, etc), and most importantly, we have a much higher public profile than might be expected for a £79m manufacturing company.

I think it's a bit much for a bloke on £60k, but I'm sure you will tell me otherwise.

 

[FH Team]

 

[Grandmanasty]

It’s quite depressing isnt it .

I, like thousands more , have followed Utd home and away since 1970 . My kids have had STs , I now go to the games alone as for one reason or another our once merry band of 8/10 have quit the crusade .

I’m not entitled - I love my club but I don’t bloody like them at the moment . It’s a depressing shit show and I have to be honest it wouldn’t bother me one bit if I didn’t go again .

Anyway - see you on Saturday

I’m starting to feel exactly the same, I’m sure a lot are.
I’ll still be going as it’s my release from reality these days and a chance to meet up with a few mates, have a few beers and talk shit.
But it’s going to be a tough watch this season.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Our turnover last year was £79m, which I'd say is larger than an SME.
We operate under a complex regulatory environment (Company Law, FA rules, EFL rules, H&S regs for a company with 30k regular 'visitors' etc, etc), and most importantly, we have a much higher public profile than might be expected for a £79m manufacturing company.

I think it's a bit much for a bloke on £60k, but I'm sure you will tel l me otherwise.

Great point. £79m turnover in a highly regulated industry with a balance sheet with assets that are constantly appreciating and/or depreciating is a highly complex organisation. I'd suggest as well the complex structure of our debt and leasing structure of real estate would suggest having a CEO with an accountancy background is actually the right way to go.

However, that doesn't really fit with the pervasive narrative which suggests he's a snake who enables Wilder to do his worst.

Sometimes our fans are very one dimensional with their thinking.

 

[KMC-1889]

I think it's a bit much for a bloke on £60k, but I'm sure you will tell me otherwise.

currently two Head of Operations vacancies in Sheffield, one in Construction and one in Food Manufacture, both over 400 employees in much stricter regulatory environments with challenges much larger than a football club will face. Salary banding across both roles is £85k - £155k p/a. A fraction of what we’re paying Bettis.

 

[Pedro Verde]

currently two Head of Operations vacancies in Sheffield, one in Construction and one in Food Manufacture, both over 400 employees in much stricter regulatory environments with challenges much larger than a football club will face. Salary banding across both roles is £85k - £155k p/a. A fraction of what we’re paying Bettis.

I would say Bettis is more of a Head of Operations than a CEO. Making sure the day to day running of the business runs smoothly

Most CEOs have more responsibility in the overall running of the business especially the big purchases, large infrastructure projects, the vision of the business the hiring and firing of Senior staff (CW)
Those CEOs are usually responsible to Shareholders.
Bettis isnt responsible for most of that
Bettis is responsible to our owners, they have the final say in the big decisions

 

[AWetFlannel]

This isn’t only a Wilder problem, it’s a United problem. As has been pointed out, I’m fairly confident that the only senior professionals we’ve made a profit on in the past 10 years are:
Aaron Ramsdale (in £12.7m, out ~£27m)
Bénie Traoré (in £2.5m, out ~£3.5m)
Anis Ben Slimane (in £0.7m, out £1.7m)
Auston Trusty (in £6m, out £7m)
Vini Souza (in £8.5m, out £12m)
Cal O’Hare (in ~£3m sign on, out £6.5m)

In the past 10 seasons, only Ramsdale, Souza and O’Hare provided a profit of over £1m in cash terms. The fundamental issue, as everyone is aware unless they’re in stage 7 of denial, is that we are not buying players with the right attributes to be successful and thus generate interest at higher levels.

Remember it being widely reported we made a profit on Ryan Leonard? I assume there are a few more.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

What do you thinks CEO’s job/responsibility should be ? He’ll earning a significant salary to do that job.

I don’t accept that he’s not responsible (at least in part) for why we are where we are today. He’s been a constant throughout the last 10 years and I’m not convinced he’s done a good job.

Money’s always been tight at United even with the Premier League millions. I don’t think it’s reasonable for anybody to foresee a roof built 20 years ago would require millions spending on it down the road 20 years later.

Also given the pressure by the fans to spend any money we do have on the playing squad, can you imagine the grief he’d have got if it was revealed we were sat on millions of pounds of rainy day money which could have been spent on players that may have kept us up at various points during our history?

I’ve always been pleased we’ve got Bettis who clearly knows what he’s on with, with everything from transfer sell on clauses to planning forward with the academy. You only had to look down the road at Wednesday to see what happens if you don’t have someone running things who knows what they’re doing.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

currently two Head of Operations vacancies in Sheffield, one in Construction and one in Food Manufacture, both over 400 employees in much stricter regulatory environments with challenges much larger than a football club will face. Salary banding across both roles is £85k - £155k p/a. A fraction of what we’re paying Bettis.

How do you know what he’s being paid?

 

[KMC-1889]

How do you know what he’s being paid?

Total Director renumeration is in the accounts. We only have one Director.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Total Director renumeration is in the accounts. We only have one Director.

So what’s he being paid?

 

[Sean Thornton]

currently two Head of Operations vacancies in Sheffield, one in Construction and one in Food Manufacture, both over 400 employees in much stricter regulatory environments with challenges much larger than a football club will face. Salary banding across both roles is £85k - £155k p/a. A fraction of what we’re paying Bettis.

What are we paying him?

 

[Bladeloyal]

What are we paying him?

In the last accounts 160k and that's with his pension contributions

 

[Bladeloyal]

In the last accounts 160k and that's with his pension contributions

Should think private .medical cover and other benefits on top

 

[Sean Thornton]

In the last accounts 160k and that's with his pension contributions

I know. I was asking KMC. It’s within his ranges.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Remember it being widely reported we made a profit on Ryan Leonard? I assume there are a few more.

Any profit on Leonard probably didn’t even cover a month’s Peroni bill.

 

[KMC-1889]

I know. I was asking KMC. It’s within his ranges.

Last year was £161k, unreported in previous years.

 

[Nedski]

 

[Upton_Blade]

Last year was £161k, unreported in previous years.

Kind of goes against your statement in a previous post then.

urrently two Head of Operations vacancies in Sheffield, one in Construction and one in Food Manufacture, both over 400 employees in much stricter regulatory environments with challenges much larger than a football club will face. Salary banding across both roles is £85k - £155k p/a. A fraction of what we’re paying Bettis.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

Bettis is the best CEO we’ve had in my 35 years watching United, by an absolute mile. We would suffer massively if he left, he’s the one who’s kept us afloat for the past 10 years and within the financial rules that so many other clubs have broken..whilst dealing with 2 sets of crazy owners.

My only criticism of him is not holding the recruitment staff accountable and not putting in a Sporting Director type role.

Otherwise I’m perfectly happy with him, and fair play to him to have the balls to come on the radio and answer those questions honestly, I’m not sure many other CEO’s would do that.

 

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Should think private .medical cover and other benefits on top

Thank goodness it's private medical cover and not the club medical department cover.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I pointed out the new charge at the time, without actually reading it. Just as our resident accounting expert has done. Yet again it seems. I was corrected by de g.

“Now open the Charge details document and read. It lists the specific assets to which the Charge applies in Schedule 2. This has only the hotel site, not the stadium as a whole”

Without looking again is it regarding the hotel company share held by United/BL?

 

[KMC-1889]

Kind of goes against your statement in a previous post then.

So we agree he shouldn’t be appointed as the CEO and should be head of operations?

 

[Sean Thornton]