FAO Rooks

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The departure of Rooks (however it's come about) is totally at odds with all the recent talk about making SUFC all about the people again and that's a huge shame.

Haven't dealt with Mick for years now but during my school years when I was forever at the Lane buying coach tickets etc, he was always friendly and helpful. He also used to ask after someone whose identity still remains a mystery to this day. "How's he doing?", "How's his job going?", "Say hello to him for me won't you?" - I was too shy to ask who he was on about so would always repy with "He's fine", "Will do" etc. I'd love to know who it was?!

All the best Mick, you'll be sadly missed at the Lane.

Also hope that all the other less well known peole who've lost their jobs find work again soon.

UTB
 



Wapping Blade said:
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.
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Bow to your superior knowledge on this subject, however as you suggest there are always ways and means and should McCabe see the light I don't think he'd have a problem getting Mick back on board.
 
Take him on at left back then cheaper and probably better than one of the half dozen we've already got :)
 
chipsncake said:
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.
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Assuming of course that he was pushed and didn't go voluntarily....
 
Not wanting to speculate on what I see as a matter between employer and employee, I will just comment on Rooks

Back in the early '90's (when we had the thin striped black, red and white kit) we had our end of season awards night for Calver U12's. Our manager had contacted SUFC and they duly obliged sending Mick Rooker, Andy Daykin and Bob Booker. Obviously Bob Booker was great, a hero. Daykin was decent enough but Mick Rooker was just a lovely bloke. He then organised a day trip to the lane, did the full tour and played 5 a side in the shed at the back of the car park (where the hotel Car Park is now). We then finished just in time for the players finishing training and heading back to the club for lunch. Photo ops with Vinny, Beesley and Deano. Top day.

A few years later, during a Derby game at the lane, the 0-0 I found myself outside the ground (i'd been kicked out, some of the lads in our group had air horns) and was just hanging around wondering how i'd watch the game. The game was underway and Mick Rooker walked past. I mentioned my misfortune and that he'd been to our awards night some years before. He remembered me and just took me and my mate into some back room in the South Stand where the game was on TV (it was being recorded by TV for BBC or SKY to be shown later that evening)

A while later me and my dad decided to sponsor an away kit, we chose new signing Barry Hayles. He was sold after a couple of games! It was Mick Rooker and Alistair who called and they couldn't have been more helpful. We ended up with Leigh Bromby for 3 seasons.

Then several years on, I saw him in the Exec suite. He remembered all of the previous encounters.

Mick Rooker is what Sheffield United are all about, he's always been very helpful and has been a delight to deal with over the years. Always has time for a chat and just a genuinely nice bloke.

I've also found Alistair in the commercial department to be great to deal with.

Good luck to Rooks, you've been a true ambassador for the club and its fans who've had the pleasure to deal with you!
 
SwissBlade said:
Not wanting to speculate on what I see as a matter between employer and employee, I will just comment on Rooks

Back in the early '90's (when we had the thin striped black, red and white kit) we had our end of season awards night for Calver U12's. Our manager had contacted SUFC and they duly obliged sending Mick Rooker, Andy Daykin and Bob Booker. Obviously Bob Booker was great, a hero. Daykin was decent enough but Mick Rooker was just a lovely bloke. He then organised a day trip to the lane, did the full tour and played 5 a side in the shed at the back of the car park (where the hotel Car Park is now). We then finished just in time for the players finishing training and heading back to the club for lunch. Photo ops with Vinny, Beesley and Deano. Top day.

A few years later, during a Derby game at the lane, the 0-0 I found myself outside the ground (i'd been kicked out, some of the lads in our group had air horns) and was just hanging around wondering how i'd watch the game. The game was underway and Mick Rooker walked past. I mentioned my misfortune and that he'd been to our awards night some years before. He remembered me and just took me and my mate into some back room in the South Stand where the game was on TV (it was being recorded by TV for BBC or SKY to be shown later that evening)

A while later me and my dad decided to sponsor an away kit, we chose new signing Barry Hayles. He was sold after a couple of games! It was Mick Rooker and Alistair who called and they couldn't have been more helpful. We ended up with Leigh Bromby for 3 seasons.

Then several years on, I saw him in the Exec suite. He remembered all of the previous encounters.

Mick Rooker is what Sheffield United are all about, he's always been very helpful and has been a delight to deal with over the years. Always has time for a chat and just a genuinely nice bloke.

I've also found Alistair in the commercial department to be great to deal with.

Good luck to Rooks, you've been a true ambassador for the club and its fans who've had the pleasure to deal with you!
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Alistair to some extent was a mini Rooks, loved the Blades, set off as an office junior and worked his way up to running the commercial department. He also left last season, jumped before he was politely pushed so to speak.

Raise a glass to the lads and lasses who have/will have to leave jobs at their dream employer.

Good luck in the Future Rooks, just don't follow Mr Daykin to the Pork factory.
 
Didn't Alistair (Wilson) leave to be SWFC's ticket manager; probably recommend by Daykin?

Would not be surprised to see Rooker turn up over there too. Everyone needs to pay the bills I am afraid.

Such a shame that some of the heart of the club is being ripped out of it but it is much easier to make staff like these redundant than players...what a shame we can't make 6 or 7 players redundant instead. Seems like Cresswell and Montgomery will sit and take their wages/contract to the end of the season (can't blame them - not them that offeresd them the contracts); that may mean even more people like those mentioned sadly leaving the club.

Going to be a tough, tough few years for this club and it could be a long, long time before we get back to some kind of steady financial footing. Sadly, the product that matters; on the pitch will carry on decling I feel as that is the area that we can make the most savings (eventually - between now and end of season - Quinn, Maguire, Doyle, Collins and any more of the decent/steady players will move on).

Nothing we can do. You just keep supporting them but the total and utter lack of statements/noise from McCabe says it all. They continue to treat us like mugs (nothing on the Cresswell/Monty, nothing in TC/Rooker, nothing on anything). You could maybe get away with it in the olden days but now with Twitter/Facebook and the internet generally; everybody knows and rumours are rife. Surely McCabe has to come out and say something (certaiinly about the embarrasing Monty/Cresswell situation after Wilson's comments)? Has anyone heard anything since his brief comments after the Huddersfield game? (he was at the Shrews game last week incidentally).
 
Related to the silence eminating from the club, I did want to add something.

I know he has been criticised and defended on here aswell, but I really am aghast at to what our communications manager actually does? This is not related to redundancies and not wanting to get into who should stay or go before I am criticised; it is more related to the commnication from the club to the people who are the heart blood, the fans.

We have the least amount of communication we have ever had in the last 12-18 months from the club? I dont get this 'just e mail him' either? Surely his role is to communicate and make the clubs fans closer to the club and give us knowledge of what actually goes on and it should not be about individuals or little group gatherigns in pubs (that are invite only and almost resemble a secret club - do these still happen by the way). What happened to these events? I know that Foxy/Linz used to do a great job of reporting minutes etc but not seen anything from any such events for a long time. Have they been abandoned?

Going back to the communications manager; I have never heard him on Radio Sheffield? Never seen any statements from him on the website? I am not actually sure what his role is. Incidentally you could say the same about some of our players. It is not an attack on aperson and maybe he has guidelines what he can say but the very title ' communication' suggests there should be some from him or someone at the club. Poor.
 
Concur with all the above. Three seasons in a row, my lad was mascot at Fratton Park for the Blades v Pompey, including the infamous Lino-punch-out game. Mick organised this (not the lino getting smacked, like) and he was the commensurate professional and a great bloke to deal with - someone who had every fan, however distant - very much in mind.

Wish him the very best in all he does and thanks.

pommpey
 
Deadbat said:
I know he has been criticised and defended on here aswell, but I really am aghast at to what our communications manager actually does? This is not related to redundancies and not wanting to get into who should stay or go before I am criticised; it is more related to the commnication from the club to the people who are the heart blood, the fans.
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The redundancies have effected a large ranging cross section of staff at the lane, including those charged with the job of communicating first hand with supporters whilst their jobs are at risk. I'd say, with the best of intentions, that communication to fans from anyone in such a situation would be at the very least incredibly difficult and sensitive and that's before you take into consideration any potential restrictions placed on them from those making the cuts.

It's also safe to say that the majority of jobs at the club aren't quite as simple as the original public facing side to them.

Deadbat said:
What happened to these events? I know that Foxy/Linz used to do a great job of reporting minutes etc but not seen anything from any such events for a long time. Have they been abandoned?
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Most in depth communication and constructive dialogue have understandably been put on hold in the immediate past, with everyone involved potentially effected by the cuts. At the present time, I don't know if any of those channels and opportunities will re-appear, nor if any of the plans and discussions already in progress aren't just dead in the water so to speak.

As of this evening, I couldn't tell you who is left at the club, I've merely heard about a few departures second hand.

Quite frankly, at this moment in time, the jobs and livelihoods of fellow Blades are far more important than pushing for communication on less important matters. Once "the dust has settled" so to speak, I'll be finding out just what is likely to happen going forward.

As I've said previously, now certainly isn't the time to be calling out individuals and without in depth knowledge of the daily workings it's certainly not the time to be discussing people's roles...

It's not over yet, some people woke up this morning (in some instances, didn't really get any sleep) without a job.

Most of them are just like you and me, only we've mainly got Clinton Morrison to whinge about.
 
Foxy, it's not just this last few weeks is it though? What meaningful communication have we heard from Batho since he took on his role?
 
Highbury_Blade said:
Foxy, it's not just this last few weeks is it though? What meaningful communication have we heard from Batho since he took on his role?
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Which role would that be?

The one he originally took up as a consultant, or the one he did afterwards?

The point being, most people currently calling people out don't have the foggiest what these people do, nor is it their fault that they don't, but the point remains...

It's certainly not the time, nor the place to debating the merits or otherwise of individuals currently going through the problems at the Lane.

I'm not deliberately being obtuse and some of these debates are for another day... You all know I don't run this place to censor people, but please have some respect for the people involved.

This thread was created with the intentions of thanking a man who sadly left our club yesterday, a man who has supported the club since being a young boy and who has spent years grafting for our club with a smile on his face.

This smile remained whilst taking abuse from those who didn't necessarily understand what he did, or those who had their own agendas.

This man isn't alone (though there is only one of him!) and he's not the only one in his position right now.
 
Fine, i'll leave it for tonight, and place my comments in another thread.
 
Foxy said:
The redundancies have effected a large ranging cross section of staff at the lane, including those charged with the job of communicating first hand with supporters whilst their jobs are at risk. I'd say, with the best of intentions, that communication to fans from anyone in such a situation would be at the very least incredibly difficult and sensitive and that's before you take into consideration any potential restrictions placed on them from those making the cuts.

It's also safe to say that the majority of jobs at the club aren't quite as simple as the original public facing side to them.

Most in depth communication and constructive dialogue have understandably been put on hold in the immediate past, with everyone involved potentially effected by the cuts. At the present time, I don't know if any of those channels and opportunities will re-appear, nor if any of the plans and discussions already in progress aren't just dead in the water so to speak.

As of this evening, I couldn't tell you who is left at the club, I've merely heard about a few departures second hand.

Quite frankly, at this moment in time, the jobs and livelihoods of fellow Blades are far more important than pushing for communication on less important matters. Once "the dust has settled" so to speak, I'll be finding out just what is likely to happen going forward.

As I've said previously, now certainly isn't the time to be calling out individuals and without in depth knowledge of the daily workings it's certainly not the time to be discussing people's roles...

It's not over yet, some people woke up this morning (in some instances, didn't really get any sleep) without a job.

Most of them are just like you and me, only we've mainly got Clinton Morrison to whinge about.
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I'm really not following this line of argument. Isn't it exactly what you appoint a communications officer for - to communicate often very difficult and sensitive information at critical times? Otherwise it's just kind of feels like a propaganda officer who only reports stuff that is 'on message'. I'm also a bit confused by the argument that the fact that jobs & livelihoods are on the line means that it is less important to push for communication. Surely if someone as iconic as Mick Rooker is leaving, communication of some sort is pretty damn crucial?

I think the confusion here is between detailed knowledge of the termination of individual contractual details (not required or necessary) and the importance of treating the supporters with a modicum of respect. Let's face it, we have all endured enough 'difficult times' in the last few years to have earned the right to have some form of statement to let us know the latest context and actions the club is taking?
 



BaldeRunner said:
I'm really not following this line of argument. Isn't it exactly what you appoint a communications officer for - to communicate often very difficult and sensitive information at critical times? Otherwise it's just kind of feels like a propaganda officer who only reports stuff that is 'on message'. I'm also a bit confused by the argument that the fact that jobs & livelihoods are on the line means that it is less important to push for communication. Surely if someone as iconic as Mick Rooker is leaving, communication of some sort is pretty damn crucial?
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Shouldn't most of that be directed at the higher powers though, rather than picking out the at risk individuals and asking for justification of their role?

I was talking more about the regular communication and raising of issues in and around the day to day running and fan's experience of the club, something evidently a little difficult when the whole place is being swept through with job losses. This communication obviously also opens up the potential for an explanation on the situation, which, as I understand is still ongoing or has mainly only just happened.

It's important indeed to push for communication on the whole situation, if anyone would like to point out to me which of the potentially jobless chaps I should push for this communication the day after they've potentially been made redundant, feel free, I'll drop that one a text.

I've already spoken to one whilst under the incorrect assumption he was still an employee :(

When I've heard more of the fall out and discovered who still has a job, I'll get right on it.

BaldeRunner said:
I think the confusion here is between detailed knowledge of the termination of individual contractual details (not required or necessary) and the importance of treating the supporters with a modicum of respect. Let's face it, we have all endured enough 'difficult times' in the last few years to have earned the right to have some form of statement to let us know the latest context and actions the club is taking?
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Again, who should be called out on this? the employee or possibly ex-employee who is right in the middle of the process and at risk, or the one swinging the sword?
 
BaldeRunner said:
I'm really not following this line of argument. Isn't it exactly what you appoint a communications officer for - to communicate often very difficult and sensitive information at critical times? Otherwise it's just kind of feels like a propaganda officer who only reports stuff that is 'on message'. I'm also a bit confused by the argument that the fact that jobs & livelihoods are on the line means that it is less important to push for communication. Surely if someone as iconic as Mick Rooker is leaving, communication of some sort is pretty damn crucial?

I think the confusion here is between detailed knowledge of the termination of individual contractual details (not required or necessary) and the importance of treating the supporters with a modicum of respect. Let's face it, we have all endured enough 'difficult times' in the last few years to have earned the right to have some form of statement to let us know the latest context and actions the club is taking?
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I think this is absolutely correct.

I have been made redundant 3 times from very well paying jobs. The first time because the company I worked for was taken over and the other two from a v large international firm that frankly have done an SUFC and screwed up. They have since been acquired by someone else and are a shadow of their former self.

I didn't like being told that I was being selected for redundancy at Christmas. The second time was appalling. But had that business been in the entertainments business rather than an engineering consultancy plc I would expect an announcement to be made. At the moment it would appear SUFC are in crisis and with Wednesday doing well the spectre has to be them being promoted again and us struggling in this league or worse.

The least the club could have done is come out with some public bullshit about restructuring, very difficult times etc without being too specific. My former employer did it through the stock exchange (for investors) perhaps SUFC never did the same. As I don't live in Sheffield I don't know, but from reading on here it looks like this has not happened and for that the buck stops with McCabe. He's the boss. Sort it.
 
Foxy said:
Shouldn't most of that be directed at the higher powers though, rather than picking out the at risk individuals and asking for justification of their role?

I was talking more about the regular communication and raising of issues in and around the day to day running and fan's experience of the club, something evidently a little difficult when the whole place is being swept through with job losses. This communication obviously also opens up the potential for an explanation on the situation, which, as I understand is still ongoing or has mainly only just happened.

It's important indeed to push for communication on the whole situation, if anyone would like to point out to me which of the potentially jobless chaps I should push for this communication the day after they've potentially been made redundant, feel free, I'll drop that one a text.

I've already spoken to one whilst under the incorrect assumption he was still an employee :(

When I've heard more of the fall out and discovered who still has a job, I'll get right on it.

Again, who should be called out on this? the employee or possibly ex-employee who is right in the middle of the process and at risk, or the one swinging the sword?
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I think we are at cross purposes. I'm not suggesting that it is your role personally to get the answers from anyone. I completely agree that approaching any individuals at this time could prove to be very sensitive. I meant 'the club' i.e. those making the decisions should be the ones to provide some context. I won't, however, be holding my breath.

Also wanted to say that Mick Rooker was a personal hero of my mum. She was a season ticket holder and travelled to many away games as well. In her declining & more confused years before she passed away I know she used to telephone him quite frequently about tickets and travel arrangements that I am sure were completely outside his remit! He was never anything but helpful and patient with her and always sorted her out. It was much appreciated and I hope the club make a public statement and acknowledgement of his contribution in helping many other such fans over many years.
 
Working as a communications manager for McCabe at BDTBL.?
Only if yer desperate or stark raving bonkers!!! .
 
Rustyblade said:
Foxy, you said, 'going forward'.

Linz, that's grounds for divorce.
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He's worked in the corporate bull-shit environment of a successful school... He knows the lingo I'm afraid. I do occasionally have to shake him. He does eventually snap out of it :D

He particularly likes me correcting his "skedule" to "shedule" and his usage of less v. fewer.
 
Linz said:
He's worked in the corporate bull-shit environment of a successful school... He knows the lingo I'm afraid. I do occasionally have to shake him. He does eventually snap out of it :D

He particularly likes me correcting his "skedule" to "shedule" and his usage of less v. fewer.
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The fewer times he does it the less annoyed you'll be with him, eh?

;)
 
According to his post on Bladesmad, McCabe wants him to continue 'Being Mick Rooker'. Is that his official Job Title now? :D
 
Highbury_Blade said:
According to his post on Bladesmad, McCabe wants him to continue 'Being Mick Rooker'. Is that his official Job Title now? :D
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Under what name does McCabe post on Bladesmad?


BTW I think you will find that Rooks posted something very similar on this forum
 



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