How to replace CEO

[Ace Face]

Firstly apologies, I cannot read through all the posts, as I have a CV to write.

But at the Fans Forum I asked the question:
"when the BFC Board decided to invest £100,000 a year in backroom strengthening, what was the business benefits to be delivered as part of the business plan and where they delivered?" - BFC got a ticketing system installed and nothing else.

BFC cannot afford these salaries when we are losing approx £20,000 a week. The only way the CEO can be filled, is through self funding via commercial income. The CEO must be on £20k basic and then bonuses based on commercial revenue and company performance.

We are not Man U and cannot afford a CEO, just to improve the customer experience. We need someone who has and can stop the slide to administration and start to turn the club around. We need someone who will make hard decisions, with no job safe and every option explored to cut the running costs at BFC and GP.

The new CEO also needs to rally the troops and get back on side all the fans like myself who have a lot to offer, but walked away when scandal and dodgy deals became the norm. What other business has 5000 willing customers wanting to help make their supplier more profitable, by giving donations of time and money.

BFC I think has one last chance to get this right.

 

[WisBee]

BFC cannot afford these salaries when we are losing approx £20,000 a week. The only way the CEO can be filled, is through self funding via commercial income. The CEO must be on £20k basic and then bonuses based on commercial revenue and company performance.

We are not Man U and cannot afford a CEO, just to improve the customer experience. We need someone who has and can stop the slide to administration and start to turn the club around. We need someone who will make hard decisions, with no job safe and every option explored to cut the running costs at BFC and GP.

The new CEO also needs to rally the troops and get back on side all the fans like myself who have a lot to offer, but walked away when scandal and dodgy deals became the norm. What other business has 5000 willing customers wanting to help make their supplier more profitable, by giving donations of time and money.

BFC I think has one last chance to get this right.

:thetruth:

 

[Nigel Brooks]

Firstly apologies, I cannot read through all the posts, as I have a CV to write.

You've annoyed the people in Royal Mail HR again haven't you?

Nevermind postie on the Blackbird Leys estate isn't too bad lol

 

[abee]

We need someone who will make hard decisions, with no job safe and every option explored

Dear Bosh,

Thank you for your sound advice which has been noted.

The following decisions were not at all hard ......

1) You're fired

2) Your pension fund has been confiscated and put towards the ongoing losses.

Best regards

Your boss.

 

[Banana]

I have a CV to write.

1980-present
Sat around drinking tea

 

[bee1958]

GD quoted by Luke Johnson in the Sunday Telegraph today that the relationship between the CEO and the chairman is the most important in the company. Johnson also writes that Dyke got on well with Christopher Bland, because he was a toff, or words to that effect. Any new signing might be an interesting one..

 

[abee]

GD quoted by Luke Johnson in the Sunday Telegraph today that the relationship between the CEO and the chairman is the most important in the company.

If indeed Greg Dyke said that then it is a generalization and certainly does not apply to BFC where the most important relationship for GD (and indeed any chairman who is a titular chairman only and has no significant shareholding) is with the rest of his board. GD was offered the chairmanship of BFC presumably to bring some media savvy and publicity and he would have neither the time nor the inclination to turn around a small loss making business. I very much doubt if GD has much in the way of day to day contact with the BFC management and my guess is that he would have sought and been given assurances from Brian Burgess, Deputy Chairman BFC that others would deal with the "dirty stuff". My opinion is that GD will be happy to give some of his time and to lend the weight of his name in assisting with the local council and others in the drive for a new stadium but what "hands on" experiences he has in turning small businesses with a cash crunch around are not evident from his autobiography and is not why he is at Griffin Park. Indeed were we not told by Finch that he discussed and advised his "departure" directly with Brian Burgess which frankly was a gross breach of etiquette but again hardly surprising given the source. You do not "break the news" to a single non-executive director, you advise the chairman and the board simultaneously in these modern times by email having preceeded the email with a telephone call to the chairman.

My own belief is that a small, straightforward business such as BFC should now function with a General Manager with some decent line managers and watched over by perhaps two or three of the non-executives. Taking the decision to pay the extra monies for a CEO was one thing, but choosing a CEO with no disciplines and seemingly a zero interest in finance was a grave mistake and has cost us some serious dosh.

 

[bee1958]

It is indeed a generalization. The article was about boardroom infighting:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/03/19/ccluke19.xml

 

[shaggy]

I'm 95% certain he was quoting somthing from GD's autobiography, although I can't be bothered to go through the book to confirm it 100%.

I can't get that hung up about titles (although CEO seems a bit grandiose for little ol' Brentford, especially if he doesn't have responsibility for the playing staff), but with the rather large non-exec team I think a single point of contact is essential. I think I'm with abee on this one - a GM, and a clear sub-committee of non-execs to monitor, has to be the right idea.

Whilst everyone is wondering who the next CEO/GM should be, I'm left wondering which of the NEDs it should be! Perhaps we should start a GPG poll?

 

[WisBee]

Indeed were we not told by Finch that he discussed and advised his "departure" directly with Brian Burgess which frankly was a gross breach of etiquette but again hardly surprising given the source. You do not "break the news" to a single non-executive director, you advise the chairman and the board simultaneously in these modern times by email having preceeded the email with a telephone call to the chairman.

My own belief is that a small, straightforward business such as BFC should now function with a General Manager with some decent line managers and watched over by perhaps two or three of the non-executives. Taking the decision to pay the extra monies for a CEO was one thing, but choosing a CEO with no disciplines and seemingly a zero interest in finance was a grave mistake and has cost us some serious dosh.

........so when are you going to apply for it??????

 

[abee]

........so when are you going to apply for it??????

I haven't yet received the peerage that Bees United promised me for putting in £250k. :mad1:

I'm very disappointed and am planning to write to the Prime Minister who understands these things.

My new notepaper and businesscards are already printed and personally I thought that :

"Lord abee of Brentford "

had a certain ring to it.

 

[abee]

I'm 95% certain he was quoting somthing from GD's autobiography, although I can't be bothered to go through the book to confirm it 100%.

I can't get that hung up about titles (although CEO seems a bit grandiose for little ol' Brentford, especially if he doesn't have responsibility for the playing staff), but with the rather large non-exec team I think a single point of contact is essential. I think I'm with abee on this one - a GM, and a clear sub-committee of non-execs to monitor, has to be the right idea.

Whilst everyone is wondering who the next CEO/GM should be, I'm left wondering which of the NEDs it should be! Perhaps we should start a GPG poll?

But he does.

Take a look at the organisation chart on the club's website.

 

[WisBee]

I haven't yet received the peerage that Bees United promised me for putting in £250k. :mad1:

You poor misguided fool, you've totally misunderstood.....they have a little slipway on the Grand Union; THAT is the pierage that they were referring to!lol

I'm very disappointed and am planning to write to the Prime Minister who understands these things.

You'd best do that via Peter Foster, his wifes personal financial adviser, or Lord Levy (how apt!) his own mortgage broker (he can't be seen to be too close to anything remotely in 'the shade')......and perhaps if you're looking for a legal bod to do the paperwork, can I recommend a Mr Mills...?

My new notepaper and businesscards are already printed and personally I thought that :

"Lord abee of Brentford "

had a certain ring to it.

If you took one of the 'e's off the end of your name, you could call yourself Lord Abe........if I may say so, I think that has an even better ring to it....makes it sound as if you've just ridden into town and looking to join a cowboy outfit........

 

[shaggy]

But he does.

Take a look at the organisation chart on the club's website.

I stand corrected! Does this really apply in practice though? If Martin wants a player, does he ring up the CEO? I suspect he goes direct to Joe (re money) and (probably) BB. I don't particularly blame him either. I reckon MA reporting to the board on playing stuff, and a GM reporting to the board on non-playing stuff, would work quite well. Each could have their own "sub-commitee" of NEDs as their points of contact. Would increase acountability, reduce layers of unnecessary hierarchy, and hopefully introduce some focus.

 

[abee]

I stand corrected! Does this really apply in practice though? If Martin wants a player, does he ring up the CEO? I suspect he goes direct to Joe (re money) and (probably) BB. I don't particularly blame him either. I reckon MA reporting to the board on playing stuff, and a GM reporting to the board on non-playing stuff, would work quite well. Each could have their own "sub-commitee" of NEDs as their points of contact. Would increase acountability, reduce layers of unnecessary hierarchy, and hopefully introduce some focus.

The organization chart was greeted with ridicule (not least by myself) when it was published. It was clearly lifted from the "Organization Charts For Dummies" manual with the titles changed to fit in with the BFC job descriptions and was rather obviously put together by someone who had not a clue on what was required at Griffin Park. One thing that has surprised me is that Bees United having had months to prepare, seemingly had no structure in place for who would be doing what when the new board was constituted.

The individuals on the BFC board are all non-exec which is a mind numbing concept given that the only "executive" at BFC is effectively someone who has been "dead man walking" for months now and has been seemingly searching for a new position for a number of weeks without bothering to mention it to the full BFC board.

The Bees United board needs to get its act together pretty bloody quick and split the "problems" at BFC into three issues:

1) The survival of the football club business in the short and medium term

2) The Griffin Park improvements

3) The new stadium project

The most important of these of course is #1 as if that is not achieved then #2 and 3 become meaningless. There are three persons on the BFC board who have "hands on" experience of actually running a business and they are David Heath, Ian Jones and P O Emanuelsson. If they have or can make the time then they should be charged with re-structuring and re-staffing the business. Bob Lampert should be instructed to take over the preparation of the budget and monthly financials (under the supervision of Joseph Bourke) and if he cannot do that then we need to get someone in who can and review exactly what Lampert does . The wages function can be outsourced or a wages clerk brought in. John Herting can liase with Martin Allen and given an "immediate decision" authority level i.e. a one off spend of £5k maximum once every three months or a six month commitment of not more than £10k in total without onward reference to the other directors other than to advise after the fact. If he exceeds these limits without reference then it is knocked off his £250k loan which at least would ease the balance sheet if he screwed up. Brian Burgess can do the new stadium stuff and be told that he'll be shot on sight if he is seen meddling at Griffin Park; Greg Dyke can deal with media and publicity and be available to be wheeled out by BB if help is needed with the local council, developers or whoever. Jon Gosling to do what he does best which is communication.

That leaves Eddie Rogers and as I am in a benevolent mood this morning I would be prepared to allow him (given his appalling track record at BFC) to be transferred from the "Find And Destroy" file to a new file tabbed "Find Out What He Is Doing And Tell Him To Stop It Immediately".

There that's sorted and I would have thought that this would have been in place within ten minutes of the new board first convening. We are officially a "Club In Crisis" for God's sake and yet we are dancing around the maypole singing "Summer Is A Coming In".......only it ain't cuckoos loudly singing it's the vultures gathering.

 

[Wurzel Gummidge]

I stand corrected! Does this really apply in practice though? If Martin wants a player, does he ring up the CEO? I suspect he goes direct to Joe (re money) and (probably) BB. I don't particularly blame him either. I reckon MA reporting to the board on playing stuff, and a GM reporting to the board on non-playing stuff, would work quite well. Each could have their own "sub-commitee" of NEDs as their points of contact. Would increase acountability, reduce layers of unnecessary hierarchy, and hopefully introduce some focus.

Why would he go to BB?

 

[abee]

Why would he go to BB?

That was gonna be my next question but perhaps shaggy can tell us why he believes that Brian Burgess would or should be Finch's first port of call.

 

[rebus]

Brian Burgess can do the new stadium stuff and be told that he'll be shot on sight if he is seen meddling at Griffin Park

lol

 

[WisBee]

The organization chart was greeted with ridicule (not least by myself) when it was published. It was clearly lifted from the "Organization Charts For Dummies" manual with the titles changed to fit in with the BFC job descriptions and was rather obviously put together by someone who had not a clue on what was required at Griffin Park. One thing that has surprised me is that Bees United having had months to prepare, seemingly had no structure in place for who would be doing what when the new board was constituted.

The individuals on the BFC board are all non-exec which is a mind numbing concept given that the only "executive" at BFC is effectively someone who has been "dead man walking" for months now and has been seemingly searching for a new position for a number of weeks without bothering to mention it to the full BFC board.

The Bees United board needs to get its act together pretty bloody quick and split the "problems" at BFC into three issues:

1) The survival of the football club business in the short and medium term

2) The Griffin Park improvements

3) The new stadium project

The most important of these of course is #1 as if that is not achieved then #2 and 3 become meaningless. There are three persons on the BFC board who have "hands on" experience of actually running a business and they are David Heath, Ian Jones and P O Emanuelsson. If they have or can make the time then they should be charged with re-structuring and re-staffing the business. Bob Lampert should be instructed to take over the preparation of the budget and monthly financials (under the supervision of Joseph Bourke) and if he cannot do that then we need to get someone in who can and review exactly what Lampert does . The wages function can be outsourced or a wages clerk brought in. John Herting can liase with Martin Allen and given an "immediate decision" authority level i.e. a one off spend of £5k maximum once every three months or a six month commitment of not more than £10k in total without onward reference to the other directors other than to advise after the fact. If he exceeds these limits without reference then it is knocked off his £250k loan which at least would ease the balance sheet if he screwed up. Brian Burgess can do the new stadium stuff and be told that he'll be shot on sight if he is seen meddling at Griffin Park; Greg Dyke can deal with media and publicity and be available to be wheeled out by BB if help is needed with the local council, developers or whoever. Jon Gosling to do what he does best which is communication.

That leaves Eddie Rogers and as I am in a benevolent mood this morning I would be prepared to allow him (given his appalling track record at BFC) to be transferred from the "Find And Destroy" file to a new file tabbed "Find Out What He Is Doing And Tell Him To Stop It Immediately".

There that's sorted and I would have thought that this would have been in place within ten minutes of the new board first convening. We are officially a "Club In Crisis" for God's sake and yet we are dancing around the maypole singing "Summer Is A Coming In".......only it ain't cuckoos loudly singing it's the vultures gathering.

I assume that THIS is your application, then?.........


You've got my vote, for what it's worth

 

[chippendale]

Some of us have been trying to get abee on board for years, no such luck yet. At least BeeH has made the inner circle.

 

[WisBee]

Some of us have been trying to get abee on board for years, no such luck yet.

I'm trying to humour him into applying

 

[shaggy]

Why would he go to BB?

I never said he should go to BB, but its my impression that BB holds a position of power and hence MA would probably go to him. Maybe I'm wrong? Perhaps MA would go to ER on the basis of his historical position as Chairman? (calm down abee - its only a supposition, not a suggestion )

 

[shaggy]

...

The Bees United board needs to get its act together pretty bloody quick and split the "problems" at BFC into three issues:

1) The survival of the football club business in the short and medium term

2) The Griffin Park improvements

3) The new stadium project

The most important of these of course is #1 as if that is not achieved then #2 and 3 become meaningless.

...

There that's sorted and I would have thought that this would have been in place within ten minutes of the new board first convening. We are officially a "Club In Crisis" for God's sake and yet we are dancing around the maypole...

...

abee, its not always I say this about your posts, but for once

Lets hope the famous GD "Cut the crap, make it happen" attitude is in evidence in the near future.

 

[abee]

I never said he should go to BB, but its my impression that BB holds a position of power and hence MA would probably go to him. Maybe I'm wrong? Perhaps MA would go to ER on the basis of his historical position as Chairman? (calm down abee - its only a supposition, not a suggestion )

That's interesting shaggy and as you stood for election to the BFC board it is illuminating to me that you are (and presumably were) of the "impression" that somehow Brian Burgess holds more "power" than some or all of the other non-esecutive directors.

Can you expand on this for my benefit please and let me know if you believe that BB is effectively acting as an executive director at BFC whilst also remaining chairman of Bees United.

 

[teddbee]

Firstly apologies, I cannot read through all the posts, as I have a CV to write.

But at the Fans Forum I asked the question:
"when the BFC Board decided to invest £100,000 a year in backroom strengthening, what was the business benefits to be delivered as part of the business plan and where they delivered?" - BFC got a ticketing system installed and nothing else.

BFC cannot afford these salaries when we are losing approx £20,000 a week. The only way the CEO can be filled, is through self funding via commercial income. The CEO must be on £20k basic and then bonuses based on commercial revenue and company performance.

We are not Man U and cannot afford a CEO, just to improve the customer experience. We need someone who has and can stop the slide to administration and start to turn the club around. We need someone who will make hard decisions, with no job safe and every option explored to cut the running costs at BFC and GP.

The new CEO also needs to rally the troops and get back on side all the fans like myself who have a lot to offer, but walked away when scandal and dodgy deals became the norm. What other business has 5000 willing customers wanting to help make their supplier more profitable, by giving donations of time and money.

BFC I think has one last chance to get this right.

The whole bloody problem with Brentford is that we don't have enough customers who's experience we can improve! Sort out getting people in the door then talk about improving and branding Brentford. :sad:

 

[Luton Bee]

let me know if you believe that BB is effectively acting as an executive director at BFC whilst also remaining chairman of Bees United.

Well if Shaggy doesn't believe that, he is in a bit of a minority.

 

[abee]

Well if Shaggy doesn't believe that, he is in a bit of a minority.

I'm getting there in my own time and trying to tease it out.

I did not vote for Brian Burgess making all of the decisions at Griffin Park and acting as a "de facto" executive director at BFC.....(indeed he told me last September/October that he had no intention of going on to the BFC board).......we went down that route with John McGlashan thank you very much.

shaggy is saying that he is under the impression that Brian Burgess wields the power and now you Luton Bee are suggesting that the majority certainly believe that Burgess is effectively an executive director. My antennae started twitching when Finch advised us on the official web site no less that he had told Brian Burgess that he was leaving......WHAT!!!!...WHAT!!!!!.....but of course given shaggy's post and Luton Bee's comment that the majority believe that Burgess is now running the place it makes sense why Finch would ignore all normal etiquette and discuss with and hand in his resignation to Burgess.

Well that may be quite alright with the majority and Brian Burgess could well be the perfect person to do all of this stuff..........i.e take all of the corners and then run across before the ball arrives and head it in.........it's just that if has assumed control then I'd like to hear about it officially and see his credentials for doing the job and his authority for taking on the role.

 

[abee]

Messrs Finch and Wigley have now both been removed from the official site listings...shut the door on your way out Andy baby.......and no thanks for the ten months of mind numbing crap and incompetence. So that's another quick £75k down the tubes on Finch's "emoluments" since last May plus whatever he cost us through hiring directly and then fouling up Huw Wigley's termination.

I wonder which non-executive director will be writing the "eulogies" in Saturdays programme...where's my hero Bee H when I need him....

Nice job fellers......that's what I like to see......"Here's a black sack for your belongings Mr Finch and we've deducted the cost being 25p from your final pay-off which is erm....25p.........less the cost of the sack....leaving erm.....oh heck...here's a couple of quid for the bus fare home".

rofl

P.S.

Forgot to mention that the hilarious "organization chart" has also been removed from the official site. It looks as if finally.... at last..... not a moment too soon....why did we have to wait so long.........we have a sprinkling of businessmen on the BFC board who have decided that this crap has gone on quite long enough.

 

[Wurzel Gummidge]

I never said he should go to BB, but its my impression that BB holds a position of power and hence MA would probably go to him. Maybe I'm wrong? Perhaps MA would go to ER on the basis of his historical position as Chairman? (calm down abee - its only a supposition, not a suggestion )

Thats why i said 'why would he.....'

If BB holds a position of power, enough for MA to go to him, then there is a constitutional issue within BU to be resolved.

 

[abee]

Thats why i said 'why would he.....'

If BB holds a position of power, enough for MA to go to him, then there is a constitutional issue within BU to be resolved.

I am utterly and implacably opposed in principle to Brian Burgess or anyone else for that matter being the Chairman, Bees United and on the BFC board (where he has assumed the role of Deputy Chairman). This is not what it was supposed to be all about.

If the Bees United board is happy with this then please can they put on their website why they individually and collectively deem it acceptable, when and what discussions led to this decision and whether the voting was unanimous.

 

[Banana]

I wonder which non-executive director will be writing the "eulogies" in Saturdays programme....

Can I guess?

It can only be Greg can't it. It certainly can't be any of the BU appointed directors. After all they have strict guidelines to follow and certainly wouldn't be muddying any waters after the resolutions passed by the BU members at the last BU AGM.

Actually, on second thoughts we all know why abee is asking this question

 

[Banana]

I am utterly and implacably opposed in principle to Brian Burgess or anyone else for that matter being the Chairman, Bees United and on the BFC board (where he has assumed the role of Deputy Chairman). This is not what it was supposed to be all about.

If the Bees United board is happy with this then please can they put on their website why they individually and collectively deem it acceptable, when and what discussions led to this decision and whether the voting was unanimous.

I;ve heard this "Deputy Chairman" bit too. I've also attended all of the BU Board Meeting since September and have never witnessed a vote about this - nor a vote or discussion about BB going onto the BFC board. Unless, of course, it is/was deemed secret and therefore not for BU membership consumption!

 

[Paul USA]

Well some excellent news anyway - While speaking to people via telephonic means at BFC today I was advised that Mr Finch "Had now left the building for the last time" just some moments before I had called.

See what you have done Abee - You got us into this mess - You get us out of it !!

 

[GlasgowBee]

See what you have done Abee - You got us into this mess - You get us out of it !!

To be fair, the outgoing employees of BFC are the ones that have got us in this mess...it would appear that your comments are akin to shooting the messenger.

PS I hope that power is not going to peoples heads...deputy chairman indeed...since when did BFC adopt the Ben & Jerry principle of this is your job invent your own job title?

 

[abee]

Well some excellent news anyway - While speaking to people via telephonic means at BFC today I was advised that Mr Finch "Had now left the building for the last time" just some moments before I had called.

See what you have done Abee - You got us into this mess - You get us out of it !!

For the hundredth ****ing time it's abee.......

 

[Ace Face]

I have been notified of my interview date, it is the 6th April at the offices of the deputy chairman.

Of course my salary will dependent on bringing my team in with me. If I can it will be performance driven, if I can`t it will be large basic flat salary.

 

[abee]

I have been notified of my interview date, it is the 6th April at the offices of the deputy chairman.

Of course my salary will dependent on bringing my team in with me. If I can it will be performance driven, if I can`t it will be large basic flat salary.

Why don't you hit the ground running ahead of your appointment by starting to act like a proper BFC CEO and get some practice in by sending out sh*tty emails to every Brentford supporter who you can think of.........oh wait..............you already are......

...

 

[Banana]

Yeah Bish, and how about having unrealistic aims about your commercial deals - e.g. the whole population of the universe entering some World Cup prediction competition. And based on your over-optimism spend the entire marketing budget on promoting the idea

 

[Gee Bee]

If FInch has gone, I hope someone has taken ove rthe responsibility of phoning the Football Foundation Trust person every three days to see if our grant is still ok.

 

[Paul USA]

abee - You are of course very correct to put right the erroneous spelling I had used.

Sincere Apoligises

See you outside the Griffin on Saturday

 

[abee]

abee - You are of course very correct to put right the erroneous spelling I had used.

Sincere Apoligises

See you outside the Griffin on Saturday

If I have the time....... .....Bee H and I are doing a joint interview for a local paper.........Bee H will be expanding on how it feels as a new director to be called a "****er" by the official club journalist and I will be giving my opinion on being accused of being Bee H's "master" behind the scenes at Griffin Park by the same source which I suppose is a step up from being labelled a "liar and mischief maker" by this.....

(the rest of this post has been deleted by the moderators on the grounds that although true it is in bad taste)

 

[Nigel Brooks]

the official club journalist

How many times?

The sight of all those polyester ties has got to you young sir.

It's "failed drain company copywriter masquerading as official club journalist".

 

[larrysigny]

Why don't ........get some practice in by sending out sh*tty emails to every Brentford supporter who you can think of...........:

Is this in the style of the BFC director who also sends out this type of e-mail to supporters? And also publishes private e-mails?


Oh yes, and please - can you tell us who "the club's the official club journalist" is? I didn't know there was one. How much does the club spend on him? Does peter Gilham know about him?

 

[abee]

Is this in the style of the BFC director who also sends out this type of e-mail to supporters? And also publishes private e-mails?


Oh yes, and please - can you tell us who "the club's the official club journalist" is? I didn't know there was one. How much does the club spend on him? Does peter Gilham know about him?

Please go away.