A very good start from Ken Hodcroft

Mr Irrelevant · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:25 pm **Posts:** 22659

This is possibly the most open and insightful thing I've ever read from him. A step towards a more open relationship between the club and the fans?

Quote:

From The Boardroom With Ken Hodcroft
Posted on: Sat 20 Sep 2008

With chaos on the world stock markets, consumer spending down, the credit crunch starting to really bite and travel companies going bust it's comforting to know that the world of football is no different.Supporter confidence down, chaos in the boardroom, food and drink sales down and managers losing their jobs - and that's just one club up the road.So who really is in charge of a football club?

"One person alone cannot manage a football club and scout the country for players and stars of the future.It needs a structure and it needs people who are dedicated to the task. It needs all members of the management team to share that vision for that to work" - so stated Mike Ashley in his comprehensive statement about the events at Newcastle United released on Sunday. Whether you agree or not with the Newcastle situation or how it has been handled the above quote is absolutely true. Mr Ashley goes on to say how important it is to get the economics right in any business - including football - even though he was prepared to lose up to £20m per season. He needed to control that loss. He said £20m maximum and no more.
Article continues
Advertisement

HUFC is no different.This Club, albeit on a smaller scale, runs at a loss and it has to ensure that that loss is controlled. Based on that philosophy it is not possible to let any one individual become bigger than the Club nor for any employee to ask for more than is available. When a club or a business runs at a loss all income goes into one pot and is used for all sorts of things. Just because you get income from one department in a club it does not mean it is available just for that department to spend.

Whether income versus expenditure was the key issue that caused the chaos in Newcastle will probably never be known but Clubs who fail to recognise such a key point will end up in administration - causing job losses (including players) and a points deduction by the Football League.

Control of economics dictates the control of all spending at a football club (and any business). With the prediction of lower gates and fans tightening their football belts it is prudent that clubs, especially HUFC with its limited income and fan base, plan and cut their cloth accordingly. The assets (office personnel, players and cash) this Club has both on and off the field must be used correctly and maximised to their full potential during such economic gloom. That includes ensuring all agreements in place are cost effective.

The recent dispute with the Hartlepool Mail is about acceptable economics, it was not about the Club asking for copyright of photographs, payment for taking photographs or any of the other incorrect statements made by the Northern Echo (who for some reason decided to fight the Mail's position without knowing the facts) or the inaccuracies stated on the various message boards. The situation with the Mail is moving (hopefully) toward a resolution with just one point to clarify. HUFC sincerely hope that it will be resolved to everyone's satisfaction and is a win-win situation. That is the way it should be in all aspects of running this Club.Everyone has to have that as their goal.

Of course, a one-sided win in HUFC's favour is the aim on the pitch - but that is the only place it is acceptable within the running of the Club.

As Ashley said no-one can run the Club on their own and no-one can expect to dictate terms. Constructive discussions are the way forward but once decisions are made everyone needs to focus accordingly. In the world economic market the huge banks expected to make profit on profit by managing their economics recklessly.Some have now failed and others will follow, countries and governments are wondering what will happen next.Stock markets are in free fall (as is the price of oil!). Football clubs are not immune to the same economic fate. We will do our best at HUFC to minimise such risk and consequently spending on players, infrastructure and investment will be selective and only when fully justified.

Support the team and Club to the full as in these difficult times whether on or off the pitch everyone needs support and any criticism that is not constructive doesn't help. Everyone needs to pull in the same direction and realise the seriousness of economic mismanagement. The next three games, the first against today's opponents Oldham and then away at Leeds and Leicester, will not be easy but we do have the players to achieve the desires we all have and to make the opposition worry about us. We have the Club's philosophy to keep the economics under control. Hopefully we will be well placed to continue to move forward this season.

Enjoy today's game and a warm welcome to all who have travelled the short distance from Oldham.

Spender · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:31 pm

He's no duck egg that bloke, is he? clappp

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

Maybe we should let Hodcroft interfere and choose what subs to bring on?

Couldnt be any worse than that clueless 'lovely lovely person' in charge.

Spender · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:50 pm

Tree_With_Hamster wrote:

Maybe we should let Hodcroft interfere and choose what subs to bring on?

Couldnt be any worse than that clueless c*** in charge.

That's not even entertaining it's just for the attention innit?? :roll:

Very poor. Hopefully it's the beer talking. confised

EddTheDuck · **Joined:** Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:07 pm **Posts:** 96

Quote:

From The Boardroom With Ken Hodcroft

Support the team and Club to the full as in these difficult times whether on or off the pitch everyone needs support and any criticism that is not constructive doesn't help. Everyone needs to pull in the same direction

Tree_With_Hamster wrote:

Maybe we should let Hodcroft interfere and choose what subs to bring on?

Couldnt be any worse than that clueless c*** in charge.

Spot the difference.

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:52 pm

EddTheDuck wrote:

Spot the difference.

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

katcha · **Posted:** Sun Sep 21, 2008 7:50 am

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:24 am

Well said Mr Hodcroft. clappp

ronaldo · **Joined:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:53 pm **Posts:** 861

Always the same with the boss though? When things are going down the tubes they are your friend. He is using the state of the country for problems of falling gates at pools when the real reason is failings on and off the pitch. Poor signings , Bad PR and a ground and club shop that does not maximise potential revenue.

Too little too late KEN!!

Cornelius Atweasle · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:54 pm

ronaldo wrote:

Always the same with the boss though? When things are going down the tubes they are your friend. He is using the state of the country for problems of falling gates at pools when the real reason is failings on and off the pitch. Poor signings , Bad PR and a ground and club shop that does not maximise potential revenue.

Too little too late KEN!!

Phew. That'll upset the "Mr Hodcroft" crowd. :shock:

Tin hats on. :laugh:

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:55 pm

ronaldo wrote:

Always the same with the boss though? When things are going down the tubes they are your friend. He is using the state of the country for problems of falling gates at pools when the real reason is failings on and off the pitch. Poor signings , Bad PR and a ground and club shop that does not maximise potential revenue.

Too little too late KEN!!

and thrice stpid

grabec · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:27 pm

I think what Ronaldo might be getting at is that KH could make this sort of overture quite often, if he was minded to, in response to public opinion. In fact, he usually does so only when gates are down or something similar. That seems to me a fair point.

Again it's no use KH criticising the Echo for supporting the Mail 'without knowing the facts', when the Echo, so as to make an informed decision, kept approaching the Club to find out what the facts were, but got no response

Mr Irrelevant · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:25 pm **Posts:** 22659

grabec wrote:

Again it's no use KH criticising the Echo for supporting the Mail 'without knowing the facts', when the Echo, so as to make an informed decision, kept approaching the Club to find out what the facts were, but got no response

An excellent point.

Hugh's Left Foot · **Joined:** Wed May 07, 2008 5:45 pm **Posts:** 130

grabec wrote:

Again it's no use KH criticising the Echo for supporting the Mail 'without knowing the facts', when the Echo, so as to make an informed decision, kept approaching the Club to find out what the facts were, but got no response

True, but that doesn't excuse the Echo printing something as fact when (If KH is to be believed) it wasn't. Responsible journalism is all i ask for.

grabec · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:38 pm

Hugh's Left Foot wrote:

grabec wrote:

Again it's no use KH criticising the Echo for supporting the Mail 'without knowing the facts', when the Echo, so as to make an informed decision, kept approaching the Club to find out what the facts were, but got no response

True, but that doesn't excuse the Echo printing something as fact when (If KH is to be believed) it wasn't. Responsible journalism is all i ask for.

You could well be right, but I'm not sure which particular Echo statement(s) you mean, Hugh?

Anyway, the point I was making was that KH has a policy of lack of openness which seems to be often unnecessary...but he doesn't mind if it alienates people unless there's some adverse come-back on him or the Club.
If you're right, then the secrecy muddied the waters in a way which was then exploited to KH's advantage. The Echo couldn't be expected simply to remain silent on an issue which seemed to be discriminating against journalism, just because IOR decided they didn't want to explain themselves. Possibly as a result the Echo got it wrong. One suspects that the Echo's intentions were honourable but that they may have been wrong footed??

Hugh's Left Foot · **Joined:** Wed May 07, 2008 5:45 pm **Posts:** 130

With all these things, the truth lies probably somewhere in the middle.

Splod · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:45 pm

If the club don't want to respond to an Echo enquiry then surely they just speak off the record so the paper can print that "a source close to the club said" type comment. It does ensure that the paper then doesn't print rubbish - that's the Mails job rolfl

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

Splod wrote:

If the club don't want to respond to an Echo enquiry then surely they just speak off the record so the paper can print that "a source close to the club said" type comment. It does ensure that the paper then doesn't print rubbish - that's the Mails job rolfl

grabec · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:49 pm

chip fireball wrote:

at the risk of repeating myself this is a hartlepool united message board. rightly or wrongly for many folk it boils down to a dispute between hodcroft, a man who has brought pools fans the best 10 years in the clubs 100 year history, and frank reid, a bloke who was kicked off these very boards for making a nuisance of himself.

if hodcroft was proven to be using colombian drug money to bankroll pools id still be on his side.

I disconcur, chip. Not Hodcroft, not anyone else is going to buy my ethical 'judgements'. Wot next?
By this logic you would support the Khmer Rouge if they bankrolled Pools (but of course you wouldn't).

TalbotAvenger · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:20 pm

grabec wrote:

chip fireball wrote:

at the risk of repeating myself this is a hartlepool united message board. rightly or wrongly for many folk it boils down to a dispute between hodcroft, a man who has brought pools fans the best 10 years in the clubs 100 year history, and frank reid, a bloke who was kicked off these very boards for making a nuisance of himself.

if hodcroft was proven to be using colombian drug money to bankroll pools id still be on his side.

I disconcur, chip. Not Hodcroft, not anyone else is going to buy my ethical 'judgements'. Wot next?
By this logic you would support the Khmer Rouge if they bankrolled Pools (but of course you wouldn't).

I concur with Chip, I also don't believe for one moment that you took Chip's comments as serious
:roll:

grabec · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:24 pm

Well, Ok forget the drug money. I disconcur with the rest too

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 37330

..that's your job! :wink:

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

chip fireball wrote:

its a minor dispute blown out of all proportion.

in all honesty i really dont care enough about it to delve too deeply.

hodcroft works within the oil business, an industry not known for its openess and honesty. ask the family of ken saro-wiwa if you dont believe me.

capitalism is a nasty carry on, and oil is at the front end.

ior are a secretive organisation. i wish they werent. i wish ken and i were on good terms and he would answer a few simple questions i have. but we arent and he wont.

he might be a really nice man but somehow i doubt it.

but at the end of the day even if he is a rotten capitalist tw@t, has he ever come on the bunker and made a right bloody nuisance of himself ?

no he has not. :coool:

Good post. Im also pretty sure if the boot was on the other foot that he wouldnt be as childish and unprofessional to print a companys phone number and ask peopel to ring them.

hufc1908 · **Joined:** Fri May 09, 2008 11:08 am **Posts:** 186

Quote:

hodcroft works within the oil business, an industry not known for its openess and honesty. ask the family of ken saro-wiwa if you dont believe me.

Try doing a company search on IOR, DNO etc Tell me what you find. Colombian ????? I did one a year ago and ended in some offshore island in the camens & still didnt find who was on top of the pile.

Quote:

As Ashley said no-one can run the Club on their own and no-one can expect to dictate terms

Thats why Ashley has no manager or back room staff. His investment is going down the pan - the same direction as the team. At the end of the day the football supporters who pay through the gates are the ones who give Ashley the right to do that. Ncastle was here pre-Ashley, no one is bigger than the club because its the supporters that pay to watch the team through the good times & bad times

I know KH is Ncastle mad and has a couple of seats at the ground, but a manager must be able to pick his squad. Ask any top manager in the country what he thinks of that statement

Also picking up on his notes about the Mail, N-Echo, that is not like KH to let this come out into the open a month or so later? I think it could be a olive branch because the media are dug-in and with both northeast news outlets pushing in the same direction. Its stalemate

KH brigade - Ive got my body armour on :roll:

grabec · **Posted:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:45 pm

Tree_With_Hamster wrote:

chip fireball wrote:

its a minor dispute blown out of all proportion.

in all honesty i really dont care enough about it to delve too deeply.

hodcroft works within the oil business, an industry not known for its openess and honesty. ask the family of ken saro-wiwa if you dont believe me.

capitalism is a nasty carry on, and oil is at the front end.

ior are a secretive organisation. i wish they werent. i wish ken and i were on good terms and he would answer a few simple questions i have. but we arent and he wont.

he might be a really nice man but somehow i doubt it.

but at the end of the day even if he is a rotten capitalist tw@t, has he ever come on the bunker and made a right bloody nuisance of himself ?

no he has not. :coool:

Good post. Im also pretty sure if the boot was on the other foot that he wouldnt be as childish and unprofessional to print a companys phone number and ask peopel to ring them.

It is of course a good post but I'm not very clear which bit of it you're agreeing with confised

Spender · **Posted:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:27 pm

hufc1908 wrote:

Quote:

hodcroft works within the oil business, an industry not known for its openess and honesty. ask the family of ken saro-wiwa if you dont believe me.

Try doing a company search on IOR, DNO etc Tell me what you find. Colombian ????? I did one a year ago and ended in some offshore island in the camens & still didnt find who was on top of the pile.

Quote:

As Ashley said no-one can run the Club on their own and no-one can expect to dictate terms

I know KH is Ncastle mad and has a couple of seats at the ground, :

So, well over half a million a year into Hartlepool, eight hundred quid into Newcastle and Sir Ken is Newcastle mad?? You don't think they could just be hospitality seats for passing customers??

Also why do you want to know anything about IOR. Are you going to buy them?? Do a search on Shell and show me their accounts. That'll keep you going for a week or two. Have a look at 1996, I did 'em!! The holes in the ancilaries were staggering. Ban formula one!!! You can't read Shells sponsorship numbers with Ferrari!! rolfl

A very good start from Ken Hodcroft

Gadgies online