[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[The Gull]

Seriously people, I know Simon from many years ago when we worked together, his father being as succesful as he has been in his carear has only driven Simon on to work harder and better to get where he is.

The man who Simon took over from was a trusted lieutenant of JW for many years, long time before Rovers, and since Simon took over the reigns he has transformed the direction which the sales & marketing department was going. He was instrumental in bringing the club shop back, cheaper ticket prices, Darwen End deals etc etc.

If you want to attack somebody please get your facts straight before talking absolute cobblers.

Has anybody worked for their father before? If you had you wouldn't think it was an easy ride, you have to prove yourself a hell of a lot more than anybody else in the company.

Simon Williams deserves more respect than some of you numpties, with no idea of what the man is actually like, are giving him so unless you know a little bit more than what's in you imagination shut the feck up.

[Kelbo]

Seriously people, I know Simon from many years ago when we worked together, his father being as succesful as he has been in his carear has only driven Simon on to work harder and better to get where he is.

The man who Simon took over from was a trusted lieutenant of JW for many years, long time before Rovers, and since Simon took over the reigns he has transformed the direction which the sales & marketing department was going. He was instrumental in bringing the club shop back, cheaper ticket prices, Darwen End deals etc etc.

If you want to attack somebody please get your facts straight before talking absolute cobblers.

Has anybody worked for their father before? If you had you wouldn't think it was an easy ride, you have to prove yourself a hell of a lot more than anybody else in the company.

Simon Williams deserves more respect than some of you numpties, with no idea of what the man is actually like, are giving him so unless you know a little bit more than what's in you imagination shut the feck up.

I would reiterate the Gulls comments here, to work for ones father or friend is a little more difficult, you need to be a little bit better, put in much more of a shift!!

In Simons defence and as someone who has been involved in Marketing for more years than I want to remember, he has done pretty well, the season ticket renewal pack was well produced, very personal and made you feel a part of ther club and important to its continued success and like his father, seems to relate to the supporters.

However, there is one point that has been made on here which I think is quite valid, this of course would be a joint venture between Sam and the Marketing team, a player who has the charisma, well respected and known throughout football would indeed increase both season ticket and commercial sales worldwide, but this cant be done with Simon Williams alone, the player must be in Sams thoughts, whilst Beckham may be a pipe dream, he is marketable, maybe Guti could be if he joined us, this is the point I feel was being made.

20 years ago, the chairman of Bradford City was offering £20,000 to a scout who could find them an Asian footballer who would play first team football, he knew, due to the high percentage of Asians in Bradford, attendances would rise alarmingly and the club would then be marketable in Asia.

This is the point I feel was being made and to give a lad grief on here for doing a pretty good job is unfair to both he and his father who is one, if not the, most respected men in British Football.

[PAFELL]

I would reiterate the Gulls comments here, to work for ones father or friend is a little more difficult, you need to be a little bit better, put in much more of a shift!!

In Simons defence and as someone who has been involved in Marketing for more years than I want to remember, he has done pretty well, the season ticket renewal pack was well produced, very personal and made you feel a part of ther club and important to its continued success and like his father, seems to relate to the supporters.

However, there is one point that has been made on here which I think is quite valid, this of course would be a joint venture between Sam and the Marketing team, a player who has the charisma, well respected and known throughout football would indeed increase both season ticket and commercial sales worldwide, but this cant be done with Simon Williams alone, the player must be in Sams thoughts, whilst Beckham may be a pipe dream, he is marketable, maybe Guti could be if he joined us, this is the point I feel was being made.

20 years ago, the chairman of Bradford City was offering £20,000 to a scout who could find them an Asian footballer who would play first team football, he knew, due to the high percentage of Asians in Bradford, attendances would rise alarmingly and the club would then be marketable in Asia.

This is the point I feel was being made and to give a lad grief on here for doing a pretty good job is unfair to both he and his father who is one, if not the, most respected men in British Football.

Sorry for those who want to debate this subject. But it should be on a different thread. I came on here to read a possible development / hope etc that Rovers may receive some investment or developments with regards to a takeover. Not any takeover. But a person / group that are Rovers supporters, will buy the club without putting debt onto the club. Will back the manager in the transfer market. Will make Rovers stronger moneywise and most of all on the pitch as well as a full stadium etc etc. Basically a succesful premiership football club that is never flurting with relegation. As to who is running things behind the scenes has nothing to do with ROVERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOLD.

What I will say is that we should all respect what Jack Walker did for Rovers whilst alive. We should also respect what he did for Rovers knowing his life was coming to and end. He put the club into the hands of a Trust that he set up. He would have stated his desires for the club etc. The trust has done as he desired. Now 10 years later the scene with regards to football has changed more than either he or anybody else could foresee. Still the trustees are doing what Jack wanted. They are protecting the club from any tom, dick or harry, fly by night, pathetic fun boy or women who think owning or running a football club is nothing but a play thing and something that does not matter.

The trust are complying with Jacks wishes, finding the right person or company etc to takeover and support and take the club on further than it is now.

One thing I do believe. If Rovers were in serious trouble, the trust would step in and do what is needed. Until then they will allow the club (business) to run its own afairs. Whenever or even if, a takeover or investment happens, we support the club and whoever is working for it. If certain individuals start to fail or it can be seen they are not up to the job, then we speak out. Until then, this is a ROVERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOLD THREAD.

hate to say it, but very soon, the way football is going, the cheapest footballer to play in the prem will cost a minimun of 10 million. Until some clubs go bust.

[doctorryan]

One of the Matthewmans is on the board too....bloke though.

He also seems to have a powerful say in the hiring and firing of managers.

I think he is married to one of Jack's daughters, which could be Lynda.

Tahdaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

[Sparky Marky]

It is a very thin CV before the Rovers job; basically it's a career going nowhere fast until a huge leap into BRFC. To still be an Account Manager 8 years after graduation, at presumably the Manchester branch (given the employee numbers) of an ad agency is extremely underwhelming. Also, no evidence of being promoted within any of his past employers would be a question mark. Fanatic Marketing was clearly a 1 or 2 man band and I wouldn't be too shocked to find out who his largest client was given BRFC was not the first time he joined Daddy's place of work: his first job out of uni was at Granada while JW was still there. Was not the boy Simon also involved in the abortive Drumhawk Communications that was run out of Ewood for a while?

So, was he ideally qualified to lead a sales and marketing team of 15 in a 40 mill T/O company? No. Does it matter much? Probably not. I get the sense JW is very much a hands on person so all the big decisions will be his. And given we still have Beamo running corporate, Williams Jnr must seem like Peter Drucker in comparison.

Exactly mate...He's basically a two bob bit ad executive who's dad happens to be the CEO of a Premier League team...If he'd have sent that CV (minus the rovers) he wouldn't have got past 1st base with any of the other Premier League clubs for Head of Commercial/Marketing....it would have been put in the bin straight away....No record of achievement, no real tangible successes.....and for everyone to refer to season tickets sales being up as a winning idea......any idiot can work out that if you lower your prices, the number of sales would increase.....take away the money we got from roque, then the balance sheet doesn't look very healthy.

[CrazyIvan]

Exactly mate...He's basically a two bob bit ad executive who's dad happens to be the CEO of a Premier League team...If he'd have sent that CV (minus the rovers) he wouldn't have got past 1st base with any of the other Premier League clubs for Head of Commercial/Marketing....it would have been put in the bin straight away....No record of achievement, no real tangible successes.....and for everyone to refer to season tickets sales being up as a winning idea......any idiot can work out that if you lower your prices, the number of sales would increase.....take away the money we got from roque, then the balance sheet doesn't look very healthy.

What have you got against this guy? Has he p'd you off or stolen your girlfriend or something? You are making yourself look a bit silly with this campaign to be honest...

Anyway, what it's got to do with Rovers being sold is beyond me...

[modes98]

If he'd have sent that CV (minus the rovers) he wouldn't have got past 1st base with any of the other Premier League clubs for Head of Commercial/Marketing....it would have been put in the bin straight away....No record of achievement, no real tangible successes.....and for everyone to refer to season tickets sales being up as a winning idea......any idiot can work out that if you lower your prices, the number of sales would increase.....take away the money we got from roque, then the balance sheet doesn't look very healthy.

How do you get top experience if nobody gives you your first shot? Everyone has to start somewhere low and be given chances. Equally looking at the Bolton guys CV your comment has no basis at all, the guys CV is less appealing than mine and he's a bloody marketing specialist.

Simon William's CV and Interview ability were good enough to land him the job, not that Rovers should have to explain employment decisions but I'm sure the process would have not included JW in any way shape or form.

No achievement? How do you know that? He may have transformed the other companies into profitable enterprises and was the managing director of another.

Working out what may work to increase revenue streams is only a small part of getting it to work. Rovers have massively increased marketing activities in the past few years and pushed ticket promotions like I have never seen from any club in the premiership. Rovers are not the best supported club around so there won't be such a guarenteed big correlation between the ticket price level and attendances.

The balance sheet isn't Simon William's main job. Granted his aim is to increase revenue but keeping the wages to turnover ratio down is the main concern for the club. To say well we won't count this it of money here and that bit there starts to make your arguement fall apart, it isn't repeatable revenue as the asset has been sold but we still made the money and an operating profit, one of not many clubs to do so.

If you think he is doing that bad a job then why didn't you apply for it yourself?

He listens to fan suggestions, embraces new ideas, cut ticket prices, restored the darwen end as a rovers section and has given us our shop back. What more do you want?

[Majiball]

He listens to fan suggestions, embraces new ideas, cut ticket prices, restored the darwen end as a rovers section and has given us our shop back. What more do you want?

Wasn't that Sam's idea?

[Sparky Marky]

Simon William's CV and Interview ability were good enough to land him the job, not that Rovers should have to explain employment decisions but I'm sure the process would have not included JW in any way shape or form.

No achievement? How do you know that? He may have transformed the other companies into profitable enterprises and was the managing director of another.

No, I'm sure that JW had no imput into his son becoming the Head of Commercial/Marketing department.

[only2garners]

Wasn't that Sam's idea?

No. It was the club's decision to put fans back into the Darwen end at the end of the 08/09 season. Sam and the players then said how much better the atmosphere with Rovers fans on all 4 sides, which encouraged the club to offer the Darwen end season ticket this last season. Who knows whose idea it was for the Crucial 3 but it was a marketing led initiative.

[The Gull]

Exactly mate...He's basically a two bob bit ad executive who's dad happens to be the CEO of a Premier League team...If he'd have sent that CV (minus the rovers) he wouldn't have got past 1st base with any of the other Premier League clubs for Head of Commercial/Marketing....it would have been put in the bin straight away....No record of achievement, no real tangible successes.....and for everyone to refer to season tickets sales being up as a winning idea......any idiot can work out that if you lower your prices, the number of sales would increase.....take away the money we got from roque, then the balance sheet doesn't look very healthy.

If I remember correctly, that CV is slightly misleading as I do not believe Simon came in to Rovers at the level he currently is, I think he was working under the old director first for at least a year or so.

Is Simon's wife your ex or something? You really need to let this go or get all the facts before judging and attacking someones credibility.

Sorry to add yet another off topic post but I am annoyed at the personal, unfounded attacks on an individual I know.

Back on topic, ish, any incoming owners would take a look at Rovers and see that it is actually a well run business off the field. John Williams has been the figure head of major businesses prior to Rovers and is well respected amongst the business world as well as the footbal world. Any potential owner would probably want to put their own stamp on it but also may need allies like the Williams' to keep the business running smoothly and the atmosphere amongst the staff positive.

I would hope that the structure at Rovers would not change a great deal with a new owner as I believe we have a strong set up which is serving us well and leaves us in a much better position than most football clubs.

[thenodrog]

Simon William's CV and Interview ability were good enough to land him the job, not that Rovers should have to explain employment decisions but I'm sure the process would have not included JW in any way shape or form.

Now c'mon modes, lets not overdo the case for the defence eh?

[Sparky Marky]

[Majiball]

No. It was the club's decision to put fans back into the Darwen end at the end of the 08/09 season. Sam and the players then said how much better the atmosphere with Rovers fans on all 4 sides, which encouraged the club to offer the Darwen end season ticket this last season. Who knows whose idea it was for the Crucial 3 but it was a marketing led initiative.

Fair do's. I'd always thought it was Sam's or got that impression from what had been said in the press. It also conincided with Sam coming into the club as well, fair play to Williams Jr then if it was his idea as it was a good one.

[Brfcrule1]

I get the impression these threads have becoming a slanging match to attack the appointments the club has made rather than constructive critcism. At the end of the day we are one of the best run clubs in the land never going into administration or have any money worries. It would have been a joint decision between staff and the marketing manager to get the club shop back so Mr Williams would have been involved in those discussions. If it wasn't for them we would still be selling sports world tat not the current stock and I'm sure no-one would want that now?. Please let's get back on topic about a possible takeover and not sidetracking round different subjects.

Rant Over!.

[nicko]

Hopefully there will be a tale in the Sunday People tomorrow on the current possibilities - or at least the ones I know about.

I won't do an 11 o'clocker as it's a bit complex.

But if it is used hopefully all of the detail - that I have found out - will be in there.

If not I will tell you more in the morning.

Leave it at that for now.

[ada2020]

Hopefully there will be a tale in the Sunday People tomorrow on the current possibilities - or at least the ones I know about.

I won't do an 11 o'clocker as it's a bit complex.

But if it is used hopefully all of the detail - that I have found out - will be in there.

If not I will tell you more in the morning.

Leave it at that for now.

Shocked this has been here since 1pm and no one has replied with the usual crap, l look forward to reading the peice nicko.

[trueblue]

Shocked this has been here since 1pm and no one has replied with the usual crap, l look forward to reading the peice nicko.

Perhaps people are getting fed up with all the speculation

[AndyNeil]

or maybe with all the 'non' news ..... ?

[Bobby G]

nicko does that include anything on the people I am aware of?

[braddock]

or maybe with all the 'non' news ..... ?

with the current set of targets i think we'd be better calling it olds.

[PAFELL]

nicko does that include anything on the people I am aware of?

Maybe the same people!!!!!!!

[bonerdude]

think this is what you been waiting for

[Hughesy]

think this is what you been waiting for

A club with no debts!?? Perhaps not big debts - but still a debt!

The Indian fella might be interesting, a very young agent involved in trying to broker the deal too. The Indian market could work for us!

[Bobby G]

Interesting write-up.

Puts things into perspective.