A Results-Driven Business

Blog written by tractorboykent
Published: 28th October 2012 13:53

After Paul Jewells's departure, our chief exec was quick to praise his workrate, dedication and desire -not that any of us doubted these. Mr Clegg however emphasised that football is a results-driven business. Indeed it is.

This very phrase sounds a bit trite however. But then we shouldn't be surprised to hear it since Mr Clegg's interviews are chock full of management speak often straight out of the pages of (generally American) management theory books.

When he first arrived he talked about exporting the ITFC 'brand' although that nonsense has been quietly dumped in light of events - there's not much of a brand to sell.

Other phrases though persist and have been very visible this last week - the Derby game was apparently a 'tipping point', the next decision is hugely important (as if the last two weren't) and need to be 'de-risked', the chief exec and owner have been 'brainstorming' a solution to the situation.

What isn't so visible is a respect for the fans' opinions nor for the importance of a connection to the club's successful past - he openly says neither of these things figure highly in his list of priorities in making the next appointment.

Those of us who have worked with - and for - people running businesses by management speak and textbook will know that they are generally not great at dealing with a) real life and b) real people. Mr Evans of course has every right to appoint his companies' top management and he must have his reasons for doing so but they're not so clear for the rest of us; one thing's for sure - they're not football related.

Given two catastrophic managerial appointments that have left our club at its lowest point in living memory, we all have a right to ask one question - if this is such a results driven business, why is he still here?

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