No doubt someone posted this at the time like, but I only just stumbled across it. Peak Mansford. https://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/20...personal-column-chief-executive-ben-mansford/
Good init. Really making an effort to make the support and POTENTIAL supporters feel part of a family. Fantastic PR man. Best by far I’ve seen at the WELL. Obviously we don’t know how he compares to others regarding his ability to wheel and deal.
An higher up using an official club channel to get their positive words out as quickly as possible, to as much of the fanbase as possible. Letting them know the feelings of the club. What a novel idea.
It's not actually that novel. Our current "higher up" has used our club channels in this way although it has tended to be a bit more meaningful than that article. I mean its hardly enlightening in any way is it?
Never liked that way of doing things in football. It's too much like it's scripted. The best way to attract fans is good football and results, not businessmen acting like they know anything about football. That's what I like about our directors, they let Stendel lead from the front.
All mouth and no action. Hence the nickname Bulsh1t Ben.. I'll give him his due, he says the right things but that's a salesman's art for you - tell people what they want to hear but is he genuine or sincere, I very much doubt it - he's in it for himself and will be off again at the drop of a hat. Forget the rhetoric, what did he actually do at Oakwell in terms of action? We still had hand dryers that were less efficient than a fart, the concourse was a tip, the PA didn't work, nothing painted in 20 years, players on the same length contracts, contracts allowed to run out, players sold for peanuts so what was his legacy? The new team addressed all of those issues immediately and in my opinion GG is far better at doing the actual job than Mansford ever was.
Think you may have your dates mixed up. When do you think Mansford left and when do you think we sold all our players?
Could well have mate. I haven't checked back but thought that Mansford was there when Johnson was at the club and we got promoted from League 1. Didn't he negotiate all those contracts to all end at the same time?
He left not long after promotion so didn't get the chance to negotiate extended deals. He was at Leeds before we returned for preseason training. Some people liked Mansford's style, others didn't. But that great squad was assembled during his time with us and wasn't broken up until after he left.
I always thought he was a decent enough bloke, who was never scared of getting his hands dirty. But he did come out with some $hite...and who can forget 'badgegate'!
Cheers for that. Don't get me wrong, I did like the way Mansford engaged with the public but being a CEO is a lot more than having the gift of the gab (No-one better at that than Ridsdale). The great squad was more down to the recruitment spreadsheet although I suppose he was the one who finally got it through the door. He may well have had his hands tied regarding a few bob to improve the stadium so I could be doing him a disservice but I just get the impression that GG is more about action than words.
No idea how much influence he had in recruitment. I did like the way he set out to engage with supporters though. Whether that made him a good ceo or a good pr manager I don't know. Haven't got a problem with with GG either. I think they both brought something to the club.
I’ve got a feeling you are directing you’re ire at the wrong person. It’s Bern done to death but Mansfield was a club employee who worked for a chairman and did as he was told. Contracts, ground improvements, selling players etc. You said the new team by that I guess you mean new owners?
Always makes me laugh when people say Mansford was better or Ganaye was better when in reality you’ve not got a clue about what their job role was & what they were asked to do so it’s impossible to judge who was doing a better job. Mansford gets stick about the play off winning sides contracts nearly all running out together but if Cryne wouldn’t sanction deals longer than 3 years & wouldn’t sanction increased wages for extensions what’s he meant to do? Ganaye gets stick about a lot of the players signed at the start of last season but it wasn’t his fault we needed about 15 players in one window & if the board tell him we’re only buying players 24 or under & most of them will have to be from the lower leagues as we aren’t paying big wages how can you blame him when you get 15 players in that fit the criteria? Ultimately when people say one was good at the job what they mean is they either preferred Mansford’s style of constantly giving interviews or Ganaye’s style of keeping business in house but neither make much difference to the job they did.