Welcome to your customers Ben. If nothing else, unless these meetings are filled with sycophants, "tell us how good you are Ben" - they'll give the hierarchy a feel for what an impossible task running BFC is.
He's had plenty of goodwill since he joined and quite rightly. But he needs to earn any praise he gets and these sessions will be a big test of his PR skills. Looking forward to someone asking Flitcroft about Hassell in a boozer after a few beers, especially considering his umbrage when the press do.
"Eyup, why dunt tha like Hassell thee ?" We'll see how they all deal with straight talking... Plus - "get some quality laikers signed, more comfy seats, and I dunt want to pay owt for me ticket" Square that particular circle if you can. ps - I collared Keith and Dave at a poty do a couple years back, whilst battered and they dealt with my particular type of antagonistic ******** really well.
Keith did the same when I met him. Seem like decent blokes who don't like ********. Barnsley folk have always said they liked that...
Yeah we're trying to get to all of them. Anyone who joins up or renews will be entered into a draw for two exec days out for two over the christmas period. We'll also be giving away a 125 shirt on the night.
As long as they like what they're hearing. If they don't then it's not 'straight talking' it's 'insulting' or 'disrespectful' or somesuch....
Considering I have the tendency to piss people off just by walking past them on the street (that's before I open my big gob) and this tour is taking place in a pub where they serve alcohol, which exacerbates the problem ten fold, it's probably best that I don't go. Rib Noodles will probably vouch for that.
Keith was about as straight talking as a curly-wurly. It was all riddles, metaphors and in jokes. I haven't got a problem with that, if, as a football manager, he used that approach to take the piss out of the press or the FA or other clubs and managers it could have been a right laugh. Occasionally it was. But more often he was having a go at Barnsley, our club and our fans, or complaining about how hard it was being Keith Hill. The nob head. Not saying he was like that when you spoke to him face to face, but that's what he was like in interviews.
Think he was taken aback how different all things are at Champ level compared to Rochdale - that's not me being all Sheff Wed, it's just trying to fathom the bloke I spoke to a few times with some of the nonsense that came out in interviews. Still, better not say owt else or else I'll be a Keith Hill bumboy who hates Barnsley. I know how touchy some folk are with stuff typed on here.
I think it's good that some folk stick up for him. We need balance on this forum. What worries me a bit, well, a lot, is that folk I have a lot of time for and whose opinion I respect (you, Dyson, ark) are the ones that are doing it. It makes me think I've got it completely wrong, but I find it difficult to balance some of the things he said with him being a good bloke.
You can only go on what you see/hear. Unless you're Conan etc and then you just instantly dislike anyone appointed BFC manager who doesn't get us into The Champions League.