Khaled El Ahmad tonight....

But the club still can't answer why other clubs haven't had to do what we've had to do. No other local club has had to close off access to one side of the stadium in order to create a rendezvous point and yet it's the excuse they keep repeating.

The question is is someone at the club being particularly soft and willing to close parts of the stadium for some reason? (I could guess what these reasons are) or is someone at the safety advisory group being particularly hard on us compared to SAGs in other towns? If so then we should be launching a complaint as they can't just enforce much tougher restrictions because they're over scared. I was told by a previous safety officer at the club that the head of the group for Barnsley was a jobsworth who was scared of there being another Hillsborough so was enforcing unreasonable restrictions on the club to make absolutely certain it couldn't ever happen. In the words of the club's officer 'if he had his way we wouldn't be allowed to play games then he couldn't get the blame for anything'. That can't be right surely. There must be some way to fight baco against someone like that.

 

You’d be a brave person to criticise your new boss in public.

 

The accounts from the 19/20 season, which had fans in the ground for the majority, showed an operational loss that was greater than the compo we recieved for Ismael. So would assume that's where it's gone in the main. Doubt that compo for backroom staff was a massive amount, and looks like we got less than a million for Chaplin. Outgoings included fees for Benson, Iseka and possibly Oulare. We probably had to pay to release Ritzmaier and Simoes as well.

Not sure there was much in the tweet that would cause too much surprise, maybe a little alarm at the line "funds will be available in the window if we make funds in the window.", which as you say means we have to sell before we buy. But we've not had a big player sale since Jacob Brown, and we need to bring money in. I'll judge at the end of the window. If bringing in an experienced midfielder means that we have to sell Styles, Morris or Woodrow. Would you sell and bring the experienced CM in, or leave as is? He could also mean selling players like Palmer or Frieser, who are in their last year.

Of course, things would look healthier with an extra 750k in the bank.

 

Thanks for doing this Loko. As a far away fan these updates are invaluable. Great job and much appreciated

 

To my knowledge no, it was always an aspiration by disability campaigners for this to be made law. A club must provide adequate space for its disabled fanbase. Adequate is open to legal interpretation, that's why some clubs hardly do anything and some go above and beyond.
The Equality Act is a good piece of legislation but to be covered by it technically only a judge can decide. However if you have been provided evidence of a condition which has or could last (impede someone) more than 12 months you must treat as covered until a times its proven not to be covered.

 

The thing that is still being ignored for me is that in khaleds list of unacceptable disability things in the west stand he said steps, high refreshment stand counters and turnstiles. All three of those things are in the east stand yet it stays open and he simply cannot answer why that is.

 

All good points mate, I'm totally flummoxed by the Equality Act statement. If the club want the stadium to be more accessible for disabled fans, great good on em. But who's going to pay and at present I do not see any legal obligation to do so. Unless they've removed or reduced existing space for disabled fans. Once a reasonable adjustment is in place it must kept to the same standard or upgraded.

 

From what I have read from all this. Khalid answered questions very well especially with his hands tied.

 

I know which one I’d vouch for.

 

True.
However the Comms guys who responded seemed genuine. They could have said nothing but they didn't.
They chose to share the positive changes he's made to their working environment and the effect that's had on other backroom staff.
I prefer to trust in what those guys have said rather than make an assumption they were just sucking up to their boss.

 

Nor can many people Helen and that's because we haven't got the whole story from the people involved. Whether that be the owners of BFC or the Crynes.
What happens then is that assumptions are made, facts get distorted and people get polarised with their views, and unfortunately fans end up having a go at each other.
Oh for that Utopia where the Owners and the Crynes and the Council get together and give us a comprehensive version of what the f1ck is going on with our club.
As a footnote, Khaled did get that frustration from the floor. As many have said, it's up to him now to start knocking heads together as best he can.

 

I'd offer my services for 2 4 packs of Jaips and a big Percy pie. For health and safety reasons I'd ensure regular concussion checks are undertaken by a qualified doctor. I'd also equally share out the headbanging to be in accordance with Equality legislation.

 

....in which case....sack Khaled and appoint that man!!!!
I would have to demand at least 50% of the Percy however as part of my Agency fee.

 

Sorry it was poorly worded by me, vouch was the wrong word. What I meant was if I was in their position, I’d be giving my boss a glowing reference in public even if I thought he was an arsehole and incompetent.

 

Problem is, someone at some point hasn't been totally straight, they've acted in their own interest rather than the club's and are being a tad obtuse in their communication because of that.
Which is why it's now such a job to get to the bottom of it all.
It's probably only the level of skulduggery that needs to be uncovered and I doubt thats going to be offered up willingly.

 

This is the bit that stood out to me in relation to Jan Ben (from matchday drinkers):

'Funds in the window? Will owners put hands in the pocket? K: funds will be available in the window if we make funds in the window. Try to balance finance and competitiveness. Players have aspirations.'

That says to me they will buy only if they sell. If we sell we need to remain competitive e.g. we may sell a Keiffer but we need to replace with a Dike, not a Mike Steven Bahre. 'Players have aspirations' does he mean to stay and try and achieve for the reds, or to move on and we should cash in? The matchday drinkers then end this segment with the below however, which backs up your point that live tweeting isn't ideal. And of course, as matchday drinkers they may have been drinking

'I’ve not got much hope hearing that. Others may have heard differently.'