Rob Knowles Programmes notes

Anyone else think Rob missed the point? He had a go at unofficial BFC message boards posters who felt that he shouldn't have taken his new bride on a two week honeymoon, but been reporting every small bit of news coming out of Oakwell.

NO-one minds anyone taking a break, but what did upset people was that there was insufficient cover for Rob's absense. Surely someone else can update news when Mr Knowles isn't around.

 

precisly

nobody cares if he went on holiday, what they do care about is that his entire department shut down in the two weeks running up to the start of the season. that isnt his fault it is the fault of the club and the person who authorised his holidays for not putting cover in place.

I found it very ironic that his piece started by saying that he had spent 2 weeks with no idea what was going on at oakwell "though not for want of trying". i think robert, that that is the point people were making in the first place. we, the fans, wanted to know what was going on on the eve of the season but because nobody was covering your department we couldnt find out either.

having said that, at least steves match reports werent as biased as robs.

 

especially seen as it isnt just people on here that sent him emails

people that dont use any 'unofficial sites' were also emailing the club complaining at a lack of cover

 

From memory - there were some who DID have a go about Rob being away.

Although the main thrust of the comments was about the lack of cover for him.

Rob would not use the match-day programme to make his specific point if personal comments about
him hadn't been made on this Forum.

In Rob's defence - if people on here have a 'pop' at him for whatever reason - they can hardly
complain when he has a 'pop' back! He compiles the match-day programme, so that would seem to be an
obvious vehicle for his response.

Personally, I think that comments about the lack of cover regarding the official website are valid, but comments about Rob being away on honeymoon two weeks before the season kicks-off are totally uncalled for.

 

RE: From memory - there were some who DID have a go about Rob being away.

no-body is having a pop at rob, he does do a good job, however the point we are making is that the club should have put someone else in his place at the most crucial time of year for any football club, (the time when most of us who are strugglin for cash decide whether or not to get a season ticket) this is the time when good news creates optimism, which can help to make the decision and ultimately money for the club.

For rob to have a "go" at unofficial sites is absolutely ridiculous and an abuse of his position. This was not his fault so why has he defended it by having a go?

Its time the club began to listen to these unofficial sites to gauge the real feelings of the true fans of BFC.

rant over ....

 

Sorry - you seem to be missing my point!

There WERE some on here who had a personal dig at Rob for taking his honeymoon just before the start of the
season - which is doubtless why Rob has responded in the way he has.

The point you make about lack of coverage whilst he's away from Oakwell is a totally valid one, and something
the hierarchy at Oakwell should have considered or should be considering now. I suspect the problem there is, that there's nobody currently employed in the offices who have the IT capability that Rob has - and besides
everybody else is fully employed with their own particular role. Bear in mind the staffing has been reduced to
a minimum - as part of the cost-cutting process. I accept that it ought to be possible to get someone to
cover the bare essentials of Rob's role - but presumably that wasn't possible in this instance, either due to lack of staff or money, otherwise I'm sure Gordon Shepherd, or the Office Manager, would have done exactly that.

I just don't think that people on this Forum, some of who criticised Rob personally, can complain when he has a 'go' back at them. If you dish it out you've got to be prepared to take it as well!

 

RE: Sorry - you seem to be missing my point!

I was one of the ones who criticised the fact that he was away for whatever reason in the run up to the season and I still stand by what I said like it or not "Guest" or Rob!! I know for a fact that other less crucial office staff at Oakwell would not be allowed to take "holidays" during that two weeks! Any business relies on Key employees to be insitue at crucial times. Would Andy Ritchie or any of the coaching or playing staff go away then? NO!! Then neither should someone in just as crucial a role for the club and supporters as they are for the "team"! This is a team game and he should have been there for the rest of the team during those two weeks!! We were let down!!!

 

At the end of the day

his choice of wedding date is not, and shouldn't be, the issue and I personally don't think that he should have to justify why he chose the date he did.

The main point is that no one was able to cover his absence. Yes, people can say that the most time, effort and money should be spent on the pitch, but the main site along with bulletin boards are the main way that exiles keep informed of the happenings of the club and team!

 

get a grip

how were you let down? no, tell me, exactly how? so what, he takes a honeymoon!!!! your point about the players is sheer ****** and i can't believe you had the audacity to make that.

may be the person who made the decision thought:

"well, he's given us great service over the last x years and we have no one who can do his job. fair play, it is his honeymoon so why not? its not like its mid way thru the season is it"

also, what rivetting news do you get from the unofficial site? none - most people check here for bfc news 1st not the official site. also - what did we miss? nothing FFS!!!

sorry if this seems like i'm having a go at you directly but imagine if you were told by your boss (and Rob's not a footballer) that you couldn't take your honeymoon at a normal time because a few people occasionally browse your limited work.

as for your suggestion that people make their decision to buy a season ticket based on what Rob writes is laughable

 

RE: get a grip

I never mentioned "season tickets"!!
As for me mentioning the players - whats ****** about that? The point was that they like many of the rest of us have to arrange their honeymoon/holiday to fit in with their work schedule! Different businesses have key times of year when key members of staff are not allowed to take leave - he should have been at post for that last week before the season started. Even if there was no NEWS, he should have been creating some exitement to build up interest for the first game. This is the entertainment business and we had complete silence for OVER two weeks. And no for that last week it should not have been a stand in it should have been HIM!!! YES WE WERE LET DOWN!!!

 

interesting website

are you the new bettaware then? you part of the HQ or a seller yourself? not intereted in joining but i always like having a scan at new businesses/ideas and (hopefully) watch them grow