Mark Bowen

[leon]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

Yeah I'm struggling a bit with this, despite what Captain of Industry Ian Royal thinks.

If it was the owner who signs everything off being unavailable due to personal circumstances then yes that would make more sense.

[Sutekh]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

Yeah I'm struggling a bit with this, despite what Captain of Industry Ian Royal thinks.

If it was the owner who signs everything off being unavailable due to personal circumstances then yes that would make more sense.

Wondering here if some of the issues are caused by Ron Gourlay's time at the club. Maybe he was empowered to do x, y and z but made such a complete pig's ear of things that the owners are now loathe to return any of that power to the "new management" therefore everything has to be run through them.

You would think though that MB and DP have spelled it out to the owner (esp. given the Wigan issues with paying wages) that he needs to devolve some power back asap and that there needs to be some better way for him to work and respond with personnel at the club so that things aren't just left until he can find some time. Also isn't Mr Dai's sister a co-owner living in the UK? Could she maybe help drive things a little better?

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

The whole operation won't have shut down, but given decisions such as the next manager is part of his remit, he may not want to be delegating it to other people to sign off if he (or the other party involved) isn't absolutely sure or there are still potentially discussions to be had. If the owner has employed Bowen to come and make these decisions, then he may be even more hesitant to let other people have their hands in the pot, including himself, especially given the last few years of mismanagement and a lack of leadership.

That might just be a SME attitude towards it all however...

[Stranded]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

The whole operation won't have shut down, but given decisions such as the next manager is part of his remit, he may not want to be delegating it to other people to sign off if he (or the other party involved) isn't absolutely sure or there are still potentially discussions to be had. If the owner has employed Bowen to come and make these decisions, then he may be even more hesitant to let other people have their hands in the pot, including himself, especially given the last few years of mismanagement and a lack of leadership.

That might just be a SME attitude towards it all however...

Thism 90 to 95% of things will carry on - recruitment conversations etc will still be going on - I imagine Carey is leading any number of conversations with players/agents about joining the club etc. The only bit that is likely to have gone on pause is the finalisation of the new manager esp. if it is in the closing stages - i.e. there are a couple of specifics that Bowen has been speaking to Wilder (or Jones or Cotterill) about that need his input and/or he hasn't been able to hand off these details - if they are very specific to the footballing side, whilst Pang could handle paperwork etc, then they may need Bowen.

[Hound]

Yep the idea the club has ground to a halt is nonsense. Stuff will still be happening in the background

[Brogue]

Bowens compassionate leave is nothing to do with any hold-ups. Dellor said he was in attendance at some EFL thing on Thursday and Friday. Whatever the reason for his absence (most likely a death in the family) he was working up until the weekend. so one assumes something happened at the weekend. We are talking about two business days he's been off for...

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

If the said business was just put in a position where its already heavily loss making operation was projected to lose around 2/3 of its revenue in the next 12 month period, I can understand why things might not run as smoothly as hoped for.

[Uke]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

Sauce?

Given that many of the roles are contracted out - security, catering, ground maintenance(?), I doubt that RFC actually employs that many people.

[Brogue]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

Sauce?

Given that many of the roles are contracted out - security, catering, ground maintenance(?), I doubt that RFC actually employs that many people.

[blythspartan]

Yep the idea the club has ground to a halt is nonsense. Stuff will still be happening in the background

I hope so. I appreciate things can change but I fear it’s going to be another season of doom and gloom. Something doesn’t seem right behind the scenes but I hope I am worrying unnecessarily.

If we get Cotterill as rumours suggest I’ll be well hacked off.

[Sutekh]

Yep the idea the club has ground to a halt is nonsense. Stuff will still be happening in the background

I hope so. I appreciate things can change but I fear it’s going to be another season of doom and gloom. Something doesn’t seem right behind the scenes but I hope I am worrying unnecessarily.

If we get Cotterill as rumours suggest I’ll be well hacked off.

Could be worse, at least he has a none too bad record with Shrewsbury, understands the division and what to expect.

[Snowflake Royal]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

The vast majority of those 400 have nothing to do with the high level running of the club.

Bowen isn't going to delegate decisions to the Academy coaches or club shop manager. Let alone the stewards or groundsmen.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

@cfridayjourno
Regarding the silence from senior figures at #readingfc recently. There are valid reasons, which i won't go into due to staff's personal sensitivities. However I am told things will restore to normal 'soon'. No exact timescale.

Basically like us all he knows nothing

[genome]

@Smudgersport 18m
I've heard from several sources now that the #readingfc hierarchy has disappeared without trace and Dai Yongge is looking to sell... which is holding up Wilder's appointment and may even scupper it. Hoping there's a grand masterplan behind it all, but I doubt it.

Okay then...

[Stranded]

@Smudgersport 18m
I've heard from several sources now that the #readingfc hierarchy has disappeared without trace and Dai Yongge is looking to sell... which is holding up Wilder's appointment and may even scupper it. Hoping there's a grand masterplan behind it all, but I doubt it.

Okay then...

Well if that's true - and it certainly fits what we are or aren't seeing from the club at the mo then we are essentially in a form of end game under this ownership - leaves 3 definitive paths open as I see it (could well be more) but

1. There is concrete interest in buying from US/Middle East and the club will be sold quickly - Dai will recieve pennies in the pound on his debt and the club ends up in a much better place financially with new, hopefully better, owners.

2. Dai actively tries to sell but no bites, he continues to fund the club at the bare minimum - manager appointment will be underwhelming and probably internal and squad development will be close to non-existant - essentially we will go in to the season with what we have and maybe a few additional free agents.

3. Dai stops funding - wages aren't paid and the club are left with no choice but to go into admin - minimum 12 pts off, more if wages aren't paid - then all bets are off. Club likely gets bought out at some point as someone sees a bargain but another relegation is likely before things even begin to stabilise. If wages aren't paid for a month then all those left under contract can walk.

I'd be surprised by 3 at this point as Dai would want as much money back as he can get and going to admin makes that unlikely.

Of course, this could all be untrue or off the mark and things improve once Bowen returns from leave - naturally if nothing moves between now and the end of the month/first few days of July latest - then what has to come to date will just look like a walk in the park compared to what is about to happen.

[Sutekh]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

The vast majority of those 400 have nothing to do with the high level running of the club.

Bowen isn't going to delegate decisions to the Academy coaches or club shop manager. Let alone the stewards or groundsmen.

Things are changing then!

[Sutekh]

@Smudgersport 18m
I've heard from several sources now that the #readingfc hierarchy has disappeared without trace and Dai Yongge is looking to sell... which is holding up Wilder's appointment and may even scupper it. Hoping there's a grand masterplan behind it all, but I doubt it.

Okay then...

Who is @Smudgersport and/or does he have any cred?

[windermereROYAL]

@Smudgersport 18m
I've heard from several sources now that the #readingfc hierarchy has disappeared without trace and Dai Yongge is looking to sell... which is holding up Wilder's appointment and may even scupper it. Hoping there's a grand masterplan behind it all, but I doubt it.

Okay then...

Who is @Smudgersport and/or does he have any cred?

Former sports editor at the chronicle

[leon]

Sympathetic to Bowen, but if seemingly the entire operation of a multi-million pound company employing nearly 400 people rests on one individual then that's a massive problem.

A pub shuts if the landlord suffers a bereavement, a corner shop or fish and chip shop maybe, but a professional football club? Surely unprecedented at this level, and symbolic of a shambolic chain of command placing far too much responsibility at one level. We all knew Pang was a waste of space, but for the football operation to (allegedly) grind to a halt in the absence of one person is, frankly, scary - managerless or not.

The vast majority of those 400 have nothing to do with the high level running of the club.

Bowen isn't going to delegate decisions to the Academy coaches or club shop manager. Let alone the stewards or groundsmen.

Things are changing then!

Ian missing the point in his desperation to disagree with everyone yet again.

[Sutekh]

@Smudgersport 18m
I've heard from several sources now that the #readingfc hierarchy has disappeared without trace and Dai Yongge is looking to sell... which is holding up Wilder's appointment and may even scupper it. Hoping there's a grand masterplan behind it all, but I doubt it.

Okay then...

Who is @Smudgersport and/or does he have any cred?

Former sports editor at the chronicle

So should be something to take note of then!

Seems to me things were clearer and less worrying when Maxwell was trying to merge the club. Things probably more communicative then at least (and that's without an internet)!