If you owned a company would you hire Khaled El-Ahmed based on his performance at Oakwell?

Attacking Khaled fits the agenda for some because he is linked with the owners.The same people refused to give Val and his team any credit for our fantastic season last year because it would have meant giving the board some backhanded praise.The West Stand issue keeps getting fetched up but the faults had appeared and a report drawn up before Khaled even joined us he reacted as any sensible CEO would.Don't forget ( although it keeps getting brushed under the carpet) our very own Beth said she would not have let her family sit in the West Stand and I know who I believe.

 

Has anyone ever found out what works were done to the stand?

 

In fairness he was ok. Went missing a bit when things weren’t going right but otherwise good

 

i would say that if the Council’s surveyor passed it fit to be used the rest is just noise. Given the potential for both individual and corporate manslaughter charges they wouldn’t be issuing safety certs if the stand wasn’t safe.

Also club officials and visitors and press bravely risked their lives every week while it was closed. As someone who helps manage risk that clearly want right. A structure is either unsafe or it’s not. If it’s not you close it properly

 

They mainly concentrated around moving the stewards to a different stand for a few weeks.

 

Wasn't there a caveat in the council survey, that said the club would need to see the results of a structural survey or something?

Looking at the attendance figures for those games, I'm not so sure.

 

So you don't believe Beth then? you obviously don't know her.

 

Are you suggesting that the Council Surveyor issued a false certificate? That’s a pretty big accusation.

And the press who were allowed into the stand and the club officials. I assume they all signed some indemnity clause given their lives were in such imminent danger.

 

I think it's been brilliant how the West Stand situation was handled.

Closed due to safety measures, then opened after having zero work done - all whilst press and various hangers on were sat in those same unsafe seats.

And if folk can't see or understand why people are royally pissed off about this, then I don't know what to tell you.

 

Hecky wasn’t very complimentary about him in a recent interview

 

But there is clearly a reduced risk to having people there who are there in a work capacity (press and directors), than there would be to having an extra 1100+ fans. For a start, the journos wouldn't (or at least shouldn't be drinking), and if an evacuation is required, then it is more manageable.

 

To add substance Bri. (Fact) The head of safety at the club. Took full responsibility on the safety of the west stand. Khaled was the one who backed his decision 100% to close it. On his authority the decision was made. The communications were the issue in my eyes. Not enough substance.
Also the Head safety officer had to work round the problem of the regulations for visiting directors and party. Which meant the directors box stayed open. As some say, as did he, we were a day away from having to play behind closed doors. If that situation didn't satisfy the EFL.
The communications have always been poor.
We have a media team who could possibly give advice before club statements are put out. To avoid confusion.
Meeting on Monday with Khaled btw.
I reckon some of the points raised by ST are justified. But sometimes out of context.
The vouchers issue was taken up by YT. As it became a farce. (Not sure khaled was fully informed at the start of his tenure. ?)
As for the season ticket renewals. Poor communication again re the £50. It was quite clearly a one off discount. But when you sit back and think about it. Instead of the rush of blood. It was not a lie as some want to portray.

 

Just to pick up on something in there.... are you saying that club statements have no involvement from the clubs media team?

 

If a structure is fundamentally unsound to the extent where people from the club say they wouldn’t risk their family in it then I can see that reason flying. From my experience of dealing with Health and Safety people there is no way you would let anyone near any structure you believed could cause serious risk to health or death.

 

Thanks for that Hf.By the way did you see the facebook page about old club turns,some happy memories on there.

 

I'm genuinely not sure how much is sought from the media team nowadays. But a few years ago. Round about the Stendel issue. (Not sure which statement was put out..)I questioned whether the media team had been consulted. And they hadn't. Which I said was a big mistake as I thought the media team would have anticipated a possible backlash. I suppose YT could answer if that is still the case. Unless he cannot disclose what his full role is.

 

But there is a scale of risk, and capacity contributes to that level or risk.

If it was just about stewards for the away end, I'd be very surprised if it was a move that led to any sort of profit. Pretty sure there was only Sheff U and Hudds with any extra following in that time, and I don't think they even sold out the extra allocation in the end.

 

I'd hope every single thing that is put into the public domain, regardless of who the original author is, would be reviewed by the media team, at least for sense check and to challenge anything that doesn't add value or has ambiguity. Especially given our owners and CEO's aren't generally fluent in resident barnsley language.

 

Owt specific mate. I do visit it regularly. I'm glad I'm not a musician and just a punter lol. With some of the comments.
Favorite act in my time Bri. Guns n oatcakes
But so much talent out there which some of the older generations dismiss out of hand. Lol.

 

Maybe YT can answer that one. But I'll certainly ask the question on monday.
I reckon I could help re that last sentence lol. Sithi.