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A civil war is brewing at Wanderers – and it isn’t one that Ken Anderson will win.
Tears flowed yesterday morning as staff worried about the whereabouts of their February wage and the complete and utter lack of direction they had been given by their superiors through the previous 24 hours.
But that mood changed significantly when the club owner sent out an email at lunchtime pleading for “continued patience” – giving no apology nor an indication when exactly their situation would improve.
In the chairman's eyes it might have been an act of placation. In football and PR terms it proved a gargantuan own goal... and not his first of the season.
You might argue the words were not actually intended for those who work at the stadium, the hotel or the training ground, more at the prospective buyers who has been conducting due diligence for the last week, and seemingly not rushing into a purchase.
I'm sure Anderson had an inkling it would not be long before the contents of the email were circulating on social media. Indeed the last paragraph, which flippantly confirmed Anderson was in talks with two other buyers, was painfully obvious.
This is certainly not the first time that staff have had their emotions toyed with in Anderson’s unpredictable three-year reign – but on this occasion there has been a reaction. The worry has turned into anger and if the owner does not find a solution to appease his workforce then you have to be concerned whether next Saturday’s game against Millwall can actually go ahead as planned.
It is understood at least a dozen employees at the hotel, working in leisure, maintenance, reception and sales, walked out on Friday. Who knows how more will follow if this charade is maintained?
Brinkmanship has been the hallmark of Anderson’s time in charge. And he will argue it has been a necessary evil to try and reduce debts, or to keep administration at bay. The many creditors, large and small, who are still waiting for payment would wholly disagree.
His latest email seemed a step too far, however, and to dangle the emotions of the club’s 400-strong workforce in front of a prospective buyer to try and rush through a deal really takes his bluster to a whole new level.
If you took nothing else away from Shaun Harvey’s defence of Anderson last Monday on Talksport, he did get one thing spot on: This is the beginning of the end.
Harvey is also correct that Anderson has cemented his place in Bolton Wanderers’ history books but his legacy does not in good condition at all.
Had either Anderson or his right-hand-man Paul Aldridge made attempts to pre-warn staff about potential pay problems, the reaction may not have been so severe. Instead an email of limited contrition just served to rub people up the wrong way.
Wanderers workforce has within its ranks plenty of supporters who have stuck with the club through difficult times. It probably isn’t the high pay that keeps them coming back. Their patience is finite, however, and you wonder how long it can last?
Meanwhile, miles away in South Wales, Phil Parkinson tries to motivate a squad of unpaid players for a game which could be just as much of a deal-breaker as anything in Anderson’s email.
Victory against Swansea could put the team one point from safety, with the right results elsewhere. And the prospect of being a Championship club next season is worth around £8million in next season’s pot to any potential buyer.
What must players have thought less than a week after the club had excitedly announced a deal for new ownership was close, they were being told in yet another team meeting that their February salary would not be paid?
In a business so overwhelmingly reliant on results on the pitch, it is still unfathomable to me that Parkinson and his staff have been subjected to this kind of situation so often.
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Tears flowed yesterday morning as staff worried about the whereabouts of their February wage and the complete and utter lack of direction they had been given by their superiors through the previous 24 hours.
But that mood changed significantly when the club owner sent out an email at lunchtime pleading for “continued patience” – giving no apology nor an indication when exactly their situation would improve.
In the chairman's eyes it might have been an act of placation. In football and PR terms it proved a gargantuan own goal... and not his first of the season.
You might argue the words were not actually intended for those who work at the stadium, the hotel or the training ground, more at the prospective buyers who has been conducting due diligence for the last week, and seemingly not rushing into a purchase.
I'm sure Anderson had an inkling it would not be long before the contents of the email were circulating on social media. Indeed the last paragraph, which flippantly confirmed Anderson was in talks with two other buyers, was painfully obvious.
This is certainly not the first time that staff have had their emotions toyed with in Anderson’s unpredictable three-year reign – but on this occasion there has been a reaction. The worry has turned into anger and if the owner does not find a solution to appease his workforce then you have to be concerned whether next Saturday’s game against Millwall can actually go ahead as planned.
It is understood at least a dozen employees at the hotel, working in leisure, maintenance, reception and sales, walked out on Friday. Who knows how more will follow if this charade is maintained?
Brinkmanship has been the hallmark of Anderson’s time in charge. And he will argue it has been a necessary evil to try and reduce debts, or to keep administration at bay. The many creditors, large and small, who are still waiting for payment would wholly disagree.
His latest email seemed a step too far, however, and to dangle the emotions of the club’s 400-strong workforce in front of a prospective buyer to try and rush through a deal really takes his bluster to a whole new level.
If you took nothing else away from Shaun Harvey’s defence of Anderson last Monday on Talksport, he did get one thing spot on: This is the beginning of the end.
Harvey is also correct that Anderson has cemented his place in Bolton Wanderers’ history books but his legacy does not in good condition at all.
Had either Anderson or his right-hand-man Paul Aldridge made attempts to pre-warn staff about potential pay problems, the reaction may not have been so severe. Instead an email of limited contrition just served to rub people up the wrong way.
Wanderers workforce has within its ranks plenty of supporters who have stuck with the club through difficult times. It probably isn’t the high pay that keeps them coming back. Their patience is finite, however, and you wonder how long it can last?
Meanwhile, miles away in South Wales, Phil Parkinson tries to motivate a squad of unpaid players for a game which could be just as much of a deal-breaker as anything in Anderson’s email.
Victory against Swansea could put the team one point from safety, with the right results elsewhere. And the prospect of being a Championship club next season is worth around £8million in next season’s pot to any potential buyer.
What must players have thought less than a week after the club had excitedly announced a deal for new ownership was close, they were being told in yet another team meeting that their February salary would not be paid?
In a business so overwhelmingly reliant on results on the pitch, it is still unfathomable to me that Parkinson and his staff have been subjected to this kind of situation so often.
Source