SFA referee Charlie Richmond yesterday told the BBC he was resigning from his role as a top class official citing reasons that will horrify and resonate with many of you. Speaking last night he said:
“Referee’s committee members, who you would expect to get support from, have told me across the table ‘this is nothing to do with your refereeing ability, it’s nothing to do with your experience but you won’t be getting high profile games because you’re not seen as a team member.
“The fact that you don’t share the same conversation or the same humour doesn’t mean to say you are the bad penny.
“The fact that you don’t share the same conversation or the same humour doesn’t mean to say you are the bad penny.
“In any walk of life a natural progression takes place but the person underneath doesn’t need to stab someone in in the back to advance quicker.
“I received a phone call telling me to watch what I was saying in dressing rooms because this is 10am on a Monday and it’s filtered back already.
“Much more disappointing, is that they are believing that information.”
Coming hard on the heels of last season’s bullying allegations by an official and nature of what was regarded by some as suitable material to joke about in the workplace, the SFA sounds like an old boys club.
SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, tweeted in response: “Referee appointments are based on performance. Would prefer to see consistent under performers ‘retire’ without feeling need to blame others”.
Ouch. Listen to her.
Charlie Richmond may or may not be a rubbish referee, Mr Regan could easily persuade me of the former, but that is not the point. It is not the responsibility of the employee to manage the performance review process. If the organisation manages this process well, the employee becomes an active part of proceedings, even when performance is worthy of criticism.
This situation has not been managed well. It is a corporate failure at an organisation which has been dogged by corporate governance issues for years.
The SFA have been accredited as Investors In People. The scenario where a senior referee complains to the media about favouritism while the chief executive retorts online about “consistent under performers” (sic) is surely the antithesis of good Investors In People. It smacks of lousy people management.
If you have underperforming staff, make it clear to them where they are going wrong. Do so in an inclusive way, ensure those charged with performance communication are able to do so without accusations of favouritism (Richmond) or bullying (Craven), and for goodness sake, ensure the chief exec doesn’t get bitchy on Twitter.
If you or I accused the SFA of behaviour like this we would be dismissed as irrelevant but the organisation needs to take action to ensure there are no more accusations of bullying, favouritism, selective-humour-bonding and executives disrespecting officials on Twitter.
Can you imagine what the very same people would be doing today if Neil Lennon had a go at a referee on Twitter?
If you would like to contribute a piece to CQN Magazine email me, celticquicknews@gmail.com.
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sausage talk ?
is that like an orange walk only meatier ?
“RFFF We don’t do walking away song
I know this has featured on several threads already but just to say a big thank you to everyone who has bought my Dad’s song, we have raised over £200 already for the Rangers Fans Fighting Fund and if you haven’t bought it yet or donated in other ways to the fund, it is still available from only £1 at
http://weewulliebluenose.bandcamp.com”
Same price as RFC(IA) and every bit as classy.
Saint Stivs on 11 April, 2012 at 12:19 said:
Dontbrattbakkinanger on 11 April, 2012 at 12:19 said:
/////////////////////
God Bless
Hail Hail
jc2
sausage talk only mate, you should know better ;-) How are you?
Hi Paul67,
Investors in People is a joke, it is gained for an organisation by filling in a few forms and then nodding at the right point in a sham audit. I bet even Rangers have managed to get it. Although their investment in people appears to have been more of the brown envelope variety.
Swiss
Serge,
just after Paul67 posted the new article I had a wee read back and have now had to re-assess my lunch arrangements.
Going to have to be the non-healthy option of 2 rolls (well-fired/burnt/crispy) with skwerr sausage Italian style (out of Chapmans – i know i shouldnt but they are rather tasty!), tattie scones and fried onions. Washed doon by ice-cold bottle Irn-Bru (real stuff).
Mmmmmmm
Be off to lunch soon…..
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
SydneyTim on 11 April, 2012 at 12:13 said:
That’s how great Scotland is ,everyone misses morning rolls and square sausages.
Should be on the flag.
Earlier this season charlie richmond wis brought in from the cold to referee our game with motherwell at Fir Park.
Context…..Celtic and Neil Lennon went into that game 15 points behind the top spot an facing a Motherwell team sitting above them in the league.
A fixture that is as high profile as you get.
The question is this Charlie Richmond was referee in 11 games previously in the season only 2 of which wer premier league games.
The previous season 2010/2011 he wasnt refereeing,dont know if that was injury/illness.
The previous season 2009/10 he was a regular premier league referee 14 out of 21 games he covered the rest 2 div 1 and cup ties.
Now here’s the thing in light of charlie’s comments was he hand picked for the Fir Park game.
Sure seems like it.
TTT
Cutting back?
Saint Stivs
Using Frankfurt flutes
while searching out Rangers rioting in Newcastle, came across this bumper of a picture.
This must be where they get their “deserve better ” patter
http://imageshack.us/f/168/newcastlerangers1969vr2.jpg/
Remember they are ‘part of the fabric of Scottish society.’ Good to see they love to keep their hard fought traditions alive.
The day after this night of shame the Scotsman had an editorial condemning their signing policy.
Who needs them?
The Token Tim
You are a rascal. HH
SOAL,
of course….I am still taking part in the Fat Bhoys Slim club
:-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Rotten to the core, that’s our SFA, How can we change things??
I don’t have any answers but can I recommend those who have SKY recording Andre Rieu and his Orchestra, especially the concerts from Maastricht, their home. He brings to life the spirit that marks that ancient Catholic pre-Lenten celebration that they call Carneval in Holland. Music, dance and sheer love of the good things in life (what our team and support enjoyed at Rugby Park on Saturday). What a contrast to the mindset of those who run Scottish football. Equivocation and whataboutery to let the miscreants escape their due punishment at every turn.
Reading about the huns rioting in Newcastle in 1969 and trying to have the match abandoned reminds me that they also tried this tactic in the Scottish Cup Final of the same year.With Celtic humbling their heroes 4-0,the orc hordes first started battling among themselves and then invaded the pitch and tried to rip up the nets at the rangers end.
I believe this was subsequently blamed on heavy handed policing/poor stewarding or a broken telly.
Hun mentality = if being beaten,riot
Paul67
It is high time that refereeing should stop being looked at as a favour the SFA are doing the rest of Scottish football and instead be viewed as a service (for which they are well paid at Grade1). What other service of any quality judges how good a service it is providing? In most cases the customers do the judging providing a natural separation that can lead to improvement if the customer has the ability to go elsewhere.
This is the dynamic that is missing and it is one that needs to be introduced by separation of supply (recruitment, training and refereeing itself ) from the monitoring and evaluation of performance, subject to agreed levels of service.
Treated in such a manner refereeing could becaome a profession like any other where the best are rewarded on merit and can ply their trade anywhere.
Just as Scotland is not big enough on its own to produce enough top quality players, the same applies to referees. We do not hesitate to cast the net far and wide for footballers, so why not refs?
The referee’s strike was all about preserving their control of their own cabbage patch. A change to being more service oriented need not be seen as a threat by referees, if they have more faith in the system than Mr Richmond has they might want to up their game knowing good performances are recognised rather than giving up, especially if the world and not just Scotland becomes their oyster on Saturdays..
Mr Regan has a lot on his plate but the debate on refereeing should be encouraged to let some light in, but he will have in the “employ” of the SFA some referees, like journalists, who just want to look after themselves and to hell with the game, the direction it is currently heading in.
Alex Thomson online this afternoon.
How/why UEFA have Alex Salmond and MSPs in their sites because of political interference in Rangers
The question from last blog about stonecutters and symbolism of the number 2 1/2, it refers to the total of the 54 titles won fairly by thems
Re the sausage debate…
Can’t believe onion square sliced has not been mentioned…
philistines!
O.G.Rafferty 12:28
I love the sound of that.
HH
Iki, without good calibre management no system will succeed.
St Martin’s Bhoy, I think Stewart Regan’s comments last night were ill-advised. Needs to get a grip of the organisation’s failings.
KevJungle, aye.
Token Tim, too true.
ASonOfDan, we need to hear more from referees, not just their apologists.
Swiss Tony, to be fair to IIP, they are there to provide a framework for improvement. It’s up to the organisation to improve.
Auldheid, yes, agree.
Willie Collum:
“We have three children, one just nine weeks, one 20 months and one who is three. All girls. It’s hard going.”
And you can trace the weans’ conception back to 2 Hun title wins and the 3-1 Parkhead ‘psychic penalty’ win…
I’m just sayin’…
Beautiful bird eats sausage
Parkhead@12:27
Der Hun was especially active that year right enough…
was this the last Scottish Cup Final were the last lap of honour was held because it was banned thereafter because they invaded the park thus stopping the victorious Celts the chance to show the Cup to their fans?
HH
Paul67 on 11 April, 2012 at 12:32 said:
I think Stewart Regan’s comments last night were ill-advised. Needs to get a grip of the organisation’s failings.
I hope he’s got big hands!
I WANT TO PICK A GARDENERS BRAINS.
Has anyone come across GLYPHOSATE?.It’s a weed killer but there are warnings,what I want to know is how strong is it,does it get down to the roots of weeds,and is it plant friendly.Want to kill some weeds before heading for the Algarve on Saturday morning.
share on F’book or Twitter
Serge on 11 April, 2012 at 12:32 said:
Beautiful bird eats sausage
————————————————–
Not what I imagined :o(
Ole Billy Ng must have seen that picture of the ole Gallowgate end and been inspired to work every minute of the day to scrape together enough cash to buy the Horribles,
or failing that, a three legged dug.
Or failin’ that, a copy of the Scissor Sisters LP signed by Dick Byrne.
oldtim67 on 11 April, 2012 at 12:35 said:
I WANT TO PICK A GARDENERS BRAINS.
Has anyone come across GLYPHOSATE?.It’s a weed killer but there are warnings,what I want to know is how strong is it,does it get down to the roots of weeds,and is it plant friendly.Want to kill some weeds before heading for the Algarve on Saturday morning.
——————————————————————————————
Is this your roundabout way of letting us know your going on holiday/
Jammy git …..good on ye.
Stewart Regan should read my post from this morning about the dangers of Twatter. A proper considered press release was required, not a soundbyte.
Weed killer?
Plant friendly?
Surely Alex Thomson means that UEFA have Salmond and MSPs in their sights not sites?
PedanticCSC
26 years ago this week ‘The Beast’ entered ibrox and rangers ruined Scottish Football. rangers had not won the League since 1978 and would end up finishing the season Fifth on goal difference ahead of Dundee.
I reckon they will looking at Fifth again next season.
In the Third Division…
HH
The huns getting a charity game from the mighty Linfield?The Club Who Will Die Without Shame.
bunburybhoy,
The 1969 final wasn’t the game which saw the lap of honour stopped.That would have been the League Cup Final of 1965 (?) I think.
Celtic won the League Cup and commenced the traditonal lap of honour only for the orc hordes to invade the pitch to try to attack the Celtic players.
The 1969 occasion was another event entirely to add to their litany of shame
voguepunter
haha, it got a bigger lunch than me! Ravenous is an understatement
I like to take a cook’s knife and flatten out my square sausage so it’s really really thin and cooks really quickly. Plain bread – lightly buttered. If pan bread then lightly toasted to make it a wee bit crispy. And my roll of choice would be slightly crispy too.
And HP brown sauce – sometimes fruity for that continental touch…
U