So Fry is leaving the Board to be replaced by that well known ex Cival Servant and nephew of Delia,Thomas Smith??????????? Thomas Smith spent over a decade in the Civil Service in the UK and abroad, working in a variety of roles at the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and now owns his own photo business. Be interesting to see what he brings to the table.
The Smith Dynasty must be upheld. The Bloodline must remain. Our Glorious Leader shall be reborn unto us through Her descendants. All hail! please log in to view this image
You'll always get nepotism in a family owned business. Personally I don't see what he brings to the board. I may not be a huge fan of Ed Balls but you can't deny that the bloke has a lot of contacts in both Parliament and business generally and considerable financial experience (please note I did not say expertise!!) and so he brings a known personality and a bit of gravitas to the board. An understandable appointment. Unless we are running short of people to take the team photo at the start of the season I really don't see how Thomas Smith adds to what we have on the board.
It is what we are all thinking, Brother Melchet. We are all willing servants to The Dynasty and The Cause. Have no fear. Everything is in hand.
The only crime to speak of is your flagrant heresy. Your lack of subservience to The Dynasty is disturbing, Brother Bhoy.
Poor Thomas, head-hunted into replacing Stephen Fry on the board and two days later, you pagans want to see him do his Joan of Arc impression
We want no such thing! Brother Melchet was rightly advocating the ritual burning the confirmed heretic, Brother Bhoy.
Brother Jk speakth the truth about the heretic Bhoy. His brand of banal boisterous bollox about our beloved benefactor and her board buddies is beyond bad and burnings too benevelent for the beastly Bhoy! Boil him in blackberries! Bah!
He shouldn't have any trouble bringing us more exposure than, should he? I can see this appointment being a flash in the pan myself. *getscoatemoticon*
Fair play to Delia and Michael and without being disrespectful I hope their nephew does not have the naivety that they've shown at times. I really hope Stephen Fry pisses off though typical jumping the gravy train it's annoys me, this club ambassador role is absolutely pointless.
Whist I firmly support the right of major shareholders to make appointments to the board to reflect their interests, I'm not sure what use this chap will be. His CV is rather short and it seems to boil down to "couldn't hack the civil service and left to take some photos". I've spent time in the civil service offices and it can be very odd. Lots of meetings lots of process not too much actual decision making or people taking responsibility. I've a also worked with several "former civil servants" and few have impressed me very much. Both Michael and Delia are self-made they do know business and how to get on in the world, this lad seems sheltered. One thing I would say is at least he is being brought in now and he does seem to be a fan, I do hope however were not looking at the next majority shareholder.
I've no idea what to think of this appointment. Stephen Fry making a sideways move is irrelevant, his contribution won't be changing and I doubt he voted on club matters. If Thomas Smith is to be an active board member, then I worry that his vote is just going to be another vote for his Aunt and Uncle. He doesn't bring significant financial acumen or footballing experience, and I'd worry that as a third Smith he'll dilute the ability of McNally, etc, to push through the changes they feel we need. So in this sense I'm concerned. On the other hand, perhaps this is the start of a succession, which could make a lot of sense. Thomas watches and learns about the club, to the point where he can take over MWJ or Delia's shareholding, and they feel comfortable that he'll act in the best interests of the club, and in the way they would. Whilst 'Delia's meddling' may have been blamed in the past, until we can find a unicorn of an investor, I'm happy with the club in their hands. I'd rather they secure the club future in their own hands, than risk having to sell to someone without full trust if time became pressing.
Well said, DH. This was my first thought, too - a 'Smith-cartel' forming and becoming maybe blinkered to the best interests of the club's progression?