Barrow AFC.net

Nige, it sounds like Dino has done everything possible to get answers and probably felt this was a last resort. I can totally understand his frustration if all of what he say's in the posts are correct.

Waiting for a response from the club,before posting my thoughts,an explanation maybe?

It would be incredibly sad and so wrong if these young lads final memories of the Barrow AFC performance centre are contained in those letters! Something the club needs to address with the utmost urgency. I know there are two sides to every story but so far Dino doesn't paint a pleasant picture.

Whatever the rights and wrongs, and Nige is right we know one, very passionate side not the clubs, this has been handled poorly.

In my work you often have to have difficult conversations with people about one thing or another, but you plan it properly beforehand, if it's more than one person, you deal with each in the same fair way, you give consideration to the aftermath, peoples' feelings, you consider how any fallout will be portrayed, would it be detrimental to the reputation of your place of work ?

Unless all of this is a complete rant from a disappointed Dad, it's hard to see how this has been done effectively by the club.

However, I would be happy to be stood corrected on that, in fact I would be delighted if the club wasn't at fault.

Mark Mc wrote:It would be incredibly sad and so wrong if these young lads final memories of the Barrow AFC performance centre are contained in those letters!

Isn't that the nature of football though, particularly at youth level? At a given point in time you get told whether you're being kept on or let go and the stats show that the vast majority of footballers at youth level get parked up at some point. Whether its done by text, letter, email or over a candlelit dinner it's never going to be pleasant.

barrowaberdeen wrote:
Unless all of this is a complete rant from a disappointed Dad, it's hard to see how this has been done effectively by the club.

Its not a complete rant from a dissappointed dad, yes i'm dissappointed but given Mikeys performance this year has been poor on occasions I could fully understand them just dropping him, i would have no complaints if that was the only case. But its not been the case for several others who have had a good season.

But given that these lads would have perhaps been in the squad and at training for what will be there last match on March 22nd, after that their career at the performance centre was over, they all knew that, so why dump them 2 weeks before, why claim the drugs were one of the reasons behind that decision (i want to see proof of that claim), i'm questioning the reasoning behind these decisions.

So:
Why dump people 2 weeks before they would leave anyway?
Why hand out identical letters to them all?
Why accuse them all of drug taking?
Why were they not spoken to as individuals, but done as a group?
Why were some only notified by text?
Why promise they could come back if they improve when there is nothing for them to go back to? (They are now to old to play next season)
Why if the drug allegations are true were the people suspected not suspended and an investigation carried out and them then dealt with?

Thats my rant and the questions I would like to see answered.


My rant as a 'dad' is that the manager has played Mikey out of his normal position far to many times, played him alongside numerous players that chop and changed throughout a game and his game has suffered because of that. Perhaps the manager thought he was developing him by having him play in different positions, it didnt work out, blame for that can be put on either Mikey or the manager but thats football. Dissapointing but i've been around football for 50yrs i know how things work out.

Sounds like the club need to sort this out.

Whether they are good enough or not it sounds like some of these kids have been shafted, kids that have put in a lot of effort over the last few years.

Everyone keeps banging on about community etc but the club never helps themselves, no doubt this will get in the paper and shed some bad light on the club, and its the clubs responsibility to sort this out. Probably too busy booking out the Shard for the next bobble hat launch.

Lancaster Branch wrote:

Mark Mc wrote:It would be incredibly sad and so wrong if these young lads final memories of the Barrow AFC performance centre are contained in those letters!

Isn't that the nature of football though, particularly at youth level? At a given point in time you get told whether you're being kept on or let go and the stats show that the vast majority of footballers at youth level get parked up at some point. Whether its done by text, letter, email or over a candlelit dinner it's never going to be pleasant.

Your right Dave there is never going to be an perfect way or right time to tell someone they are no longer wanted. But that letter is atrocious, as is the all round handling of the lads departures by the sound of things!

Still waiting for a reply from Mssrs Meechan - who signed the letter, Reid, Myles & Rutherford ( who delivered the news to several lads on Wednesday). I won't hold my breath though judging from previous experience of them answering phone calls ?

I'm taking Dino's posts with a pinch of salt because as others have said we have only heard his side. However, what is clear is that whatever the rights and wrongs a standard letter like that and a mass meeting is a truly shocking way to go about things. Very disappointing to hear it was done in that way.

As stated -the club have the opportunity to reply don't they? Until then I won't be posting any Comments. They must be aware of these posts/ comments? Come on fellows, at least acknowledge you are aware & are looking into the matter?

Official Statement on behalf of Darren Edmondson

Barrow AFC has launched a high level investigation into the events on Wednesday march 11th, relating to issues surrounding the Performance Centre.

It would be inappropriate to comment further until the investigation is complete.

We ask that people give us time to investigate this matter fully.

If its right what Dino has said, you cannot surely just accuse people of drug taking or am I missing something

Fair enough.