The human cost of relegation

[Andy]

The inevitability of stories like this is what really upset me about relegation. I fully understand that the club has to cope with a massive fall in revenue and that job cuts are necessary but it is still very sad.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/norwich_city_programme_seller_thanks_fans_for_30_years_of_custom_1_3729135

 

[skijumptoes]

Program sellers are making money surely?! I know they get a ticket for the game and a percentage of books sold. But honestly the cost of a ticket is not that devastating for the club to swallow is it?!

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Its sad, but I understand that the club needs to get her off the wage bill. She must have been a massive drain on the clubs finances. Hopefully his means we will now be able to continue to pay the wages of players vital to the cause like Bassong and Becchio who desperately want to be here

 

[BarclayBoy88]

Absolutely devastated about this, been buying my program from her for a while now. I know some others within the club that have also lost their jobs, horrible! 

 

[Yellow Fever]

Yes, very sad.

 

[Canaryboy]

Programme sellers get:

• Commission per programme sold
• A match ticket
• A drink voucher (soft drink)

So how on earth does making them redundant save the club money? Can only assume that they thought she wasn't fast enough, but even then - you get high traffic pitches and low traffic pitches, so would have thought you would just jiggle them about and swap her with another seller?

 

[skijumptoes]

I know someone who deals with the club on an admin level, and it's always been a bit of a joke between him and the club that the program sellers have the best job going there.

I guess it's that mentality that see's this kind of action. But it seems very trivial to me and not media savvy at all.

It almost makes you wonder if it's deliberate for when we make money this transfer window.

 

[Josh]

Yeah it's a sad story when someone loses their job because of the incompetent performances of other people, but no one seems to care about David Fox. David Fox lost his job at the end of last season too and where's his newspaper story? He's got a young family to feed, and they don't eat swapped football shirts you know.

 

[BarclayBoy88]

While I appreciate what you are trying to say Josh, I think the example is worlds apart. David Fox has been a professional footballer for over 10 years, playing at a reasonably high standard throughout, so you need to imagine he has been on thousands of £££'s a week for the best part of a decade. Also I have to imagine that if he really wanted to continue making a living in his profession, there would be a host of league one, and league two clubs interested. I have to imagine it's his choice of not having a club right now and he may just be taking some time away from the game to spend golfing, which he seems to enjoy so much. So I can't imagine many people losing sleep over David Fox being unemployed, and rightfully so. This lady has been doing this for 30 years, and getting relatively little in terms of compensation, and the club that is debt free, turning over a lot of money while also enjoying parachute payments thought she was surplus to requirements. Unfortunately these things happen in business, but her story is a little more heartfelt than a footballer not having a club right now.

 

[skijumptoes]

In all seriousness i think Fox will suffer more financially than Mrs Kett, she was doing this mainly through love not financial i imagine, in fact i used to think she was a volunteer for the club till i found out they get certain 'perks'.  

Must add - She has a season ticket too i just noticed re-reading that article, so she's obviously kind enough to give the ticket she earns to a friend/family member too and clearly frequents the club shop.  Hardly a leech on the club finances!!

The personal level of this is what's most upsetting, unlike Fox, it is a needless culling done in the eyes of the media, I'm sure.

Designed to make a point when we make millions on players and spend only a fraction of it.  She survived times when we've had FAR less money.

Anyone know what the changes were put in place to the sellers who are still 'employed' by the club? Article refers to a meeting discussing how changes to the way they work will be be implemented - Will they still be getting tickets and drink etc. or will it become purely commission now?