General The Board & Senior Management

[Northstandboy]

 

[NottsYellow]

According to Companies House, a new Director has been appointed - Mr Grant Scott Ferguson.
He is British, country of residence Malaysia and is a Chartered Accountant, born April 1962.

 

[n1]

Was on the board at Inter Milan when Thohir was there.

 

[SteMerritt]

Grant Ferguson Becomes Oxford United Director | Oxford United Football Club

Oxford United are pleased to welcome Grant Ferguson as a Director of the club.

www.oufc.co.uk

 

[MJB]

Grant Ferguson Becomes Oxford United Director | Oxford United Football Club

Oxford United are pleased to welcome Grant Ferguson as a Director of the club.

www.oufc.co.uk

No quote from someone on the Board welcoming him which I guess is a signal that the public facing demonstration of who exactly is in charge isn’t yet clear!

 

[werthersoriginal]

Uh, what does this mean? Good/bad?

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

Wonder if he’s here to shake things up
Marketing and getting a D of F maybe?

Or is it stadium linked

Any ideas Colin , Scotchers UTO

 

[Colin B]

Wonder if he’s here to shake things up
Marketing and getting a D of F maybe?

Or is it stadium linked

Any ideas Colin , Scotchers UTO

Positive move.

Very friendly and approachable bloke. Has worked with Erick at Milan, as the statement says, and has been around the club for a while, also as the statement says. Lives in Malaysia, but spends a lot of time in the UK. Will be/is involved in all areas of the club, including the stadium.

 

[Canterburyexile]

I’m guessing at Stadium linked. The investment required to build the new ground needs serious oversight and I’m guessing he’s the man for the job.

 

[MarkG]

I don't think that the owners getting previous business associates on board is a bad thing.

I haven't really looked at what Erick tenure at Inter was like, but this report gives I hope a reasonable summary.

What Place Will Erick Thohir Have In Inter's History?

The news was expected for months, but finally it materialized: Inter have a new president, with Steven Zhang replacing Eric Thohir. It was welcomed by all

sempreinter.com

So it wasn't a stadium related play. More of a "do up, reduce losses, and sell on for a profit". What I think Donald & Co were trying to do at Sunderland.

Hopefully this is a good appointment of an experienced businessman, who perhaps could give some pointers to improve various "mistakes" over the last few months - ST renewals and prices, the Manor Lounge, lack of signings.

 

[Ox4Eva]

Positive move.

Hopefully he will address our poor commercial operations.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

Positive move.

Very friendly and approachable bloke. Has worked with Erick at Milan, as the statement says, and has been around the club for a while, also as the statement says. Lives in Malaysia, but spends a lot of time in the UK. Will be/is involved in all areas of the club, including the stadium.

Thank you, do you think he will get a handle on the marketing side of things,including ticketing which I know you have mentioned before?

 

[Colin B]

Thank you, do you think he will get a handle on the marketing side of things,including ticketing which I know you have mentioned before?

He's aware, so time will tell, but unfortunately the horse has bolted on a number of these things as far as this season is concerned.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

He's aware, so time will tell, but unfortunately the horse has bolted on a number of these things as far as this season is concerned.

Yes I agree but hopefully moving forward this can be looked at and vastly improve upon

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Link for those not on twitter: http://www.oxvox.org.uk/meeting-grant-ferguson/

 

[YellowSubmarine]

What does he actually do?

 

[holdsteady]

What does he actually do?

Teams call with the owners, Tim and Robinson every Sunday morning and that's about it by the sounds of it.

 

[souporsumfin]

I believe he is based in Singapore, so not exactly conducive to giving the club his full attention. Anyone know if he has any other posts/directorships to distract him? It feels like he is treating OUFC as a lifestyle company at the moment, I hate to think what salary he is extracting from the club.

Maybe I’m being harsh and he is doing great work behind the scenes on the stadium, but I think it would be helpful if he and TW raised their profile/visibility more by providing regular communication (say weekly or monthly) on what they have been working on for example.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

I am afraid it very much looks like he (and the rest of the board) are perfect examples of 'investment' (presumably property investment in this case) in a football club with seemingly very little understanding or regard for the club's supporters - who are viewed as 'customers' (or maybe just 'wallets'!) rather than as an integral part of the club. To watch the performances under this manager get steadily worse (never mind all the background shenanigans) and not have any sort of contingency plan to go to should things not improve is at the best careless and and at the worst completely unprofessional OR just shows that they aren't that bothered.

From the success of getting the first stage of the stadium project off the ground to get to this current debacle of a situation within about a fortnight is just so depressing.

 

[Northstandboy]

I am afraid it very much looks like he (and the rest of the board) are perfect examples of 'investment' (presumably property investment in this case) in a football club with seemingly very little understanding or regard for the club's supporters - who are viewed as 'customers' (or maybe just 'wallets'!) rather than as an integral part of the club. To watch the performances under this manager get steadily worse (never mind all the background shenanigans) and not have any sort of contingency plan to go to should things not improve is at the best careless and and at the worst completely unprofessional OR just shows that they aren't that bothered.

From the success of getting the first stage of the stadium project off the ground to get to this current debacle of a situation within about a fortnight is just so depressing.

Don’t forget we are a product/customers/a business.

 

[Hackney Jack]

Opening this thread I thought I'd see a link to him having left.

He kind of has, hasn't he? If indeed he was actually ever present.

 

[Golden Dr Otto]

Positive move.

Very friendly and approachable bloke. Has worked with Erick at Milan, as the statement says, and has been around the club for a while, also as the statement says. Lives in Malaysia, but spends a lot of time in the UK. Will be/is involved in all areas of the club, including the stadium.

Hey Colin ….you seemed positive at the time. Can you say more that May assuage peoples fears?

 

[Colin B]

Hey Colin ….you seemed positive at the time. Can you say more that May assuage peoples fears?

I wish I could.

I was expecting to have seen more of GF at the club over the last six months or so, but I haven't, so it's difficult to really say anything informative specific to him. I think it's pretty clear that the whole ownership group never expected to have to deal with the calamitous on field situation that we find ourselves in now though.

 

[Northstandboy]

I wish I could.

I was expecting to have seen more of GF at the club over the last six months or so, but I haven't, so it's difficult to really say anything informative specific to him. I think it's pretty clear that the whole ownership group never expected to have to deal with the calamitous on field situation that we find ourselves in now though.

Well that seems pretty bad ownership, surely you have contingency plans?

 

[yellowbow]

It seems apparent that KR has thrown a massive spanner in the works by making such a calamitous balls-up of everything. They really weren’t prepared to have to make any decisions regarding the management structure were they? Having a manager with nearly 2 years of his contract to go suited them down to the ground. Looks like they are bizarrely expecting/hoping that he can still turn things around and win back the support of the fans so that he can see out his contract. Beggars belief…

For me there were two ‘breaking point’ moments at the weekend that have finally caused irreparable damage to the individuals involved.

KRs interview with Nathan was one and GF’s liking of the news article regarding KR was the other.

If you take a step back and take an objective view of what is going on, it’s an absolute shitshow.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I wish I could.

I was expecting to have seen more of GF at the club over the last six months or so, but I haven't, so it's difficult to really say anything informative specific to him.

Wow

 

[WuTang]

I have to wonder how you can commit to the role of "chairman" at OUFC whilst living on the other side of the world and rarely visiting.

There seems to be no effort to put their stamp on the playing side at all. Obviously ownerships come to an end eventually but most like to put a positive stamp on things at the beginning.

When Eales arrived he installed Mark Ashton, who subsequently removed Waddock and installed Appleton. He also recruited Mark Thomas And Fazackerley. These were all notable improvements across all areas of the playing side, and a real statement of intent that progression is key.

Oxford United appoint Derek Fazackerley and Mark Thomas | Oxford United Football Club

United add Fazackerley and Thomas to backroom team

www.oufc.co.uk

We've seen none of this, at all. The owners provide a decent budget but Ferguson has just let the old, failing incumbent loose with the funds and allowed staff to leave. All we hear is how they plan to make changes and replace them but still nothing.

There is no plan, no urgency and seemingly not much ambition to progress OUFC. How disappointing after what seemed like a new era was upon us and new stadium on the way.

 

[yellowbow]

I have to wonder how you can commit to the role of "chairman" at OUFC whilst living on the other side of the world and rarely visiting.

There seems to be no effort to put their stamp on the playing side at all. Obviously ownerships come to an end eventually but most like to put a positive stamp on things at the beginning.

When Eales arrived he installed Mark Ashton, who subsequently removed Waddock and installed Appleton. He also recruited Mark Thomas And Fazackerley. These were all notable improvements across all areas of the playing side, and a real statement of intent that progression is key.

Oxford United appoint Derek Fazackerley and Mark Thomas | Oxford United Football Club

United add Fazackerley and Thomas to backroom team

www.oufc.co.uk

We've seen none of this, at all. The owners provide a decent budget but Ferguson has just let the old, failing incumbent loose with the funds and allowed staff to leave. All we hear is how they plan to make changes and replace them but still nothing.

There is no plan, no urgency and seemingly not much ambition to progress OUFC. How disappointing after what seemed like a new era was upon us and new stadium on the way.

Great post. Bang on the money unfortunately

 

[Yellowoptimist]

I have to wonder how you can commit to the role of "chairman" at OUFC whilst living on the other side of the world and rarely visiting.

There seems to be no effort to put their stamp on the playing side at all. Obviously ownerships come to an end eventually but most like to put a positive stamp on things at the beginning.

When Eales arrived he installed Mark Ashton, who subsequently removed Waddock and installed Appleton. He also recruited Mark Thomas And Fazackerley. These were all notable improvements across all areas of the playing side, and a real statement of intent that progression is key.

Oxford United appoint Derek Fazackerley and Mark Thomas | Oxford United Football Club

United add Fazackerley and Thomas to backroom team

www.oufc.co.uk

We've seen none of this, at all. The owners provide a decent budget but Ferguson has just let the old, failing incumbent loose with the funds and allowed staff to leave. All we hear is how they plan to make changes and replace them but still nothing.

There is no plan, no urgency and seemingly not much ambition to progress OUFC. How disappointing after what seemed like a new era was upon us and new stadium on the way.

Difficult to argue with any of that because thats what the evidence says. Also therefore difficult not to draw the conclusion that current executive leadership is either incompetent or disinterested. Neither option is great

 

[holdsteady]

It's hard to see what the point of Ferguson is, the owners live abroad so appoint someone else to be chairman, fair enough should be a sensible move, but that chairman also lives abroad and is never seen and is rarely heard from, I know we have a CEO but why bother with a chairman who is basically in the same position as the owners?

 

[Morris Oxford]

I have to wonder how you can commit to the role of "chairman" at OUFC whilst living on the other side of the world and rarely visiting.

There seems to be no effort to put their stamp on the playing side at all. Obviously ownerships come to an end eventually but most like to put a positive stamp on things at the beginning.

When Eales arrived he installed Mark Ashton, who subsequently removed Waddock and installed Appleton. He also recruited Mark Thomas And Fazackerley. These were all notable improvements across all areas of the playing side, and a real statement of intent that progression is key.

Oxford United appoint Derek Fazackerley and Mark Thomas | Oxford United Football Club

United add Fazackerley and Thomas to backroom team

www.oufc.co.uk

We've seen none of this, at all. The owners provide a decent budget but Ferguson has just let the old, failing incumbent loose with the funds and allowed staff to leave. All we hear is how they plan to make changes and replace them but still nothing.

There is no plan, no urgency and seemingly not much ambition to progress OUFC. How disappointing after what seemed like a new era was upon us and new stadium on the way.

For a Chairman, Ferguson keeps an incredibly low profile.

A few Programme notes which are probably written by Chris Williams anyway , and a tweet liking Robinson’s comments after yet another defeat.

It’s almost as if he’s hiding behind Tim Williams and letting him take all the flack.