Ex-Staff Tim Williams

[werthersoriginal]

I could spend hours on here compared to reading bullshit jargon from corporate people about how a p**s on the toilet taught them about economics.

I’m thrilled to announce that I have scoped and implemented a full urinary evacuation procedure at Oxford’s groundbreaking bathroom facilities. Thanks to all the stakeholders who have made this possible.

 

[Up The Manor]

Mate, compared to this place, Linkedin is bloody gold plated!

Whats LinkedIn ? Is it a new dating site ??

 

[90syeIlow]

What a bunch of arseholes we have on this forum, the internet, Facebook, twitter (X).
As TW says, hiding behind their keyboards piling on abuse.

I think some sat in their grey trackies, and others in their suit and tie sneering, with some in between, almost all anonymous.

This is a small company with only a few million or ten of revenue, so not Tesco or BP, and not the royal family, PM or an MP opening themselves to public scrutiny. Just a guy trying to do a job under difficult circumstances. Looks like he wasn't the right guy for the role but the subsequent pile-on is out of order.

Not having this.

There's being bad at your job and then there's treating the fans of the club you're CEO of with utter contempt. If it was just the former, I expect most people would wish him well, but with the latter, you reap what you sow.

 

[Jonny G]

Whats LinkedIn ? Is it a new dating site ??

Apparently that's what millennials are using it for.... their rule was if you just use it for introductions and don't flirt until you get to WhatsApp then that's ok.....

LinkedIn is much kinder in terms of messaging and comments than X, or Facebook, or forums such as this. Mainly as its not the sort of forum you'd use anonymously, and most people have their own business name, or job title and name of employer above every comment they make so tend not to call other users (take your pick) c**t, racial slur, sexist slur, homophobic slur, gammon, woke etc.

However, LinkedIn is going the same way as Facebook in that when it was launched and for most of its life you'd see posts from your contacts, or posts that your contacts had liked (e.g. someone retiring, changing job, having a tough time trying to find a job etc.) now every other post is a 'Suggested by'... which comes from LinkedIn algorithms and promotes all sorts of sh**e from influencers (to use 90s yellows line saying what taking a morning p**s taught them about business. It's pretty much unreadable.

On Tim Williams, abuse is not OK. We can complain - on here, on social media, in person, wherever without resorting to personal abuse. However, the fact that he's not thanked supporters at all (even qualified by saying some of the comments I had from Oxford United customers was tough to take for me and my family, but I'd like to thank the vast majority etc.) sums up the problem he had here from the start, he thought he was above us.

 

[4everoufcyellow]

It’s sad how people can express their feelings out loud without any care. It’s also been very coward of you the way you’ve dealt with people in your team that didn’t deserve it either, specially when following your decisions.

 

[Whingit]

LinkedIn is just an extension of the Jake Humphrey podcast with added noncery and nonsense. Circle back, behaviours, dial-in, pivot and all that guff. R/LinkedInLunatics is always worth a scroll if you fancy a laugh/want to develop homicidal thoughts against corporate types.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Apparently that's what millennials are using it for.... their rule was if you just use it for introductions and don't flirt until you get to WhatsApp then that's ok.....

LinkedIn is much kinder in terms of messaging and comments than X, or Facebook, or forums such as this. Mainly as its not the sort of forum you'd use anonymously, and most people have their own business name, or job title and name of employer above every comment they make so tend not to call other users (take your pick) c**t, racial slur, sexist slur, homophobic slur, gammon, woke etc.

However, LinkedIn is going the same way as Facebook in that when it was launched and for most of its life you'd see posts from your contacts, or posts that your contacts had liked (e.g. someone retiring, changing job, having a tough time trying to find a job etc.) now every other post is a 'Suggested by'... which comes from LinkedIn algorithms and promotes all sorts of sh**e from influencers (to use 90s yellows line saying what taking a morning p**s taught them about business. It's pretty much unreadable.

On Tim Williams, abuse is not OK. We can complain - on here, on social media, in person, wherever without resorting to personal abuse. However, the fact that he's not thanked supporters at all (even qualified by saying some of the comments I had from Oxford United customers was tough to take for me and my family, but I'd like to thank the vast majority etc.) sums up the problem he had here from the start, he thought he was above us.

From the story on the website: I would like to thank the staff and players at the Club for their friendship, support and hard work over the last four years, and to every supporter who has been kind enough to greet me and wish me well.

 

[CaptainOx]

Given where the punctuation falls in his final sentence on linkedin, I read it as him wishing three things the best for the future:
- Oxford United as a club for the future (by default includes the fans)
- Players in their own futures
- Staff in their own futures

 

[Swaby39]

Listening to/reading the uproar coming out of Everton this morning really magnifies that Tim needs to get a grip and accept responsibility for the pressure he came under.

Echoes in their fury of what we've been enduring for years. One striker, no cover at full backs, selling players without replacement, stitching up the manager, underselling their best player (how they managed to get £25m less for Ndiaye than City got for Savinho is a disgrace). This is just transfer grumbles and look at the response. Just 48 hours after the window closes, their fan group has gone straight on the front foot with a public statement labelling their board "disgusting" and I suspect their dissatisfaction will spill over in to match days, particularly if results suffer. They've had their stadium but that's no distraction from other basic failures.

We've had embargoes, issues with playing budgets, not just one manager stitched up but several, failure to pay bills, financial waste in every direction and the list goes on. He's got no idea how fortunate he was for it to be this club he stunk out.

 

[Briggsy]

Criticism of his professional performance is fine, personal abuse is not. I really don't understand how some people can't see the distinction.

 

[McXal]

We've had embargoes, issues with playing budgets, not just one manager stitched up but several, failure to pay bills, financial waste in every direction and the list goes on. He's got no idea how fortunate he was for it to be this club he stunk out.

I really agree with this. It’s one of the reasons I love supporting Oxford United. We aren’t the most vociferous, intense or largest of fanbases in the footballing world. But we are passionate, loyal, and on the whole relatively savvy, smart and calm. We don’t instantly descend into mob mentality when things go wrong. We back our managers longer than many clubs (and actually with recent sackings - Buckingham & Bloomfield - many reacted with genuine dismay that we’ve become a ‘sacking club’). We are realistic about our place in the footballing pyramid and cognisant of the challenges Oxford United face.

Which is what makes the leadership team’s dismal failure to understand that, and communicate with us even more infuriating. It sounds wildly arrogant to say, but I genuinely believe that OUFC as a club are LUCKY to have us as a supporter base. Successive generations have seen us go up and down the leagues, have seen us suffer at the hands of nefarious owners, lurch from a League Cup to the non-league, experience stadium challenges, existential crises and more.

As a result most of us don’t really expect our club to win every week. Or to get everything right. But we do want our club to act with integrity and for our ownership/senior leadership to communicate with us, as a fanbase, with the respect it deserves and with an awareness of all we’ve been through.

Sadly the direction of travel (particularly since Thohir has taken full control, ruled in absence and delegated running of the club to corporate types in suits for whom fan satisfaction isn’t a metric you can put into a spreadsheet therefore is a complete irrelevance) is almost entirely in the opposite direction…

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

All I can say is that I met him once, that was a meeting several of us were invited into including @bazzer9461 @TailsWeWin and @Manorlounger
The first thing he said was tell us a bit about yourselves , I’ll go first. He then spewed out what he had done and what he could do for OUFC making them a top 30 club. He didn’t give us the chance to do anything but quickly introduce ourselves. At the time KR was under severe pressure and indeed sacked after the BRFC game.So many questions were about that.
Nevertheless I felt he didn’t listen and didn’t want to listen. I came away thinking big headed prick, didn’t change my mind on any occasion I heard him talk. He didn’t want to get to know what OUFC is all about. Maybe I’m being unfair because he is not a supporter of the club, but having said that Jon Clarke who led the stadium project ( met him at one of the roadshows) came across as somebody with empathy for the club . He did listen and I felt comfortable with how he came across.
Niall Mc Williams was also at that original meeting, what a contrast to Tim Williams.Lovely man and it should never be forgotten what he has done for this club. In fact I would say if there is going to be any areas named after players, managers and the like in the new stadium there should be one named after him. Because without his efforts this new stadium would never have got off the ground

 

[Ox4Eva]

Just listened to the latest dub pod and surprised there was so little said about TW's departure and the way the club is being run.

 

[Manorlounger]

All I can say is that I met him once, that was a meeting several of us were invited into including @bazzer9461 @TailsWeWin and @Manorlounger

And, let's just say, we were not overly impressed.

 

[holdsteady]

It feels like he ahs be gone ages, other than the Ramsey introduction press conference, where he didn't look 100 percent comfortable, he has been unseen and unheard from for many months pre the announcement. It does make you wonder who is actually doing his old job, its pretty obviously not been him for a long time.

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

And, let's just say, we were not overly impressed.

Manor I posted that before I had written what I was going to say look at the edit being Bazzeresque

 

[Marked Ox]

Listening to/reading the uproar coming out of Everton this morning really magnifies that Tim needs to get a grip and accept responsibility for the pressure he came under.

Echoes in their fury of what we've been enduring for years. One striker, no cover at full backs, selling players without replacement, stitching up the manager, underselling their best player (how they managed to get £25m less for Ndiaye than City got for Savinho is a disgrace). This is just transfer grumbles and look at the response. Just 48 hours after the window closes, their fan group has gone straight on the front foot with a public statement labelling their board "disgusting" and I suspect their dissatisfaction will spill over in to match days, particularly if results suffer. They've had their stadium but that's no distraction from other basic failures.

We've had embargoes, issues with playing budgets, not just one manager stitched up but several, failure to pay bills, financial waste in every direction and the list goes on. He's got no idea how fortunate he was for it to be this club he stunk out.

To add on Everton. From their statement, the group doing the displays etc are stopping for the foreseeable future. They would have done a protest display but they wouldn't get approval. I suspect plenty of anti chants will follow though.

 

[Swaby39]

Criticism of his professional performance is fine, personal abuse is not. I really don't understand how some people can't see the distinction.

That's all I'm referring to. Nobody is going to condone personal attacks but come on, "get out of Oxford United and don't come back" from an online rando is hardly something that should cost you sleep in this game, particularly if you are confident in your work. Unless of course it was Erick that said that.

 

[WokinghamYellow]

his staement says he has already started handing over. I assume this means to Benson

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Sadly the direction of travel (particularly since Thohir has taken full control, ruled in absence and delegated running of the club to corporate types in suits for whom fan satisfaction isn’t a metric you can put into a spreadsheet therefore is a complete irrelevance) is almost entirely in the opposite direction…

I do have to say (sadly) that of recent months and weeks, I am finding it increasingly difficult to summon up the enthusiasm and excitement for the club that has been pretty constant for more than half a century - despite the travails we have had at various times.

I suspect it is a combination of things, but I can't actually find much to be positive about.

On the pitch, we have a hamstrung squad due to the embargo who (as far as I have seen so far this season) are playing football that isn't really any more exciting or progressive than it has been in recent years. We have just changed from 'try to score a goal then shut up shop' to 'shut up shop and then try to score a goal'. Personally (and I don't expect the more positive to agree with this) a mid table finish is the best we can hope for - and at this moment I would take that.

A couple of whiney 'want away' players have not improved my mood, even if they might have a point!

Off the pitch, I can only see disorganisation, failure and incompetence over the last few years. Players being signed who were 'owners picks' and never going to make it, others who flopped and were sold at a loss with few consistent successes over that time. Look at this season's squad. It is barely changed from when we went up - weaker in many areas - with many of the same players. The waste of money in the meanwhile has been breath-taking.

The club management (not the manager) are awful. They are increasingly remote (both in distance and attitude), actively hostile and untruthful to the fans representative body, completely uncommunicative, unaware (or dismissive of) the history, support, traditions and ethos of the club. The only thing that seems to interest them is that the word 'Oxford' is in the name and maybe they can somehow piggy-back on the international name and reputation of the university. The same university who have never shown the slightest interest in our club.

But even worse than all that is that the club is now in a position where we are relying on the whims of one man, not just for the day to day propping up of the club financially (which is a wider discussion in itself) but for the very existence of the club. So it becomes hard to criticise him because if he slings his hook, those old replica shirts in our cupboards will become a bitter reminder of what we have lost rather than a way to remember past glories (and failures). I cannot see the club as a going concern that ANY other person would want to buy off Thohir. There would be better options, cheaper for anyone one who wanted to dip their toes into this rich man's hobby.

To me, the stadium project (which is all that can save us, of course) is wildly over-expensive (and of course we all know what happens to construction costs when works actually starts - they do not go down). To the extent that even at this late stage of proceedings, I cannot see it getting built.

The fact that there is so much discussion on here of finance (both of SCMP and stadium matters) is reflective of the trouble we are in (and is not unreasonable) really sucks the fun out of the football for me.

Of course, it is possible that I am wrong. The stadium goes ahead, the embargo is lifted at Christmas somehow, there is investment in the team, a management team is installed that actually gives a sh!t about the supporters and talks to them etc etc. At the moment though I can only see one direction of travel.

I'll still be at the games of course. I've bought a couple of shirts. I'll cheer the team on. But presently, there are black thoughts always at the back of my mind.

Sorry to be depressing, but I am sure others are feeling the same and I needed to express myself.

 

[maidenheadox]

Seemed like a reasonable post to me. What has been apparent during the embargo is that our owners are a very odd bunch, they can't be easy to work for. It won't get any better with a new CEO, just as it hasn't with a new Chairman.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Just wondering if @OxVox have been in touch with the club following the announcement of William's departure? It would be good to understand who Williams is handing over to, whether there is a recruitment process for a new CEO and so on. Our Chairman has made it clear that he has very little intention in communicating with the fans, will this be the remit of the new CEO?

 

[Carpy]

I so have to say (sadly) that of recent months and weeks, I am finding it increasingly difficult to summon up the enthusiasm and excitement for the club that has been pretty constant for more than half a century - despite the travails we have had at various times.

I suspect it is a combination of things, but I can't actually find much to be positive about.

On the pitch, we have a hamstrung squad due to the embargo who (as far as I have seen so far this season) are playing football that isn't really any more exciting or progressive than it has been in recent years. We have just changed from 'try to score a goal then shut up shop' to 'shut up shop and then try to score a goal'. Personally (and I don't expect the more positive to agree with this) a mid table finish is the best we can hope for - and at this moment I would take that.

A couple of whiney 'want away' players have not improved my mood, even if they might have a point!

Off the pitch, I can only see disorganisation, failure and incompetence over the last few years. Players being signed who were 'owners picks' and never going to make it, others who flopped and were sold at a loss with few consistent successes over that time. Look at this season's squad. It is barely changed from when we went up - weaker in many areas - with many of the same players. The waste of money in the meanwhile has been breathtaking.

The club management (not the management) are awful. They are increasingly remote (both in distance and attitude), actively hostile and untruthful to the fans representative body, completely uncommunicative, unaware (or dismissive of) the history, support, traditions and ethos of the club. The only thing that seems to interest them is that the word 'Oxford' is in the name and maybe they can somehow piggy-back on the international name and reputation of the university. The same university who have never shown the slightest interest in our club.

But even worse than all that is that the club is now in a position where we are relying on the whims of one man, not just for the day to day propping up of the club financially (which is a wider discussion in itself) but for the very existence of the club. So it becomes hard to criticise him because if he slings his hook, those old replica shirts in our cupboards will become a bitter reminder of what we have lost rather than a way to remember past glories (and failures). I cannot see the club as a going concern that ANY other person would want to buy off Thohir. There would be better options, cheaper for anyone one who wanted to dip their toes into this rich man's hobby.

To me, the stadium project (which is all that can save us, of course) is wildly over-expensive (and of course we all know what happens to construction costs when works actually starts - they do not go down). To the extent that even at this late stage of proceedings, I cannot see it getting built.

The fact that there is so much discussion on here of finance (both of SCMP and stadium matters) is reflective of the trouble we are in (and is not unreasonable) really sucks the fun out of the football for me.

Of course, it is possible that I am wrong. The stadium goes ahead, the embargo is listed at Christmas somehow, there is investment in the team, a management team is installed that actually gives a sh!t about the supporters and talks to them etc etc. At the moment though I can only see one direction of travel.

I'll still be at the games of course. I've bought a couple of shirts. I'll cheer the team on. But presently, there are black thoughts always at the back of my mind.

Sorry to be depressing, but I am sure others are feeling the same and I needed to express myself.

You're not alone, there isn't much to be excited about at the moment. Even the stadium which I still believe will happen, just seems to be never ending thanks to a couple of grumpy old pricks.

 

[Jonny G]

From the story on the website: I would like to thank the staff and players at the Club for their friendship, support and hard work over the last four years, and to every supporter who has been kind enough to greet me and wish me well.

Well I'm commenting on the LinkedIn post that he has full control over Steve, not the website story that OUFC produced.

The website quote is also out of context here, as the website piece didn't include '...often the hardest thing to deal with - the viciousness of the open forum comments and the opportunity to 'pile on' is quite breathtaking' only his LinkedIn post did that.

I have no issue with him flagging it by the way and its uncalled for for him - or anyone at the club - to have to face abuse, in person or online. However, I think its very small to not thank supporters at all in his LinkedIn post.

 

[Jonny G]

I so have to say (sadly) that of recent months and weeks, I am finding it increasingly difficult to summon up the enthusiasm and excitement for the club that has been pretty constant for more than half a century - despite the travails we have had at various times.

I suspect it is a combination of things, but I can't actually find much to be positive about.

On the pitch, we have a hamstrung squad due to the embargo who (as far as I have seen so far this season) are playing football that isn't really any more exciting or progressive than it has been in recent years. We have just changed from 'try to score a goal then shut up shop' to 'shut up shop and then try to score a goal'. Personally (and I don't expect the more positive to agree with this) a mid table finish is the best we can hope for - and at this moment I would take that.

A couple of whiney 'want away' players have not improved my mood, even if they might have a point!

Off the pitch, I can only see disorganisation, failure and incompetence over the last few years. Players being signed who were 'owners picks' and never going to make it, others who flopped and were sold at a loss with few consistent successes over that time. Look at this season's squad. It is barely changed from when we went up - weaker in many areas - with many of the same players. The waste of money in the meanwhile has been breathtaking.

The club management (not the management) are awful. They are increasingly remote (both in distance and attitude), actively hostile and untruthful to the fans representative body, completely uncommunicative, unaware (or dismissive of) the history, support, traditions and ethos of the club. The only thing that seems to interest them is that the word 'Oxford' is in the name and maybe they can somehow piggy-back on the international name and reputation of the university. The same university who have never shown the slightest interest in our club.

But even worse than all that is that the club is now in a position where we are relying on the whims of one man, not just for the day to day propping up of the club financially (which is a wider discussion in itself) but for the very existence of the club. So it becomes hard to criticise him because if he slings his hook, those old replica shirts in our cupboards will become a bitter reminder of what we have lost rather than a way to remember past glories (and failures). I cannot see the club as a going concern that ANY other person would want to buy off Thohir. There would be better options, cheaper for anyone one who wanted to dip their toes into this rich man's hobby.

To me, the stadium project (which is all that can save us, of course) is wildly over-expensive (and of course we all know what happens to construction costs when works actually starts - they do not go down). To the extent that even at this late stage of proceedings, I cannot see it getting built.

The fact that there is so much discussion on here of finance (both of SCMP and stadium matters) is reflective of the trouble we are in (and is not unreasonable) really sucks the fun out of the football for me.

Of course, it is possible that I am wrong. The stadium goes ahead, the embargo is listed at Christmas somehow, there is investment in the team, a management team is installed that actually gives a sh!t about the supporters and talks to them etc etc. At the moment though I can only see one direction of travel.

I'll still be at the games of course. I've bought a couple of shirts. I'll cheer the team on. But presently, there are black thoughts always at the back of my mind.

Sorry to be depressing, but I am sure others are feeling the same and I needed to express myself.

Yeah, I'm running out of fucks to give too. Everything wrong with modern football (apart from VAR) is showing itself in OUFC issues at the moment... and modern football is souless and shite.

 

[Swaby39]

Seemed like a reasonable post to me. What has been apparent during the embargo is that our owners are a very odd bunch, they can't be easy to work for. It won't get any better with a new CEO, just as it hasn't with a new Chairman.

But isn't it part of the job to manage up as well as down? Did Tim achieve either? There is a distinct possibility that Thohir does what he wants, when he wants. From the tour, to Romeny, to a deliberate financial sinkhole and now the embargo, perhaps he can't be told.

But... Did Tim ever establish himself as someone who could/would challenge Thohir in the best interests of the club? His track record of mistakes would suggest he was every bit as chaotic within his remit and therefore complicit. I think we could all name a CEO or two where some if not all of those things would not happen on their watch. Some might even be prepared to walk the plank over it knowing the damage it will do, the questions faced and the shrapnel hitting their reputation.

 

[Carpy]

I hadn't seen the post on LinkedIn. While I absolutely do not condone personal abuse, if you want to be a successful CEO of a very public facing business, I think you need thicker skin than what he is demonstrating.

Might be worth him looking for CFO roles in future based on that post.

 

[Boris]

But even worse than all that is that the club is now in a position where we are relying on the whims of one man, not just for the day to day propping up of the club financially (which is a wider discussion in itself) but for the very existence of the club. So it becomes hard to criticise him because if he slings his hook, those old replica shirts in our cupboards will become a bitter reminder of what we have lost rather than a way to remember past glories (and failures). I cannot see the club as a going concern that ANY other person would want to buy off Thohir. There would be better options, cheaper for anyone one who wanted to dip their toes into this rich man's hobby.

None of this is new though. Going right back to Maxwell's era the club has had to rely on the whims of a rich benefactor, with the threat of extinction hanging over us if they don't get their way (new stadium for Maxwell and Herd, buying the kassam for lenegan and eales, etc).

I accept that, with the possible exception of those few months before kassam bought the club), this feels closer to the edge than anytime since Maxwell's takeover, and we have to be, as a fanbase, more vigilant than ever, but we were collectively happy to turn a blind eye to these issues when things were going well on the pitch, but none of this should come as a surprise. When you're dealing with the devil, it always comes at a cost, even if you can't always tell what that cost is.

 

[lodeyellow]

Did Tim ever establish himself as someone who could/would challenge Thohir in the best interests of the club? His track record of mistakes would suggest he was every bit as chaotic within his remit and therefore complicit. I think we could all name a CEO or two where some if not all of those things would not happen on their watch. Some might even be prepared to walk the plank over it knowing the damage it will do, the questions faced and the shrapnel hitting their reputation.

When Grant Ferguson was relieved of the chairmanship, someone posted on here that they thought the reason was that he’d stood up to Thohir on certain issues, presumably in what he thought were the best interests of the club. Of course, I’ve absolutely no idea whether this was in fact the case.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

None of this is new though. Going right back to Maxwell's era the club has had to rely on the whims of a rich benefactor, with the threat of extinction hanging over us if they don't get their way (new stadium for Maxwell and Herd, buying the kassam for lenegan and eales, etc).

I accept that, with the possible exception of those few months before kassam bought the club), this feels closer to the edge than anytime since Maxwell's takeover, and we have to be, as a fanbase, more vigilant than ever, but we were collectively happy to turn a blind eye to these issues when things were going well on the pitch, but none of this should come as a surprise. When you're dealing with the devil, it always comes at a cost, even if you can't always tell what that cost is.

Sort of.

This time is different though, because (IMO) the club at the present is unsellable to anyone at all whatever conditions they might want to impose.

We have got ourselves into such a bind though, that the emotional response is to say 'fk it, let's go bust and reform as a fan owned club, even if we played in the tinpot league division3'. But because of the lack of any stadium anywhere near Oxford that would allow us to *ever* get back to anywhere close to where we are now, even that is not an option.

I accept that my post may have bits that are illogical, but it is the cumulative effect of the whole shebang that is so gloomy.