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Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
At 16.40 yesterday afternoon a York Sport member, Richard Remington, sent an email to sportsclubs@yusu.org which found its way into all sports club inboxes and also gained the attention of the increasingly under-fire York Sport President, Alex Lacy. Remington’s email asked: “What company in their right mind is going to agree to sponsor York Sport all this proposed money considering the current economic crisis?”
Remington’s question referred to Lacy's plan to force all sports clubs at the university to wear the same coloured kit (black and gold) and don the new York Sport logo in order to improve York Sport’s chances of securing blanket sponsorship for all clubs. Although confused as to where the question had come from, presidents began discussing this matter and the rest of the issues at hand.
Have some faith you miserable bastards.
The Karting Club backed the plans for the combined sponsorship as they currently receive none, as did the Lacrosse Club, whilst others such as the Football Club and Cheerleading Squad expressed their doubts and need for more information from York Sport. After these initial exchanges, at 18.22, Alex Lacy entered the fray and clarified a few points in a helpful manner for all before concluding his post with the regrettable phrase: “Have some faith you miserable bastards”.
This enlivened the debate although all the clubs refrained from retaliating and instead took the moral high ground. Rugby president James Smallwood wrote: “Despite not particularly liking being called 'a miserable bastard', I agree that this thread has brought up a lot of issues”. Meanwhile the Archery Club president called it “inappropriate and unprofessional” and Ben Wagner, president of the Kendo Club, thanked his fellow presidents for their “polite and civil tone” but was “saddened by the fact that the only rude comment has been uttered by the York Sport president himself... I expected more of our elected representative and a YUSU Trustee.”
Two York Sport committee members sent messages this morning trying to answer the numerous questions including: Where the sponsorship money would come from? Could clubs opt-out and obtain their own sponsorship? How much did York Sport expect to get? Could they guarantee enough? Would the YUSU bar stop clubs getting sponsorship from bars and clubs in town? Despite their best efforts, the questions largely remained unanswered.
Finally at 12.31 this lunchtime, Alex Lacy apologised for any offence caused when he wrote: “[the comment] 'miserable bastards' was meant in jest”. Nonetheless the damage to an already strained relationship with the sports community was done, Lacy himself had earlier said “I'd fully expect to have pitchfork wielding sports people at my door” if he voted for a motion that will stop clubs from getting sponsorship from bars next year.
Still the debate continues and the unanswered questions of the aforementioned presidents, plus representatives of the Basketball, Cricket, Mixed Martial Arts, Netball, Pole Exercise, Riding, Volleyball, Women’s Rugby and YUsnow clubs (not to mention the instigator of it all; Mr Remington) will hopefully be cleared up at the York Sport committee meeting (open to all) on Friday at 11am in Goodricke SCR.
Remington, who made the Yorker aware of the events, claimed: “I sent the original message to raise awareness as I am good friends with a lot of club presidents and all were complaining about the way the proposal has been communicated... This [the debate] consequently raised many more issues that had not been considered by club presidents or even the York Sport committee. .. As far as I'm concerned I have done everyone (including Alex Lacy) a favour!”
Although Remington took some flak for his ‘abuse’ of the group email address, the raising of the issue in this manner was undoubtedly a success and York Sport secretary Harry Collins thought that “this email thread has brought the clubs closer together and will hopefully engender unity in the future as well".
However, the Football Club president wrote something that all presidents seemed to concur with: “It's slightly puzzling however that this hugely beneficial debate originated via an ordinary sports club committee member [Remington] and not a York Sport official”.
Despite the 'unity engendered' by the thread, Lacy's overall aim after all, many clubs still have unanswered questions regarding the changes and doubts about the way they’ve been communicated. Ultimately, Lacy has lots of preparing to do before Friday’s meeting.
I’m not sure Goodricke SCR will be a large enough venue to accommodate the amount of upset clubs and their members; however, is it true that Club Salvation can hold plenty of people and tends to be empty, especially on a Wednesday night?
Slow news day?
Wow. Journalistic Excellence.
Who cares?
I'm pretty sure it's important that such a highly paid YUSU official is doing such a pathetic job of representing their constituents.
All the sports clubs that are being forced into change by this dictator maybe?
This is just another example of Lacy's poor communication with clubs. Though I would have preferred to hear about some of the issues they talked about, Lacy dropping a clanger is always fun.
Highly Paid! Seriously? working in morrisons full time would be more lucrative
lol, highly paid.
It's a shame that Lacy keeps getting caught out by media with essentially trivial things when they aren't as important as what he's actually doing!
if i had to deal with some of the arrogant sports presidents, calling them bastards would be my warm-up. whats remington got to do with this anyway? whats he president of?
i have to say this is outrageous, he just said, light-heartedly, 'you're all miserable bastards', in a private e-mail to the club presidents. Ever heard of a joke? He was being helpful in a useful discussion. This really is the biggest non-story I've ever seen in the campus press, and the yorker should be ashamed of themselves..
To number #9: Ever heard of being professional??
number 8#: As a committee member of one club that cares about sports at this uni I have every right to raise issues that I feel need looking at!
The point is #9 that this was a constructive argument but Lacy responded childishly about a subject ppl really care about.
Its his continuous smug tone towards presidents that i think annoys them
"Alex Lacy entered the fray and clarified a few points in a helpful manner for all before concluding his post with the regrettable phrase: “Have some faith you miserable bastards”"
Doesn't sound like he was being childish... sounds like he was explaining his opinion and lightening the mood. The comment, however, could be seen in a bad light and it is regrettable that he is picked up on that instead of the useful comments he made alongside it.
Any chance of seeing the whole e-mail to get the proper context?
comment deleted by the author Speaking on behalf of the tennis club, I certainly feel Alex's determination to plough on with his policies, notably the crest, kit colours and sponsorship, despite obvious opposition and resistance, is a sad reflection of the increasing lack of autonomy provided to clubs.
In our case, and I suspect we are not alone, despite our pride in competing for the university of york, our ability to enjoy a degree of self-sufficiency, and maintain individual chracteristics unique to our club is essential.
Another note, whilst the sponsorship proposal would be a clear benefit to our club, ultimately it seems clear it would not be advantageous to certain clubs, and I would be disappointed if Alex prevented them deciding their own future.
The problem is that even with the resistance of numerous sports clubs the policies are being pressed on with regardless. York Sport can basically push through any policy aslong as the YS exec vote on it, meaning that the opinions of the sports club matter very little.
As for Remi, he's not president of any committee, but I think he'd do a good job as YorkSport communications officer. It's the first time any email has gone round asking for the thoughts and opinions of Presidents and it's actually done quite a lot of good!
comment deleted by the author If that's the case, then what can you actually do about it? It seems that it's not Alex Lacy (though its clearly not helped by his stubborn character) so much as the system he is working in.
It seems unfair and ridiculous and so, so typical of YUSU-esq, top-down decision making that 8 or 9 members can dictate things to clubs without acknowledging the views of those clubs in taking the decision.
As for the email itself, I would like to see the entire email- not a quote out of context. I think there probably is a hint of a mountain being made out of a mole-hill, however unfortunate it may be given the conflict between Lacy and the clubs.
My understanding is that the decisions that are being discussed were actually made at an AGM of the AU. How is that top-down?
Other than the design of the YS badge, no decisions were made at the last YorkSport forum.
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