Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
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.
If people are so pissed off then why not submit a motion to a UGM giving York SPort direction on this issue?
YUSU only makes 'top down' decisions if there isn't a mandate from the even higher power: the students. Why do we bother electing officers If we aren't going to allow them to make any kind of decision without it being classed as un-democratic? Snow-plowing through policy is one thing but moaning because the people we elect to make decisions actually try and do just that is a completely different kettle of fish.
"Why do we bother electing officers If we aren't going to allow them to make any kind of decision without it being classed as un-democratic."
> Why bother electing officers who appear to be enacting policy completely at odds with the people they are claiming to represent?
> In a 'democracy', consultation is a massive part of decision making. I think people have an issue because in spite of them being consulted (sports clubs, that is), their concerns appear not to have been addressed.
so number #21, you propose we just let them make any decision they wish and just get on with life? Then what happens when a bad decision is made and noones even considered it? think...
I love how these discussions always get off topic. Or atleast contain a few different discussions.
I would hate to be on YUSU: almost zero credit for the work they do. One comment, that I find pretty funny, and the result is one article and at least 15 user generated posts that bring in democracy and other really much to serious concepts for a SU, its not a discussion about the UK constituion. This happends everytime YUSU does anything anybody does not like.
poor YUSU.
"YUSU-esq [sic] top-down decision making..."
You mean how the UGM, in which every student can vote, is the authoritative body of the Union? OH NO!
Without getting off the subject the article is on, there is a view from sports clubs that York Sport is imposing changes on them that are unwanted by York Sport members.
You can pick holes in my 'top-down' accusation all you like, but your 'in theory' argument does not reflect what's actually going on in the relationship between York Sport and university sport clubs, who are clearly unhappy with these unmandated changes.
For all those putting out the "just go to the AU/York Sport AGM", I have been told face-to-face by Alex Lacy, in a meeting, that the York Sport Forum has no constitutional power over the York Sport Committee. None at all.
As a result of this, I will be starting pressure on York Sport to create a new position on the committee, "Club Liason Officer". This position will have the responsibility to not only inform the York Sport Committee of the clubs' feelings, which are actually surprisingly consistent, but to vote for them as well. This is especially relevent with the actual and potential loss of club autonomy under Mr Lacy.
Further, to those that have dismissed this issue as irrelevant, unimportant or merely a matter for clubs to be told what to do by York Sport, how dare you belittle an issue that is so important to so many people, on a matter so many people put so much time and effort into.
James Smallwood
UYRUFC President (Mens Rugby)
Yes the 'York Sport forum' has no power over the YS committee but a YUSU UGM does. It also has the power to create your new position on the YS committee...
Like some of the others here, I really don't understand how this has gone on so long. In the time it's taken dan to write a comment here, he could have submitted a UGM motion.
'This union resolves that individual sports clubs should have the right to choose their own kit, logo, and sponsor'
Either it passes or it fails, either way there is a clear mandate. There we go. Job done.
You could even bloody slip in a requirement for Alex Lacey to wear a skirt for the rest of his term if you wanted to. All this crap about top-down decision making is just that, crap.
Its almost as if people are more interested in bitching and moaning that actually doing anything about it....
hear hear
I agree.
By the way, what does the F stand for in "UYRUFC", football?
I did write in one of my previous posts and ask "what can we actually do about it?" I agree that a UGM with wording along those lines would be a good idea; don't be so presumptuous to think that it has not been considered by sports presidents and other individuals concerned with what's going on.
As far as I understand it, there are on-going discussions between York Sport and sports clubs on the issue and it's important that they are exhausted before a UGM or follow-up action is taken. I don't know how far these negotiations have gone.
The other practical point is that the last UGM for this term has passed, so it wont be until week 3 of next term- any potential UGM motion, that is- enough time for negotiations to continue to find a solution that fits the aims of everyone.
UYRUFC- University of York Rugby Union Football Club.
Hang on a minute, Dan: if you're saying that both you and Club Presidents know that a UGM would mandate Alex to take action, where did all of the 'top down' 'unmandated' bollocks come from then? Surely they are necessarily mutually exclusive?
Because as yet they haven't been asked! When they were asked at the York Sport forum, what happened has been well publicised. Sports clubs only voted on the logo. None of the other changes have as yet received the support of a majority of sports clubs/members, hence the outcry and debate going on! Clearly in the process of consultation, people have been ignored as nothing has changed and sports clubs still have a problem with what is going on.
Leadership requires action.
Democracy requires the ability to decide.
Both are present, no complaints. If you disagree you are able to get democracy to decide: otherwise the person you voted for will make the decisions that he feels is best for York.
You must log in to submit a comment.
Report