Mike Ashley & Sports Direct

[Skatzoffc]

So when does he fail the "fit and proper person test" to run a football club?


https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jul/22/mike-ashley-running-sports-direct-like-victorian-workhouse


Can someone explain pls?

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Fat and unproper

[bobbo]

You're talking about a person who cares not one iota for his fellow mankind and would stub you out like a cigarette.

[toshes mate]

Sadly, these days, he is not alone in employment practices that we thought we had rid ourselves of a century ago.  I feel very sorry for most of the people he employs.

[Rhys Lightning 63]

Seeing that about 90% of my wardrobe consists of items brought from Sports Direct (the other ten from the Fulham club shop), I say keep the bargains coming

[copthornemike]

Definitely not a nice man and/or boss.

However despite the many valid criticisms that can, and should, be thrown at him the facts are that from a football perspective he saved Newcastle from financial meltdown. Despite continual criticism from the supporters and press (the man must have a skin like a rhinoceros) he has stuck with Newcastle even after relegation and patently allowed Benitez a free rein to recruit new players.

So from football's 'fit and proper person test' perspective there are far, far worse which admittedly is not a high bar to jump!

[bill taylors apprentice]

The bigger issue in my eyes is there's very little the powers that be can do about it.

The real power is in the hands of the people who spend their hard earned (or not hard earned benefits) money in these kind of business's.

[Roberty]

He's running a business not the Socialist Republic of Great Britain!

[Two Ton Ted]

He's running a business not the Socialist Republic of Great Britain!

He still has to abide by Employment law though.

[RaySmith]

I buy sports  gear from there, because it's cheap and I don't have much money.

I don't feel guilty - it's keeping these people, mostly Polish I believe, in a job - crap job as it may be.

Also, Ashley is being singled out, but the employment practices used by his  firm are quite common in this country today. It's the overall situation that should be addressed - one that has been enabled to happen because of the  decline  and reduced power of the unions, and legislation.

I don't know if Ashley has actually broken any laws, just bent them, as is common today. He does actually pay the minimum wage, but the point has been made that security checks, to prevent theft, mean that workers often have to spend time after they've finished their shifts being searched, which they aren't paid extra for.

But I think Ashley is demonised, when plenty of other major employers do the same or worse. The thing about being docked 15 minutes for clocking in  three minutes late has be common for years - since they've had clocking in probably. As are  things around toilet breaks and sickness. The Zero Hours contract is the worse thing - but that happens everywhere now , because it is legal and employers can get away with it, with no unions allowed in these places, and   jobs are scarce.

Ashley isn't a very nice man, but he is a very successful businessman, who has worked his way up from the bottom - so does this make him an unsuitable man to run a football club? If it's your club you might think he is suitable with his wealth and business acumen, though under him Newcastle have been relegated, though he did spend  a lot on players and manager in the season they went down.

[Logicalman]

Please keep the thread on-topic. No personal abuse towards other members please! Those posts, and reposts, have been removed.

[Twig]

He's running a business not the Socialist Republic of Great Britain!

He's running a business in the 21st century in our country, under our laws, designed to give our workers a modicum of protection (rather more then most socialist republics are known for).  If he wants to be based in the UK then abide by those laws, otherwise FCUK off to somewhere much less pleasant where he can do as he likes.

[aaronmcguigan]

Oh come on. You blame Mike Ashley for everything going on at Sports Direct? He is one person in charge of a company that has grown too fast too soon because of the economic environment we are in. I don't shop there or really buy much sporting clothes but he probably has warehouse managers, directors, HR managers, retail managers, store managers, all under him. And because of rapid expansion, each has less training than the person before them.
Ashley at heart followed the pound signs and authorised new store after new store creating insatiable demand. That's the mistake. But too say you can blame one man and vilify him is just silly.
One football club has one location and can limit the control. A business like SD when it outgrows itself is impossible to keep under control by one person.

[Rudolph]

Perhaps if the people working at his establishments paid more attention at school, then they might have more choice in the job market. 

[aaronmcguigan]

Perhaps if the people working at his establishments paid more attention at school, then they might have more choice in the job market. 

Some people aren't as privileged as others, some don't have the support network from friends and family to persevere and succeed in education.
Education isn't the be all and end all. Some people, also , are grateful for jobs, any job, so to talk down of people just because of where they work is a bit unfair.

[Twig]

Oh come on. You blame Mike Ashley for everything going on at Sports Direct? He is one person in charge of a company that has grown too fast too soon because of the economic environment we are in. I don't shop there or really buy much sporting clothes but he probably has warehouse managers, directors, HR managers, retail managers, store managers, all under him. And because of rapid expansion, each has less training than the person before them.
Ashley at heart followed the pound signs and authorised new store after new store creating insatiable demand. That's the mistake. But too say you can blame one man and vilify him is just silly.
One football club has one location and can limit the control. A business like SD when it outgrows itself is impossible to keep under control by one person.

Mike Ashley is the most senior executive director and the only exec director on the Board.  As such he has both ultimate operational responsibility and, in his role as a Bd member, shares responsibility with three non execs for governance.  So yes, it is perfectly reasonable to hold him responsible (along with the Chairman, Keith Hellawell).  All those other minor functionaries you mention will simply be dancing to his tune.