RUFC - Club 'restructure backroom staff'

Rotherham United have confirmed that a number of backroom employees have taken redundancies in what the club are calling 'a restructuring of their staff.`

Chief Operating Officer, Paul Douglas refused to talk to Les Payne of The Star other than saying, 'There is an ongoing restructuring process which began at the end of last season.`

I do know that all the backroom staff were called into meetings as the season ended and told of the clubs` decision to 'do away` with some jobs and amalgamate others, with some being left speechless after being told that their services were no longer required.

I do know some of the people involved and have since left the club and I also know that most of them stuck by the club through two administrations, often waiting weeks for wages, one of those being kit man, Steve McVann. Others expected to be on their way are Steve Thornber, who stepped in as caretaker manager when Mark Robins was put on gardening leave and eventually left, head groundsman, Jim Davison and sports therapist, Ian Bailey.

I suppose we could say it`s clearing the old and bringing in the new or a new brush sweeps clean and all that. But, is it fair? Or was it time for a clear out? If it was time for a clear out should it have stopped at the ones who have been made redundant - or should it have been 'get rid of everyone and start again`? Whose decision was it to do this anyway? Has the 'axe` come from Tony Stewart? Or was it Andy Scott, who said he wanted to be involved in everything Rotherham United when he arrived? Or is it someone else`s idea? And is it a way of saving money? And, what of the pitch at Don Valley - is there already a new man/woman in charge there? Who`s going to be sorting and washing the kit - has someone already got that job?

We don`t know any of the answers - and we won`t until the club tell us - just when will that be I wonder?

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