I may be a traditionalist, but a successful sports club is not successful because it has a nice website or good merchandise.

We may be cash-rich, but that also isn't the mark of a successful sports team.

All those things, in my view, should go to support the onfield performance, which is, after all, where the fan/customer interest (and development of the other issues) stems from.

I don't support FC because they've got a nice website.

And lets be honest, without the fans, there wouldn't be anyone to take advantage of the website, commercial activities or merchandising.

You miss the point completely. rule is a marketing man and has done a great job on that front, transforming the club. Unfortunately, this success is underpinned by needing a decent product on the pitch and without it the best website in the world, coupled with the greatest shop and merchandise will mean diddly squat.

The club need to start performing on the pitch and quickly or all of the great work done in the last 10 years will fall down around their ears.

rule's job is to oversee and manage every aspect of the club. he can't (and has never tried to my knowledge) wash his hands of the playing side just becuase he isn't the coach

He won't also have the power to sack Agar without full approval of the board, so what else can he do to alter on the field performance?

And the opposite end of the argument is also true - the best performances of the field wont mean anything without a solid back office

I find it very hard to believe that that's the case.

You don't believe that the CEO of a company is responsible for every aspect of it?

Maybe he can just be responsible for the good bits eh?

You believe it was Rule's decision to appoint Agar and then give him an extension? Let's face it, if it wasn't for these decisions Rule wouldn't be questioned.

Without the the instruction of the board you mean. Although on the board, I don't imagine a non-shareholder has that much clout in the decision making process.

If he didn't have a hand or say in those decisions then he isn't doing the job of a CEO

The job title of CEO can carry many different responsibilities. Maybe coaching appointments have to be done by the board?

I'm sure they have to be ratified by the board of which he is part. the fact is he should be hammering on kath's door telling her she needs to sack agar or it's all going to come tumbling down

I'm sure Rule is aware of his "place" on the board.

Technically he isnt on it , they have one for the people on the coal face and a proper one for the shareholders

Very true, thats the most sensible comment i have read on this thread,