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Post by swingfieldgill on Aug 1, 2015 15:37:07 GMT 1
I am a season ticket holder now but I wasn't the year that McCammon was on the payroll. I used to choose the matches I wanted to come to and although I saw several games that season I cannot recall ever seeing McCammon play. That shows what an "asset" he was to the club during his time at Priestfield.
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Post by muppet on Aug 1, 2015 17:14:35 GMT 1
By far the worst player I have ever seen playing for gills.
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Post by medwaystander on Aug 1, 2015 17:38:43 GMT 1
You're obviously right, technical. I've read the report of the FA's findings, and it makes clear it was Scally's mistake to write, as one reason for sacking McCammon, the fact that he had made an accusation of racial discrimination (unfounded or otherwise). That is not acceptable grounds for sacking anyone. Given that McCammon has already been paid financial compensation, the only issue to resolve is whether the FA's two fines of £75k are over the top. I personally think they are, as the FA report openly acknowledges that neither the club nor Scally were guilty of discriminating against the player on racial grounds.
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Post by statotheblue on Aug 1, 2015 19:17:34 GMT 1
I work for a very large employer and even they or at least there managers make real silly HR errors. Gills are really a quite small employer who's boss really takes very little care to do things by the book. If you look back it is a catalogue of errors. In part because the club is run from aboard. Nothing beats that personal touch. At my work place bosses are really quick to jump on a mistake or failure to get work done on time but rarely if ever give any credit to those doing a good job or those who have improved. Scally appears to be someone who can wants to control everything but can only be there less than half the time that in it self sounds like a recipe for disaster frankly.
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Post by technical on Aug 1, 2015 19:33:01 GMT 1
Yes Stato, the club is small enough not to have a f-t HR professional but it really is a big enough employer that it should be using/taking professional HR advice. No employer, however small will last long today if they think they can sack someone for making a complaint. If there are no managers at the club who know that, there should be!
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Post by jogills on Aug 4, 2015 9:25:23 GMT 1
I am saddened that this is still a live issue in 2015 but more sad that many fans still don't appear to get it. If you read medwaystander's post and check out the link posted by Big Al, which defines the difference between racial discrimination and race victimisation, you will have it. The key point, which did for our case, was the dismissal letter signed by Paul Scally. In that he wrote:
" I confirm that the allegations made against you were as follows:
1) That on 30th November 2010, at the club premises, you acted in a manner that was aggressive, violent and threatening towards the Team Manager.
2) That on 30th November 2010, at the club premises, you made very serious accusations of racism against both the Team Manager and the Assistant Manager.
The club did not make a proper investigation of those claims. It had a stautory duty to do so. There were a string of less serious but cumulatively damning failures in the club's handling of the affair. To say that McCammon played the race card is ridiculous given the facts and makes several unfounded assumptions. I have no reason to believe that McCammon made his allegations in bad faith though I do not believe his treatment was guided by racial discrimination.
What is clear is that McCammon was singled out for special treatment by the chairman. He wanted him out and lost sight of both legal requirements and basic fairness in the process. We did not pay McCammon compensation. We were ordered to pay him money that he was contracted to receive. That witholding of money alone might have been enough to persuade most employees that they were being victimised. This is a sorry tale but we should learn the right lessons from it. McCammon's footballing worth to the club is not under discussion. Commercial organisations part company with employees all the time, sometimes amicably, sometimes not. There are laws and conventions that govern the process. That is not political correctness but a framework to ensure fairness to all parties and to avoid litigation. Buck the rules and you pay the price, as an employer, or an employee.
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Post by Big_Al on Aug 4, 2015 14:40:23 GMT 1
Like you jogills am disappointed this issue rumbles on with the chairman stating on lunchtime TV he will launch another appeal that will no doubt bring further negative publicity. With the FA also giving the Club and PDPS until Sept 1st 2015 to pay the £150,000 fines + costs our off the field activities this season have not begun well. Hopefully his legal advisors will make him see sense
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Post by Greyfox on Aug 4, 2015 17:13:52 GMT 1
Like every other Gills supporter I just wish this episode in the Gills history could be put to bed.
However, it happened and I for one can't believe it still keeps rearing its ugly head.
My thoughts on the size of fines by the FA are confusing to say the least. How did they come to that decision? Who are the people who made the decision? What experience in law have they to make such a decision. The fine seems all out of proportion. I don't know if there is any other cases of similar issues, but it would be interesting to find out what the punishment was? Are these the same people who are so worried about racial issues within the football league who are prepared to send English players to play in the World Cup in Russia. A blatant racial country. Who are quite open about racially abusing black players. Double standards come to mind. Of course these same people aren't brave enough to make an issue of that, they would rather flex their muscles at home and pretend they are doing their bit to drive out racialism. Token politics again.
I'm not confusing the the issue of racialism, which is unacceptable, but Gillingham FC have already been fined by the law of the land and that should be the end of it. It didn't need the FA to get involved.
I'm not saying it's the same kind of issue, but If this is about bringing the game in to disrepute it's strange that a group of thugs at Blackpool can invade the pitch, cause a game to be abandoned at half time and abuse the staff throughout. They get fined £50000. A third of the Gills and Paul Scallys fine.
I wonder what would have happened if it had been Man Utd. A slap on the wrist?
Still, as they say, life's not fair.
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Post by muppet on Aug 4, 2015 20:04:27 GMT 1
Nicely put greyfox
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Post by jockmcgill on Aug 5, 2015 8:36:07 GMT 1
One of the FA panel was Stuart Ripley, the ex footballer, but now a qualified solicitor.
I agree with Jogills; I owned a company and found out very early that there is procedure to be followed if you want rid of someone and, if you follow the procedure, you have no problems.
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Post by technical on Aug 5, 2015 9:06:20 GMT 1
Frankly, if you've rad any kind of newspaper in the last 15 years, you know you can't state "you made very serious accusations of racism against both the Team Manager and the Assistant Manager." as a reason for dismissing someone. To even attempt to write that letter without taking proper advice was madness, initial HR advice is available to employers for very little cost.
I completely understand the frustrations - I expect it hurt a lot to be paying MM what they were and be getting less than nothing from him, but sadly this is another example of extremely poor management at the club.
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