Former diplomat is new Town chairman (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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SWINDON TOWN: Former diplomat is new Town chairman
6:05am Monday 15th October 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead
Sir William Patey
SIR WILLIAM Patey has been appointed the new chairman of Swindon Town.
The former senior diplomat has an extraordinary CV, which boasts among other notable posts the roles of British Ambassador to Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq.
On his Linkedin page, Sir William lists his specialities as “international affairs, Arabist, high level negotiations, corporate management experience at board level and financial and resource management skills.”
The 59-year-old attended Trinity Academy in Edinburgh before going on to the University of Dundee.
Patey retired from HM Diplomatic Service in April and currently holds a number of non-executive positions.
He is a non-executive director for HSBC Bank Middle East and a governmental and international relations adviser.
In a statement released by the club today, he wrote: “I am delighted to become chairman of Swindon Town at such an exciting time. I look forward to working with Paolo, the board and the whole club so that success on the pitch can continue and take the club back to the npower Championship.
“In addition, my task will be to secure new investment to support the programme of ground redevelopment and to co-ordinate the execution of the club’s longer term strategic plans. I look forward to working with those who share the same ambitions for the club both on and off the field and relish the opportunity to take on this challenge.
"The club has achieved much under the chairmanship of Jeremy Wray and on behalf of the board and investor base would like to thank him for his efforts over the course of the last 18 months.”
Comments(31)
Redhouse Red
says...
6:14am Mon 15 Oct 12
!!!!!
Eh!!!!!!!!
Talk about confused....
UsernameSTFC
says...
6:19am Mon 15 Oct 12
E ce
says...
6:21am Mon 15 Oct 12
I wonder if it was JW's choice to step down (as interim) or whether this is a logical culmination of the search to find a full time chairman?
I hope JW remains on the board - his decision making seems to have been fantastic for us. Could the addition of someone with such experience actually benefit us if JW also stays at the club?
umpcah
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7:34am Mon 15 Oct 12
batch
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7:40am Mon 15 Oct 12
old town robin
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8:13am Mon 15 Oct 12
umpcah wrote:the same as most chairmen I would guess
An extraordinary c.v ? That`s great I suppose but what does he know about football ?
umpcah
says...
8:18am Mon 15 Oct 12
old town robin wrote:A Club statement is to be made later today.. Hopefully some of the Town fans` agony will be alleviated.
umpcah wrote:the same as most chairmen I would guess
An extraordinary c.v ? That`s great I suppose but what does he know about football ?
the wizard
says...
8:19am Mon 15 Oct 12
high level negotiations, corporate management experience at board level and financial and resource management skills.
I hope the board are not considering selling the club, his skills certainly lend themselves to that avenue.
SAPFanSTFC
says...
8:26am Mon 15 Oct 12
the wizard wrote:.....and look where all his experience is as a diplomat and follow up business roles....!
The New blokes skills include,
high level negotiations, corporate management experience at board level and financial and resource management skills.
I hope the board are not considering selling the club, his skills certainly lend themselves to that avenue.
---.
I really hope we're not looking at trying to attract a sale to far / middle east investors!
badger58
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9:25am Mon 15 Oct 12
mrclick
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9:26am Mon 15 Oct 12
Shame about Wray, hopefully he will stay on the board
Stilloyal
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9:41am Mon 15 Oct 12
Maybe he can / will use his position with HSBC to secure more funding for STFC.
However I can't see being a part time chairman will actually work. Who will PDC or A.N.Other manager go to on a daily basis ?
I really hope that this appoinment is to the greater benifit of Swindon Town.
Stilloyal
says...
9:43am Mon 15 Oct 12
Stilloyal wrote:" Benefit "
This guy is only to be a part time chaiman , he has too many other business intrests to do it full time. Maybe he can / will use his position with HSBC to secure more funding for STFC. However I can't see being a part time chairman will actually work. Who will PDC or A.N.Other manager go to on a daily basis ? I really hope that this appoinment is to the greater benifit of Swindon Town.
the wizard
says...
9:47am Mon 15 Oct 12
If Canioman does throw his dummy out then Ling and Taylor please.
Stilloyal
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9:58am Mon 15 Oct 12
the wizard wrote:NO THANK YOU , do you want to stay in L1 for the next 2 years before getting relegated again ?
Not perhaps the best picture of the guy in the article, looks like an arch-typical Mafia lord, just needs the white band around the hat ! LOL ! hey! Canioman !! he's comin' to get yer !!! LOL If Canioman does throw his dummy out then Ling and Taylor please.
As myuch as I like Shaun as a person him and Lingy don't have what it takes to take us forward. We need someone with better pedigree , "Arry's " free.
the wizard
says...
10:01am Mon 15 Oct 12
Stilloyal wrote:'Arry has left just about everywhere in financial turmoil. I thought we'd had enough of that, well I certainly have.
the wizard wrote:NO THANK YOU , do you want to stay in L1 for the next 2 years before getting relegated again ?
Not perhaps the best picture of the guy in the article, looks like an arch-typical Mafia lord, just needs the white band around the hat ! LOL ! hey! Canioman !! he's comin' to get yer !!! LOL If Canioman does throw his dummy out then Ling and Taylor please.
As myuch as I like Shaun as a person him and Lingy don't have what it takes to take us forward. We need someone with better pedigree , "Arry's " free.
Stilloyal
says...
10:06am Mon 15 Oct 12
the wizard wrote:That was just tongue in cheek Wiz, the point I was making is we need someone with more pedigree than Ling who's level is only L1 or 2.
Stilloyal wrote:'Arry has left just about everywhere in financial turmoil. I thought we'd had enough of that, well I certainly have.the wizard wrote: Not perhaps the best picture of the guy in the article, looks like an arch-typical Mafia lord, just needs the white band around the hat ! LOL ! hey! Canioman !! he's comin' to get yer !!! LOL If Canioman does throw his dummy out then Ling and Taylor please.NO THANK YOU , do you want to stay in L1 for the next 2 years before getting relegated again ? As myuch as I like Shaun as a person him and Lingy don't have what it takes to take us forward. We need someone with better pedigree , "Arry's " free.
We need to look above L1 for a new manager if P.D.C goes which I sincerely hope he doesn't at this stage.
the wizard
says...
10:06am Mon 15 Oct 12
Perhaps you could draw up a short list from here,
http://www.leagueman
agers.com/
Left hand side second box down shows all the available managers.
I don't agree with all his methods but we really don't want to be in that area right now. I think this lot will click and go after Christmas with maybe a couple of extra faces.
Stilloyal
says...
10:14am Mon 15 Oct 12
the wizard wrote:Yeah I think that the 2nd part of the season is better for us with our fitness levels etc. This latest challenge will be pivotal to what happens between now and May however.
Hey Loyal , Perhaps you could draw up a short list from here, http://www.leagueman agers.com/ Left hand side second box down shows all the available managers. I don't agree with all his methods but we really don't want to be in that area right now. I think this lot will click and go after Christmas with maybe a couple of extra faces.
P.S I can't be bothered and havn't the time to look at the leaguemanagers.com, thanks all the same though.
hertz
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10:16am Mon 15 Oct 12
Redgollum
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10:40am Mon 15 Oct 12
It would have been a bit more sense had he worked in our Italian embassy.
And Wiz, Ling & Taylor, only having Div 1 experience? What managerial experience has PdC had?
jamesturner
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10:53am Mon 15 Oct 12
ICDeadpeople
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10:55am Mon 15 Oct 12
the wizard
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12:21pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Both Andrew Fitton and Jeremy Wray in my view have done the club nothing but good on a scale we could have not deemed possible, especially in those dark days of Diamond Mike.
My own view was that due to his overseas commitments things went sour here for Fitton at a crucial time which was a pity as his thoughts were always genuine.
His replacement has been nothing other than outstanding given the financial climate in which we all now live.
He took a massive chance on appointing a rookie who did very well in his first year and dug us out of a deep dark hole, that is other wise known as League Two.
This year we have stuttered a bit, and Wrays appointed manager has had to come to terms with a few things he didn't bank on at the start of the season, but he must learn to adapt the same as many others at other clubs have had to do so.
Perhaps with the new chairman in place things can pick up and start to move forwards once more, and maybe he can teach our manager some PR while he is at it. While we are all grateful to Wray, more so than he will ever know, we must give the new guy time to settle. I am very sorry to hear that JW has stepped down from the board as well. Big Shame.
Jay Wray, a massive thanks for what you have done, for what you tried to do, and we all wish you well in the future in your chosen path and direction.
Swindon1984
says...
1:23pm Mon 15 Oct 12
the wizard wrote:Ditto - never a dull moment is there, came on here today and it's all change.
Just to clear up my view. Both Andrew Fitton and Jeremy Wray in my view have done the club nothing but good on a scale we could have not deemed possible, especially in those dark days of Diamond Mike. My own view was that due to his overseas commitments things went sour here for Fitton at a crucial time which was a pity as his thoughts were always genuine. His replacement has been nothing other than outstanding given the financial climate in which we all now live. He took a massive chance on appointing a rookie who did very well in his first year and dug us out of a deep dark hole, that is other wise known as League Two. This year we have stuttered a bit, and Wrays appointed manager has had to come to terms with a few things he didn't bank on at the start of the season, but he must learn to adapt the same as many others at other clubs have had to do so. Perhaps with the new chairman in place things can pick up and start to move forwards once more, and maybe he can teach our manager some PR while he is at it. While we are all grateful to Wray, more so than he will ever know, we must give the new guy time to settle. I am very sorry to hear that JW has stepped down from the board as well. Big Shame. Jay Wray, a massive thanks for what you have done, for what you tried to do, and we all wish you well in the future in your chosen path and direction.
Bit uneasy about this, this obviously isn't a knee jerk reaction and would have been decided a while ago, but wonder if Wray was unpopular for his defence and support of Paolo even through all his controversies. Could be the board want a bit more control over the manager. Could be a good thing. I could be talking total nonsense as well. Basically, don't like change, especially when things (on the whole) seemed to be going well.
Angolan Red
says...
1:35pm Mon 15 Oct 12
dablet
says...
3:18pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Last step
says...
3:21pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Join the Supporters Trust-
http://www.truststfc
.com/join/join-onlin
e/
Last step
says...
3:21pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Join the Supporters Trust-
http://www.truststfc
.com/join/join-onlin
e/
Stilloyal
says...
4:23pm Mon 15 Oct 12
Last step wrote:Hear hear, as a life member I'd be intrested to know what the trust are doing now, I havn't had a newsletter for a long , long time.
If supporters want to do more than watch helplessly from the sidelines they need to join Trust STFC and play an active part, not just leave it to someone else. Join the Supporters Trust- http://www.truststfc .com/join/join-onlin e/
STFC 67 says...
6:14am Mon 15 Oct 12