Re: Rob heys
 

Person Charged i would think? If they were personal bets.

Re: Rob heys
 

I once got done for speeding in the works van, I asked the boss if the firm would pay the fine. His reply; "If you committed murder would I hang?"

Re: Rob heys
 

According to Fishy Hes been weighed off today, result expected on Monday, 2/1 i think.:D

Re: Rob heys
 

serious then eh, if they have to take 3 and half days

Re: Rob heys
 

Who knows?:confused: all thats obvious to me,is found guilty.:confused:

Re: Rob heys
 

I think his public admission of betting made a guilty verdict hard to avoid!
I just hope the Club hasn't wasted any money trying to defend the indefensible.

Re: Rob heys
 

looks like they did jerome the same day

Re: Rob heys
 

Quote from the FA site posted on Wednesday 14th August:-

"Stoke City’s Cameron Jerome has been fined £50,000, subject to any appeal, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

Jerome, who was also severely warned as to his future conduct, admitted a number of breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules and requested a personal hearing which took place on Tuesday 13 August 2013."

Re: Rob heys
 

Not good.

Robert Heys

Re: Rob heys
 

21 month ban. Find it hard to take that he has bet so many times on Stanley to lose.

Once is Unforgivable in my eyes.

Re: Rob heys
 

does this 21 month ban from all football activity mean that he cant actually pay his money and go and watch accy Stanley ...

Re: Rob heys
 

Rob's statement takes away any argument 21 months is a heavy punishment

Re: Rob heys
 

We shall have to disagree on that, it takes away any argument that Rob is a competent person to be at the helm of any league club.

Re: Rob heys
 

Never had many dealings with Rob, but on the few occasions I have, he has always been helpful and friendly. There can be no doubts about his love and dedication to the Accrington Stanley cause, but what the hell was he thinking placing bets for Stanley to lose. I have a feeling that it’s these bets that have sunk Rob more than anything.

If we are ever to shake off our “tin-pot” image, then this has to be last time our name is dragged through the mud by one of our own. Imagine being a potential investor, player or even JB and reading headlines about the Managing Director placing bets on his own team to lose. I cannot imagine this happening at any other club – this must be the last time.

RH has made a massive error of judgement for someone in his position to allow this to happen. He has lost his dream job and his reputation.

The only sympathy I have for him is that he has a young family to provide for and has more than likely lost his livelihood.

Re: Rob heys
 

Think the "No Further Comment" means = What the hell we gonna do now.:D

Re: Rob heys
 

If it doesn't, it should. Backing your team to lose is the pits.

Re: Rob heys
 

Exactly!!! Its summat yeh just don't do, more so in a position of power.:(

Re: Rob heys
 

This is all people not connected with the club will see and it makes us look mugs

"Of the 735 offending bets, 231 were on games involving Accrington and 37 of them were on Stanley to lose"

BBC Sport - Accrington Stanley: MD Robert Heys given 21-month betting ban

Re: Rob heys
 

What a sorry tale. I don't know the lad, other than by sight and what's written on here but, decent, helpful bloke though he may be, he's been stupid to gamble with his career and the club's reputation.
Obviously the club is waiting to see what comes of the appeal, but why? Is betting against the team OK for the CX if the FA reduces the sentence?
The Board, and particularly the Chairman, need to act and be seen to be acting now.

Re: Rob heys
 

perhaps he should have bitten someone, or called someone a nigger perhaps? he'd have been out by now.

Maybe he could have hurdled an advertising board and karate kicked one of our gobbier fans instead, he'd be free to trade in half the time.

By no means do I condone what he's done but that's more to do with betting against Stanley on occasions. That part of it is between him and the club and the fans and not The Sweet FA.

His statement says that he hasn't bet on the club for over three years so his position as MD has not been compromised in my eyes.

Re: Rob heys
 

Yeh happen need some new glasses then Rob?:D

Re: Rob heys
 

I've known Rob for a long time, he was in the same scout group I was in and even became a cub leader after a while. He only had to stop doing that when he was getting more involved in the Stanley.

I think he's been daft to put these bets on given the rules. I think the whole episode is sad and I feel for Rob. He's a lovely bloke.

I do think, whatever your views of this particular case, that we should think about the wider context of our game. As Loweiy mentioned, the football league is sponsored by Sky Bet. Adverts during the games that are on the TV push betting hard. I'm only 27, but I'm sure placing bets a while back was more or less only possible if you went into the bookies, filled out a slip and handed over your cash. You were aware of what you were betting because the money literally left your pocket, went into the till in Ladbrokes and very rarely returned. These days you can bet during the game, at the touch of your smartphone. You have an account with them, so it doesn't feel like you're losing money.

The football league take all this money from sky bet, the proceeds of bets from lots of blokes who, lets be honest can't afford it, yet ticket prices are still high and loads of clubs are on the verge of going under.

We have clubs who are now sponsored by Wonga and Cashconverters. I would hazard a guess that there are many lads who have placed too many bets with Skybet, and are now skint 2 weeks before pay day. Most likely they probably have to take out a pay day loan to cover their bills and to eat. Yet, the clubs these legal loan sharks and betting companies sponsor still keep ticket prices sky high and pay their players eye wateringly high wages. Football is meant to be OUR game, yet I think its not for up for debate who the real winners are out of this sorry state of affairs.

Now I know you might say that this isn't our problem, we are a lower league-side, the problem of high wages, dodgy sponsors and greedy owners is a Premier League problem. But the strength of football in England is the football league. There is a team [and for most people a few teams] for everyone and in more or less every town. We have a cup competition that is the envy of the world, any side in the pyramid with a bit of luck and good fortune can compete with some of the best sides in the country and Europe.

So whilst Rob has made a massive error doing this, I think the people we really need to point the finger at are the betting companies, the administrators, and the greedy corrupt people who run our game. Not a bloke who has made a series of stupid mistakes betting a fiver at a time on daft accumulators, when in all honesty he probably wishes he hadn't p!ssed two grand up the wall.

Re: Rob heys
 

Brilliant post, Potter!

Re: Rob heys
 

How many more times can our club get dragged through the mud????

Im absolutely sick to the back teeth of it. The BBC short film thing was brilliant in showing everything good around the club, then this.

We need a clean slate behind the scenes, its as simple as that.

Re: Rob heys
 

I know quite a few lovely blokes that go up Stanley, Are they fit to be in charge of the club? Are they hell as like.:rolleyes:

Re: Rob heys
 

The most mind boggling aspect of Rob's statement is that the 735 bets are only a small proportion of his total bets on all subjects. He obviously has a terrible addiction and doesn't just enjoy the occasional flutter. How the club has not immediately distanced itself from this awful state of affairs beggars belief. A quick trawl through our rival clubs' message boards is highly embarrassing, a typical sample being the Dale forum where we are described as "the pub team of the football league". I hate them for it but you can see where they are coming from. I feel desperately sorry for JB in having to deal with this and other off-field matters, in addition to trying to get our season off the ground.

Re: Rob heys
 

Cashman - I'm not stupid. I do understand that 'lovely blokes' in all jobs might not be the best person for the role. I was just trying to provoke a bit of a discussion about the wider context of this particular episode.

But can understand if you're not interested and would just like to talk about the specifics in black and white terms.

Re: Rob heys
 

Most mind boggling to me is cos Rob used to stand on the terrace, cos hes a good egg, Got the club at heart, All this embarrassment is overlooked by some.:rolleyes::confused: Instead of looking for excuses,looking for the solution should be first on the agenda.

Re: Rob heys
 

Is it time to dig out my"Save Our Accrington Stanley" t-shirt?:confused:

Re: Rob heys
 

Cashman, Is that passive aggressive response aimed at me?

Its pretty obvious he has broken the rules and will have to pay the consequences.

But it is possible to think that and, at the same time, have a discussion about how this kind of thing isn't a surprise when betting is pushed massively by people and businesses who, I think, are exploiting the loyalty of the average football fan.

Re: Rob heys
 

No its my honest opinion, well aware the betting is pushed big time by various channels, That aint our issue its every clubs. personally i think its immoral, but that has sod all to do wi this issue. in fact its deflecting it, would suggest needs a thread of its own.

Re: Rob heys
 

If I had blown two or three grand on bets over the last few years and it was all over the news, it wouldn't be the FA I'd be concerned about! :D

Re: Rob heys
 

First post on here for some time after a much needed break.
As a fan of the club I think there are quite a few aspects of this unfortunate issue to consider.
The field in which I work is one that demands professional responsibility and accountability. Those in positions of power ought to realise that their conduct is scrutinised closely because of the duties they hold. A managing director of a company ought to know how he/she can/cannot act in their personal lives; how personal indulgences can affect their employer’s credibility. However in this situation there are fewer parallels to draw with Corporate Company X than may first be perceived.
Accrington Stanley Football Club, for better or worse, walks the thin line between professional football club and accessible, nostalgic, grass roots, warts & all reality of a local club – a ‘proper club’ for purists and self-masochists alike. If not for this precarious duality, the club would not be in the Football League. The appeal would never have been present for Eric Whalley to invest a large part of his life into propelling the club up the leagues, nor would the necessary spirit have been created by John Coleman and Jimmy Bell if this was ‘just another club’.
For this reason, the same expectations for Managing Director of Corporate Company X cannot possibly be expected of Rob Heys who in his part has contributed to the overall appeal of the Football Club.
My initial reaction to the charges was pure disappointment – that our club’s name would be made a mockery yet again by our peers because of the carelessness of one of our own. After reading Rob’s statement, my opinion is that his mistakes were professionally careless, irresponsible and needless, but without one single iota of menace. I refute that his bets against the team were born out of any ill-will and more part of a normal Accrington bloke having a quick & dirty punt. There are many more on our terraces and stands who have done so and continue to do the same. Whatever your personal morals, you’d have to do a lot of tar and feathering to get through them all.
That said, the responsibility of a Managing Director in whatever position does not leave Rob. His mistakes have invariably brought shame upon the club and he will be judged for that by his maker. Whether this is the end for Rob’s association with Accrington Stanley I’d find it hard to dictate. This is a man with a livelihood, not a Premier League CEO who can go back to his holding company with his tail between his legs and a seven-figure pay-cheque.
Whatever happens in his own role, I personally believe that the punishment is unprecedented (see Cameron Jerome’s meagre fine) and unfairly harsh. The length of ban handed out doesn’t seem to add up when measured against others and for that reason I hope Rob’s appeal is considered fairly.
Lastly I believe it is unbecoming for fans of a club such as ours to tear apart one of our own. As Rob says, the Stanley family shows its real strength in times of struggle.
Just my opinion.

Re: Rob heys
 

Thats a very good post Shaker, Cameron Jerome from what i can gather did not back against his own club n that to me is the difference, i don't think fer a min that rob wanted stanley to lose, but he was number 1 n to me supposed to be aware, A footballer by comparison is supposed to be a numpty, not the case i know, but that seems to be the viewpoint.

Re: Rob heys
 

As much as usually like your posts SORRY CAN'T AGREE WITH THE LAST 2 LINES OF THE POST ABOVE . But only my opinion

Re: Rob heys
 

Re: Rob heys
 

To say I am embarressed again would be an understatement. Lessons have not been learnt from previous betting scandals, How unproffesional of Mr. Lowe, how typical. It may be the time for a swill out.

Re: Rob heys
 

The morality of the betting industry and even the harshness of Rob's punishment are separate arguments. How on earth can a football club carry on while retaining any shred of credibility with somewhat at the helm who has bet against his own club? He's the public face of the club for crying out loud. Just how pathetically tinpot do we want to appear to the world at large?

Re: Rob heys
 

Please explain How?:confused: The betting scandal at Stanley was 4/5 yrs ago, Yet he continued in a senior position to place bets. How is that fact not compromised?:confused::confused:

Re: Rob heys
 

Re: Rob heys
 

It is all well and good making negative comments - but Rob Heys is ASFC through and through........had he not paid 30k of his own money only 4 weeks ago then the staff and players would not have been paid.......bear that in mind as a mark of the mans commitment to the ASFC cause before getting over critical.

These bets go back TEN years when ASFC were years away from League football........his last bet on ASFC was over 3 years ago .......

Put it into context please.

Re: Rob heys
 

When he was in a position of power at Stanley, The betting scandal was before that, That aint negative, its putting things in context.:rolleyes:

Re: Rob heys
 

When you sit at the top of the tree you are expected to set the standards for everyone who sits beneath you. In this case, Rob has made a very poor judgement call by placing 735 bets over the period of time which is a long sustained period. His statement just reads like a list of excuses instead of an explanation for why he continued to breach rules over such a long period.

If he didn't know about the rules he should looked into it, the whole point of being in a senior position is that you have the brains to not take everything at face value and delve into things and question the reasons for things happening. How can his position not be untenable after this latest episode.

If he has put money in that is good but that doesn't mean that he should automatically stay in his job. If that was the case Ilyas would be in charge of the club after all the money he has put into the club. In reality that wouldn't work in the real world. What we need now is someone independent to be recruited to run the operations of the club with proper procedures and policies in place to help run a tighter ship to help build up relations with the fans and local businesses.

To leave the skeletons in the past, we need to move forward off the pitch and get things sorted fast. Our reputation has taken a hammering in the last 4 years, we need to start moving on from this.

Re: Rob heys
 

Re: Rob heys
 

Seems highly suspicious to me "In The Know" that yeh have just joined to comment on this subject,:rolleyes: Don't it make yeh wonder.? oh dear gone already pmsl.

Re: Rob heys
 

as MD of the club he didn't bet on us according to the statement, he was MD for approximately 12 months - what the hell has that got to do with the betting scandal.

the job that he did as MD (in my eyes) has not been compromised because as MD he didn't do it (bet on us for or against).

He broke the rules that he was aware were in place = deserved to be punished, I haven't disputed that. But I do think the punishment is way too harsh when you consider the precedents set by the FA for other crimes.

Betting against Stanley (as an official of the club) is a crime against the fans
Betting on cup competitions that Stanley have long since left is a ridiculous thing to be charged for.

£1000? now that they have taken away his right to work in pretty much the only thing he's done in years how do they expect to get that money. Offer them a £1 a week Rob

Re: Rob heys
 

FACTS... In the know... The above post is your first as you joined Aug 2013 and it states post no 1.... WHO ARE YOU ... Please provide proof that ROB HEYS paid the £30,000 of his own money 4 weeks ago . I suspect you have another name on here and your statement is a pack of lies . gO ON PROVE ME WRONG

Re: Rob heys
 

Whatever the final outcome, nobody wins out of this.

Its essential the club use the incident as an opportunity for a change in direction off the pitch.
They either keep Rob and provide him some clear targets/goals and rules including some training OR they get rid quickly and advertise for an external candidate.

A lot of the off field failures may not be entirely Robs fault, if he doesn't know any better maybe people (including me) should be more balanced in analysing the missed opportunities and failures.

Re: Rob heys
 

That one sentence sums things up perfectly.

Re: Rob heys
 

I do remember him being interviewed on some local TV channel, I think it was Channel M, and on there he stated he had remortgaged his house in order to pay some debts during the bucket shaking days, everybody makes mistakes and he will rightly pay the price.

A £2000 loss over 10 years is hardly somebody with a gambling addiction, more like somebody who likes a flutter and can take a £200 a year hit ;)

Re: Rob heys
 

Agree.
Like all punters, the bookie always wins

Re: Rob heys
 

Mr Heys can not be involved in football or football activities for 21 months a new candidate is the only way forward by law!

Re: Rob heys
 

I'm sorry, but unless I am reading Robs statement incorrectly, the 2 grand loss was related only to the 735 bets. If this was only a small percentage of his bets on other events, what on earth are his total losses if, as everyone knows, only the bookies win.

Re: Rob heys
 

ASFC News Story > 5571

Totally agree with Peter focus must be on the Team

A massive week next week for the Club

Re: Rob heys
 

Was he backing or laying?

If he was acting as a bookie and laying then he may have made a few quid at times.

Re: Rob heys
 

I have just taken the trouble to read this thread as I haven't really been following it, but after the story broke about Mr. Heys, I find it hard to believe that a person of his position and standing could bet on his own club losing 1 game never mind 37, having read most comments I honestly can't understand how Mr. Heys can hold any position of responcibility within the club ever again, never mind after a 21 month ban, he has broken league rules and the more important rule, don't drop your own club in the crap, a sin unforgiveable in my book

Re: Rob heys
 

This whole thing needs to be put into context. In my opinion there are two types of gambling that relate to football, Corruption gambling and Fun gambling, it looks like Rob has been caught having fun.
I realise that Rob’s bets were on accumulators (same as Cav) and he probably thought were dead certs, at the time. Parallels are being drawn with the other betting scandal from 4 years ago, but in this case, players who could have had a say in the outcome of a result, bet huge amounts on a Stanley defeat whilst playing for Stanley. This is in no way comparable to Rob’s crime, but the players in question had much lighter punishments for a much more serious crime.

The issue I have with this whole matter is the harshness of the punishment, and the stupid FA rules regarding gambling. I’m referring to this quote from Rob’s website
I think the punishment Rob has received is unduly harsh considering the precedent shown to players who actually have a direct outcome on the result of the game. The betting rules need to be overhauled and should be rigorously enforced when gambling leads to corruption and the predetermined outcome of a result. Players betting for their team to lose should serve lifetime bans, players betting on their own team to win should go unpunished. Accumulators for typically a fiver or a tenner whether it includes your own team or not, should not matter as the outcome of the bet is still dependent on 9 other results in which your team is not involved, and these charges are unjustified and petty.

Let’s not forget the Football League has just taken an internet gambling company as a major sponsor, how will this and future gambling cases sit with the morals of the whole shoddy business.

The FA and the Football League, along with many clubs through shirt sponsorship, are happy to take money from gambling companies, yet tell all people who are working for these clubs, presumably this includes people who help out at the club (fans who do a bit of cleaning up, snowshifting, printing posters/t-shirts/flyers, or removing ground covers, etc) not to gamble on any competition which the club may or may not be involved in. yet encourage the fans who don’t do anything at the club to empty all their wages and anything else they might have into the coffers of the bookies, internet or shop.

Where does this end? Imagine having a bet on Stanley to win a game in August, then turning up in January to help out removing the frost covers, would you now be banned from removing frost protection from the pitch for the rest of the season?

If Rob had a few grand on the next Stanley manager, 3 months ago, then I would understand and be justified at the severity of the punishment.

Re: Rob heys
 

Redash,
That is the best summary of this situation I have read.
+1

Re: Rob heys
 

It may be one opinion and view of things but this website isn't going to change the FA rules, however stupid some people regard them. The point is Stanley's Managing Director/Chief Executive either knew the rules and ignored and then publicised it, or wasn't aware of them. Either case makes his position untenable, however petty you may regard the rule.
I also find the implied argument made in Mr.Heys' web site that, because he lost money on his betting that somehow makes it less serious, incredible.
The Board need to act now and I sincerely hope they are currently working on their options for life without Mr. Heys.

Re: Rob heys
 

One question, who are the people who are now running the club?! Hopefull not the 2 bob workers who are making this club as tinpot as the cowshed roof!

Re: Rob heys
 

Re: Rob heys
 

There are 2 issues. RH has broken the rules and should be punished, I think everybody accepts that.
But the punishment is very harsh, especially compared to the punishment given to the 2 premier league players. For Rob to be banned from working in football for 21 months is not comparable. That is what I can't understand.

As for where this leaves ASFC, we need a replacement. The club now needs leadership more than ever, on this point never mind the myriad of other issues round the club. Full respect to "the interim team" but the club needs some one to give a lead.

Re: Rob heys
 

I think people are missing the point. The damage this is doing to our club is massive.
Do you think the likes of Clever Boxes or other companies want to put their name in the same bracket as this shambles of a club?
People who come on here and blindly put their friendship with Rob before the good of our club are deluded.
I do not wish Rob any harm as he is a decent guy but he has brought another heap of shame on us.
Think of the damage this doing to the club-I would urge Rob to do the decent thing accept you were in the wrong, take it and let the club you claim to love move on and try and rebuild and survive!!

Re: Rob heys
 

Well said Revived and Ghostbuster

Re: Rob heys
 

What I can't understand is why Rob is suspended "pending the outcome of his appeal with the FA". His guilt's not in question - even Rob himself has admitted it. He's simply appealing against the severity of his punishment. So if his appeal's successful and he has his suspension reduced to, say, 12 months, does this mean that Stanley are going to limp along with no proper MD for the next year and then Rob's going to come back as if nothing has happened?

Re: Rob heys
 

Your talking about me again!
;)

Re: Rob heys
 

If I could put in my 2penneth here;
1. Rob Heys has let himself down badly,
2. Rob Heys has let the club down badly.
3. Rob Heys has let his family down badly,
4. Rob Heys has let Ilyas Khan down very badly considering the faith shown in him after the last debacle.
5. As others have said, he has done many a good thing for ASFC, (the Monte Carlo or bust rally just recently springs to mind), however, to bet against ASFC is unforgivable and I believe makes his position within the club untenable, even after the ban has been completed, be 21 months or less after the appeal.

I am with others on this, the board must either accept his total resignation from the club regardless of the outcome of the appeal or they should sack him now.

However, I must agree with Peter Marsden, we should support the team and James Beattie come what may.

Re: Rob heys
 

[QUOTE=Ghostbuster;1072085]
Think of the damage this doing to the club-I would urge Rob to do the decent thing accept you were in the wrong, take it and let the club you claim to love move on and try to survive./QUOTE]

Which is exactly what he has done with his statement, as far as I can see. He is appealing the severity of the sentence, which to my mind is entirely understandable given assorted precedents involving people who really can affect the result of a game.

I may sometimes go too far in trying to understand both sides of an argument, but too many people on here can't even see that there might be two sides!

Re: Rob heys
 

What exactly is the other side of what Rob has done?:confused: He has consistently bet for many years, ignorance is no defence for breaking rules, more so when yeh happen to be in charge.

Re: Rob heys
 

My overriding feeling on the events and comments of today is one of incredible sadness and I've refrained from commenting thus far as have been too upset and wanted to wake up tomorrow as a new day, however, I've got increasingly frustrated as the day has gone on and need to get some stuff out before I sleep.

On a human level, I feel sadness for Rob as he has, in all likelihood, lost his dream job, has a young family to support, has always had the good of ASFC at his heart and is a lovely bloke.

On a professional level, just what was he thinking of? If you hold a position with any kind of responsibility within the club and are even thinking of betting in a game the club is involved in, let alone betting for them to lose, it should cross your mind to question the ethical nature of what you're doing. On the 231 occasions Rob placed a bet on games involving Stanley, did he ever once stop to think 'does this feel right?'

As MD, your job is to set standards and be impeccable, and I'm afraid Rob hasn't done either. The sheer volume of the number of breaches is truly staggering and the scale of Rob's offences means that him returning to his job is simply not tenable.

If there is to be anything salvaged from this, then I urge Rob to resign, no matter how painful this is to do, and for Peter Marsden and the Board to begin the challenge of finding a new MD, someone who will lead the club, set standards, behave impeccably and demonstrate a continued ability to act with good judgement, all things that Rob sadly did not do. If such a person is appointed, then we can begin the slow, but steady road back to rehabilitation and away from tinpot.

I say, if such a person, because I think we should not kid ourselves what a challenging role this is for someone, who in all probability will be earning a relatively small salary. I urge the board to think about the salary level and dig deep as we need to attract the right calibre of candidates to begin re-establishing our reputation and it maybe the most important appointment the club makes.

Re: Rob heys
 

Jeg Red I think your post sums up most people's feelings, nobody wants to see Rob out on his ear but like you say due to his role and the serious nature of what he has done his role is simply untenable. He must have known at some stage what he was doing wasn't right. There is no need for any investigation by the board, Rob is banned from football and even if wins a partial appeal he will still have a lengthy ban. Therefore all we are doing is prolonging an issue that needs to be resolved now and not in 4 weeks time.

Re: Rob heys
 

What is in effect a two season ban seems very harsh.

Allowances should be made for an SME which would not have the resources of the larger organisations which dominate the game.

Rob seems like someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty, and the ban punishes the club as well as Rob.

Re: Rob heys
 

"Betting against Stanley (as an official of the club) is a crime against the fans". The FANS are the club. Without the fans there would be no club.

Re: Rob heys
 

Ive just read PETER MARSDEN statement re ROB HEYS but sometimes i wonder how can we have a chairman and directors who live a million miles away from ACCRINGTON surely a chairman should be within a few miles of the club to oversee clubs daily problems . I know we have 3 directors who live local and visit the club daily BILL HOLDEN , JEFF HEAP and PETER SHAW there may be more CAN ANYONE publish a list of our directors and where they live. I'd love to know.

Re: Rob heys
 

Where they live aint a problem to me Ian, More concerned wi how things run.;)

Re: Rob heys
 

Well we have one director who lives in HONG KONG how can he be of any use except financialy

Re: Rob heys
 

All bans/punishments should be harsh. Not only to have a punitive effect on the guilty but to act as a deterrent to others. Simple.

Re: Rob heys
 

Wonder if its actually dawned on some,? The fact Rob confessed n gave help to em in this case, is likely the reason he only got 21 months. Cos thats what always happens in courts of law. i imagine this is run on same lines.

Re: Rob heys
 

Let's not forget ROBERT HOUSEMAN and JOHN NORRIS.

Re: Rob heys
 

I reckon if you did a survey of all football clubs Stanley directors are probably more hands on than most if not all other clubs. Not sure you will see Roman at Chelsea brewing up :D

Re: Rob heys
 

Where do I send my CV?

;)

Re: Rob heys
 

I know what you mean - it's a shame there is no way to communicate other than face to face....

Re: Rob heys
 

Well done to the Chairman. I asked for some action and he's done as best he can in the circumstances.
By the way, whatever the rights and wrongs, don't underestimate the damage bad news like this can do to the club's reputation. Just had a friend email the latest communication from the North-West Business Adviser, which made it their top story.

Re: Rob heys
 

Don't know him in HONG KONG though any financial support would be welcome I'm sure.

Travelling WEST rather than EAST would take you to the director in BRAZIL!

Re: Rob heys
 

So players and staff arnt aloud to bet yet the league is sponsored by a betting company, in my eyes thats a bit contradictive

Re: Rob heys
 

It is everyones aware of that, but its the rules, so yeh gotta abide by em.

Re: Rob heys
 

Just got back off my holiday on Monday.:bigglasse I have not seen a newspaper, watched the news on a TV or listened to anything on the radio for a while.:rolleyes: So when I read news of this on Teletext I was totally dumbfounded and profoundly shocked!!!:eek:
I have taken the time to read ALL the responses on this post and once the full details emerged many sensible points and observations have been made, (particularly #170 by Jegred).

There could be a separate discussion about the moral issues regarding betting in general and paricularly betting in football but I will try to leave that broader issue alone in my response here.

Some have expressesed unbelief that a CEO could bet at all when he clearly knows the rules and some posters have commented on Rob being a good bloke and having the RED blood of Stanley in his viens like most of us supporters.
In the early days, long before he was CEO, perhaps he may have been unaware that he should not have been having a small flutter now and then but once he grew into a more senior standing in the club and then as CEO he should have had the strength to simply put a stop to it.
However, in thirteen pages of posts nobody has commented on the true nature of "betting" and the way that it can take a real hold on a persons life. It seems to me that gambling/betting is an addiction, and could be classsified as a kind of sickness, which once allowed into a persons life could be as difficult to break out of as smoking or doing drugs. (Incidentally, I have never done any of these three things so I could be talking very naively and in blissful ignorance.):angel:
I have spoken with Rob on a few occasions, when ordering seson tickets etc in the office, and I too always found him to be a very pleasant chap. I suppose that I am trying to make the point that although he deserves to lose his job, be fined and have some sort of suspension, but also that we should try hard to show some undestanding with Rob about his need to gamble but also show some empathy regarding his family situation now that he is out of a job. I sincerely hope that Rob can sort himself out positively, and whilst he may have succumbed to a weakness, I would also like to thank him for his hard work at Stanley and wish him well for the future.

Now we have to begin again..... after a another disappointing chapter in our history.
Peter Marsden has done exactly the right thing in making an early statement and in calling the supporters to rally again and get 100% behind James Beattie and the team.:):):)

ON STANEY ON:mosher:

Re: Rob heys
 

Bon Voyage

Re: Rob heys
 

It doesn't mater where they live, we live in the 21st century with good communication systems, decisions can be made, relayed, etc.

My friend runs a business in Australia, he lives in the UK.
It works fine - he has 2 daily conference calls with his core staff.

No reason why Stanley should be any different, if anything it should be easier .

Re: Rob heys
 

Agree, Davo, it's the quality and commitment of the directors, not their home address, that's important at times like this.

Re: Rob heys
 

They are in a unique position exile on spencer st, the person they appointed to run the club day to day has 'let them down' or words to that affect.

Im sure all the directors are in communication away from the media outlets ears, and that's exactly how it should be.

They have released an initial statement, I suppose its reasonable to expect a follow up statement by the end of the week?

Re: Rob heys
 

Draco may have thought that but now we prefer them to be proportionate in a fairer society. Otherwise we could have 2 year bans for doing 31 mph in a 30 zone.

Re: Rob heys
 

What a load of cobblers.:rolleyes:

Re: Rob heys
 

but thousands of years of history show us that hard deterrents don't work.
See America and its move to longer harder prison sentences.
Some crime in particular murder and rape continue to rise along with the prison population but they fail to deal with the real issues at hand as to why the crime is occurring or why the rule breaking is occurring.

Giving Rob a large ban wont really matter to the bloke, his reputation has been damaged, it would be fair to assume he wont likely work in football again, Stanley's reputation has been dealt a blow - do you really think a harder deterrent would have made a blind bit of difference in this instance or any others?

In this instance, education is the answer.

Re: Rob heys
 

To quote from Rob's lengthy statement "
The FA betting rules have changed several times over the years and as a result of some of those changes I have unwittingly broken the regulations.

As a senior officer/executive it was incumbent on him to be fully conversant with the rules and regulations at all times. if there was confusion for him he should have sought advice. Indeed DAV007 education comes into it, self education.
Ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law.
Rob uses the word "unwittingly" instead of ignorant, well I have read the rules of the FA on betting they are crystal clear to me.

And I'll tell you this for nothing, the man is still gambling in my book by going to appeal :rolleyes: or should I say hedging his bets??

Re: Rob heys
 

The Rules are here:

FA ban Accrington managing director Robert Heys for betting offences | Mail Online

Simple

Re: Rob heys
 

It is obvious that Mr. Lowe is yesterdays man regarding Accrington Stanley FC. It is unfortunate, but lets now move on and appoint someone with a little bit more nous. The club is bigger than any one manager/player, hopefully

Re: Rob heys
 

I think this may be a case of mistaken identity

Re: Rob heys
 

your reply is your opinion just like my post was my THOUGHTS only, i may be wrong. But of course you WON'T BE .......

Re: Rob heys
 

Simple maybe - but incredible in their scope.

I suspect hundreds of club players, officials and staff will have unknowingly breached the rules last year on Cup Final day alone.

If someone had told me a fortnight ago that someone who works in a club's shop couldn't have a bet on the Cup Final I simply wouldn't have believed it.

Games involving your own club or if you are in some way able to influence the result - OK. The rest - mad.

Doesn't excuse Rob. at least not once he had real responsibilities at Stanley, but for me at least goes some way to explain.