Doug Ellis was a lot of things to a lot of people, but I doubt he's guilty of racial prejudice
Tuesday, 25 September 07, 11:35 AM
I've heard people call Doug Ellis a lot of things, most of which I can't repeat, but never has anyone suggested he has an issue with the colour of someone's skin, until now.
Ex-commercial manager Abdul Rashid is this week getting his employment tribunal for unfair dismissal and racial discrimination. Those are his claims anyway.
The news came out yesterday but this has been brewing for some time and today more revelations came out. The one that made me chuckle was how he wanted a free turkey for Christmas.
Now, in case you're not aware of the story behind this, let me fill you in. Rashid worked for the club for 28 years. He started off in a junior level and rose to become 'the highest earning commercial manager operating at a premiership club and the highest paid manager in the business.'
I'm not sure how they know how much other commercial managers were earning at other clubs, but apparently they do.
Now, the thing is, if you're in a job for 28 years and you're racially discriminated against you wouldn't have thought you'd rise to the top of your game? Also, isn't it a surprise that all these racial allegations only come out when he was made redundant?
I'm no lawyer but this just doesn't add up. I also don't know how this works (if anyone can explain the process of an employment tribunal below that would be great) but is it up to him to prove he was racially discriminated against or the club to prove he wasn't?
If it is up to him to prove it, then it's the old board that is in the firing line and the new board have nothing to worry about but I just can't see it. I'm sorry, none of this adds up to me, so I'll leave it for now, but thought it worth while pointing you to the two links as it does make for interesting reading.
Villa legal fight over race claim
Doug Ellis accused of racial prejudice
Comments (9)
He was happy to take a good wage from these "Racist employers".
It cant have been that bad if he stayed there that long! Why does it always come down to race? I dont think he will find it very easy to find employment if he is going to be known for "playing the race card"!
Total bullshit. But I must say, Deadly has grown in stature inmy eyes since he left the club. Almost--almost--brings a tear to the eye seeing him at every game. And the other week, when Abromowhatever was sulking off before the end of our match against Cheslki, and there's Dougie, offering his hand and laughing. Classic. :D
What a hard life for poor old Rahsid. He made a nest egg out of our club and now he wants more? I hope he is exposed for the idiot he is. I also read he didnt even apply for two roles that were created during the restructure of the club, and withdrew his own application for another. Idiot.
he worked for these "racist" empoyers for 28 years and was happy to take the redundancy package anyone looking at the team can see aston villa have never been racist the man is very greedy
Put simply, an employment tribunal means a court will rule over whether it was unfair dismissal or not.
On another thing, I was lucky enough to be at Bodymoor in 1994, on the Friday before the League Cup final v Utd. I was in the canteen whilst the players came in (there was a camera crew in tow - you can see this on the official club video of the cup win) and one of our most experienced players - who shall remain nameless - was getting really annoyed with the cameras. He then went on to describe Rashid as a "c***". He seems to have summed that up pretty well, 13 years ahead of everyone else realising!
Yet another sad example of how this country's attempt to please too many - where the loud moaners get their immediate reward and the quiet grafters get to sit and wait - is turning into the biggest backfiring exercise in the history of mankind. Mr. Rashid, depressingly like so many others nowadays, has seen his opportunity and is today's victim. I hope he ends with nothing at all and with a damaged reputation - at least in circles where this kind of behaviour is still not rewarded as the solution to everything. Sadly, this is the society our desperate need to prove ourselves as civilised and wholeheartedly open minded people have created - enjoy!
Aston Villa are not a racists team whats so ever. look at how many black players we have in the team! its just somebody who is to greedy for his own good. Immergrants get everything from our soft government, they then expect more! PC has gone to far!!!
Should we all be racist now?
It all boils down to Rashid knowing he'll be in the shit as he wont get paid a sniff of what he was earning at Villa so has decided to go down the obvious route of racial discrimination.It is a load of twoddle.He should just accept he was no longer needed by the club and deal with it as others would have to.As for everyone saying the club isnt racist because we have black players, i feel this is wide of the mark and shows a lack of understanding in what is meant by racial discrimination.Racial discrimination affects race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins.Villa are litterd with various players from diffrent countries who could also go down the path rashid has if they weren't playing on a regular basis