Sandgaard makes Olly Groome redundant
For many years Olly Groome was the most honest and trustworthy link between the football club, it’s players and it’s supporters. Last night that ended.
Thomas Sandgaard has made Olly Groome redundant in further cost cutting measures. Olly was more than an advocate and a lifelong fan, for years throughout terrible working conditions he was one of a very small loyal band of people that kept the club whole, even functioning.
Olly was also one of the key champions in the battle to oust Matt Southall and his assorted charlatans to who tried in vain to ruin our football club.
Thomas has brought stability and ideologies to the club, but for all of his past business nous, he has a very strange way of running a business. Olly was not only a hardworking invaluable source of vital ingredients that bring all of the best of Charlton together he also for a day job had the official role of head of all media content. Tell me who now is going to be running that? Oh, let me guess….
I hear that whilst Olly was covering the U21 league game yesterday against Sheffield United he was called into a meeting after Thomas and Raelynn had conveniently disappeared and was made redundant on the spot with immediate effect.
Immediate effect. Thanks for everything. Man-management Thomas Sandgaard style.
I know you occasionally pop by here Olly, and I join the huge band of Addicks that are totally baffled by this latest decision. I know you won’t be out of work for long, and will make a lot more money when head rules heart. The very best of luck for the future, and a heartfelt thank you for all you have done.
Chicago Addick 
Dumbfounded by this. I have tried to ignore the TS doubters and haters and always looked for a positive about his ownership. It’s not so much that he has sacked such a loyal servant it’s that he didn’t have the decency to do it himself. Olly was owed that at the very least. One too many Thomas I am afraid.
Well i have felt over the years cross and very frustrated at some on the things thst have gone on within the club especially with members of staff. But the sacking if Ollie in this way and indeed being sacked at all has done it for me. I’m done with the club that I have supported for some 70 years
For me enough is enough.
Wow Peter. That is some statement.
CA this doesn’t feel right I agree but I guess we can’t sit back and expect the guy to spend his money to run the club the way we want
It’s a fine line if we’re consistent top 6 I’ll be happy enough
True Steve, it is his money or his loans, so I agree with the narrative. Yet, even Warren Buffet surrounds himself with capable subject experts and cedes authority.
Its the different culture between us Brits and Americans.
Nothing has changed – I have had many friends across the pond fired in such a way, some with over 40 years service.
I guess we just have to live with the TS method, at least we have a club.
Don’t agree with it at all, but ultimately nothing we can do about it..
It is his money.
Just one issue with that TS is Danish, who normally are much more loyal to employees and are nothing like Americans who hire and fire at will!
Vikings have a tenancy to invade and pillage where they invade….be warned !!!
Houndal – it is, and I’m glad it wasn’t me who took 300k out of the ATM to buy Chuks Aneke.
Yes, always sad when someone loses their job but let me tell you and many people have had several experiences and yes many many times and one has to pick oneself up and yes I include myself but could say more but won’t about other so-called media people!!!
UK employees rightly have far more protection than our American cousins.
Firing on demand is not permitted without the grossest of malfeasance.
Sacking off staff for cheaper alternatives is against the law.
The post is made redundant not the person.
Recruitment to a manifestly similar post is not permitted within 6 months – as if nobody is now doing exactly Ollie’s job
Redundancies require consultation. 10 years service demands basic respect.
All absent
This is despicable and probably illegal.
By his actions we know TS
Scnuk- I’m starting to think maybe Olly wasn’t made redundant..
Hi CA
On reliable sources Ollie was sacked from the club.
Yes Chris, I am hearing the same.
If Sangaard really wants to save money why doesn’t he sack MS and Mrs Sangaard as the pair of them have no experince whatsoever in running a football club and that would probably save between them, at least six times what Olly earns!!!!!
Cronyism. TS seems to be carving out employment opportunities for his family members at Charlton at the expense of hard-working, loyal and dedicated staff who have proved themselves over the years. Given the unsavory way this has been handled, if l was an employee, l would be looking over my shoulder now. Who’s next? It might be TS’ money but it’s our club. Who knows what TS’ plans are for the club? Maybe he is getting rid of people within the club who have too close a relationship with the fanbase? Perhaps TS doesn’t want his future plans leaked? Although TS was the saviour, he is rapidly showing his true colours and l don’t like what l see.
Mike, OK stand corrected.
But TS is an Americanised Dane for the sake of my point.
PH – bit drastic. I cant claim to match your 70 years (55+) but I could not abandon the club
CA, yes he does like to waste his own money.
Perhaps that’s why he has a trigger finger.
Im shocked,annoyed and concerned and TS has gone over the red line on the way he’s treated Ollie.
We all know he is owner but loyalty has been ignored and the way Ollie was made ‘redundant is
staggering.
I can’t wait to hear why he was a target for ‘redundancy’ as there are staff at the club who are out of their depth.
I fear that Ollie knows a lot of things that the TS dynasty is up too and kept from fans.
I will miss seeing him and wish him all the best in a new job…..maybe with Voice of the Valley ?
That is no longer in existence?
My apologies I thought it was…
All staff at the club must be watching their backs…TS appears to be ruthless taking no account of loyalty,experience,knowledge and effectiveness…..look how Chris Parkes was dealt with !!!
The heart and soul of this club is being ripped out, Olly is CAFC through and through, and deserved better.
whose next, Tracey Leaburn, Steve Avory?
one has to dispair for TS’s control issues
The way the club is run by TS is extremely worrying and I don’t expect any player who looks good this season to last. They will be sold. Make the most of Leaburn while he is with us because I will be surprised if he is here next season.
I am ambivalent regarding Ollie Groome, as the information regarding U18s and U21s matches over recent times has been very poor. We are lucky if match reports appear within 3 or 4 days and sometimes not at all.
Have to reluctantly agree that other members of the squad could possibly be made redundant by TS…
If its true that some match reports were short and delayed then surely a word in Ollies ear would suffice…..I still feel that he was treated badly and in time the true reason will emerge.
Olly covered an awful lot of ground at the club media and content wise. If that role is now redundant, who will do it?
It’s not rocket science if Ollie was responsible for covering all games maybe the role should have been shared by the media department personel to avoid the situation ?
My senses tell me that we have all been duped and there is more to this than we think.
Why sack a guy who is respected and works his socks off ?
I have spoken to Steve Avory mentioning the problems with U18 and U23 (now U21) reports on 2 or 3 occasions and he said he would pass the message on, which I am sure he would have done.
Isn’t there some sort of employment law that has been broken here ?
Jean – I think it depends on the reasons for dismissal / redundancy.
Seems strange decision of Mr T. Sandgaard as Ollie, gave excellent interviews, with general information in and around CAFC. And comments made related to the day’s official programme. Thomas may of become uncomfortable with area Ollie was covering, I would of thought notice of dismissal would of been more. Human Resources and business like.