What's the story behind this then? Seems a bit harsh. 'No longer wanted': Jamie Waltham shocked by Hull United exit JAMIE Waltham admits he was "shocked" to be told he was no longer wanted by Hull United AFC – the club he helped to form – but he still hopes they can keep their Football League dream on track. Waltham, who will forever be known as the man who paid fans £2 to watch his side play and handed out free lifetime season passes, appointed Hull City legend Ian Ashbee to the role of chairman in the summer after relinquishing the responsibility himself. The 34-year-old then chose to assist the ambitious Northern Counties East League side in a volunteer role and did not seek a place on its committee, which handles the administration. But despite owning the Dene Park ground in Dunswell where the club play, and being responsible for guaranteeing all of its playing expenses, Waltham has now been told his services are not required. Waltham has subsequently taken the decision to withdraw his funding from the club, managed by Curtis Woodhouse, and says he will now go back to being one of the club's fans. Waltham told the Mail: "To say I was shocked when I was informed that I am technically not part of the club any more, because I am not on the committee, is an understatement. "To learn that a meeting had been held without my knowledge where my request to be put back on the committee had been rejected was both interesting and disappointing. "I'd previously been termed 'the owner' and didn't realise I had been removed from the committee when Ian Ashbee was made chairman, vice chairman John Duffil handled the transaction. "Following my initial reaction of being a bit upset, I soon calmed down and have since spoken to John and Ian about trying to arrange a lease so the club at least have a ground to continue playing their home games. "I'm still a huge Hull United fan and always will be. It's in my heart now and there are some great people at the club volunteering their time. I just hope it sticks as closely as possible to the principles of why it was created." Waltham had sought to be re-elected to the committee so he could put forward plans to turn the Citizens into a Community Interest Club, where £10 shares would be sold to supporters who could then have voting rights and say on all issues. Now that idea is off the table. He also believes his unique model of not charging fans to attend games could soon be under threat too as The Citizens look to create income streams which can further their progress. He explained: "I have spoken at length to Ian since being informed I was no longer part of the club and the subject of charging people on the gate is obviously something he thinks needs to happen. "My problem is that I've now handed out around 15,000 passes telling people it's free and will be for all the time they have a pass. I also have another 35,000 yet to be distributed. "If I'm honest, I would have found it difficult to remain at the club if free football was not one of our fundamental principles anyway. "It was one of the main components why I set the club up in the first place. We had a vision to be different and we wanted to change the football landscape. "So, with the club making decisions I don't agree with without me, and me being told I am technically no longer part of it, I feel the only thing I can now do is grant them the lease they want and wish them all the best for the future." http://m.hulldailymail.co.uk/longer...-Hull-United/story-27890094-detail/story.html
Nope but I dare you to criticise those in charge now. Quite shoddy treatment that too. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
Its bizarre. Unclear who exactly is in charge. I thought it was Waltham, even though Ashbee has been chairman for a few months now. Jamie's brilliant. His initiatives are the main reason for United's success so far in terms of attracting support.
Not prepared to condemn those in charge I see. Not prepared to condemn the removal of free to watch either. What a shocker.
Ash is Hull through and through and a genuine bloke. He's stood up and put his spare time where his mouth is when no one else was willing to and turned the club into a real deal. He showed great initiative with a clever rebrand to make the club more appealing and marketable. Ash will have nothing but the clubs best interests at heart and has already proved how capable he is in his position as chairman. As such he has my full support. Jamie should stop bleating like a bitch, this move hasn't been made for no reason. If he wants to have a say in how the club his run maybe he can put his hand in his pocket and actually put something at stake.
Erm. As I said in my first sentence, I don't even know who is in charge or who's behind this. It really doesn't seem right. No idea why you'd think I'd refuse to condemn it. It's you that just blindly follows the man remember. Curtis Woodhouse has assured fans that the tickets will stay free, of course he's just the football manager but he seems to have been assured of it. If they didn't, the club would just die a quick death. It's only got the popularity it has because of the way the fans are treated so well. Press release in the next couple of days apparently.
They haven't done anything I've felt the need to criticise. You should direct your request to some of the plastic turds, keyboard warriors and more sensitive souls we seem to have a small infestation of.
Very sad news re. Jamie Waltham and what has happened. Can see a very idea / club going south at some point. Maybe an Arab billionaire ?
it sounds like he's already done plenty of that. you seem to know everything, so why have they ditched him?
Nothing I've felt the need to post online about, no. The "Bruce out" type after one bad result seem to be the sort you're looking for.
So my free for life pass will be no good then soon? i wonder legally if u have one if u could use it anyhow?
I thought the issuing of free lifetime passes was a way of convincing someone that the club has a big local fan base and then could apply for community grants on the back of it. Obviously I was wrong ???? I have one and have been to see them once, I left just after half time. Although I admire the enthusiasm of those behind the idea I do wonder what exactly the real motive is. For what it is worth I firmly believe that Ian Ashbee should have a place at Hull City and he is wasted at Hull United. If Dean Windass is a club Ambassador, and I have no gripe with that, then surely Ian Ashbee should have a similar role at Hull City AFC?
Dunno about the last bit but it seems very unlikely that the lifetime passes will be withdrawn. There doesn't need to be a motive. As for Ashbee, he wouldn't lick Allam's arse so he's not gonna be considered at City. He mentioned on RH last week that he's been shunned by City in recent times. Windass was obviously employed specifically to tell the fans off for not wanting Hull Tigers.
I haven't really been following this story. Hull United have ambitions to one day be a football league club? That's a rival to City then. They should be strangled at birth.
