SAVE THE BIRCH! (URGENT, PLEASE READ)

[Babylon]

The bloke is cringe worthy.... adios.

[JoeyB]

have i missed something? because from what i heard on Saturday he isn't going anywhere......... just yet anyway

[Stevosevic]

What were the reasons given by RL? Is it just the Birch retiring?

[Callabinho]

Birch has gone by the looks of things; to me it shows the club is going backwards! if these so called investors cant afford a spear 30 grand a year for Birch to carry on then i highly doubt there will be any investments. I like Birch, yes sometimes he gets on your tits, but he can get the crowd going! I am disappointed they have or are letting him go!

P.S Forced retirement at 65! joke, what harm will keeping him on really do its a football club not a factory!

My link

[milan_foxes]

I've joined and invited all of my 'Leicester supporting mates'

[davieG]

From the Merc

Leicester City legend Alan Birchenall is reluctantly on his way out of the club.

'The Birch' has less than three weeks left in his £30,000-a-year role as club ambassador as he is 65 on August 23.

Birchenall will not discuss his future, but a close friend says he is not ready to retire and he has become increasingly upset by speculation.

However, the Mercury understands that City have concerns about setting a precedent by allowing him to stay on past the normal retirement age.

Close friend Tony Bull said City chief executive Lee Hoos offered Birchenall a consultancy role on match-days, which he declined to take up because it would have compromised his ambassadorial responsibilities.

Speculation about Birchenall's future first surfaced at the end of June. It grew to such an extent that City issued an statement dismissing rumours that he had already left the club.

City have again described Birchenall as "a valued member of the club", but are not making any further comment.

Birchenall is said to be "upset and dismayed" by what Bull called "the club's reluctance to allow him to stay on."

Bull, who has known Birchenall for nearly 40 years, said: "Alan won't thank me for saying this, but he's not ready to be put out to grass.

"He's fit – he did 50 laps around the pitch back in May – and he's as enthusiastic now as he was on the first day he walked into the club.

"Next year, there will be legislation that employees can work until they drop, but this has come a year too soon for Alan.

"I know Alan is upset and dismayed by the situation and I, too, can't believe he is going as he is part of the fabric of the club."

Birchenall's last appearance as club ambassador will be at City's Championship game with Middlesbrough on August 14.

He joined the club from Crystal Palace in 1971 and went on to play 167 games until 1977 when he took on the role of publicity officer. He was later appointed club ambassador.

He also received an MBE in 2002 and was given the Freedom of the City last year.

[davieG]

I'm not a big fan at all but with legislation coming in within the year it's hardly a disruptive precedent and would only have an affect if they have other employees reaching 65 in the next 12 months.

I do wonder why he warrants a £30k/year wage unless he's used to to recruit sponsors of the club thus bringing in revenues.

The other unknown is which numpty can we expect as his replacement, maybe a case of better the devil you know.

We've had the announcer, sorry can't remember his name elbowed and replaced by sooooomeeeeonnnnne whhhhhhoooo caaaaannnn'tttt spppeeeeaaakkk nooooorrrmmaaalllyyy.

Peter Jones elbowed and even though he was very restricted we now have no fans link to the club that is visible if at all.

[C-man]

I'm not a big fan at all but with legislation coming in within the year it's hardly a disruptive precedent and would only have an affect if they have other employees reaching 65 in the next 12 months.

I do wonder why he warrants a £30k/year wage unless he's used to to recruit sponsors of the club thus bringing in revenues.

The other unknown is which numpty can we expect as his replacement, maybe a case of better the devil you know.

They'll probably replace him with more matchday music. Hooray.

[markbsac]

2 years ago i did a coast to coast mountain bike ride across england for our air ambulance, i wrote to the birch for some help with getting a signed shirt after all we all sponsor him doing his runs "I NEVER EVEN GOT A REPLY"......the birch has been a great servant to our club !

[davieG]

They'll probably replace him with more matchday music. Hooray.

I suspect someone of youthful status.

[davieG]

2 years ago i did a coast to coast mountain bike ride across england for our air ambulance, i wrote to the birch for some help with getting a signed shirt after all we all sponsor him doing his runs "I NEVER EVEN GOT A REPLY"......the birch has been a great servant to our club !

He probably passed it on to someone who can ok this type of request.

[markbsac]

He probably passed it on to someone who can ok this type of request.

a reply would have been nice !

in the end i contacted peter jones who sorted it for me.what a top bloke peter was as well

[Cant_Fox_You]

The club should at least keep him for the pre-match entertainment for instance when he's standing at the edge of the tunnel and announces that the teams are ready in the tunnel that personally gets me fired up before the Post Horn Gallop. I agree that half-time entertainment has fast become boring so a change could possibly help. If this is the end for The Birch in his role, good luck in the future and thank you, me thinks he'll still have his position on the RL football forum.

[Stevosevic]

IF we are going to be replacing the Birch, we shouldn't be looking any further than Walsh or Izzet, whether they would want to do it would be another matter.

[Bluefoxtim]

IF we are going to be replacing the Birch, we shouldn't be looking any further than Walsh or Izzet, whether they would want to do it would be another matter.

Izzet? Doesn't strike me as the sort of person to get enthusiastic with a mic in his hand

Walsh? He'd end up staking his claim for the manager's position and mention his damn legends website every 5 minutes.

Anyway, we'll just end up with a camp 20 year old like Coventry.

[Fox92]

Hey Everyone!

Just created a facebook group to save the Birch!

Please Join - link here: http://www.facebook....69163228&ref=mf

THANK YOU!!!

I joined a minute a go.

[Miltonfox]

Unpopular opinion but one that I agree with and i'm sure plenty of others do as well.

He really isnt that funny and the half time entertainment the last few years has been absolute gash.

I really don't think you get it though. The Birch is Mr Leicester - yeah so half time entertainment isn't the greatest, but to be honest do you really care THAT much about what goes on at half time? He is a great ambassidor for the club and loves it as much as we do. If you want to watch a comedian - go see Lee Evans/Micheal Mcintyre/Lee Mack etc etc. Birch puts his heart and sole to this Club, and unless Martin O'neil is going to come down and provide half time talks getting rid of the birch is disgraceful!

[andy_croydz]

I am surprised by the criticism of the Birch to be honest. The man is Leicester through and through, whether you like his half-time antics or not... He has always been a good servant to the club. Surely he would do that work for next to nothing? I really don't like the sound of this Lee Hoos <_<

[davieG]

I am surprised by the criticism of the Birch to be honest. The man is Leicester through and through, whether you like his half-time antics or not... He has always been a good servant to the club. Surely he would do that work for next to nothing? I really don't like the sound of this Lee Hoos <_<

If Hoos is involved and he surely must be he probably thinks Birch is not American enough with his antics.

[Fox92]

I like the Birch. He has good things like the running races and a few former players etc.

Anyway, at least it's better than 'Fake That' who were entertaining us at Doncaster away last season!

[Corky]

I'll miss his end-of-season runs. Half-time entertainment I can take or leave, depends on what's happening.

[Tilley]

Used to irritate me when he was yorping down the microphone at half-time or whenever, voice goes straight through me.

[McFoxy]

Well I joined before I saw this thread.

I think i'm in the majority when i say i don't really listen to the entertainment, but it would certainly be a sad day when the Birch is forced to leave.

He's been there as long as I've been going down the club, and it certainly won't seem the same without him going on in the background.

If he wants to stay, let him I say.

I too don't like whats happening at our club these days. Ticket price increases, NP out after doing a great job and now this shower of shit.

I'v got the 'ump

[Houdini Logic]

However, the Mercury understands that City, owned by a 72 year old active business man, have concerns about setting a precedent by allowing him to stay on past the normal retirement age.

[Bettsj2]

I really don't think you get it though. The Birch is Mr Leicester - yeah so half time entertainment isn't the greatest, but to be honest do you really care THAT much about what goes on at half time? He is a great ambassidor for the club and loves it as much as we do. If you want to watch a comedian - go see Lee Evans/Micheal Mcintyre/Lee Mack etc etc. Birch puts his heart and sole to this Club, and unless Martin O'neil is going to come down and provide half time talks getting rid of the birch is disgraceful!

That was the same argument used for people wanting Steve Walsh as the manager.

And to say that he is a great ambassador for the club and loves it as much as we do, then why doesnt he do the job for free like most of us would be happy to do. He doesnt need the money and I dont quite know what people refer to when they say he's a great ambassador. Does anyone know what he actually does on a day to day basis?

I actually worked for a few months at the club about 3 years ago, and he turned up in his Merc around 10, spoke to the security staff like sh*t, then buggered off at about 11.30 to play golf or go to the gym which the club paid for his membership.

Now I know he's well thought of by the fans and it's a tradition for him to come and do whatever it is that gets done at half time, but £30k a year plus all of his benefits??? Not sure why people are trying to justify it.