• Welcome to the ShrimperZone forums.
    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which only gives you limited access.

    Existing Users:.
    Please log-in using your existing username and password. If you have any problems, please see below.

    New Users:
    Join our free community now and gain access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and free. Click here to join.

    Fans from other clubs
    We welcome and appreciate supporters from other clubs who wish to engage in sensible discussion. Please feel free to join as above but understand that this is a moderated site and those who cannot play nicely will be quickly removed.

    Assistance Required
    For help with the registration process or accessing your account, please send a note using the Contact us link in the footer, please include your account name. We can then provide you with a new password and verification to get you on the site.

April Smith Made Redundant

I have known about this for slightly longer than most, having been told last week at the JB event but was asked to keep it to myself which, I obviously did out of respect for both April and her parents.

I hope there is someone on this board who has employment law background who may be able to advise here as I cannot, for the life of me, work out how they have managed to make the ONLY female full time member of staff redundant, nor how Spiby can have talked about her matchday role being redundant in one paragraph, then talk about someone else doing it in another. I understand that some of the academy coaching staff will also be taken on under the SUCF umbrella.

April has been a beacon for women's football in the area and is the face of matchday experiences for hundreds of children over the course of the season. I have worked with her on all the Junior Blues activities over the last four or five years and I know how hard she works and how conscientiously she does too.

Like Scott, I know that she has had various much better paid opportunities in the past which she has turned down out of loyalty. It seems that counts for nothing with this man.

There is something that stinks about this and I am convinced that this is just him finding an excuse to get rid of her.
 
Well I simply cannot fathom that one out!

April is one of the mainstays of the club through all the recent ****. Others who have jumped ship when a better offer has come along. Apes has stuck with the club, I would not have blamed her like I didn’t the others when they jumped ship. People have bills and mortgages to pay but she stuck by the club during all the recent bull****.

Like others have said this doesn’t smell right. Absolutely ****ing disgusting from the idiot that made the decision. Really hope it is true that Justin and Co get her onboard when the takeover happens.
 
April is devastated to say the least but was told it was purely a business decision and this has nothing to do with the club.

My heart is breaking for her at this time as, above everything else when she was told she said loves her job and still does.

After 10 years in her role here I am afraid her time is coming to an end but she started here at the club firstly working in the tea bar before then moving onto the club shop and when she returned from America obtained a post in the community trust as a coach. But she does so much more than that now.

She stayed through the bad times and sadly just when things are beginning to turn for the better she won’t be around to see all the changes and all the ideas she had.

Very sadly this Saturday will be her last game working as she is working her notice, so I am expecting some emotions from her but I know she will be humbled by the comments of which I thank you all and as I have said to her as one door closes another will open.
 
April is devastated to say the least but was told it was purely a business decision and this has nothing to do with the club.

My heart is breaking for her at this time as, above everything else when she was told she said loves her job and still does.

After 10 years in her role here I am afraid her time is coming to an end but she started here at the club firstly working in the tea bar before then moving onto the club shop and when she returned from America obtained a post in the community trust as a coach. But she does so much more than that now.

She stayed through the bad times and sadly just when things are beginning to turn for the better she won’t be around to see all the changes and all the ideas she had.

Very sadly this Saturday will be her last game working as she is working her notice, so I am expecting some emotions from her but I know she will be humbled by the comments of which I thank you all and as I have said to her as one door closes another will open.
Noway is this the end for Apes with SUFC Jacks. x
 
Ludicrous decision. The Woman bleeds blue and has given so much to the club, community and women’s football. A lovely person to boot. Hopefully something will come up for her, she deserves it.
 
Only met April briefly last summer but I'm sure many here will testify to, redundancy can be a massive rock that you carry behind you for a long time while you try to come to terms with what's happened.

Happy to raise my hand having dealt with it myself to lend an ear / help wherever possible in whatever journey she goes on, even if she ends up back at the club, the mental scars will take time to heal.
 
I have learned over the last day or so that Apes has been made redundant by The community trust boss as a business decision. I have spoken to her and am now able to make it public.

This is just discusting. April has worked for them for over 10 years and not just for them but for the club,players and just about everything else concerned with SUFC including the SUFC ladies team.

She is obviously heart broken , SUFC is her life, she bleeds Blue blood and i just cannot understand the thinking with this ridiculous decision.

Hopefully The new owners can bring her onboard with the club but of course until they own it they are in limbo to but talks are happening.

We need to get together people to make sure Apes is not left alone and we get her back where she belongs at our club!

This has made me very sad and angry at the same time.
Love April to bits, been going to Southend with her for 20 years not just that holidays social circle the lot.

@Cricko is there a collection going or something, don’t want to see her struggle financially while she looks at other employment ?
 
Love April to bits, been going to Southend with her for 20 years not just that holidays social circle the lot.

@Cricko is there a collection going or something, don’t want to see her struggle financially while she looks at other employment ?
I believe there is redundancy money in place but what that is i have no idea, Having said that The Trust still have considerable funds left over from the collection to help staff when the club could not pay them. Perhaps they can help if needed.
 
That's not good to hear.

Let's hope that something can be done.

I'm pretty sure I've heard her commentating and wasn't she a manager in the men's game.

Hopefully she can be fixed up again soon and I'm sure someone will be only too pleased to employ her.
 
My gob is completely smacked!
When you think the ship is being steadied **** happens!
Don't really know April but the work She does is incredible and is S.U.F.C through and through! I'm sure we've not heard the last of this! Wishing You all the best April.
 

ShrimperZone Sponsors

FFM MSPFX Foreign Exchange Services
Estuary Beecham
Andys man club Zone Advertisers Zone Advertisers

ShrimperZone - SUFC Player Sponsorship

Southend United Away Travel


All At Sea Fanzine


Back
Top