Angry scenes at Harlow Penguins meeting over controversial decision to remove head coach
News / Thu 5th Mar 2020 at 05:51pm
THERE were angry scenes at a specially convened meeting of Harlow Penguins Swimming Club at the Harlow Leisurezone on Tuesday night.
There were hopes that the informal meeting would clear the air on a number of issues that had caused bitter divisions within the club.
However it soon became apparent that the bitterness and division ran deep within a club that has existed in Harlow for decades.
Much of the anger is centred upon a decision by the committee to remove head coach Martin Stringer from his duties.
YH understands that this was such an unpopular move that a specially convened meeting was held in which a vote of no confidence was passed in the committee.
In this meeting, the committee made it clear that there would be an AGM in May or June when any changes to the committee structure could be made.
The committee went on to announce that a coach from Bishops Stortford Swimming Club, Laure Jorion, would be replacing Mr Stringer.
A number of the parents/members who spoke at the meeting found it hard to get to the end of the point they were making without breaking down in tears.
Some felt they had been lied to, some felt they had been unjustly suspended due to an alleged GDPR transgression whilst many others returned to the central issue of removing Mr Stringer.
The longer the meeting went on, the more toxic the atmosphere became. Each point made seemed to widen the division between the committee members and the members themselves.
It was also announced that the club still had debts of over £15,000.
In the end, one committee member stormed out. The meeting was concluded by chairperson, Francesca Hansen reading a statement where she detailed a number concerns they had regarding head coach Martin Stringer including complaints of “bullying” that ended with “three resignations”.
The members then left the room and continued discussions outside. As this YH reporter left the building, swimming practice was going on in the main pool. He had to contrast the smooth passages of the swimmers in the pool with the stormy waters in the committee room.
futureaudi
2020-03-06 07:22:58
The move was not as unpopular as you have reported, as the executive committee dismissed him without notice owing to a long standing amount of concerns regarding bullying, favouritism and non payment of fees. Many very talented potential athletes including regional and national swimmers have departed from this club to secure their success elsewhere owing to the actions of this individual. Indeed I have witnessed this first hand, having seen many children treated disfavourably at the hands of this individual who rides roughshod over the club purely because he has been there for some considerable time. Many at the meeting changed their own opinion of him and decided to support this individual, much to their own disgrace, even though historically they opposed him, possibly due to their own personal gain. Many former Harlow Penguin swimmers are flourishing at clubs elsewhere within the Home Counties and as such are a massive loss to this club and are irreplaceable. This volatile impasse has been a long time coming, but it will provide an outcome as many of these former Penguin swimmers and potential athletes will progress despite all they have endured, and compete against the club, represent their county and possibly the country and commonwealth.
summertime
2020-03-06 08:36:28
I fully support comment by furtureaudi and the HSPC committee, brave enough to take this long overdue action. Committee only lost by one vote, due to lapsed members being "invited" to the meeting to vote in favour of the Head Coach. Futureaudi comment is correct, many people (lots more than the three mentioned in the report) - swimmers, coaches, committee members have left this wonderful club solely because of the bullying, favouritism, and rudeness of the Head Coach. Well done HPSC committee, please don't give up now.
penguin4Life
2020-03-06 09:38:20
@summertime @futureaudi, I think you both need to get your facts right, it wasn’t one vote they lost by it was 5 and a lose is a lose whatever way you look at it, every member was allowed a vote it was there choice to turn up or not just like any vote. I’d like to know who these other swimmers that have moved on and done amazing things elsewhere, all the ones that have moved on have actually achieved less then they did at Harlow if anything times where slower, in the last 10 Years the club hasn’t had anyone represent the country or the commonwealth again more lies. Many changed there views at this meeting and now don’t support the committee because of the continuous lies told and was clear it was for their personal gain. They were advices by the NGB to stand down on more then one occasion but have they NO! How can you trust a committee they don’t listen to there own NGB that have experience in situations like the club is going through. Again facts are wrong the club lose 2 coach both to better opportunities and better fit around there Families the third they didn’t get on like in any working environment. Head Coach are not there to be liked they are there to push and get the best out of everyone and you are lucky you had the Head Coach you did many other clubs have a lot stronger Head Coach and it’s there way or the highway and funny either this clubs are some of the top clubs in the country, the comment of favouritism is laughable, we are all human and we all have people we like and don’t. In terms of coaching those athletes that work hard put the time and effort will get more time then those that plod up and down - It’s a Competitive Swimming Club not social club
notsogullible
2020-03-06 10:29:26
@penguin4life It also looks like you have completely fallen for every bit of misinformation fed to you by the very person who has been campaigning around the club. Having secret meetings in leisure zone and generally playing the club like a fiddle. People need to wake up to this and fast. What was supposed to be a positive step forward for the club was high jacked and used to only create more divide and hostility. Hence why said individual invited the press. Essentially it was not the termination of Martins contract which caused the divide it was a campaign premeditated and well thought through, Executed with one intent to undermine and throw the current exec committee ruthlessly under a bus. This is highlighted by behaviours at the meeting, not those of the emotional people speaking out for what they believe but of others individuals revelling in the disharmony and squabbles. Those that have rallied, construed and connived only to cause discord. The meeting was only just over when you had the rumour mill viciously start again, people are already campaigning not asking for unity but again creating divide. You need to ask why? I leave you all with the following extract from the bible. 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
kerry
2020-03-06 12:17:17
@penguin4life I took note of your comment regarding that you would like to know who these so called swimmers that have left HP and are doing well. Well my daughter is one of them she left nearly a year ago within a month of being at BPSC gained all her county times and has since gone on to win Top Girl at County’s this year! Plus gained so far 9 Regional times!
summertime
2020-03-06 12:40:33
@penguinforlife, one vote or five votes - agree every "member" had a choice whether to vote or not. "Lapsed members" should not have been allowed to vote unless all lapsed members were allowed to vote and it should have been made clear that the vote was open to all, current and lapsed. Yes, this is a competitive swimming club and not a social club, we all agree on that. But whatever type of club it is, there should never be room for a bully and rudeness to any of it's members. Please refer to Swim England (previously ASA) Wavepower safeguarding, bullying etc. This Head Coach fits much of the bullying criteria. Swim England should have been involved long ago and the Executive committee is right to take this action.
Swimming008
2020-03-06 12:56:16
@summertime, No lapsed members voted at the current time of the vote every member who voted was a club member according to SE Membership, so you are wrong on that one! Swim England can’t be involved as every club is there own, wrong again! When Swim England offer advice the committee didn’t want to know has two work to ways.
Swimming008
2020-03-06 13:01:02
@kerry, your daughter swam for another club in between the two clubs, and being only 10 she will PB either way as she will grow and get stronger.
kerry
2020-03-06 13:22:16
@Swimming008 yes and she swam for a second club after recommendations from a coach a HP, who at the time had no good word to say about Martin!
summertime
2020-03-06 14:50:47
@Swimming008, this Club is affiliated to Swim England South East Region and as such is expected to operate within Swim England guidelines. If it doesn't, then Swim England are involved. With respect, it is interesting that you comment that people who voted were members according to Swim England membership. Is it appropriate to adhere to SE guidelines regarding membership but possibly ignore guidelines on bullying? I wonder. At the end of the day, it is a fact that many people - swimmers, parents, volunteers, teachers, coaches and committee members have left this club solely due to the behaviour of one man. This is unacceptable, no one person is or should be, bigger than the Club.
SwimDad78
2020-03-06 15:12:41
@Kerry, if you have left the club and your swimmer is doing so well, why are you still bitter enough to be getting involved with something that doesn’t concern you? No coach at HP ever tried to persuade you to join another club! The coaches worked hard for your swimmer and this is the thanks they get! This is not about being pro or anti Martin, it’s about right and wrong and what is happening at the club right now is so very wrong! How it is now is far worse that it ever was. Stop trying to stir up trouble!
kerry
2020-03-06 15:45:56
@SwimDad78, Swim Dad or if you want to say who you really are instead of hiding behind a fake name I’m happy to converse to you directly! Tell how do you know no that no coach at HP told me to go else where? I have every right to say my opinion and I will be dammed if I will be told not to by you Mr Swim Dad,
swim14237
2020-03-06 15:55:32
From a swimmer at the clubs perspective, this whole situation is heartbreaking. We are sat watching our club fall apart with a man who has cared for us being ripped to pieces publicly with no consideration for his kids, his career or his reputation. Many of us are in places now we wouldn’t be without his support - favouritism or not. As older swimmers, we have spent days on end with this man, whether it was swimming or even talking to us about a bad day at school, and our relationship may come across different to younger swimmers but that is due to the time we have been at the club - not favouritism? As mentioned, a head coach is someone to guide and encourage talented athletes not someone who needs to be liked by all. For example, counties is an event prepared for many months In advance so people can not justify good results by this individual leaving - as he was the one who had been prepping them since almost last summer. When the committee bought in this new coach, where was the swimmers input? There was no coaching trial, introduction or communication with the swimmers what was going on. We have had numerous coaches over the past few months and the inconsistency is causing us all to give up. We are on the receiving end of the coaches treatment not the committee? If you are going to get rid of someone who has been a role model to us for many years, at least have the decency to communicate with us and let us say goodbye to our coach properly.
notsogullible
2020-03-06 16:38:20
To make this all go away it would be prudent to look towards those who profess to take the moral high ground or have Martins best interests at heart. Look to the cause of the commotion not the deed itself. I shouldn’t need to point out the obvious but whilst confidence is maintained and the Wolf is actively still rallying hate around the club it will not move on. Cut the wolf loose and order can be restored the fault in this saga is neither the committee nor the former head coach. Those that can’t see that are blind.
Swim101
2020-03-06 17:04:00
It is astonishing that people are happy to slander the head coach, trash his reputation, and ruin his career based on false bullying claims concocted by committee members to hide behind. Maybe these snowflake parents and committee members should look closer to home at why their coach is unhappy with their children; rather than just brand him a bully without substantial evidence. Criticism is not bullying! However, the real question is why the committee will not stand down and let the members decide who they want to oversee the clubs future? and more importantly, who the swimmers want to coach them? You have to be pretty deluded to fight this hard to stay in a volunteer role that no one wants you to stay in. The autocracy shown by the committee is a betrayal to all the members who trusted them to oversee HPSC. You are the problem causing the division. Just go. #HPSCCommitteeOut
swim14237
2020-03-06 17:11:15
Petitions and campaigns are organised by those who believe in a cause - not the cause itself. If we do ‘cut the wolf loose’ as you say, order will be the last thing to be restored. The waiting list of members, swimmers and parents waiting to leave is building up the longer this goes on. The comment that ‘ex-swimmers are flourishing at other clubs’ will shortly become a reality as committee have left us with no other choice but to do so. This ‘cause of commotion’ was a few individual cases which have been taken personally - which yes Should have even dealt with, but not be taken out on by those uneffected.
swim14237
2020-03-06 17:19:19
May I add coaches to that waiting list too. #HSPCCommitteeOut
bringmdoghome
2020-03-06 17:54:50
this club is about the swimmers not about the committee that have no children at the club - i can assure you that if a vote was given to swimmers, like it was to member over 16, the majority vote would be to keep the head coach. The committee has caused more aggravation for the swimmers by removing the head coach than resolving the situations with swimmers and their parents personally #HSPCCommitteeOut
Mary_Rose
2020-03-06 18:18:01
I want to express my personal opinion, not to offend or upset anyone. As a single parent I work really hard to give my children the best even if it means going without luxury’s. I am really disappointed to hear that some swimming fees have not been paid for some time and there is even a select group of people who have never paid fees! This is crazy and I feel very let down by a club who serves the community so well. As with any employer, there is a hard amount of evidence that must be required to terminate an employee, from the information provided by the committee at the meeting it certainly seems they have it. I feel sorry for the newly appointed Head Coach walking into this toxic environment. I for one will be showing my upmost respect and will expect my children to do the same. #BeKind
concerned_parent
2020-04-20 09:33:07
Can Your Harlow do a follow-up article on this - How is the club doing 6 weeks on and 4 weeks into a National Lockdown. Did the new Head Coach start ? This is a worrying time for the community and knowing that this club will or will not be waiting for them when Lockdown is lifted and whether the "new normal" will be a refresh of the stale draconian coaching that existed under the old Head Coach and a bright future for our Harlow youth would be a more positive piece than this article was.
Wallop
2020-05-21 12:40:38
I wonder if concerned_parent is referring to the stale draconian coaching that has seen the club achieve the best results in its history in the last 18 months? I do believe that a follow up article is a good idea. Perhaps after lockdown a report on the upcoming AGM. Hopefully we will see a whole new committee elected. I believe anyone who has been involved in the shambles of the past 6 months should have the decency to stand down and let some who have not been involved before, try and bring the club back to its former glory.
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