Chief Executive 2021

[Thomas Rendle]

Do we still get to see Chris Fegan get pasted

I doubt it.

I suspect he will stay in the race, if only to get his speech at the AGM.

[JustinHorton]

Surely it could be published in pamphlet form and sold by Chess And Bridge? It could become the J'Accuse de nos jours.

[David Sedgwick]

I didn't see that coming

I have said little publicly about this election hitherto, but I shall comment now.

I had the impression that the policy differences were narrowing, but that the level of acrimony was increasing.

Hence I too did not foresee this development, but I am delighted by it. Great credit is due to Stephen Woodhouse.

I fear that the scars may take some time to heal. However, I hope that all we are saying is give peace a chance.

[J T Melsom]

I'm not close enough to the ECF political bubble to know whether this is a good or a bad thing, nor do I necessarily believe the election would have been close. Best I think to see what the terms of the deal are before commenting in detail. It looks to me like an uneasy truce.

A digression (yes I know!) and on this thread as its the live one. What has happened to 'none of the above' as an option in elections?

[John Reyes]

Just seen this on the English chess news page from Malcolm Pein

STATEMENT FROM MALCOLM PEIN

9 October 2021

I decided to stand for the post of Chief Executive because I was unhappy with the direction the ECF was taking, particularly what I viewed as its failure to attempt to engage with government and to take seriously its responsibility to try and develop the game at all levels.

I was also very concerned about the fate of the remaining BCF/ECF assets which are effectively the ECF’s financial backstop. My thoughts and detailed proposals on these issues have been expressed in two policy statements here: https://developingenglishchess.com/bcf-legacy-assets/ and https://developingenglishchess.com/deve ... -officers/ and in three resolutions which I tabled here: https://developingenglishchess.com/moti ... f-council/ .

I’m delighted to say that through the good offices of the ECF Non-Executive Director Stephen Woodhouse, detailed and amicable discussions with the incumbent CEO Mike Truran have crystallised into an agreed way forward, the details of which I will publish shortly at developingenglischess.com.

As a result, there is no need for a contested election. I will remain in post as Director of International Chess and Mike Truran will stand unopposed on Saturday.

It was clear to me that both candidates had considerable support and that the electoral outcome would be quite close. Such division could not be good for the ECF or English chess. A joint statement from Mike and I will be issued shortly.

[Angus French]

Do we still get to see Chris Fegan get pasted

I doubt it.

I suspect he will stay in the race, if only to get his speech at the AGM.

If he doesn't have a speech it might be a convenient time to withdraw.

[Roger de Coverly]

What has happened to 'none of the above' as an option in elections?

It's still there as an option, so there's always a vote.

[Kevin Thurlow]

""piece in our time", to help out anyone writing tabloid headlines"

Very good!

I hope this goes better than the last one...

[NickFaulks]

It was clear to me that both candidates had considerable support and that the electoral outcome would be quite close.

Yeah, right. He did at least achieve one goal, which was that as a result of the general unpleasantness Fenella's challenge to his candidate for Director of Women's Chess was run off.

[NickFaulks]

I suspect he will stay in the race, if only to get his speech at the AGM.

Indeed, that will now be the high spot of the meeting. I hope he will not let us down.

[David Sedgwick]

It was clear to me that both candidates had considerable support and that the electoral outcome would be quite close.

Yeah, right. He did at least achieve one goal, which was that as a result of the general unpleasantness Fenella's challenge to his candidate for Director of Women's Chess was run off.

I suspect he will stay in the race, if only to get his speech at the AGM.

Indeed, that will now be the high spot of the meeting. I hope he will not let us down.

I have been awaiting your reaction to the general rejoicing, Nick. You certainly haven't let us down.

[mickriding]

And interesting withdrawal. I cannot se how or why a contest will have been not in the interests of British Chess given all that has been said and done over the last few months. Indeed, I would only withdraw myself if I saw the writing on the wall.

So said it's a welcome relief that the two main hitters in our organisation are getting themselves together. Good

[LawrenceCooper]

From Facebook just now with the caption "At the birth place of Winston we have piece♟ in our time!"

[Nick Burrows]

From their faces they looks well into the 2nd bottle

[Michael Farthing]

That's each, of course!