Bad Man Management

I've been watching with great interest the unfolding drama surrounding Nicholas Anelka, Raymond Domenech, the French team, and just about everyone else who knows Nicholas Anelka.

I found it particularly interesting that John Terry spoke out to defend his Chelsea team-mate. Terry described Anelka as a very quiet man who had been in the game for a long time and who knew his football. He also said that if Anelka had something to say to him he would stand up and listen.

What a pity it is that so many businesses in the UK are treating their credit staff exactly as Domenech has treated Anelka, and are getting rid of them when they need them most. And how sad it is that they are failing to listen to people who have been in the game for a long time, and who know all about credit management, and all about the quiet people who have also been in the game for a long time and know all about credit management, too.

Failing to put key players where they are going to do their best for you is bad man-management. Failing to listen to them - or people like them - is not too clever. Just at this moment, getting rid of them is downright stupid.