AFC Bournemouth have apologised after an email informing some long-serving members of their matchday team that their contracts would not be renewed drew widespread criticism online. The club said it had reviewed how the changes were communicated and would contact those affected to “listen to their concerns and review their individual circumstances.”
- Bournemouth apologised after sending an email to some matchday staff saying their contracts would not be renewed.
- A social-media post from a relative saying a man in his 70s with nearly 60 years' service received the email prompted backlash.
- The club said it would contact those affected, review individual circumstances and improve communications going forward.
- Reports say the individual highlighted was offered an alternative matchday role ahead of the new season.
What happened
Social media posts showed a short email, reportedly sent by the club’s safety team, telling recipients their contracts for the 2026-27 season would not be renewed following a review of the club’s operational requirements. One post said the email went to a man in his 70s who has worked on matchdays for nearly 60 years in roles including programme selling and car-park duties. A relative described the message as a “disgusting approach.”
Club response
In a statement released to address the criticism, Bournemouth said they had “reviewed the way these changes were communicated to some long-serving members of our matchday team and recognise that it did not reflect the standards we expect of ourselves as a club.” The statement added: “People who have given many years of service to AFC Bournemouth deserve to be treated with appreciation and respect. We are contacting those affected directly to listen to their concerns and review their individual circumstances.”
Who is affected and what the club says it will do
Multiple outlets reporting the story said the club had emailed a number of matchday staff as part of a review of roles and working requirements designed to “strengthen the safety and security of the stadium, its perimeter and surrounding areas.” Reports say Bournemouth reached out to the individual who prompted the social-media post before the public statement was released and that he has been offered alternative work on matchdays.
Why it matters
The incident highlights tensions clubs face when professionalising non-playing operations as they grow. Bournemouth have risen rapidly through the English pyramid in the past decade and will begin their 2026-27 Premier League season having also qualified for the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history. Changes to matchday staffing are operationally understandable ahead of higher-profile fixtures and European matches, but the backlash shows how communication and handling of long-serving volunteers or casual staff can damage supporter relations.
Fan reaction and wider context
Social media drew swift criticism after the initial post was shared, with the relative tagging Bournemouth chief executive Jim Frevola. Reports say Frevola replied to the post promising to look into the matter. Coverage and fan commentary stressed the employee’s long service to the club and questioned whether the club had sufficiently recognised that history when making and communicating changes.
Timeline
- Two weeks before the 2026-27 season, an email was reportedly sent to some matchday staff informing them their contracts would not be renewed.
- A social-media post by a relative highlighted the email and said the worker had served the club for nearly 60 years, prompting widespread online reaction.
- Club CEO Jim Frevola was tagged; reports say he responded on social media and said he would investigate.
- Bournemouth issued an official statement acknowledging the concerns, apologising for the way the changes were communicated, and saying they would contact those affected.
- Some reporting states the man involved was contacted and offered a different matchday role ahead of the new season.
What comes next
Bournemouth start their Premier League season away to Manchester City on 23 August and will also play in the Europa League for the first time. The club has said it will review individual cases and has pledged to improve how it communicates staffing changes. Supporters and commentators will be watching how the club follows through on that promise and whether further adjustments to how long‑serving matchday staff are managed or redeployed are announced.
Reporting notes
This article is based on Bournemouth’s public statement and contemporaneous reporting. Specific details — including the exact wording of internal communications, the total number of staff affected and any contractual terms — have been reported by multiple outlets but have not been published in an official club document beyond the statement acknowledging the communication issue. Where reports conflict about individual follow-up steps, this article reports those as summaries of published accounts rather than independently verified facts.
“We have reviewed the way these changes were communicated and recognise that it did not reflect the standards we expect of ourselves as a club.”