If one was an investigative journalist I dare say one would start to ask some questions about Sam Smiths.

Like -

* Why was Colin Black asked to clear his desk and leave within the week?

* Why are there so few area managers now and why have so many gone recently or their jobs been changed?

* Why has the company been restructured in its areas recently?

* Why have the pubs been stopped from giving out free beer tickets for quizzes - dominoes - pool teams etc?

* Why have the pubs been stopped from offering free food on similar nights?

* Why have so many managers recently left and more planning to leave after bonus (yeah right) time - even though it is clear that the company will 'make up' the bonuses for this year because of their decisions?

* Why does the company (ie HS) no longer accept comment in his management meetings but holds court even more than he used to and accepts no discussion?

* When will the managers have a reply to their concerns/letters/memos which are constantly avoided by a management structure with no power (or come to that - people)?

* What happens to the working mens clubs that cannot have entertainment?

And this is just the start.

Today Mudcat.

Soon real media.

If one was an investigative journalist I dare say one would start to ask some questions about Sam Smiths - but one would get nowhere because it's got nothing to do with being a pub chain it's a property company run by a very rich and shrewd man who gives not a shit for his employees - but there's a story in that.

The chances of music returning in the short - medium - long term? If I were a betting man I'd hock all me pigeons, ferrets and whippets and stick it all on nowt to bugger all.