It just wasn't cricket, but 'Clickygate' was a crisis not to get a business caught up in

A crisis can hit at the click of a finger... it might not even appear to be a 'work' problem, as those associated with Saltburn CC found out at the height of a beautiful British summer.

But while the chair and committee - no doubt lifelong volunteers holding their club closer to their hearts than many of their loved ones - were probably still checking on protocols for holding an EGM and wondering what all the initial social media fuss was about as it became mainstream news headlines, the story didn't go away.  

No clicks and no headlines from this match on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Summer holidays, silly season, a laugh, a lighter moment in a news agenda dogged by war and politics; the spirit of cricket cracked like a dehydrated joint, video and photography immediately available, social media abuzz, rage bait over click bait... all the ingredients were there for newsdesks to delight at.  This suddenly wasn't a one-day story, it grew legs rather than wrapping chips by the picturesque cliff tramway.

'Find him,' 'get me his mum,' 'what does he do?'... I could almost hear the orders being barked to reporters as interest intensified. No longer a lighter moment for those caught in the crosshairs. Or an employer when perceived honesty meets HR policy.

What do you do?

We all want our businesses to be transparent, our website content engaging, but well into the third day of this pile-on I could still email this rogue fielder - the leader of a clearly well-drilled racket - via his work address and tell him what I thought of him, if I wished.  

He had been 'outed' - cursory details found and published, a free for all. No criminality, no reporting restrictions, a media scrum to do as you dare. Colleagues mobile numbers were there for all to abuse - one's a 'fieldperson' - you couldn't make it up. All laid on a plate for journalists or over-incensed cricket-loving keyboard warriors to feast upon like the finest tea after a satisfying bowling spell.

What his employer needed to do was pull the profile - possibly all profiles bar the MD - or at least close down that open connectivity and access. One number, one entry point to the business, one carefully worded script. I'd hope they have the ability to act with immediacy and had just not thought how it would grow legs, but you'd be surprised how many don't.  

Could you? I've seen control of a website's static content lost through employee churn, or it regularly sit elsewhere, with responsiveness not at the core of the provider. Always ensure you're in control, and that you, your marketing team or your comms consultant can act accordingly.  

A bigger issue may be any disrepute or reputational damage brought by such a public demonstration of dishonesty, but that's one that should be conducted privately.  

I felt for the employer, and for the people of Saltburn CC not involved. How many were is a question for them and the league. The wider town too, a beautiful North East seaside escape still rocking from a film not of its making or geography! Now it will be etched alongside sporting misdemeanors involving sandpaper, kung-fu kicks, doping and spot betting. 

The picture? A wholesome image of a junior game in Lincolnshire. No cheating, just playing their best, because ultimately, that's where pride sits. 

Don't let a crisis really catch you out, and don't be left stumped. If you need advice, erm, raise a finger...