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Friday 12 October 2012

Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference

This is me - not Duncan. Duncan Jenkins is a character - everything he said or did on Twitter was in character, and it's probably fairly important to make the distinction between me and Dunc.

Duncan has been around since about 2009, and in November 2011 he took to Twitter for the first time, in what was surely another doomed bid to find the fame he so desperately craved.

Incredibly, and laughably, Slam Dunc did find some sort of fame. Almost 40,000 followers, including a healthy number of football journalists, eminent Twitter football people, and even the likes of Dara O'Briain. His favourite follower, however, was - and still is - the delightful Kelly Cates. Hi Kelly! *cheery wave*

If you're reading this you will almost certainly know what happened to Dunc during 2012 - the two transfer windows, a few 'scoops', the change of manager at Liverpool FC, live webchats, columns for Goal.com etc. It was absolutely fucking mental.

United fans

Before I go any further and reveal the madness that ensued in late August, I ought to make it clear that I'm a lifelong Liverpool supporter. Duncan...well, he's Oldham til he dies. I guess it became pretty obvious that I'm a Liverpool supporter - plenty of people on Twitter realised and I got it in the neck from numerous angry Manchester United fans who for whatever reason seemed to feel let down by it.

I'll no doubt be subjected to loads more abuse from United fans now I've admitted it - but I want to blow smoke up your arses before I go on. 

When Duncan was stuck on fewer than a thousand followers, back in November, he received tremendous support from a core of United fans, particularly a group who work at MUTV and at the club's website. They know who they are. I want to thank them for their support, their promotion of Duncan, and I hope they don't hold it against me. 

The likes of @xbirchy, Steve Bibby, Laura Kane, Nick Coppack and others - most of them Man United employees - were fantastic with Duncan. They seemed to love him and Dunc certainly loved them. Another United fan - Matt Savage (@MattSavage7) - has known for ages that I was behind Duncan...since I drunkenly let it slip hours after we beat Everton in the FA Cup semi-final. Matt deserves credit for keeping it to himself for all this time. Cheers mate, I appreciate it. 

The Sahin Saga

In August, Duncan put his neck on the block and claimed Sahin was a certainty to sign for Liverpool - he would give up his dream of making it as a journo and quit Twitter if Sahin didn't sign for LFC. 

On August 19th, when it appeared Sahin was certain to sign for Arsenal, Duncan deactivated his Twitter account.

In the ensuing hours after Duncan 'left' Twitter, a number of hoax profiles sprung up. Some three hours after Duncan left, I reactivated his account simply to announce that any supposed Duncan Jenkins accounts were fake.

Minutes after Duncan's comeback tweet, I (me, not Duncan) received this DM on my personal Twitter account.



I was stunned. How did he know it was me? And why was he so bothered? 

I tried to reply but I couldn't, as Chang wasn't following me. Clearly he had followed me to enable him to send the DM, and immediately unfollowed, denying me the chance to reply.

So I emailed him at his official LFC email address.

duncan jenkins duncanjenkinsfc@gmail.com
Aug 19
to jen.chang
Hi

I couldn't reply to your DM as you obviously instantly unfollowed, denying me the chance to reply.

As such I hope this reaches you.

Is there any chance I could have your ear over this? Either via email or in person? To a certain extent it 
has been a misunderstanding on your side and I want to lay every card on the table. Duncan is dead - 
don't worry about that - I just want to explain. I am a Liverpool supporter of over 30 years, I mean no ill 
will and certainly wouldn't relish any bad blood. 

Look forward to hearing from you and I hope we can put this to bed amicably.

Cheers 
Jen Chang Jen.Chang@xxxxxxx.xxx
Aug 19
to me
Sure, we can meet in person. When are you next in town?

Jen Chang 
Director of Corporate Relations and Communications 
t: 0151 xxx xxxx m: 07xxx xxx xx1
w: www.liverpoolfc.com
, Liverpool, L3 9AG
 Please consider the environment before printing this email


Please visit the official Liverpool FC website at www.liverpoolfc.com for the latest news, views, match coverage and goals.

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duncan jenkins duncanjenkinsfc@gmail.com
Aug 19
to Jen
Thanks for the reply.

That's great, I would prefer that.

Sadly I'm not due over that way any time soon. Is there no way you can make it over my way? 

I'm only 40 minutes or so by road. 

If not I'll have to see what I can do about getting over to Liverpool this week.

Cheers
Jen Chang Jen.Chang@xxxxxx.xxx
Aug 19
to me
How about we meet on Wednesday Aug 22 around 1:30? How are you in terms of getting to 
Deansgate in Manchester, or does it need to be somewhere in ********?


duncan jenkins duncanjenkinsfc@gmail.com
Aug 19
to Jen
Time and place is fine - naturally ******* would be easier for me. Might I also suggest it may be 
better for you - lower key, won't get any hassle etc. And it's a nice place too haha. If you thought 
******* would be better I have a nice, quiet and hospitable place in mind in the ******** ***** area. 
It's also very straightforward to find/accessible from the motorway.

Otherwise, if you have somewhere specific in mind on Deansgate - offices or something - then that 
would be fine by me too.
Jen Chang Jen.Chang@xxxxxxx.xxx
Aug 19
to me
To be honest, would prefer to meet in Deansgate in this case.

Let’s meet outside Evuna at 1:30 on Wednesday.

277-279 Deansgate,


What mobile number are you using nowadays? 0xxxx xxxxxx?

Jen Chang 
Director of Corporate Relations and Communications 
t: 0151 xxx xxxx m: 07xxx xxx xxx
w: www.liverpoolfc.com
, Liverpool, L3 9AG
 Please consider the environment before printing this email

duncan jenkins duncanjenkinsfc@gmail.com
Aug 19
to Jen
That is absolutely fine.

Yep still on that same number.

See you on Wednesday then.

Cheers



So that was that. I expected a fairly amicable meeting. I was going to tell him the truth - I had no mole inside Liverpool FC. I figured he might feel a bit silly initially but would ultimately be relieved there was no-one inside the club feeding me stuff. 

(Edit - for clarity, I should explain how Chang had my number in the first place. It was an oversight on my part to have not explained this. 

Very soon after Chang got the job at LFC, he contacted a number of bloggers - The Anfield Wrap, Redmen TV, and Duncan Jenkins. He sent a DM to Duncan explaining that he wanted to give certain bloggers more access to LFC - a presence at press conferences, interviews and the like - and to that end could I give him my number or email address. Naively at the time I thought it would be a great development for the character, so I gave him my number. With the benefit of hindsight, it seems clear that Chang knew exactly what he was doing and, having obtained my number, passed it on to whoever it was he hired to find me.)


Wednesday 22nd August, 1pm:

I arrived in town for my meeting with Jen Chang a bit early, and was in the vicinity for 1pm. I had a cigarette down at Spinningfields before making my way to Evuna. I was crossing the road opposite at around 1:15pm when I saw Chang on the other side of the road. I crossed the road, gave him a shout, and we went into the restaurant.

He commented that I looked different in person to my Twitter profile pic. I noted I was wearing sunglasses in my profile pic, and also that I was currently a bit nervous. That was true, I was a bit nervous - it was a surreal situation for me to be in - but I presented it as a joke. He replied, without any humour at all, "Well you should be."

Chang wanted to know who Duncan's "mole" was. I told him the truth straight away, that there was no mole. He found it difficult to believe. This went on for a while and I explained how Duncan worked, that it was all a big ruse. I asked him why on earth were the club so upset/obsessed with me about Duncan, why all this nonsense.

He went on to tell me that Duncan had cost the club money, specifically on the Borini deal. He told me LFC had been involved with difficult negotiations with Roma over the transfer of Borini. He claims Roma asked for absolute discretion from LFC, that if news of the proposed deal got out Roma's fans would be unhappy about the sale of a young Italian international. Talks were then concluded for the day, he said.

Later that very day, Chang claimed, Duncan Jenkins tweeted about Borini to LFC being a genuine possibility. Chang claimed Roma were furious about it, and that they then upped the transfer fee by around £0.3m (£300,000). Chang gave me an analogy - he said it was like promising to take your wife out for meal, only to have an argument before the meal, and by the time you'd made up with your wife you have to agree to take her to a more expensive restaurant.

For what it's worth - like most of Duncan's tweets - the Borini tweet was a punt, based on a tweet by Neil Jones at the Echo saying he knew Rodgers liked Borini, as Rodgers had told him so in an interview. Any coincidences in terms of timing were exactly that, a coincidence. 

Chang claimed every time Duncan Jenkins tweeted about a transfer involving LFC, the club would receive, and I quote, "50-60 calls from agents and journalists", and he also claimed he knew for a fact that some journalists had written transfer stories based solely on what Jenkins had tweeted. I asked him if Ian Ayre was aware of Jenkins. He claimed Ian Ayre was well aware of Jenkins and that he hated him for making his life and transfer negotiations more difficult.

I was pretty certain everything he'd said up to this point was complete horseshit, designed to intimidate me.

I then asked him how they caught me. I'd been convinced someone had grassed me up to the club, and I thought I knew who was responsible. To my absolute shock Chang told me he had hired people to find me. He told me what they knew about me, about my family, about my Dad's business (he named the business) and about the work I did. I was absolutely stunned and it seemed clear to me that this much was in fact true - given the level of knowledge he had about me and my family.

He then claimed the cost of pursuing me had come out of his budget, and that that money could and would have otherwise been spent on charitable projects, such as projects involving disabled kids in Toxteth (for what it's worth he actually used the word 'handicapped'). I immediately suspected this was more bullshit, a blatant attempt to emotionally guilt trip me.

He said he suspected someone inside the club of being a "mole", and that he'd run checks on him and expected to find links (emails, texts etc) to me. He said they'd not yet found any. I assured him that they could run the most thorough checks imaginable and they would never find a single link to me - because there weren't any. I urged him to run more checks, to be as thorough as he possibly could, and repeatedly guaranteed to him - indeed I swore on my young son's life - that he would find no links to me because I/Duncan Jenkins did not have a mole inside Liverpool Football Club.

Chang told me when he got the dossier on me (a dossier FFS) from the people he'd hired to find me, he was surprised to find it was me. He said he remembered me from Twitter. I'd had one or two exchanges with him before he got the job at Liverpool - just normal football talk. He said he remembered everybody he spoke to, and that he thought I was a genuine, passionate Red and also a decent bloke. He then said this was the only reason he'd given me the opportunity to defend myself, to have this meeting. He says had that not been the case he would've gone ahead with his planned action.  He claimed he couldn't understand why an apparently passionate Red would "wilfully damage the club".

He told me he'd asked a broadsheet journalist (who will remain unnamed) "some weeks ago" to contact me to tell me to back off and to stop tweeting. Only a week before the meeting did that journalist contact me, and even then he only told me that Chang knew my name. He didn't say anything about stopping tweeting. Having not got that message, Duncan had naturally continued to tweet, and in fact had been crowing on Twitter that the club were after him but would never find him.

Chang said this infuriated him - he was under the impression I had received the message from the journalist (why didn't Chang contact me himself?) and yet Jenkins flagrantly carried on tweeting, lording it on Twitter. He said he felt I was deliberately winding him up.

He said his planned action was still in place and there was one way in which I could avert this action - if I tweeted (as Duncan Jenkins) by Thursday night at the latest to confess that there was never a mole inside LFC and the whole thing had been a blag. If not, there would be no amicable resolution and his action would commence.

I asked him what on earth he'd planned to do. 

He said I would be banned from Anfield for life. I told him the season ticket - which I share - was not in my name. He said it didn't matter, and that both I and the lad who owns the season ticket would be reimbursed and then given lifetime bans from Anfield. He then started to talk about what a disaster this would be for me - how not only would I lose the season ticket and be banned for life, but I would upset a friend who would be banned for life through no fault of his own. I told him I'd known my friend since we were both 4 years old (my point being that our friendship would not be jeopardised by a ridiculous situation like this). He took it the wrong way and re-emphasised what a disaster it would be for me to lose a lifelong friend.

He then told me that most journalists despised Duncan Jenkins, and some had been actively trying to find out who was behind it so they could run smear stories on me in the press. 

I asked why would any journo hate him, I asked was it because it was perceived that Duncan was making fools out of them - beating them to several exclusives, "outscooping" and out-performing them. He said that was exactly it.

He told me that if I didn't tweet as requested by Thursday night, and/or that further checks with their suspected mole revealed links to me, that he would hand over all of my info (from the dossier compiled by the people hired to find me) to the embittered journalists and ask them to do their worst, to run smear stories on me in the tabloid press. He said "they will make your life hell, and will turn all Liverpool supporters against you. The papers will say you cost the club you claim to love serious money, that you wilfully damaged the club". 

"You know how crazy football fans are", he said, "You'll have dog shit coming through your letterbox, you'll have to take your Facebook page down, you might even have to move house". 

He repeated the stuff about dog shit coming through my letterbox several times, reiterating that football fans, especially Liverpool FC fans, are crazy and would make my life a living hell.

He then said the papers would also "ruin your Dad's online business".

Looking back on all this, it's a wonder I didn't deck him. I'm not a violent man by any stretch of the imagination, but bringing my family into it, and making threats like that, was a new low. It was difficult to take all this in - the conversation was fast-moving and pretty much everything coming out of his mouth was simply amazing. I had no time to digest everything he was saying and I just sat there in a daze.

During the meeting I played along, and I agreed to do the tweet as requested.

We left Evuna at approximately 14:55. We left on what superficially seemed like good terms - I was promising to do the tweet and Chang said "I'll see you at Anfield for a game this season".

I immediately called my wife and it was only then, as I recounted on the phone what had just happened, what I'd been threatened with, that the gravity of his threats really hit home.


Thursday 23rd August:

I did not tweet as requested. He can stick his pseudo-gangster deadline shit up his arse.


Friday 24th August:

At around 9am on Friday morning, after I'd dropped my son off at nursery, a 'private number' attempted to call me. I never answer private numbers, and in fact thought it was someone else in relation to an entirely separate matter. I didn't think anything of it.

News was breaking that morning that Nuri Sahin was in fact going to sign for Liverpool, meaning Duncan would not have to go through with his promise to quit Twitter if Sahin didn't sign for Liverpool. At about 11:30am Jenkins tweeted in reference to Sahin moving to Liverpool.

A matter of minutes later, Chang emailed me. Here is the exchange:


Jen Chang Jen.Chang@xxxxxx.xxx
Aug 24
to me
****

I saw your latest tweet. Disappointing.

Are you reneging?
duncan jenkins duncanjenkinsfc@gmail.com
Aug 24
to Jen
Jen

I assured, indeed guaranteed you I did not and do not have a 'mole' inside the club. I do not have 
any kind of 'mole', anywhere. You have since had time to prove this via the checks you were planning 
on running.

In light of our meeting in Manchester, the thought of being banned from Anfield for life, losing a lifelong 
friend (whose name is on the season ticket), and more distressingly my family and my family's livelihood 
being ruined by outing 'Duncan' to the press, I've had a particularly stressful couple of days. 

However I was under the impression, since you claimed to believe me, that all that would now be off
the table?

You know I don't want to go down that route as I would be out of my depth.

If this isn't the way forward then I am happy to discuss further.
Jen Chang Jen.Chang@xxxxxxx.xxx
Aug 24
to me
What time can you talk on the phone today?

duncan jenkins duncanjenkinsfc@gmail.com
Aug 24
to Jen
No idea when I can take a call as the kids are noisily running amok and I'm in charge. 

Stressed enough as it is what with everything that went on the other day.
Jen Chang Jen.Chang@xxxxx.xx
Aug 24
to me
I’ve tried calling you already several times. I’ll try again, if not, I’ll call you tonight when 
the kids are asleep.

Jen Chang 
Director of Corporate Relations and Communications 
t: 0151 xxx xxxx m: 07xxx xxx xx1
w: www.liverpoolfc.com
, Liverpool, L3 9AG
Jen Chang Jen.Chang@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Aug 24
to me
****

You had stated you’d tweet what was agreed as an amenable solution.

If it isn’t done by end of day today I’m going to assume that you have no real 
interest in an amicable resolution.

As I already said, I would strongly prefer an amicable resolution.

Regards




That final email - indicating that things would get messy if I didn't comply with his bullshit - was sent to me at 6:01pm.

The phone calls from Chang continued to pour in. It was relentless. Unfortunately I don't know how to do screen grabs from my Nokia Lumia phone but suffice to say I still have the 20 odd unanswered calls on my phone. It was tantamount to harassment. In fact I dare say it probably was harassment. 

It was all rather stressful so that Friday night I went down the pub. The phone calls continued until around midnight. 


Friday 31st August

Transfer deadline day. 

I hadn't heard from Chang since the unanswered calls the previous Friday. In the meantime I had assembled a fairly potent backing - some heavyweight support - and as such I was feeling much better about it all. I could hardly have hand-picked better people to have on my side, but unfortunately Chang clearly caught wind of this.

At about 7pm, I received a call from a third party on Chang's behalf - someone I had until that point counted on. The caller told me he'd spoken to Chang, that all threats were now withdrawn, and would I agree to sweep it under the carpet and forget about it.

___________________

That is pretty much it. Why have I taken over a month to pipe up? Well, I've been exploring a few avenues but unfortunately none of them led anywhere. 

When I came out of the meeting with Chang my head was all over the place. I was affronted about being threatened, and having my parents' business brought into it, their livelihoods threatened. I knew the threats were unrealistic and pretty ludicrous, but nevertheless I'd been threatened and intimidated by a board member at the football club I loved.

Liverpool FC have had enough bad PR in the last 12 months to last a lifetime - so did I really want to go public with this? The thought of taking them on was not appealing, and fairly terrifying if I'm honest. Little old me had absolutely no chance against the behemoth that is Liverpool FC with their limitless resources. And why would I want to fight *my* club? 

Ultimately I realised it wasn't the club I was fighting. The club is the fans, the goals, the songs. Not some hired Comms Director. During the meeting Chang told me no-one at the club knew he was having this meeting. He came out with a phenomenal amount of bullshit during the meeting, but I suspected this bit to be true. I don't think this was a Liverpool FC thing - I believe it was Chang flying solo. For some reason he had become unbelievably paranoid about Duncan Jenkins and his behaviour was borderline demented.

Everything I've written is 100% true. There is not a single shred of embellishment in this account. The only way I could prove it would be if I'd recorded the conversation using my phone. Prior to the meeting I'd been advised by some friends to record the entire conversation. Obviously I wish I had now, but at the time I found the idea ridiculous - I was naively expecting an amicable meeting and I didn't want to get into shady business like recording conversations. 

I don't have anything to gain from this. There are rumours on Twitter, forums etc so I just wanted the truth to come out.

Thanks to everyone who helped make Duncan's little adventure such fun. It was a blast.










111 comments:

  1. Oh mates.

    This is a sorry situation. Can't believe that a club would treat one of their own fans like this.

    I'm a Man United fan, and don't worry, I don't think any less of you for coming out about being a Liverpool fan. We all kind of knew anyway.

    If you're really done, then I don't like it, but I'll have to go along with it.

    Thanks for all the #banterbus banter mates. You were absolutely #superp.

    FYI information, @LiterallyJamie also got legally challenged as well. Looks like football clubs have had a serious sense of humour bypass over the summer IMHO opinion.

    #Onion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is one of the most stunning things I have read in a long, long time

      Delete
    2. My comment?
      Or were you just trying to get to the top of the comments thread?

      If it's the former... thanks?

      Delete
  2. Seriously astounded by Changs behaviour. A fantastic read. Bravo mates.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely crazy. Best of luck to you mates.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You blew dunc up, God damn you cheng, Damn you all to hell.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You left your name in the last email

    ReplyDelete
  6. How did you know the line ups of the team before everyone else without a mole?

    ReplyDelete
  7. I hope this is not real for our clubs sake. I'd expect him to be out a job if true, no offence 'Duncan' but I can't take you just at your word based on the role you created. Though I'm sure you will be getting a few more calls.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shocking stuff. Absolute disgrace.

    Well done for standing up to him.

    ReplyDelete
  9. how did you get the team right every time

    ReplyDelete
  10. Can I ask, Duncan, how did you know the line ups of the Liverpool team before anyone did, if you had no inside knowledge at all?

    I must say, this whole story is perverse. And not from your end...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Chang will have some explaining to do.

    If this isn't bringing the club into disrepute then I don't know what is.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I got the team every week off a forum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love how people would think knowing team lineups 2 mins earlier than the BBC or Sky would mean you "had a mole" - what, someone in the changing room on their iPhone, emailing you this VITAL information as the manager read it out... Ha.

      Delete
  13. Shocking stuff!, the worst thing ? This means Duncan's not really Jamie Carragher after all :(

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a cunt. Glad you (sort of) won in the end.

    Incredible story though, can't believe you tweeting to 40k followers (hardly that many in the grand scheme of things, compared to some twitter accounts) could make a transfer fee rise by £300k. Probably more bullshit to guilt you.

    Wonder if this makes it into Being:Liverpool...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Replies
    1. So heres my number, ill call you 100 times before midnight.

      Jen

      Delete
  16. Unbelievable stuff. To think that the club we support could threaten a fan like that. Chang has to be given the sack now. Another embarrassing episode for our club. You have my sympathy and support mates.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Only thing I find embarrassing is that Chang didn't carry on with his plan. What you think was a harmless game on twitter caused real problems in other people's lives and now you want sympathy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You misspelled "A cunt"

      Delete
    2. Jude: Brilliant.

      "Account" - Probably for the best you've remained anonymous. What 'real problems' did this cause? A massive football club having to shell out an extra £300,000 on a mediocre striker?
      Ridiculous. It seems like you want a family man, who just went on Twitter for some #banter to be sued, have his name dragged through the dirt in the papers (although I think that that might have just been idle threats from Chang) and have his father's business compromised? You utter, utter prick.

      Delete
    3. Yeah an attention seeker who is bored after the transfer window has closed now looking for more attention.

      He was clearly getting info from someone in the club who has probably signed NDA. Jen next time ban him first before you meet that way he is on his knees

      Kisses to Ben and Jude

      Delete
    4. This is the trouble with keyboard warriors. They can come out with this shite and sit safely in their bedroom without mummy realising they`re not doing their 10 times table.
      Account, so you`re suggesting that for nothing more than harmless banter its absolutely aceptable for an employee of LFC to threaten and intimidate someone in this way. What laws exactly did Duncan break????

      Delete
    5. Key board warrior? How nice I suppose you are in the a bunker in the desert typing this or maybe you are holding Duncan Jenkin's hand consoling him through this ordeal.

      My point is I can't stand cowards like this guy, you have been involved in leaking info from the club and they have asked you to stop or you will be banned (I'm quite sure the club have a right to ban whoever they want). Chang also goes on to tell him he'll reveal who he really is to the world if he doesn't. He didn't say I will tell these journalists to write stuff about you and your family he said I will tell them who you really are.

      What does this so called twat who loves the club do after that he continues leaking the clubs info and is now crying on the internet on a day when there are more important things for the fans to think about. He is looking for more attention and is getting is so far.

      Do you guys really believe all this bullshit he has written? Assume the emails are and DMs are real and look at them in isolation there is absolutely nothing to back up what he is claiming.

      Unfortunately there are too many uneducated, gullible people on the internet who believe just about anything.

      Delete
    6. I'm confused... Why do you keep saying "A day like today"?
      What's so significant about today?

      Who's been 'leaking info from the club'?
      I could say right now "Brendan Rodgers will be sacked if he loses the derby against Everton"

      If that turns out to be true, have I leaked info? Or have I just lucked out and been right?

      Nice to see that all the abuse Dunc's getting is from Liverpool fans! What's that famous song of yours? You'll Never Walk Alone?

      Well, apparently You'll Never Walk Alone unless you happen to criticise the club.

      Delete
    7. As regards the significance of today, IPCC. I take it you're not an LFC fan so you wouldn't know.

      He was clearly getting accurate info from the club at a time the club were trying to stop all the leaks and that's why he was taken seriously. Yet he is here saying he guessed it all which is a blatant lie. I followed him and I know for a fact he got most things right even before Echo and other reliable LFC journos.

      If he was just guessing why would he be so anxious and eager to meet with Chang when he contacted him.

      Ask yourself another question what was the purpose of posting this blog if not more attention.

      Delete
    8. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  18. I can't believe what I've just read.
    Shocking

    ReplyDelete
  19. before we all fly off the handle please remember this is one person's actions (Cheng) if true, and not LFC. I really hope it isn't but i don't condone it. If true its outrageous!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Just been shown this blog post - don't use twitter much and tbh as much as i hate scousers - i'm a United fan - what you have been put through is disgraceful. Whether the club had any knowledge at the time is neither here nor there - they need to be made aware now of what happened.

    All the best - keep us updated.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You are Duncan "koptalk" Oldham and I claim my fiver

    ReplyDelete
  22. A couple of things I need to clear up.

    I never made up any transfer rumours - some were educated punts (eg Borini, Joe Allen), some were off forums and other bits & bobs came from journos as I'd wormed my way into the journo circle. There was no "bullshit".

    The team news came from a bloke who posted the team every week on a forum.

    Any other questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh and nice timing with your blog. I suspect another coincidence.

      Delete
  23. He cant DM you unless youre following him first.So obviously you where following him

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice work Columbo.
      What's your point?

      A football fan following the (supposedly amiable) director of communications at his club? Shock horror

      Delete
    2. "Clearly he had followed me to enable him to send the DM, and immediately unfollowed, denying me the chance to reply."

      DM's don't work like that. You can send DMs to anyone who's following you, you don't have to be following them to send them a DM.

      Delete
  24. Sensational stuff there.....

    However, this, unfortunately, will be another stick to beat our beloved LFC with

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just come out and say its terrible,sack the guy and everyone will be happy.

      Don't defend the guy then all wear t-shirts before the next game with Chang's face on them

      Delete
  25. Which forum did you get the team from?

    Seems like you got a lot of things right a lot of the time if it was all punts and (educated) guesswork.

    Still, one of my favourite Twitter characters (for the perspiring journo stuff, no interest in LFC rumours) so hats off for that and all the best for what you do next, no doubt it will be good.

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  26. Incredible read, it's a lot to take in as someone even reading about the situation, let alone living with it. I'm sorry it came to such circumstances and hope that this doesn't have an effect on your future plans. All the best mates.

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  27. Unfortunately the character of a man who'd invent a persona to talk bollocks on the internet in a bizarre Stanley Unwin type fashion is at best dubious.

    It is also rather odd that you've chosen to post this today, of all days.

    However, you really should go to the police if any of this is true, what you're alleging may be blackmail and Chang's supposed actions would certainly constitute menaces.

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  28. someone needs to send this to the liverpool echo and leak it to the press as I know many football journalists follow the jeankins twitter account.

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  29. Great read, and sorry to hear some hired disgrace of a Director of Corporate Relations and Communications treated you in the fashion he did.

    Just one thing, if he had hired people to find you and track you down as they clearly successively did. Why did he DM you on Twitter?

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  30. What a fantastic "story". Did you make this up?

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  31. As you say everything you forecast could have been got from BBC Gossip or other sources. So why then would Jen pick on you and not all the other journos? Strange stuff indeed ;-)

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  32. I'm surprised you didn't publish this 'story' on April 1. At least it would have been a little funny. Come on, in all seriousness, if this account is true, why wouldn't you take this further?

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  33. By the way, it doesn't take much effort with Photoshop to make a Twitter message look genuine. As for the string of email messages, congratulations on putting so much effort in trying to make them look authentic.

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  34. Replies
    1. Best post so far. Truly a sad little puppy in need of help

      Delete

    2. All the people who have gripes about this chap need to take a step back and have a little think - if you're taking what some bloke on the internet says seriously, and you're getting that upset by someone speculating about transfers, then you should maybe consider one of the following:

      1) Going outside
      2) Not reading his stuff
      3) Reading his stuff but not believing everything you read
      4) Prioritising your life so that Libpewlfu'ballclub isn't at its epicentre
      5) Stop acting as though this somehow has a personal effect on the quality of your life.

      He might be right and he might be full of crap, but seriously - hounding someone down over this? You and that Account prick need to have a word with yourselves. And maybe some sex. Knobheads.

      Delete
  35. You are a disgrace to Liverpool football club. He was doing his job. Do us a favour and stop spreading dirt because you have daddy issues

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  37. LOL, liverpool fans - admit this is bad, and move on. Defending the indefensible is the main reason everyone is starting to think / thinks that liverpool fans are a bunch of delusional victims. (Suarez T-Shirt anyone?)

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  38. What type of man makes a fake twitter account blagging to b a journo? You absolute Gobshite, Ppl like you bring shame on the club, And now you tell every fan in the land your stupid story. Made up what Jen done to you, you deserve it!! you have kids and your doing stuff like this hahaha Get a grip! and stop trying to get someone out of our club a bad name because he played you at your own sad game. I can not stand internet fans like you lot! You think your important an ppl care pffft, your noting but a snitch! I hope you get banned for life you trouble causing, shit stirring manc! Get a grip of your life get a job do something with your life, You sad cunt....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seriously? Im surprised you managed to switch the p.c on....

      Delete
  39. How did he know your mobile phone nr?

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  40. I have to admit, i followed Duncan Jenkins religiously during the transfer window. One reason for this: Duncan you broke the news that Brendan Rodgers would be named Liverpool manager before anyone else. How did you find out about the Rodgers move. I have now learnt not to follow IN THE KNOWS and people like you...What Jen did..if true is horrible and he had no right too..but as a Liverpool fan and as a football fanatic i urge you to stop this shit about punting which players will move where..ist frustrating for all fans..i drove myself crazy during the transfer window because of people like you..leave the transfers to real Journalists

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Journalists' transfer rumors are even more inaccurate than twitter accounts like Duncan.

      Delete
  41. Anyone backing this sad little man needs there head checking. He made a fake twitter account, To blag Liverpool fans he was some important journo, when in fact he was a fat waster living in dreamland. ppl like this should not be given a voice they are low life scum! Who don't even live in the city!or this planet.

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    Replies
    1. I am thinking you have not actually followed Duncan Jenkins. If you had you would understand that he is absolutely hilarious. The fact that he was accurate (through luck, obviously) just made it all so much better. He never also tried to make anyone believe he was "some important journo.". His twitter page explicitly said he was a perspiring sports journalist. To be quite honest, everything about him was so obviously tongue in cheek and sarcastic that if people did not get it they must have been retards.

      Anyways, if you're posting all this crap with the intention of being sarcastic, then you Sir, fail at it.

      Delete
    2. I wasn't following him, but I just went and had a look at some of his 2000-odd tweets. Hilarious? I've scraped funnier stuff off my shoe. For the most part, it wasn't banter, it was just sad.

      Delete
  42. I'm thinking along the lines of "The Madness of King George" here

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  43. Vile behaviour. Well done for exposing it.

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    Replies
    1. its vile making a fake twitter account..

      Delete
    2. Lmao it's really not though? Get some perspective.

      Delete
  44. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  45. My mole at Everton says their players are planning to wear shirts in support of this Chang fella next weekend

    Disgusting if true

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  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  47. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  48. LOL This Jen Chang fella sounds like a complete fuckhead. I'm a United fan and you have my support!

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  49. Shocking!!

    Jen Change is a knob plain and simple. I cna understand his paranoia at there being a mole at the club but if his checks came to nothing then he had to take it for what it was. We all knew 'Duncan' was a blag account anyway the scoops i genuinely thought you did just guess them (this is based on your tweets, articles etc) You're right Cheng doesn't speak for LFC i think he just took this personally.

    I remember tweeting you a pic when The I Paper used you in their story too...good times!

    All the best mates!

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  50. viva jen chang viva.
    duncan is just a fucking piece of shit looking for a sympathy fuck. arsewipe.

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  51. We can try to dress this up in any way possible but the fact is, as Liverpool fans we should be appalled by the behaviour of a senior member of staff.

    Doesn't matter what you think of 'Duncan Jenkins' - whether you think it was wrong running a twitter account and "leaking" transfer stories or not, no member of staff of the club should act in such a disgraceful manner.

    I hope more is made of this and that it is properly investigated by the club.

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  52. Maybe if the people at the top end of our club actually concentrated on running a football club instead of chasing shadows we might actually climb up the ladder a bit, wasting time hunting for a "mole" when they should have hunted for a striker.

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  53. Wow, another sorry chapter for LFC under FSG.

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  54. You English guys say cunt a lot.

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  55. Nice to see the Liverpool fans looking after one of their own...

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    Replies
    1. Actually, I take that back. Quite a few of you are saying nice things!
      Unfortunately, there are always idiots out there to sully the good name of your club.

      Delete
    2. So what? Your condoning making a fake twitter accounts and basically being a idiot. And you expect fans to back this bullshit?? I think he deserved to be named and shamed, This plant pot is trying to bring a bad name on someone who is actually going out of his way to find out who is leaking info.

      Delete
    3. What have we become when people are now okay with fake twitter accounts? Society is collapsing under the weight of its moral depravity. Truly, creators of fake twitter accounts are humanity's greatest monsters.

      Delete
  56. Give 'Duncan' a break. He was having a laugh and it is only football. Chang needs to be investigated for this.

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  57. Haaa so Roma fleeced another 300k out of Liverpool on the back of a tweet from a parody account. Fucking top negotiators there. If that was true he should be too embarassed to admit it

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  58. WOW. One of the most remarkable stories i've read for a long time. I think Chang's time is up, yeah the character cost us alot of money but Chang threatening one of our own. You sir, are an embarrassment to our great club. Now please step down.

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  59. Nice try - But the fact that the blog about a fictional character claiming to be an LFC fan publishes such a smear right about the time that the IPCC makes a statement about the worst sporting disaster in this country; suggests only one thing...

    Very brave to abuse an LFC Official hiding behind a cyber id - jog on

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  60. When Chang's official email account shows the emails to be correct then you will see exactly what Chang/LFC does about this. Not one libel action will be taken against Duncan because it's true. In the emails Chang does not dispute any of the accusations and even goes further and threatens not to end it amicably. BTW if Roma wanted an extra £300k they could spend 10 mins setting up their own blag twitter account or leak it to a journo themselves. Chang is the villian in this piece and some of you blerts need to give your head a shake.

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  61. Quite astounding what goes on and around a football club will watch out for Chang on the Liverpool TV Series

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  62. Hard luck mates. Loved your twitter feed which was CLEARLY a joke. Good luck in the future

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  63. Wow what a read. As much as I love Liverpool, Chang's behavior is absolutely shocking and if the story is real, then I hope Chang leaves soon.

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  64. About a year ago, while he was editor of Sports Illustrated footy section, Chang tweeted a comment about a player (can't remember his name) being a good player and listed the reasons why, one of which was that he was a Christian.

    A ton of people jumped on Chang asking what the players religion had to do with his ability.

    Chang too the time to DM every single person who tweeted him (the vast majoirty of whom were not insulting but genuinely surprised that the players religion had been used a skill barometer), telling all of them to "jog on" and then blocked them all before they could reply, so the story above really doesn't surprise me at all.

    He's got form guv'nor!

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  65. Everyone involved in this is a cunt. Duncan Jenkins being the prime cunt.

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  66. LOL- maybe LFC should worry more about the millions they wasted on Carroll, Henderson, Adam and Downing than a paltry 300K in the Borini deal! Joke of a club! COYG!

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  67. I take it you have an IP tracking widget so you can see if any of the negative comments on here come from the IP allocation of LFC? Just a thought.

    I don't really care either way for LFC, as I'm a NUFC fan by birth & a CPFC fan by marriage, but from the point of satire/comedy being clamped down upon, if any of this is true, I'm horrified.

    If this is some kind of tangental satire though, then I can only applaud your cajones.

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  68. Account sounds like he's Chang having a meltdown.

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  69. Well done to get that whole episode out to the general public Mr. Jenkins. I've said this before and I'll say it again, Jen Chang doesn't belong anywhere near Liverpool Football Club and he and his ilk are not welcome. His actions bespeak everything about his attitude to us fans and I hope he gets his comeuppance. My hat comes off to you Duncan. Well done for taking a stand. I hope Chang loses his job and f*cks off back into obscurity.

    How dare you threaten one of my fellow fans. The fans ARE the club. You'll pay the ultimate price Mr. Chang.

    ReplyDelete
  70. Are you the Mole that was mentioned in August which had been dealt with?
    There is a blog on Hunt the Mole on the Liverpool FC website in The Kop fansite bit over the Aqua and Carroll transfers.

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  71. I can't believe some LFC fans and their comments to Dunc you are the "Fans" that give this club a bad name you can choose your club but you can't choose your fans.

    Their are some great points both for & against (this being true/false). The fact is we all love a good leaked story whether their true or made-up the transfer window for me personally is all about the false stories (funny ones) and getting the true rumours before your mates do even if they are leaked or a complete guess. I have never heard so many footballers to get fuel at the shell garage in Liverpool!

    I don’t care if this made up (I believe its true) fact is the truth will come out it always does (ask Jimmy!) if its false then chang will go to town!

    Great read either way -



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  72. This is the first I have heard of Duncan Jenkins, but something doesn't quite add up for me. Firstly, the initial email is rather defensive - I mean, the DM from Chang hardly suggests "bad blood". Secondly, "What mobile number are you using nowadays?" and the response clearly suggests previous contact. I'm not defending this Chang character, but there's more to this.

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  73. The reason Chang had my number was as follows. Very soon after he got the job at LFC, he contacted a number of bloggers - The Anfield Wrap, Redmen TV, Duncan Jenkins, and probably others. He sent Duncan a DM, explaining that in his new role he wanted to include bloggers at press conferences etc, and to that end could he have Duncan's number or email address. At the time I naively thought this would be a great development for the character. Clearly, with the benefit of hindsight, Chang knew exactly what he was doing and never had any intention of including Jenkins in any LFC press activity. I suspect he used my number, gave it to whoever he hired to find me, and bingo.

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  75. Shocking story to read .. No justice on threatening behaviour of Chung ... For club or for his wallet or whatever! As if even there is that mole .. His job should get the mole.. Not you..
    Just though, should have come out sooner and a bit further , in my opinion.

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  76. I can't believe what I'm hearing.. While I do not condone the threats made, what 'Duncan' did to the PR of Liverpool Football Club and it's reputation is shameful. And he continues to do so through this stint. I mean just look at other fans having a laugh in the comments, fact is, coincidence can work as an excuse for a few occasions, however you strangely got it right every time. The thought of Roma demanding more money and other journo's writing articles based on 'Duncan' is hardly far fetched. A lot more likely than coincidentally getting every prediction right. Chang was doing his job, protecting the best interests of Liverpool FC. As we as fans should all do too, yes that includes you the man behind it all. This is all very disappointing, very shameful on both sides and really, you can post this in your blog yet not tweet something that was believed to be an amicable solution.. I find that a little hard to believe considering you've just revealed all and more apparently now. I sincerely hope this can be put to bed before it damages the club even further. YNWA

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  77. Liverpool fans are very odd. No wonder people say you're like a cult. How on earth can any of you defend Chang here? Are you all PR sockpuppets? Maybe Chang's PI can find out for us. If this had happened at my club I'd demand an insta-dismissal.

    And can you idiots please, PLEASE, get into your heads that Duncan Jenkins was a character. He was a pisstake of footy journos and the whole 'ITK' culture. You can no more call the guy behind Duncan a liar than you can have a go at Daniel Craig for not actually being a secret agent. It's not Duncan making the above post - it's the bloke behind him, a real person..

    The fact people are still having a go at him for his daft ITK crap is hilarious

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  78. The fact that people take twitter this seriously... sign of the times. Regrettably it all sounds perfectly believable. Jen Chang clearly has superb communication skills :D

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  79. Great story and thanks for sharing. Assuming it’s true, very disturbing to read the lengths gone to by Jen Chang to intimidate him.

    I enjoyed Duncan Jenkins tweets and wondered why he’d disappeared from the scene.

    And I really struggling to understand why any regular reader would fail to understand it was a parody account and more fool to Jen Chang for thinking otherwise.

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  80. Yes, the person behind Duncan was a bit childish and attention-seeking. But the internet's just like that, isn't it? People create false characters and use them as outlets from their day-to-day lives. There's nothing wrong with the fact. I do it. Everyone here has done it at one time or another. Alter egos are a fact of 21st century life.

    Chang's behavior is beyond reprehensible. Just vile beyond belief. For a person in his position to be engaging in these antics...threatening people's reputations, families, family businesses...it's hard to even fathom.

    This is only the tip of the iceberg. Brace yourselves..

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