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I watched the John Fenty interview with Nathan, available on youtube,

Good of John to do this; made some good points, but there was a point or two I could take issue with.

My favourite quote is here, in case people haven't watched it yet.....; this bit is around 8/9 mins in

DIRECT QUOTES;
1. 'if its going well on the pitch, nobody really cares about what's going on in the boardroom'
2. 'The football club's PR is done on the field.'

from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QSU6hh3OtE

I disagree with this. I suspect many Town fans do, as a gross over-simplification, it misses the point.

It hints at who cares about PR if we are winning? Can't we do both; a good team, and a good club???

It is a simplification, and the club should be striving to improve in all areas, their PR and media relations included, however...

I can see what he's trying to say though, namely that if we were top of the league, much of this would melt away. Some of the recent defeats were used by some (I stress "some") as an opportunity to draw a link between on-field and off-field malaise, and I'm sure just anecdotally he feels an increase in pressure when results aren't good, more so than when it's going well.

As with many of the recent issues, it isn't just a simple case of "He's right, stop being vile and vitriolic" or "He's wrong, stop being a happy clapping cheerleader for him.". Football PR and football opinion in general, operates in shades of grey.

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

It is a simplification, and the club should be striving to improve in all areas, their PR and media relations included, however...

I can see what he's trying to say though, namely that if we were top of the league, much of this would melt away. Some of the recent defeats were used by some (I stress "some") as an opportunity to draw a link between on-field and off-field malaise, and I'm sure just anecdotally he feels an increase in pressure when results aren't good, more so than when it's going well.

As with many of the recent issues, it isn't just a simple case of "He's right, stop being vile and vitriolic" or "He's wrong, stop being a happy clapping cheerleader for him.". Football PR and football opinion in general, operates in shades of grey.

I think it's an attempt to deflect negativity but he seems to fail to understand the damage done to the club/fan relationship. Sure, if we're doing well onfield it's one less thing for him to worry about but then that causes others to focus on the club's off the field weaknesses which have been more than adequately covered elsewhere - PR being just one.

I'm waiting for the xmas release in hardback of the new bestseller - John Fenty on Public Relations.

It's on the shelf in the business section at Waterstones next to Gerald Ratner on Building Your Brand, John Gummer on BBQ's for Your Family and David Cameron's Guide to Referenda.

Quoted from WesternMariner

I'm waiting for the xmas release in hardback of the new bestseller - John Fenty on Public Relations.

It's on the shelf in the business section at Waterstones next to Gerald Ratner on Building Your Brand, John Gummer on BBQ's for Your Family and David Cameron's Guide to Referenda.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/lkiPq6x.jpg[/img]

My source tells me that JF is thinking of releasing a Christmas song, I am not going to reveal his or her name.

[youtube]yYTOhFpiBDI[/youtube]

I know someone who’s off to do a degree in PR at University, will get them to send me info and I can relay to JF!

Quoted from Mariner_09

I know someone who’s off to do a degree in PR at University, will get them to send me info and I can relay to JF!

Save your breath mate. It's already been offered.

I worked in a PR team for a large business for 4 years and I am absolutely certain John Fenty doesn't know what PR is.

He should know that in difficult times, PR is your most valuable weapon.

When you're riding a crest of a wave, good PR can help you when bad days inevitably come along.

Now, this next bit might seem harsh but I'm only pointing it out because something like this is on page 1 of the PR manual:

If you're going to make the effort to talk to the fans 'on a level', like one-to-one, great. But don't do it while perched on an expensive snooker table in your lavish home.

Fans cannot associate with that. You've got to make them feel like you're on their level, and not remind them of your different lifestyle. Why couldn't that interview been done behind closed doors at BP, i.e. a neutral venue that we can all associate with?

I don't want to ignite another thread discussing the same topic though.

I'll end with this: Public Relations isn't difficult. About 95% of it is common sense. Choosing the right time to say the right things, to the right people. But you've got to know what those people are thinking and feeling, and understand their concerns.

If you haven't got the inclination to learn that last bit then you'll never make PR work for you.

Quoted from RichMariner

I worked in a PR team for a large business for 4 years and I am absolutely certain John Fenty doesn't know what PR is.

He should know that in difficult times, PR is your most valuable weapon.

When you're riding a crest of a wave, good PR can help you when bad days inevitably come along.

Now, this next bit might seem harsh but I'm only pointing it out because something like this is on page 1 of the PR manual:

If you're going to make the effort to talk to the fans 'on a level', like one-to-one, great. But don't do it while perched on an expensive snooker table in your lavish home.

Fans cannot associate with that. You've got to make them feel like you're on their level, and not remind them of your different lifestyle. Why couldn't that interview been done behind closed doors at BP, i.e. a neutral venue that we can all associate with?

I don't want to ignite another thread discussing the same topic though.

I'll end with this: Public Relations isn't difficult. About 95% of it is common sense. Choosing the right time to say the right things, to the right people. But you've got to know what those people are thinking and feeling, and understand their concerns.

If you haven't got the inclination to learn that last bit then you'll never make PR work for you.

Here we go again........... Fenty invited the lad round to his house to conduct a Q&A over a weekend when he probably wanted to relax at home.I haven`t been to Fenty Towers but I would suggest this is probably a quiet room in the house hence a good place for an interview.
The other points you make regarding PR yes must do better and baffling it hasn`t been addressed but let`s not make out Fenty was trying to flaunt his wealth and who is to say Nathan the interviewer isn`t minted himself?

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Here we go again........... Fenty invited the lad round to his house to conduct a Q&A over a weekend when he probably wanted to relax at home.I haven`t been to Fenty Towers but I would suggest this is probably a quiet room in the house hence a good place for an interview.
The other points you make regarding PR yes must do better and baffling it hasn`t been addressed but let`s not make out Fenty was trying to flaunt his wealth and who is to say Nathan the interviewer isn`t minted himself?

Unfortunately, after the £80,000 car reference, it's hard to tell. But one thing for sure, his ( and the boards) PR is beyond terrible. It's a shame that this is all taken by some as Feny-bashing, it clearly isn't, it's a clear and present problem that is holding up any progress in mending things between them and us.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Here we go again........... Fenty invited the lad round to his house to conduct a Q&A over a weekend when he probably wanted to relax at home.I haven`t been to Fenty Towers but I would suggest this is probably a quiet room in the house hence a good place for an interview.
The other points you make regarding PR yes must do better and baffling it hasn`t been addressed but let`s not make out Fenty was trying to flaunt his wealth and who is to say Nathan the interviewer isn`t minted himself?

I completely take your point, but I wasn't trying to make out Fenty was flashing his wealth. All I was saying is that you need to consider your surroundings and the audience you're addressing.

Little 'tricks' like doing it in familiar territory makes a huge (if unconscious) difference. It's a fairly standard PR practice and just one I felt Fenty missed.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

Here we go again........... Fenty invited the lad round to his house to conduct a Q&A over a weekend when he probably wanted to relax at home.I haven`t been to Fenty Towers but I would suggest this is probably a quiet room in the house hence a good place for an interview.
The other points you make regarding PR yes must do better and baffling it hasn`t been addressed but let`s not make out Fenty was trying to flaunt his wealth and who is to say Nathan the interviewer isn`t minted himself?

I think he is saying that a good PR person would have thought about where the interview takes place, if you remember that last time Fenty did an interview from his home, people took the mickey out of the picture on his wall with a woman with her bottom hanging out and taking the mickey out of his decor. It was a welcome interview done by Nathan bit this interview was done to try and get fans on board, this could have been done in the boardroom, how many on here have seen the boardroom, maybe more of a talking point than Fenty damaging the baize. I wouldn't regard that interview as flaunting his wealth, the damaged car was though, a £80K scratched car is a still a scratched car, the crime being just as bad.

Quoted from 1mickylyons

The other points you make regarding PR yes must do better and baffling it hasn`t been addressed but let`s not make out Fenty was trying to flaunt his wealth and who is to say Nathan the interviewer isn`t minted himself?

I’m on £4.10 an hour 😉

Quoted from N2K

I’m on £4.10 an hour 😉

And here's Nathans snooker table to prove it..

[img]https://cloud.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/mini-pool-table-200x300.jpg[/img]

Quoted from RoboCod

And here's Nathans snooker table to prove it..

[img]https://cloud.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/mini-pool-table-200x300.jpg[/img]

Why is he sniffing that ball of white powder though ? :D

Quoted from Marinerz93

I wouldn't regard that interview as flaunting his wealth, the damaged car was though, a £80K scratched car is a still a scratched car, the crime being just as bad.

What I was thinking last Tuesday night. If someone scratched my Fiesta would it only be 10% of the crime?

Quoted from RoboCod

And here's Nathans snooker table to prove it..

[img]https://cloud.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/mini-pool-table-200x300.jpg[/img]

WHERE'S THE CUEBALL GOING?!

Strange sort of frame that leaves just the yellow, blue and black on the table :P

When I was 17 I could only afford to play pocket billiards.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

What I was thinking last Tuesday night. If someone scratched my Fiesta would it only be 10% of the crime?

Probably to the Police, I know when my car got scratched outside the dentist where my wife took our kids. It was a blue Zafira and all the Police had to say was, it was more than likely kids playing snooker, we later saw another blue zafira with the same length of scratch on the same side.

Somebody should point out to the club that PR stands for Public Relations not Proportionate Retribution..

Quoted from Bigdog

Somebody should point out to the club that PR stands for Public Relations not Proportionate Retribution..

But surely it's Disproportionate Retribution? ;)

Quoted from Marinerz93

I think he is saying that a good PR person would have thought about where the interview takes place, if you remember that last time Fenty did an interview from his home, people took the mickey out of the picture on his wall with a woman with her bottom hanging out and taking the mickey out of his decor. It was a welcome interview done by Nathan bit this interview was done to try and get fans on board, this could have been done in the boardroom, how many on here have seen the boardroom, maybe more of a talking point than Fenty damaging the baize. I wouldn't regard that interview as flaunting his wealth, the damaged car was though, a £80K scratched car is a still a scratched car, the crime being just as bad.

I have. Bet it was nice when they put up those wallboards in the 60's. :)

Certainly not as salubrious as JF's snooker room.