A question for the fans

I’m talking to the fans who continue to provide support to the club through buying tickets and merchandise.  I must speak as an outsider amongst many who simply refuse to pay disproportionate prices for non-entertainment arising out of Fentys continued mistakes.

He won’t sell the club, it’s worth nothing but he thinks it is.  Face facts, there is no buyer and nobody will invest while he remains.  If we want a club we have to accept that we may have to go backwards.  If you want change then you have to be prepared to make sacrifices.  It’s fairly obvious that Fenty takes the supporters for granted, time to force his hand.  Debt doesn’t kill business but cashflow does, stop spending your cash on Fentys mistakes.  Every season ticket sale, every burger, every shirt, every pint, every home match ticket is simply endorsing his failure.  

So the question is (thanks Ginny), are you prepared to act to save your club?

Enough is enough, vote with your feet and wallets!!

So what is the question?

This is the club I love

No matter who is the manager or the chairman I will not stop spending money to hurt the club in any way shape or form.

John reads TheFishy so I will air my views here, that is enough. I hope he is aware many season ticket holders will not return next season with this man in charge.

Why are we waiting John?

Quoted from ginnywings

So what is the question?

No idea BUT  the answer is  42.

Sorry, I thought it was obvious, edited.

I don't like the idea of boycotts for league games especially with Football League status on the line..

Dream scenario..

JF sacks Slade today and puts out a statement saying he's writing off the loans to make an imminent public declaration of putting the club up for sale and making it a more attractive proposition. He promises to resign at the end of the season, club sold or not, if the fans come back, get behind the team and help to ensure survival.

Like I said dream scenario, but also becoming more and more the most feasible and viable option to save the club..

Quoted from DaleGTFC

This is the club I love

No matter who is the manager or the chairman I will not stop spending money to hurt the club in any way shape or form.

John reads TheFishy so I will air my views here, that is enough. I hope he is aware many season ticket holders will not return next season with this man in charge.

Why are we waiting John?

Absolutely nothing wrong with that, I commend your loyalty.

Quoted from Bigdog

I don't like the idea of boycotts for league games especially with Football League status on the line..

Dream scenario..

JF sacks Slade today and puts out a statement saying he's writing off the loans to make an imminent public declaration of putting the club up for sale and making it a more attractive proposition. He promises to resign at the end of the season, club sold or not, if the fans come back, get behind the team and help to ensure survival.

Like I said dream scenario, but also becoming more and more the most viable option to save the club..

Just to be sure, I didn’t start the thread as an opportunity to post needy replies to every response but your post deserves a reply.  Your dream scenario is the same as mine and no doubt the same as many.  But it won’t happen without action I’m afraid.

Fenty has shown time after time that he is incapable of making well informed decisions and he's completely incapable of judging the feeling amongst the fans. But surely even he is capable of seeing that if Slade is in charge for the foreseeable future, we risk our immediate status as a FL club and after that we risk ST sales next season being less than half what they currently are. Come on John, we know you're reading it. Put your ego to the side, take one on the chin and do the right thing.

Yes, i am prepared to act to save my club. The question really, is what does that entail?

I can't see how everyone staying away will achieve that. If you are hoping it will force out JF, then what happens after that? If you are hoping it will force out Slade, who's to say a new manager would turn it around?

All i'm concerned about at the moment is not falling any further down the table, then we can take stock in April. Already paid for my season ticket, so i'm looking as far as the end of the season. We now have a run of games that are more than winnable, so that should be the sole focus of the club right now. If the board decide bringing in a new manager will help in that regard, then so be it. If they don't, then we will see how it pans out. Not much else we can do at the moment. Supporting a lower league club is never a smooth path. I've seen worse teams than this one before.

I think Slade was the wrong choice of manager, because he was never going to get any leeway should things go pear shaped, and boy are they going pear shaped right now. If we lose the next two games though, especially the Cheltenham fixture, i think i may spontaneously combust.

I'm with Ginny

They may be “winnable” but so we’re Accrington (who were in terrible form), Crewe, Morecambe, Newport and Colchester (who looked worse than us)! At the moment I have no hope of getting another point let alone a goal or 3 points!

It’ll make very little difference if I decide not to attend home games from a financial perspective as they already have my money. I have a season ticket, any pints I buy are from pubs in Clee or the Trust bar (who need the money anyway under current circumstances) and any soft drinks I buy from the kiosks the money goes to the catering contractors. I haven’t bought any merchandise since well before Christmas. I just can’t bring myself to miss home games that I’m not working for as I missed a few when I worked away for 6 years.

Maybe a march or a demonstration of some kind would be a better way to get a point across as there can’t be many floating supporters attending now?

I wouldn’t be able to give you a certain (positive) answer if I was asked if I’ll be spending £500+ on season ticket, programme subscription and merchandise in the summer if I was asked now. There are hundreds like me and the board should hear these warnings.

We are going to have a drastically reduced allocation at Lincoln anyway due to their plastic newly found support and I am pretty certain that I’ll probably give it a miss anyway and go play golf or something. I had also planned to go to Coventry the following week and Cambridge in a few weeks time but I can’t be arsed with wasting £50+ a time on it now. The worst thing about yesterday was seeing that we’re at home again next week.

Quoted from Mariner_09

They may be “winnable” but so we’re Accrington (who were in terrible form), Crewe, Morecambe, Newport and Colchester (who looked worse than us)! At the moment I have no hope of getting another point let alone a goal or 3 points!

True, but if the result of a match was predetermined, there wouldn't be much point in it would there? I always have hope, no matter what has gone before. When i lose that hope, that's when it's time to find something else to do.

I won’t be going whilst Slade is manager. It’s utter dross win lose or draw. If JF makes the decision to get rid then I will be back whoever the next manager is. Personally I’m not sure what would happen if JF did sell/give up the running of the club, it would be a journey into the unknown which could turn out good or it could turn out to be a disaster. For me at this moment in time I just want rid of Slade, we can work out the rest at the end of the season. Please JF do the right thing so I can go back to watching my beloved club, I really do miss it.

Quoted from DaleGTFC

This is the club I love

No matter who is the manager or the chairman I will not stop spending money to hurt the club in any way shape or form.

John reads TheFishy so I will air my views here, that is enough. I hope he is aware many season ticket holders will not return next season with this man in charge.

Why are we waiting John?

He does read the fishy but he doesn't care what anyone puts unless it's against him, I've had private pms with him and tried to explain why the fans forum went pair shaped and he said to me as he said to a fan at the fans forum, that's your opinion.

The guy won't listen that much is clear. The argument has got to be backed up with hard economics. But I don't think a boycott is really the right thing to do right now.

There's no one waiting in the wings to take the club over and there doesn't seem to be the appetite for a fans takeover, so I'm not sure there's much point in forcing the issue. I honestly think this is the only real long-term solution but I'm in a minority on this.

Even if there was some form of mass protest by ST holders and he got the message, I'm not at all confident he'll come to the right conclusion and make the right decisions.

Quoted from LH

It’ll make very little difference if I decide not to attend home games from a financial perspective as they already have my money. I have a season ticket, any pints I buy are from pubs in Clee or the Trust bar (who need the money anyway under current circumstances) and any soft drinks I buy from the kiosks the money goes to the catering contractors. I haven’t bought any merchandise since well before Christmas. I just can’t bring myself to miss home games that I’m not working for as I missed a few when I worked away for 6 years.

Maybe a march or a demonstration of some kind would be a better way to get a point across as there can’t be many floating supporters attending now?

I wouldn’t be able to give you a certain (positive) answer if I was asked if I’ll be spending £500+ on season ticket, programme subscription and merchandise in the summer if I was asked now. There are hundreds like me and the board should hear these warnings.

We are going to have a drastically reduced allocation at Lincoln anyway due to their plastic newly found support and I am pretty certain that I’ll probably give it a miss anyway and go play golf or something. I had also planned to go to Coventry the following week and Cambridge in a few weeks time but I can’t be arsed with wasting £50+ a time on it now. The worst thing about yesterday was seeing that we’re at home again next week.

Thanks mate (the highlighted bit). I got into a torrent of abuse on FB for pointing out that boycotting the Bars actually seriously (possibly terminally?) compromises our attempts to maintain some sort of representation at club level for the fans. Whilst we are on that subject as you say J.F. will not be remotely inconvenienced by a boycott of the food outlets seeing as that is franchised out.

Quoted from barralad

Thanks mate (the highlighted bit). I got into a torrent of abuse on FB for pointing out that boycotting the Bars actually seriously (possibly terminally?) compromises our attempts to maintain some sort of representation at club level for the fans. Whilst we are on that subject as you say J.F. will not be remotely inconvenienced by a boycott of the food outlets seeing as that is franchised out.

Food sales are irrelevant, bar sales are crucial to the Trust and most gate receipts are already in the bank as a result of season ticket sales. This being the case, the forms of protest are limited to social media or a more organised protest/chanting at the ground.

The re-appointment of Slade was always going to be divisive from the badly-handled Press Conference to announce it onwards to the current dire run of results. Just another waste of money & dagger in the heart of our great club.

Quoted from barralad

Thanks mate (the highlighted bit). I got into a torrent of abuse on FB for pointing out that boycotting the Bars actually seriously (possibly terminally?) compromises our attempts to maintain some sort of representation at club level for the fans. Whilst we are on that subject as you say J.F. will not be remotely inconvenienced by a boycott of the food outlets seeing as that is franchised out.

But what sort of representation does the Trust have at the moment Barra?  

From where I sit it is meaningless. As proved by bra-gate and the checkatwat trophy. Surely the trust would have more sway if it didn’t sit on the board. If JF  is stupid/arrogant enough to take the running of the bars off the Trust  he would further alienate the fans even more.  The trust does a fantastic job with one arm tied behind its back. IMHO it would only improve without being shackled by the politics of being on a board which will inevitably vote the way JF wants anyway.  I won’t join the trust under the current organisation. But I would in different circumstances.

Quoted from 139914

I’m talking to the fans who continue to provide support to the club through buying tickets and merchandise.  I must speak as an outsider amongst many who simply refuse to pay disproportionate prices for non-entertainment arising out of Fentys continued mistakes.

He won’t sell the club, it’s worth nothing but he thinks it is.  Face facts, there is no buyer and nobody will invest while he remains.  If we want a club we have to accept that we may have to go backwards.  If you want change then you have to be prepared to make sacrifices.  It’s fairly obvious that Fenty takes the supporters for granted, time to force his hand.  Debt doesn’t kill business but cashflow does, stop spending your cash on Fentys mistakes.  Every season ticket sale, every burger, every shirt, every pint, every home match ticket is simply endorsing his failure.  

So the question is (thanks Ginny), are you prepared to act to save your club?

Enough is enough, vote with your feet and wallets!!

If Mr. Fenty hasn't sussed by now that we want him out then its a bit daft.

I understand the stuff on other social media is far worse than here, and I am guessing he must be copping quite a bit of stick from the upper Smiths.

I think the ball is in his court now to do the right thing. It is not the fans fault we are in a mess so they should be left to get on with supporting the team, but not the regime.  

Quoted from Civvy at last

But what sort of representation does the Trust have at the moment Barra?  

From where I sit it is meaningless. As proved by bra-gate and the checkatwat trophy. Surely the trust would have more sway if it didn’t sit on the board. If JF  is stupid/arrogant enough to take the running of the bars off the Trust  he would further alienate the fans even more.  The trust does a fantastic job with one arm tied behind its back. IMHO it would only improve without being shackled by the politics of being on a board which will inevitably vote the way JF wants anyway.  I won’t join the trust under the current organisation. But I would in different circumstances.

Hmm, I find it hard to be critical of the trust beyond your reference above to board membership, they are after all fans who give time freely  I was originally an annual member but had an opposing view over the Mike Parker shares situation.

A little thought to get the fingers of the Red Cross brigade twitching.  Amongst the trust members and POTENTIAL members, there must be accountants, hr managers, business development managers, recruitment consultants and all of the other necessary tools to run an effective lobby group.  How many trust members are there and does a ‘lifetime membership’ for a nominal fee really show intent to generate sustainable income?

Toying with numbers, perhaps there are sufficient members/potential members who are prepared to donate sufficient funds as individuals which would accumulate a total value that could actually make an impact.  Say for example an average £330 from 3,000 people.  Supported by a clear remit that the £1m generated would be invested in the club in exchange for the removal of the benign loans.  

There is a considerable amount of expertise  both in the public and private sector amongst the fans.

Quoted from friskneymariner

There is a considerable amount of expertise  both in the public and private sector amongst the fans.

Fenty knows that but he's hanging on for grim death. Fortunately for him he's already got the money in this season from the season ticket holders. Next season, however, is a different kettle of fish when people don't renew. He'll be up up excrement creek without the proverbial paddle (leverage) His days are numbered and he knows it.

Quoted from barralad

Thanks mate (the highlighted bit). I got into a torrent of abuse on FB for pointing out that boycotting the Bars actually seriously (possibly terminally?) compromises our attempts to maintain some sort of representation at club level for the fans. Whilst we are on that subject as you say J.F. will not be remotely inconvenienced by a boycott of the food outlets seeing as that is franchised out.

It’s basic economics that less people attending games will mean less people in the bars and therefore the Trust’s income suffers. A drop in numbers was evident yesterday - we arrived at 1430 and managed go get a round in inside five mins. Under the current agreement the Trust have to stump up cash to have a board place. Hopefully that can change soon but while it is in effect the money needs to be found from somewhere so not spending money in the bars seems a daft idea.

I think the people you had the facebook disagreement with would be happy enough if the Trust weren’t on the board because you’re just yes men or Fenty puppets or something being involved.

As a new lifetime member, I would like the issue of Board membership to be debated with all it's pros and cons. Without knowing how many members the Trust has it is difficult to form a view.
If we had, say, 1500 or more members it strengthens the case for Board membership but if it falls significantly short of that then we simply well intentioned lackeys of the club.
The survey will shed more light one hopes. Meanwhile, we should encourage increased membership, a clearer mission statement and support for our elected reps.
Things can get better. Listening to the Notts. County chairman on the radio was revealing. He has a clear vision of increasing the size and involvement of the fan base.  Our Trust can lead the way, especially in the local community. If the club is moribund, the fans have to take the initiative in an independent and positive way.

I have only one thing to say on the current situation and it's that WHATEVER is happening, people WANTING the team to lose are not real supporters of the football club!

Who’s said they want the team to lose?  I think it’s more a case of nobody being able to see where the next win is coming from.  Doesn’t that worry you?

Quoted from 139914

Hmm, I find it hard to be critical of the trust beyond your reference above to board membership, they are after all fans who give time freely  I was originally an annual member but had an opposing view over the Mike Parker shares situation.

A little thought to get the fingers of the Red Cross brigade twitching.  Amongst the trust members and POTENTIAL members, there must be accountants, hr managers, business development managers, recruitment consultants and all of the other necessary tools to run an effective lobby group.  How many trust members are there and does a ‘lifetime membership’ for a nominal fee really show intent to generate sustainable income?

Toying with numbers, perhaps there are sufficient members/potential members who are prepared to donate sufficient funds as individuals which would accumulate a total value that could actually make an impact.  Say for example an average £330 from 3,000 people.  Supported by a clear remit that the £1m generated would be invested in the club in exchange for the removal of the benign loans.  

I'd say you were right on the make up of the membership. It most likely has specialist skills amongst the membership far in excess of any company with the turnover of GTFC. How do you get them to step forward?

Ditto the fund you talk about.

I believe an unequivocal commitment to taking over (and not to repay any of the 'benign' loans in the process) would help achieve that sense of ownership that would encourage people to make the sacrifice. I see little evidence of the will to do that though.

Quoted from Croxton

As a new lifetime member, I would like the issue of Board membership to be debated with all it's pros and cons. Without knowing how many members the Trust has it is difficult to form a view.
If we had, say, 1500 or more members it strengthens the case for Board membership but if it falls significantly short of that then we simply well intentioned lackeys of the club.
The survey will shed more light one hopes. Meanwhile, we should encourage increased membership, a clearer mission statement and support for our elected reps.
Things can get better. Listening to the Notts. County chairman on the radio was revealing. He has a clear vision of increasing the size and involvement of the fan base.  Our Trust can lead the way, especially in the local community. If the club is moribund, the fans have to take the initiative in an independent and positive way.

Ironically Notts County's supporters trust did own the club but were dumb enough to sell out to that dodgy consortium on the promise of the 'investment' to get them to the premier league. All they got was Sven for a few months and the odd season in the third tier. If we ever go down that step we must introduce a rule that prevents the trust from ever doing that. We've already been duped into giving Fenty the shares he demanded.

Quoted from 139914

Hmm, I find it hard to be critical of the trust beyond your reference above to board membership, they are after all fans who give time freely  I was originally an annual member but had an opposing view over the Mike Parker shares situation.

A little thought to get the fingers of the Red Cross brigade twitching.  Amongst the trust members and POTENTIAL members, there must be accountants, hr managers, business development managers, recruitment consultants and all of the other necessary tools to run an effective lobby group.  How many trust members are there and does a ‘lifetime membership’ for a nominal fee really show intent to generate sustainable income?

Toying with numbers, perhaps there are sufficient members/potential members who are prepared to donate sufficient funds as individuals which would accumulate a total value that could actually make an impact.  Say for example an average £330 from 3,000 people.  Supported by a clear remit that the £1m generated would be invested in the club in exchange for the removal of the benign loans.  

So, in effect, i would have to buy two season tickets, along with another 2999 fans?

Everybody sees things differently. As much as I am unhappy with Slade I shall still be going to see town as I always will. We haven’t a bad team and you have to be honest with ourselves that we are certainly down with luck and the rub of the green. I truly believe we will get enough results to be comfortable. I go to the match week on week out with my 84 year dad. We discussed what we would be doing next year as I wanted to know his thoughts. We’ll be renewing our season tickets. UTM

Quoted from malkamalka

I have only one thing to say on the current situation and it's that WHATEVER is happening, people WANTING the team to lose are not real supporters of the football club!

If I knew Slade was going to get the sack if we lost at Yeovil, I would take that single defeat in a heartbeat. I would sacrifice three points in one game for the greater chance of more points over the rest of the season..

Sadly, it looks like RS seems unsackable, so I'll still be hoping for three points on Tuesday..

And I'm a real supporter who only wants the best for the club in both the short and more importantly, the long term..

Quoted from oochiad

Everybody sees things differently. As much as I am unhappy with Slade I shall still be going to see town as I always will. We haven’t a bad team and you have to be honest with ourselves that we are certainly down with luck and the rub of the green. I truly believe we will get enough results to be comfortable. I go to the match week on week out with my 84 year dad. We discussed what we would be doing next year as I wanted to know his thoughts. We’ll be renewing our season tickets. UTM

I agree - even if I didn't want to go, my son, who has autism, would insist we go. All that said, it doesn't stop me from thinking that the club stinks from the very top down.

Quoted from ginnywings

So, in effect, i would have to buy two season tickets, along with another 2999 fans?

Appreciate that I don’t have 10,000 posts which in fishy language would make my points more valid.  No, in effect I’m questioning whether we have 3,000 people who are prepared to put their money where their mouth is to drive change.  I work on the basis that if you don’t ask the question you’ll never know the answer.

Not sure what post counts have to do with anything, except a veiled dig.  

Your figures are remarkably close to total season ticket sales and price, so it wasn't stretch to think that is what you were getting at.

Quoted from Bigdog

If I knew Slade was going to get the sack if we lost at Yeovil, I would take that single defeat in a heartbeat. I would sacrifice three points in one game for the greater chance of more points over the rest of the season..

Sadly, it looks like RS seems unsackable, so I'll still be hoping for three points on Tuesday..

And I'm a real supporter who only wants the best for the club in both the short and more importantly, the long term..

Would you take a 3-1 away win for Town followed by our manager being sacked?

Wouldn't be the first time Fenty has pulled that one out of the hat  

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Would you take a 3-1 away win for Town followed by our manager being sacked?

Wouldn't be the first time Fenty has pulled that one out of the hat  

Well, after the alleged fall out with Bignot, The Captains Table closed down, after the press conference fall out with Nigel Lowther the Chronicle cloesd down, so if he falls out with Slade, will the club close down?

Bet Fred?