Fourthousand wrote:Agree with parts of this but a little one sided - it is a two way street - 'show us the respect we deserve' is always going to cause a tension if that is the stance taken.Reading the vitriol aimed at the Board, the snipping and in some cases insinuations of misappropriation- you could argue that we are getting 'the respect that we deserve'.
'Fan inclusivity and engagement' - read through comments on this Forum and you could get the impression that some fans see the Board as 'them' and our 'enemies'. And as far as the engagement bit - turn up, watch the team and moan off on here without offering to do something positive - nigh on everyone has an excuse as to why the areas that they are a keyboard expert can't be used to help the club out.
Do you know the reason why Rob stood down or are you speculating and using it to support your point?
And a bit over the top to say ' continual silence' -
you might feel that way because of the statement above around 'respect'- you may have a build in predetermined level of entitlement.
And yes many if us chipped in to save our football club because the alternative wasn't an option - but it doesn't make us all Alan Sugar's. Want to make a difference/ change things up then work through the Trust Board and/or join that Board, but don't go in thinking you have all the answers and as a one man crusade that you can change things overnight.
Just balancing things up.
I think you are in dire need of re-acquainting yourself with the standards and best practices laid out by Supporters Direct.
https://supporters-direct.org/assets/me ... fz64FC.pdf
I urge anybody who reads this to graze through the linked document and upon completion ask yourself this; Does the initial promise of the Riverfront meeting, of which was presented with the guiding hand of Supporters Direct, match the current reality of what you observe and have observed since that day.
Predetermined sense of entitlement say you fourthousand? I should think so having been sat on the stage amongst a collection of open-minded representatives of supporter groups at that very meeting listening to how the club was to operate moving forward. I believe this to be less within the realm of entitlement and more towards a reaction to failings in execution since day one.
In fact, if you require further evidence on why we should feel quite entitled, here's a quote from the official Newport County website in October of 2015...
The transparency, communication and engagement will continue as we have done throughout the funding campaign. We have made a commitment to you the Supporters and we aim to follow this through.
You talk of respect being a two-way street, what respect should I pay to the brazen current ignorance of the above statement?
Fast forward to present day and the status-quo simply does not bear any resemblance to the ideal put forward then by the standards they strived to continue nor does it bear any resemblance to the standards and best practices within that document put forward by Supporters Direct.
Where is the, in no particular order:
- Supporters Advisory Board?
Fan's Parliament?
Accountability?
Transparency?
Representation?
Regular consultation? (AFC Wimbledon had one re: ticket prices!)
As an aside; What dismays me with parts of your counter-argument is that I find such a predictably elitist defence mechanism for any criticism thrown towards the board's general direction. To imply that unless you have, are currently or in future plan to volunteer your time that your opinion counts one score less on the scale of importance than those who have not is laughable and down-right insulting to the rest of us. Most of whom, for a multiplicity of different reasons cannot volunteer anything but their hard earned money to the County. Is that not good enough to eat at the table where our opinion matters?
It is the equivalent to throwing your hands over your ears and exclaiming "not-listening" like a toddler bereaved of a Happy Meal at this point. It's been an obstructionary and deflectionary tactic for far too long against those who raise fair questions and balanced points.
To the disappointment of some, we are
entitled to speak openly on club matters however we see fit and as a longstanding member of this forum, I'm glad to see debate and discussion still as alive and as impassioned as ever.
Too long, can't be arsed to read? Club communication is hypocritically pants, I'm naffed off.