The drastic solution to match event costs outweighing revenues isn't to remove the revenues but stop putting the events on at all!! ;-)
The real solution of course is to arrest the reasons why matchday revenues are falling. How can we make the matchday upsell more appealing to those in the ground (including getting grub served before the second half kicks off)? How do we ensure people with tickets actually turn up? How do we encourage immediate contacts of supporters into the ground, and keep them for the next game?
What you don't do is upset your customers, you don't give them the message they have no influence on your offering, you don't ignore them when they contact you, you don't explain every single problem away by pretending it's related solely to recent results.
You do prize your customers, develop them into your champions, take ownership of problems within your responsibility (and sometimes outwith) and whilst acknowledging results will always be a mood influencer make sure attendance impact is minimised by creating a feeling of stakeholding within supporters that transcends the results.
Not easy, but simple. Whilst the club continues to alienate its support, particularly those above the young demographic, they are shooting themselves in the foot.
When we didn't have a pot to piss in, and each forked out £1 to help buy Ronnie Moore, the lad tried to sign every flimsy photocopy of his picture (the reward for your quid) waved at him from the terraces. Now that is how to make fans feel valued and appreciated in tough times.
We are now in tough times and the supporters are seemingly held in utter contempt. Roland is becoming better at utilising alienation than Bertolt Brecht.
I fear it's all gone too far, and it's all now too late. If you were the regime, and you gave even a tinkers damn about the support, what on earth can you possibly do to turn the relationship around?
The only answer, the only answer is win after win after win, but seeing as they know jack about running this football club, and have driven away anybody who can help, I don't see another win, ever. It will be an achievement to get more than five shots and three corners in a game, and as for keeping a clean sheet forget it.
Roland, it is not only the supporters who are a massive inconvenience messing with your experiment, but it is also the opposition. Never mind, give the opposition more seats at our stadium and at least some of your financial troubles will be over.
The trust is the biggest and most representative group that exists, it is open to all - putting it on a par with some of the other groups that attend the FF, never mind random people off the database who may or may not have anything to say, is disrespectful and designed to diminish it. I would suggest a pre-meet for whoever is invited to offset the club's continuing divide and rule tactic.
Will we be told who is invited randomly? Also the fans forum is an outdated concept,overseas,independent train travellers,etc how many people do they represent & how do they communicate with the fans they represent.
The FF has representatives on it from East Kent Addicks that have, something like, 400 members. Those members will be represented, in some way, as they have all been emailed (I assume all of them have as I have) and asked what they would like asked and or discussed.
I'd be interested to know if the other groups that are 'representing' fans have done the same.
I also find it a little unnerving that all those that think the 'ordinary' fans (that 'don't have a clue') shouldn't be allowed anywhere near this meeting are those involved with or with close links to those groups that, apparently, know more about football, Charlton and strategic planning than the rest of us do!
Maybe inviting random fans is a PR stunt. The whole meeting is a PR event. Anyone that thinks this meeting hasn't been called because those running the club are concerned about the fans reaction to the most recent PR is clearly on Rothko's Dunce List.
What i want to know is who is meant to represent me & possibly a majority of fans who are not in any of these supporters groups,who do i contact?
Choose your favourite - I suspect we all have similar concerns anyway.
As for the PR thing, well I agree there's no way in hell this meeting wouldn't have been called if the club didn't need to call it - but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. A chance to meet with the board when things are going wrong is important, and we have the chance to show we can handle the conversation. If they do nothing but pay lip service, that will be evidence quickly enough.
Are there any plans for protests/action at the Sheffield Wed home game? It's important to keep the pressure on for proper answers, keeping it within the Black and White campaign, otherwise it makes it easy for them to delay the meeting until results improve (unlikely).
Are there any plans for protests/action at the Sheffield Wed home game? It's important to keep the pressure on for proper answers, keeping it within the Black and White campaign, otherwise it makes it easy for them to delay the meeting until results improve (unlikely).
Behind west stand 2.30 I understand. No leadership from Trust who are still of the theory that talking therapy best and better the devil you know.
Are there any plans for protests/action at the Sheffield Wed home game? It's important to keep the pressure on for proper answers, keeping it within the Black and White campaign, otherwise it makes it easy for them to delay the meeting until results improve (unlikely).
Behind west stand 2.30 I understand. No leadership from Trust who are still of the theory that talking therapy best and better the devil you know.
Unfair comment, the Trust have been mandated by their membership to pursue dialogue as the first step. At this stage, they have no choice. After the meeting in a couple of weeks, they can take more specific focussed action.
The Trust can't win because whatever they do someone will pop up and criticise that it's not in my name blah blah blah as this shithouse of a club gets made shittier and shittier by the fucktard Belgian that owns us There'll always be some Charlton fan mincing around trying to lick the undercarriage of Roland as he fucks us up
The Trust can't win because whatever they do someone will pop up and criticise that it's not in my name blah blah blah as this shithouse of a club gets made shittier and shittier by the fucktard Belgian that owns us There'll always be some Charlton fan mincing around trying to lick the undercarriage of Roland as he fucks us up
Amazing how people can still think there is room for these people. Benefit of doubt is long gone.
Are there any plans for protests/action at the Sheffield Wed home game? It's important to keep the pressure on for proper answers, keeping it within the Black and White campaign, otherwise it makes it easy for them to delay the meeting until results improve (unlikely).
I have been away all week and trying to catch up. Can some-one tell me whether you have to put yourself forward to then be randomly selected or just sit back and see if I am.
I have been away all week and trying to catch up. Can some-one tell me whether you have to put yourself forward to then be randomly selected or just sit back and see if I am.
The Trust can't win because whatever they do someone will pop up and criticise that it's not in my name blah blah blah as this shithouse of a club gets made shittier and shittier by the fucktard Belgian that owns us There'll always be some Charlton fan mincing around trying to lick the undercarriage of Roland as he fucks us up
The Trust can't win because whatever they do someone will pop up and criticise that it's not in my name blah blah blah as this shithouse of a club gets made shittier and shittier by the fucktard Belgian that owns us There'll always be some Charlton fan mincing around trying to lick the undercarriage of Roland as he fucks us up
Time you climbed down off the fence and said what you really feel
Katrien refuses to meet with the Trust, but will meet with them if diluted with other people.
Would be amusing if all those people rejected the invite, bar the Trust :-)
They can, of course, nominate a Trust board member as their representative...
I think the meeting is important, but we must recognise the meeting's been organised on the club's terms again and take control of the agenda and control of the conversation. I hope and expect whoever is nominated to attend makes every effort towards unity and recognises that the work done in preparation will be as important as the meeting itself.
I think the best thing any individual fan could do would be to politely decline an invite to attend.
I understand that the Trust and other representative groups need to be seen to take up the offer of engagement, but the more people that turn up will give the meeting the credibility it wouldn't appear to deserve. The only person really worth speaking to is the owner, and he isn't going to be there.
I attended the last two VIP meetings, listening to Mr Murray singing the praises of Chris Powell sat next to him a few days before he was sacked, and in February hear KM pay lip service to people's concerns on a number of issues.
Have just found a draft I didn't get round to posting on the thread about that meeting the next day:
"My stand out reflection from being there last night was Katrien's insistence - and offence at any suggestion to the contrary - that she has both told the whole truth about the Luzon appointment, and that she is not a 'puppet'. What became even more clear is that she has no intention of suggesting to Roland that he should make any more effort to engage directly with supporters - as that would undermine her own position of being in charge."
I think that still stands today. I can understand why she doesn't want the owner to be speaking to fans instead of her, but when he is the one so clearly pulling the strings it makes meetings with others little more than a PR exercise.
I think a small and select turnout from a bigger invite list would make a point in itself.
I might be being simplistic but it seems to me extraordinary that the Trust is not to be formally invited. As worthy and eloquent as others may be, including the founders/leaders of major internet fora, the Trust has 1,000 PAYING members and many more "associate" fans signed up for information.
Where else is there a bigger representative sample of our fans, let alone one where the members actually dig into their pockets to join?
If the Trust isn't there (and I would strongly support @rikofold as my nominee) then the whole thing should be boycotted. (And no, I'm not Mrs rikofold, or on the Trust board, or anything else - I'm just a member of the Trust who believes they are good people with the right aims).
The Trust are being excluded because Her Highness refuses to recognise them and is arrogant enough to continue to dictate. The Fans Forum is a vehicle to address mundane domestics and she has already neutered them. She's hardly likely to change her tune now, own up to telling porkies, being hung out by Duchatelet or acknowledge her string of bad decisions. We don't need anyone telling us they are right and we are wrong any longer, it's all unravelled and we have seen it. What we want to know is at what point and under what circumstances will they acknowledge that Belgium is too small a pond to continuing fishing for Championship managers in? We want a tangible commitment to bringing in reinforcements to avoid relegation. We also want to know what the game plan is post FFP? Without hearing and seeing significant change, there isn't any and we must fight to get the Belgians out.
Seems the club are dictating everything. Would be better if the individuals attending not only met up beforehand to create a unified voice but as soon as possible dictated to the club the agenda and structure of the actual meeting.
I think you'll find that FF members are slightly more intelligent than you give them credit for and that such planning is already in hand.
Katrien refuses to meet with the Trust, but will meet with them if diluted with other people.
Would be amusing if all those people rejected the invite, bar the Trust :-)
They can, of course, nominate a Trust board member as their representative...
I think the meeting is important, but we must recognise the meeting's been organised on the club's terms again and take control of the agenda and control of the conversation. I hope and expect whoever is nominated to attend makes every effort towards unity and recognises that the work done in preparation will be as important as the meeting itself.
I think the best thing any individual fan could do would be to politely decline an invite to attend.
I understand that the Trust and other representative groups need to be seen to take up the offer of engagement, but the more people that turn up will give the meeting the credibility it wouldn't appear to deserve. The only person really worth speaking to is the owner, and he isn't going to be there.
I attended the last two VIP meetings, listening to Mr Murray singing the praises of Chris Powell sat next to him a few days before he was sacked, and in February hear KM pay lip service to people's concerns on a number of issues.
Have just found a draft I didn't get round to posting on the thread about that meeting the next day:
"My stand out reflection from being there last night was Katrien's insistence - and offence at any suggestion to the contrary - that she has both told the whole truth about the Luzon appointment, and that she is not a 'puppet'. What became even more clear is that she has no intention of suggesting to Roland that he should make any more effort to engage directly with supporters - as that would undermine her own position of being in charge."
I think that still stands today. I can understand why she doesn't want the owner to be speaking to fans instead of her, but when he is the one so clearly pulling the strings it makes meetings with others little more than a PR exercise.
I think a small and select turnout from a bigger invite list would make a point in itself.
Airman Brown to fire the questions, she won't know what has hit her.
However, I have intimated that I will stand down , mainly due to our move away into E.Sussex recently but also because there may be no more POTY dinners to organise if KM has her way.
However, I have intimated that I will stand down , mainly due to our move away into E.Sussex recently but also because there may be no more POTY dinners to organise if KM has her way.
However, I have intimated that I will stand down , mainly due to our move away into E.Sussex recently but also because there may be no more POTY dinners to organise if KM has her way.
We'll see what happens on 10th November.
Stand down after you've saved the club :-)
Saint Jean !
Hmm, sounds good but the powers that be would surely have me burnt at the stake before then !
However, I have intimated that I will stand down , mainly due to our move away into E.Sussex recently but also because there may be no more POTY dinners to organise if KM has her way.
We'll see what happens on 10th November.
I understand that KM wants to go more up market with the POTY dinners, which translates into charging a shit load more money for a far lower standard of do.
On the basis she couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery I doubt it will get off the ground or if it does only a handful of the elite will be there.
Please try to exert pressure Fanny to keep the status quo, I doubt the puppet will listen, (after all as you nose grows your hearing gets worse I'm told) but please try as it's been a tried and tested success for many years now.
She will never get our fan base and what we are all about.
Comments
The real solution of course is to arrest the reasons why matchday revenues are falling. How can we make the matchday upsell more appealing to those in the ground (including getting grub served before the second half kicks off)? How do we ensure people with tickets actually turn up? How do we encourage immediate contacts of supporters into the ground, and keep them for the next game?
What you don't do is upset your customers, you don't give them the message they have no influence on your offering, you don't ignore them when they contact you, you don't explain every single problem away by pretending it's related solely to recent results.
You do prize your customers, develop them into your champions, take ownership of problems within your responsibility (and sometimes outwith) and whilst acknowledging results will always be a mood influencer make sure attendance impact is minimised by creating a feeling of stakeholding within supporters that transcends the results.
Not easy, but simple. Whilst the club continues to alienate its support, particularly those above the young demographic, they are shooting themselves in the foot.
Now that is how to make fans feel valued and appreciated in tough times.
We are now in tough times and the supporters are seemingly held in utter contempt.
Roland is becoming better at utilising alienation than Bertolt Brecht.
I fear it's all gone too far, and it's all now too late.
If you were the regime, and you gave even a tinkers damn about the support, what on earth can you possibly do to turn the relationship around?
The only answer, the only answer is win after win after win, but seeing as they know jack about running this football club, and have driven away anybody who can help, I don't see another win, ever. It will be an achievement to get more than five shots and three corners in a game, and as for keeping a clean sheet forget it.
Roland, it is not only the supporters who are a massive inconvenience messing with your experiment, but it is also the opposition. Never mind, give the opposition more seats at our stadium and at least some of your financial troubles will be over.
Choose your favourite - I suspect we all have similar concerns anyway.
As for the PR thing, well I agree there's no way in hell this meeting wouldn't have been called if the club didn't need to call it - but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. A chance to meet with the board when things are going wrong is important, and we have the chance to show we can handle the conversation. If they do nothing but pay lip service, that will be evidence quickly enough.
At present he is virtually putting himself as an apologist or defender for RD & KM. Surely he must know that is the wrong approach to take.
He may do a lot of harm to his reputation at the fan meeting if he refuses to listen.
There'll always be some Charlton fan mincing around trying to lick the undercarriage of Roland as he fucks us up
I understand that the Trust and other representative groups need to be seen to take up the offer of engagement, but the more people that turn up will give the meeting the credibility it wouldn't appear to deserve.
The only person really worth speaking to is the owner, and he isn't going to be there.
I attended the last two VIP meetings, listening to Mr Murray singing the praises of Chris Powell sat next to him a few days before he was sacked, and in February hear KM pay lip service to people's concerns on a number of issues.
Have just found a draft I didn't get round to posting on the thread about that meeting the next day:
"My stand out reflection from being there last night was Katrien's insistence - and offence at any suggestion to the contrary - that she has both told the whole truth about the Luzon appointment, and that she is not a 'puppet'.
What became even more clear is that she has no intention of suggesting to Roland that he should make any more effort to engage directly with supporters - as that would undermine her own position of being in charge."
I think that still stands today. I can understand why she doesn't want the owner to be speaking to fans instead of her, but when he is the one so clearly pulling the strings it makes meetings with others little more than a PR exercise.
I think a small and select turnout from a bigger invite list would make a point in itself.
Where else is there a bigger representative sample of our fans, let alone one where the members actually dig into their pockets to join?
If the Trust isn't there (and I would strongly support @rikofold as my nominee) then the whole thing should be boycotted. (And no, I'm not Mrs rikofold, or on the Trust board, or anything else - I'm just a member of the Trust who believes they are good people with the right aims).
They have been forwarded to those who attended for any comments and should now be with KM to give them the final once over.
Would expect them to be on the OS this coming week.
Hope that helps.
However, I have intimated that I will stand down , mainly due to our move away into E.Sussex recently but also because there may be no more POTY dinners to organise if KM has her way.
We'll see what happens on 10th November.
Hmm, sounds good but the powers that be would surely have me burnt at the stake before then !
On the basis she couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery I doubt it will get off the ground or if it does only a handful of the elite will be there.
Please try to exert pressure Fanny to keep the status quo, I doubt the puppet will listen, (after all as you nose grows your hearing gets worse I'm told) but please try as it's been a tried and tested success for many years now.
She will never get our fan base and what we are all about.