Fan's Forum

[Moomin]

Is that Steve Jones of 'Kipper fame?

Just seen the photo, it is Steve.

 

[Moomin]

How is the weather in Santa Monica at the moment Kevin ?

Sunny, but not now as its night time at the minute.

 

[toffee matt]

What do they actually do?

 

[davek]

What do they actually do?

It's a Uefa box ticking exercise. All clubs have to show they allow some form of 'fan representation' on matters of governance.

This Fan Parliament nonsense is the weakest, most inconsequential form of it. An easily ignored and brushed aside vehicle....although the club actually use it for their own ends as a focus group for their various pathetic penny-generating commercial schemes.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

I understand football clubs are required to have some sort of fan representation? I know they definitely have to appoint a fan liaison officer... So lets not be too critical.

Personally, in today's world, I have to question the mechanic and the need to have actual members - which is why I'm glad to see;

In addition, an online fans' panel will be launched early next year, giving those supporters who applied to be part of the Fans’ Forum but weren’t elected or weren’t included on the 12-strong shortlist to have their say on key Club topics. The panel will provide a vital sounding board and source of feedback and could eventually be expanded to up to 1,000 members

This makes sense.

Don't forget, this is the same fans forum mechanic the club used to claim they consulted with fans prior to giving us that crest. Apparently the fans forum were big advocates of the new crest, but what about the wider fanbase...

In the Clubs own words;

It is also clear that whilst the Fans' Forum is an excellent and effective group of representative fans, they faced too big a burden speaking for the entire fan-base on something so significant. It is only right that we thank them for their impartial and valuable contribution. Source

An example then of the pitfalls of narrowing fan representation to six people - seems pointless and dated when they can easily gauge feedback from a considerable number? Similar to how they did with the current crest.

All that said, good luck to the current six.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Interesting that none of the profiles display much about each candidate. I mean it's a given that they're all going to be staunch fans of the club isn't it? I'd like to know what other qualities they bring to the role.

That's a very, very good point.

Would be great to have GOT representation on this kind of thing.

A member would be good but we couldn't allow any direct GOT participation, we're a platform for fans - it's not our place to directly represent fans/be a mouthpiece.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I thought Kevin Smith liked hockey?

Good to see he's taken time out of filming Clerks III to be on the fans forum though

 

[davek]

I understand football clubs are required to have some sort of fan representation? I know they definitely have to appoint a fan liaison officer... So lets not be too critical.

Personally, in today's world, I have to question the mechanic and the need to have actual members - which is why I'm glad to see;



This makes sense.

Don't forget, this is the same fans forum mechanic the club used to claim they consulted with fans prior to giving us that crest. Apparently the fans forum were big advocates of the new crest, but what about the wider fanbase...

In the Clubs own words;



An example then of the pitfalls of narrowing fan representation to six people - seems pointless and dated when they can easily gauge feedback from a considerable number? Similar to how they did with the current crest.

All that said, good luck to the current six.

Even on the crest example you cite though look at what happened in actuality: yes, the crowd-sourcing aspect was there in an effort to clean the mess up of the narrow forum based decision on the badge design...but that in and of itself was no exercise in greater democracy. They employed Kenyon to come up with a beauty pageant of three designs based on what they believed was appropriate, then presented it as a fait accompli.

In other words, the technology might hold out the prospect of wider representation but if the will is there to still micro manage all aspects of the club and not give an inch on governance then it will just be co-opted as a means of controlling 'the message'.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Even on the crest example you cite though look at what happened in actuality: yes, the crowd-sourcing aspect was there in an effort to clean the mess up of the narrow forum based decision on the badge design...but that in and of itself was no exercise in greater democracy. They employed Kenyon to come up with a beauty pageant of three designs based on what they believed was appropriate, then presented it as a fait accompli.

In other words, the technology might hold out the prospect of wider representation but if the will is there to still micro manage all aspects of the club and not give an inch on governance then it will just be co-opted as a means of controlling 'the message'.

Sadly the club have shown little willingness to see fans as anything more than consumers. They're certainly a long way from being perceived as co-creators in any way.

 

[Woolly Blue]

@Woolly Blue thank you, if you have any questions you want me to raise at the next forum please let me know.

Same goes for everyone else, please post your questions and I will voice them for you.

Decent of you that mate.
Could you ask Bobby why he hasn't signed Lee Catermole yet ?



xxx