Q&A With Ian Ross

[SuitsBlue]

lets be fair for a moment, he is the individual that deals with 'the fans' everyday.

there are some 'fans' on here that i wouldnt piss on if they were on fire.

ian ross is a human being as well, i suspect he hates things, like stupidity, and loud mouthed arrogance as much as the next person.

and so, to the interview.... some favourites...

IR: It is never truly quiet…….what I try to do is protect the Club’s reputation at all times – and that means poring over everything the media does…if I find something I don’t like ( and I just have – another disgraceful piece by the Mirror’s LFC-supporting columnist Derek McGovern ) I complain…in fact, I rant.

now, did the interviewer read his mind for the big in brackets???

oh, and he mentioned death threats after a valid question...

Shropshire Blues: The EGM got a bit heated at times, does your in-box reflect similar emotions or do you get more balanced mail?

IR: I get a mix of constructive criticism, suggestions and foul abuse. Some of the stuff I receive most level-headed supporters really wouldn’t believe – death threats etc. Ridiculous really. Whilst I fully understand that EFC means the world to many people, I find it staggering that they can email me with abuse which relates to my kids. It is disgusting.

IR: I am constantly accused of posting stuff under assumed names…but I never have. Why would I? I read WSAG…..Toffeeweb occasionally – but I try and stay away from there as I am regularly abused by people who have never met me, never spoken to me. NSNO I never bother with as it seems to be run by small children who feel frustrated by the fact that they aren’t – and never will be – bone fide journalists.

he sounds a bit like me, i like and make time for wsag, i dont tend to read TW, and nsno is a piece of [Poor language removed] festering on the sole of the foot of a leper.

Shropshire Blues: You have mingled with some characters over the years; who was the most ‘off the wall’ and why?

IR: Pat van den Hauwe was bonkers…..Howard Kendall remains a top man ………..Gravesen was crazy….Rooney was sweet…and I really like Andy van der Meyde.

i liked this interview, it was short and sweet. the club wont allow the blueprints of future plans out into the open. commercial sensitivity and all that.

the candid manner of his responses, and the occasional brutal honesty should be applauded.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Seriously, that dig on NSNO shows what a small man he really is. He is paid 70,000 pounds a year to do PR and he uses his time mocking devoted fans?

Well, what can you expect from a Leeds supporter...

You're an apparent Everton fan but I've yet to see you make one supportive post of the club. You a Leeds fan too or something? :blink:

 

[HalewoodBlue]

Seriously, that dig on NSNO shows what a small man he really is. He is paid 70,000 pounds a year to do PR and he uses his time mocking devoted fans?

Well, what can you expect from a Leeds supporter...

To be fair to him, he is right about the site. The owner is a failed journo

 

[Makis]

You're an apparent Everton fan but I've yet to see you make one supportive post of the club. You a Leeds fan too or something? :blink:

Bollocks. I have made lots, but not about the Board or Ian Ross. I think there is more to Everton Football Club than those individuals.

As for death threats: very nasty, but I very much doubt this only happens at Everton. The other clubs just try to keep their image intact and keep quiet about things like this. Everton don't care if it's fans' reputation is tarnished. Thing is, with half a million or so supporters in UK alone there is bound to be a few wackos among them.

I would bet I'm much more supportive of our players than many so-called pro-board people are. I don't generally call half the team [Poor language removed] (conversely I also try not to go overboard, e.g. this-and-that player is world class).

 

[zero]

As for death threats: very nasty, but I very much doubt this only happens at Everton. The other clubs just try to keep their image intact and keep quiet about things like this. Everton don't care if it's fans' reputation is tarnished. Thing is, with half a million or so supporters in UK alone there is bound to be a few wackos among them.

I bet that all clubs recieve death threats, but the fact that Ian Ross answers his mail personally means he is probably the only Premier League club official that actually reads these death threats that were meant for them.

Maybe the reason he went out of his way to point out that he dislikes TW and NSNO is because it's from those sources that he recieves the most trouble. The level of abuse that he says he's been given is stupid, I really can't get over the fact he gets abuse aimed at his kids.

If TW can give out the critism of him then why can't he give out the critism of TW. freedom of speech and all that.

 

[Makis]

If TW can give out the critism of him then why can't he give out the critism of TW. freedom of speech and all that.

Simple: Ross is not just a fan. He is a paid spokesperson for the club. You really can't make a comparison.

Example: some idiot fans shouts a racist remark in the match. Not good. Ross makes a racist comment in public. Guess which case creates a bigger outburst? Ross simply can't work with the same rules as your average fan.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

You can't have it both ways. On one hand you say Ross has responsibility and so therefore should act accordingly, but on the other hand you still demand the fans voice be heard despite some behaviour being dispicable. You can't have your cake and eat it too. The evidence is apparent that the approach taken by certain sections of the fanbase this summer has had no effect on management at the club, so perhaps its time to take a more rational approach and work with the club rather than against them?

 

[davek]

Well, there you have it from the horses mouth:

Q: A common perception is that the club puts a spin on stories; is there any validity in this suggestion?

IR: Having spent so long working within the national press, I know probably 80 per cent of those journalists who cover the Club. I help them, I guide them etc….spin? Maybe sometimes.

Q: Bill Kenwright has made it clear that he is willing to sell to the right bidder – does the board have an ethical policy towards potential suitors?

IR: Bill will only sell to people who will guarantee the club will prosper…people who will look after it…people who will honour the Club’s traditions…he loves EFC .

The club's PR team spin stories and Kenwright wont sell the club.

Thanks Ian.

 

[HalewoodBlue]

Well, there you have it from the horses mouth:

Q: A common perception is that the club puts a spin on stories; is there any validity in this suggestion?

IR: Having spent so long working within the national press, I know probably 80 per cent of those journalists who cover the Club. I help them, I guide them etc?.spin? Maybe sometimes.

Q: Bill Kenwright has made it clear that he is willing to sell to the right bidder ? does the board have an ethical policy towards potential suitors?

IR: Bill will only sell to people who will guarantee the club will prosper?people who will look after it?people who will honour the Club?s traditions?he loves EFC .

The club's PR team spin stories and Kenwright wont sell the club.

Thanks Ian.

Where does it say he wont sell again? ?
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[kenada_blue]

Where did he say he wont sell? He said he'd only sell to the right people which is understandable.

As for spin? Which club doesnt. Its not like its the worst secret ever kept by any club or business ever in the world. Its PR -- of course there's spin.

 

[davek]

Halewood/Kenada_blue:

Placing conditions such as 'suitable' on a buyer is effectively saying it wont be sold...not ever. I say that because BK has stated that only a billionaire will now do for Everton, whilst in the same breath telling us that no Everton billionaires exist.

Ergo: no suitable buyer.

That feller will hang onto this club even if it means seeing us plummet down the table and into the Championship. Forget all the talk of 'I hope I'm not here (as chairman/'owner') next year. He will be because he has set an unreachable target for his successor...and any reasonable minded person can see that.

 

[Nebbiolo]

Halewood/Kenada_blue:

Placing conditions such as 'suitable' on a buyer is effectively saying it wont be sold...not ever. I say that because BK has stated that only a billionaire will now do for Everton, whilst in the same breath telling us that no Everton billionaires exist.

Ergo: no suitable buyer.

That feller will hang onto this club even if it means seeing us plummet down the table and into the Championship. Forget all the talk of 'I hope I'm not here (as chairman/'owner') next year. He will be because he has set an unreachable target for his successor...and any reasonable minded person can see that.

Or, instead, it could mean that Bill will only sell to someone that can move the club in directions that he cannot.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Im not a fan of Ian Ross one bit. As communications for thr club. He does'nt seem to communicate very well. He's in a powed an privaliged job, he's just not good enough for me.

An how many times is he going to go on about the death threats. Just go the police with it. No need to tell every one at evey posabillty he gets.

Do us a favour an follow Wyness!!

 

[kenada_blue]

Exactly.

Where do all these conspircies come from?

If Ian Ross said the sky's blue today people will read into that and say he's a lying [Poor language removed], blue means the colour of the team, which also means Kenwright's favourite colour is blue hence BK is not selling.

Instead sometimes it just means what it reads. The sky is blue.

 

[Makis]

You can't have it both ways. On one hand you say Ross has responsibility and so therefore should act accordingly, but on the other hand you still demand the fans voice be heard despite some behaviour being dispicable. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Sorry but are you saying that the only way to respond to fans' questions is the way Ross and the board has done?