I hope that if there is fan representation on the board, it isn't SoS

[Woland]

Purlsow said today

Our fans have been totally disenfranchised by the experience of the last three years. One thing I liked about NESV when I met them is they are really serious about the importance of engaging with the fans, so I've asked them to consider a scheme at our club that will give our fans a real sense of ownership, a real sense of inclusion, a voice that quite frankly they deserve and NESV say they will look at this very seriously if they complete.

While I agree with the sentiment I hate all that agitprop crap, and particularly how they've treated the board over the past few months - but I can't see any other outcome.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I'm not sure where I stand on this TBH.

Whilst SoS do say & do things I dont agree with, the majority of what they want is a very good thing for the fans.

Also with some representation their demands will need to be toned down & then they'll be watered down with negotiation with the club as well, so I doubt it'll do any damage, but will more likely get some real benefits.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

I'd be all for it personally.

I don't see it happening anytime soon though.

 

[Judge Jules]

I think NESV will look into this whole question very carefully indeed. There was a very interesting article in the "Sunday Times" today which, among other things, said the following:

"Whatever NESV do, they want to take fans with them. It has included in its buyout submission a suggestion that it will hold regular 'town hall-like' meetings with Liverpool fans and community groups. The Red Sox Foundation is the largest community charity in American sports.

NESV's only fear regarding Liverpool fans, who have mobilised into effective pressure groups such as Spirit of Shankly, 'is being seen preferring one group over another', says the source.

Steve Gans, a lawyer and former pro indoor soccer player in the US, runs the Boston-based Professional Soccer Advisors consultancy and brokered the partnership between Fulham and Fenway [JJ's note: the article says earlier that last October Fulham hired Fenway Sports Group, NESV's marketing company, to grow their brand]. 'Did they have a deep-seated background in football when I came to them two years ago? No. Do they get football now? Absolutely', he says. 'They've been over to England a number of times, they've done their homework, they're incredibly smart people, commercially brilliant and community relations geniuses. They're likely to be excellent owners, more like Randy Lerner than Hicks'."

 

[Woland]

It's not a terrible thing, I just get the feeling that we'd get one of these self appointed ex-famous scousers coming out with Lech Walesa shaped shit on the telly at the end of every match if it happened.

Mind you, I'd happily take that and a nine point deduction to see the pair of yanks cunts looking like Randolph and Mortimer Duke at the end of Trading Places on Tuesday.

 

[Woland]

hahaha. If only

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Haha

 

[TheBunnyman]

As long as they weren't needlessly antagonistic, I think it would probably be really positive.

 

[Wilko7]

Town hall meetings are a good move from the Boston lads.

A much better idea than that pompous tosspot, Rogan Taylor, demanding a firm commitment of a 25% stake for £50m. Fucking shit.

 

[Judge Jules]

Glad it isn't just me who reacts like that to Professor Rogan Taylor. I think his heart's in the right place, but his head's up his arse.

 

[Woland]

Maybe he's the Euromillions winner.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

It's very difficult, some form of fan representation would be good (I think), but as Crump says who would it be?
SoS do not speak for the majority of fans, they are an unofficial group, they don't and never have spoken for me , nor does that twat Rogan Taylor who said he could bring share liverpool into an alliance with SoS they did not have a vote with people who signed up for share Liverpool.

How do we know that they (SoS) all have the interests of Liverpool at heart, how do we knwo that some of them are just not militant ex-shop stewards looking for a convenient vehicle.

The only democratic way of doing it as I see it and I know this will get shouted down , for obvious reasons would be to elect some season ticket holders. At least we know they have at least been on a waiting list for years and or held their tickets for some time.

Then we have the issue of who would have the right to vote.

Perhaps then we should have representatives that were not just fans in the normal sense but also ex-players and that solves the eligibility issue being an ex-player would be the credential. They would carry some clout. Obvious names spring to mind Aldridge, Thommo, Rushie the would need to remain very independant from the club and be up for election every two years

Who votes? Well it could be done on the same basis as ticket allocation on games attended they have the data. Season ticket holders get 5 votes (I know, I know) and anyone who has attended more than 10 matches over the last three years 3 votes 5matches 2 votes and at least one match one vote.

Or is that just fucking daft?
regards

 

[Farkmaster]

It certainly makes more sense to me Vlad, than borrowing from some organization, which at it's heart is a protest organization.

SoS, in interests of maintaining what it perceives as some relevance, will push hard for some sort of official recognition, because if the sale goes through, membership will decline in the tens of thousands when paid memberships get renewed, and any organization will have it's share of people who enjoyed their feeling of importance, influence, belonging etc.

 

[jexykrodic]

Supporters representation on the board of a football club is a non-starter isn't it?

There are too many factions, no agreement about who represents who; and as many different opinions as there are supporters. You only have to read a forum to know that.

Only the public sale of shares is going to give any real right of representation. The best that can be done for 'groups' is to allow them courtesy copies of minutes and to request feedback without obligation.

Allowing all and sundry to have input on the way the club is run in a kind of committee is a recipe for a talking shop, delay and confusion.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=jexykrodic link=topic=42213.msg1192452#msg1192452 date=1286743847]
Supporters representation on the board of a football club is a non-starter isn't it?

There are too many factions, no agreement about who represents who; and as many different opinions as there are supporters. You only have to read a forum to know that.

Only the public sale of shares is going to give any real right of representation. The best that can be done for 'groups' is to allow them courtesy copies of minutes and to request feedback without obligation.

Allowing all and sundry to have input on the way the club is run in a kind of committee is a recipe for a talking shop, delay and confusion.
[/quote]

I think having representation on the board is a non starter, but having some official advocacy for the fans is a good idea, if done correctly.

 

[peekay]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=42213.msg1192439#msg1192439 date=1286742191]

The only democratic way of doing it as I see it and I know this will get shouted down , for obvious reasons would be to elect some season ticket holders. At least we know they have at least been on a waiting list for years and or held their tickets for some time.

Then we have the issue of who would have the right to vote.

Perhaps then we should have representatives that were not just fans in the normal sense but also ex-players and that solves the eligibility issue being an ex-player would be the credential. They would carry some clout. Obvious names spring to mind Aldridge, Thommo, Rushie the would need to remain very independant from the club and be up for election every two years

Who votes? Well it could be done on the same basis as ticket allocation on games attended they have the data. Season ticket holders get 5 votes (I know, I know) and anyone who has attended more than 10 matches over the last three years 3 votes 5matches 2 votes and at least one match one vote.

Or is that just fucking daft?
regards


[/quote]

This seems to be the most sensible way to go about things. We should look at MUST and other good organizations and follow suite.

 

[Avmenon]

[quote author=Farkmaster link=topic=42213.msg1192453#msg1192453 date=1286743991]
[quote author=jexykrodic link=topic=42213.msg1192452#msg1192452 date=1286743847]
Supporters representation on the board of a football club is a non-starter isn't it?

There are too many factions, no agreement about who represents who; and as many different opinions as there are supporters. You only have to read a forum to know that.

Only the public sale of shares is going to give any real right of representation. The best that can be done for 'groups' is to allow them courtesy copies of minutes and to request feedback without obligation.

Allowing all and sundry to have input on the way the club is run in a kind of committee is a recipe for a talking shop, delay and confusion.
[/quote]

I think having representation on the board is a non starter, but having some official advocacy for the fans is a good idea, if done correctly.
[/quote]

Definitely agree with this, in fact I'd venture that the people that should have some sort of voice should be precisely the parties Vlad speaks of.