harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,430
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Post by harrybuckle on Jun 15, 2014 13:33:09 GMT
the evil post wont cover the revolution as they have vested interest to secure other news stories to fill their paper 5 days a week
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jun 15, 2014 16:30:36 GMT
Dear Mr Higgs, I have decided to write to you in the aftermath of what we would all agree has been nothing short of a disastrous season for all connected with the Club. Although I was pleased to learn that it is your intention to undertake a comprehensive review of the Club from top to bottom, I still have a number of very real concerns and would appreciate your proposals for dealing with them. They are:- 1. How does the Club intend winning back lost and/or disenchanted support as a result of its relegation from the football league? I have been a season ticket holder for the best part of 40 years following Rovers at Eastville, Twerton Park and the Mem. For the last 9 years my 14 year old son has accompanied me and my father (who himself has supported the Club unbroken for over 68 years. We have watched Rovers from the Dri-Build stand but I am very sorry to say that I really cannot see myself renewing my season ticket for the new season as I cannot justify the expense of watching non-league football when I have competing demands for my time and money. I believe that without drastic action there will be a dramatic drop-off of support. For a start, I believe that the amount of money that I am asked to pay for my son of £205 is extortionate. Whilst I applaud the Club’s commitment to the fans of the future as far as under 11’s are concerned, I have never understood the logic of charging for those under 21 in full time education especially when compared to our near neighbours south of the river who charge a much more realistically priced £189 for under 21’s and £52 for under 19’s for a higher class of football and better facilities. In the past the Club have pointed out that many under 16’s do not attend evening matches but I believe this is a lame excuse when there are so many empty seats lying vacant during Saturday and Tuesday evening matches in any event throughout the season. Teams like Bradford City have shown innovation in their price structures for season tickets since about 2008 with cheap season tickets. They aimed to attract 20,000 supporters through the turnstiles for the 2008-9 season by offering to ‘buy one get one free’ season ticket to anyone when accompanied with a child where there the minimum of 9,000 tickets were sold. Season on season that club has attracted well over 10,000 fans for every home match. Huddersfield adopt similar schemes to reflect their desire to make watching their club as affordable as possible. Whilst I appreciate that the Mem has a more limited capacity, I think it should be the stated aim of you and the Board of Directors to attract a minimum 5,000 season ticket holders and offer similar initiatives to those implemented by Bradford to try to fill the stadium week in week out. Any losses on tickets will be recouped in sales of programmes, food and drink. Bradford must have done something right they have consistently won awards for best fan marketing. Not everyone wants to watch the game from the Family Enclosure which offers only standing facilities for young children and only a good view of one end of the pitch. I felt strongly about this whilst we were still a football league club but think this becomes even more crucial now that we are facing the unpalatable prospect of non-league football . If we do not win back the young supporters of the future, the Club risks losing a generation of potential new supporters. Perhaps the Club could establish forge closer links with UWE and Bristol University offering cheaper tickets to those students. 2. The Club seems to be losing the battle for the hearts and minds of new young fans of the future. A few years ago Rovers had close links with Filton College and the Wise complex but recently SGS College's Bristol Academy of Sport and Bristol City Football Club announced the introduction of a new development squad, which will sit underneath the City’s existing Academy programme providing further opportunities and pathways within the game. This programme is to be run in partnership between the two organisations and aspiring footballers will train under the watchful eye of Coaches from both the club and the College, with also the possibility of representing the club in competitive fixtures. It is one thing when City set up initiatives in the south of the city but when they do so right under the noses of Rovers within its own heartland then I think there is something seriously wrong. There are many schools in South Gloucestershire such as my own son’s school at Castle School, Thornbury and my daughter’s school in Lower Almondsbury that regularly offer training camps with Bristol City for interested students as part of its extra curricular programme, but nothing is offered involving Bristol Rovers. I appreciate that there is a lot of good work done by the Community Department but feel that more can be done to reach out to a wider community. 3. Club Marketing and Public Relations There is a perception amongst large swathes of the Rovers’ support that many on the Board of Directors are not doing much to raise the Club’s profile, they are too passive and that there is a need for fresh ideas and new faces on the board which carries too much baggage and the stigma of failure with the number of costly and damaging managerial appointments and lack of a clear strategy for driving the Club forward both on and off the pitch. This may be fair or unfair but the Club’s fanbase feels marginalised and detached from the Board. We are constantly reminded how important the fans are and of the need to continue to get behind the team but I ,like many other supporters find this quite patronising when the support has been unwavering and inspirational throughout the season and it has been the team that has failed to deliver. It is a two way process and there is has been precious little to get excited about from a Rover’s fan’s perspective for a number of years and there has been a complacent attitude from the Board towards their fans. The football has been dull and turgid and league 2 generally has been a very poor advert. Some clubs were organised and disciplined but in truth, Rochdale were the only team to come to the Mem this season who actually were a decent outfit. They displayed pace, excellent passing on the ground and movement way above anything else seen at the ground all season. For all Rovers’s huff and puff and emphasis on workrate and percentage football, Rochdale demonstrated that skill and a possession based game can succeed at any level of football. John Ward’s aimless kick and rush style of football and ultra defensive tactics (everyone back for corners and freekicks and still conceding goals) won few admirers and should be consigned to the dustbin. You often see players warm up before matches playing quick one touch passing only to completely abandon footballing principles throughout the game. All we see from Rovers is rugby style kickoffs where possession is immediately surrendered and players having to waste energy running round like headless chickens having to win it back. No wonder Rovers players were out on their feet trying to contain a Rochdale team who retained the ball and were frankly unlucky not to have taken Rovers to the cleaners. 4. Scouting This has been an area of concern for several years now. It seems that John Ward’s scouting network extended only as far as one of his former clubs usually Colchester. We were told that we needed wingers and front players but then the Club bring in a forward (Chris Beardsley) who has scored no more than 40 goals in over ten years of football with a number of lower or non league clubs and bring in a player (Andy Bond) that has played most of his career as a central midfielder and play him on the right or left wing. We then put players like Tom Lockyer in an unfamiliar position on the right wing and David Clarkson who does possess a football brain also gets shafted out on the right and left wing at various times. The same with Elliot Richards throughout his time with the club. Whilst I appreciate that it is the manager’s role to pick the team and tactics, surely the alarm bells must have been ringing when it was quite clearly a case of square pegs in round holes. We do not appear to use the loan market wisely especially when recruiting young players from premiership and championship clubs or from non-league. Clearly teams like Fleetwood have snapped up gems from teams like Manchester City such as Antonio Sarcevic (the best individual player to visit the Mem by a country mile this season and probably the most talented individual seen at the stadium since George Boyd when he played for Peterborough) and Rochdale picked up another midfielder in Hery). These clubs with far less resources and fanbase than Rovers. Where are the scouts looking for new young exciting talent? We see players like Charlie Austen and Ashley Barnes go on to carve out good careers but who started their careers at Poole Town and Paulton Rovers. 5. Footballing philosophy I think the club need to have a footballing philosophy when it comes to interviewing and recruiting managers and players. Whilst the Club does not the resources of big clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and European clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, may be someone from the club should go on a fact finding mission to see how those clubs develop players from grassroots and junior levels to see how they train and prepare players and try to adopt some of the principles they have used. I admit that I favour a possession based game rather than the old fashioned kick and rush game employed by so many British managers and think clubs like Wigan and Brighton have been brave in seeking out young coaches with similar footballing principles such as Martinez, Rosler, Poyet,Garcia and they have grown from league 1 to Championship and Premiership. May be we need to be more innovative and take a leaf out of successful chairmen such as Dave Whelan and Huw Jenkins. For all his faults , some of the football under Mark McGhee was some of the best possession based football the Club had produced for a number of years but with a bit better organisation, I am sure the team’s results would have picked up. The lack of reserve team games has clearly hampered the Club’s progress for a number of years ever since the Club left the football combination. How players can stay motivated when they train when they know they do not have a reserve or development game for about two months at a time is beyond me. We only ever seem to arrange practice matches against the likes of Cheltenham. Reserve matches should be at least every fortnight if they are to have any meaningful purpose. I appreciate that resources are tight and will be even tighter now that we have lost our football league status. However, if everyone connected with the club demonstrated smarter thinking and forward planning then I am quite sure that the Club could be run along more professional grounds than it has done for a number of years. Finally, on a more positive note, I would like to thank you for your considerable efforts in trying to secure the new stadium at UWE. You do not need me to say that it is essential that the Club gets back into the football league straight away and that it is plying its trade at a more respectable level than it has done for the past few years. We need to see real dynamic leadership as we attempt to wrestle the initiative from the more illustrious neighbours and get the club back to Championship level. I would be surprised, pleasantly so, if you even get a reply.
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Post by lostinspace on Jun 15, 2014 16:52:35 GMT
perhaps if the 50 "internet warriors" c&p the letter and sent it to Mr Higgs, it might get some sort of response
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Post by phoenix1 on Jun 15, 2014 19:08:02 GMT
Well done Pheonix - for writing the letter and for putting all your thoughts down in that much detail. I am also passionate for the club to adopt a "footballing philosophy" throughout the club particularly with no rugby at the Mem and the new stadium on the horizon. Clubs like Swansea, Brighton but also Exeter and Borunemouth demonstrate technical football on the deck right through their clubs from U8s upwards!!!! So it can be done. We play some good football too especially the younger ages but I have noticed that our U18s last season started to by-pass the midfield rather like our first team ( was that accidental or was that direction by our first team manager ?? The U16 price bracket ! As a father I found it upsetting as well as shocking - We are struggling to peersuade our youngsters anyway with the quality of football on show and of course with our decline down the leagues. I hope my 7 year old boy will support Rovers in the future, but for now I would be very surprised even though he says "we" when he talks about The Gas ! Best Wishes to you Pheonix and of course I hope your 14 year old boy will see a dramatic turnaround in how Rovers perform in the next few seasons. Mark
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Post by pressuredrop on Jun 15, 2014 20:37:07 GMT
Excellent letter which you would like to think would ruffle a few feathers but somehow I doubt it. I was particularly incensed when BCFC got involved with Filton College but I don't recall any response from the club at all at the time. I would love to see the writer of this letter appointed as Fans' Director but sadly can't see it happen, but if it did it might go some way to rebuilding the bridges between the board and the disenfranchised, disgruntled fans - but as ever don't hold your breath.
Keep up the good work and nice to meet you the other evening.
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Post by markczgas on Jun 15, 2014 22:38:53 GMT
Thanks PD and the same to you.
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topman
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 187
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Post by topman on Jun 16, 2014 13:59:35 GMT
An excellent letter carefully crafted and rationalises well the issues that require immediate action
I would suggest that if anyone from the club interviewed 100 fans walking in or out of the mem the points you have raised would be duplicated!! The fans have more idea how to run the club than the present board and /or recent management
It even extends to the marketing on and off the field which is left back in the 50 's and 60's - dreadful bar / food facilities - when I go (used to go) 'lesser' clubs they show how inept the club is!
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jozer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 365
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Post by jozer on Jun 16, 2014 18:50:11 GMT
I believe that one of the main purposes of our on-going stadium fiasco is to justify making no improvements to the Mem' facilities. No point investing in the Mem' when we'll be moving out any day now, eh?
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Jun 16, 2014 22:48:28 GMT
perhaps if the 50 "internet warriors" c&p the letter and sent it to Mr Higgs, it might get some sort of response Something along the lines of "We've got it covered " ?
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Post by Jon the Stripe on Jun 18, 2014 14:55:21 GMT
.
We're gonna need a bigger marquee!!!!
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mjhgas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 277
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Post by mjhgas on Jun 18, 2014 15:39:25 GMT
. We're gonna need a bigger marquee!!!!JTS - I hope so! A lot of words from the BoD and minimal actions!!! Over 5 weeks to tell us that the scouting needs to be improved, but no plan of action to improve it is a fine example!!!
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Post by pirate49 on Jun 18, 2014 15:45:49 GMT
Put Tuesday 1st July in your diary...same time, same place!
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Post by phoenix1 on Jun 19, 2014 7:04:41 GMT
The overriding feeling that I am feeling is anger, frustration and shame at how our club has been allowed to plummet so low down the football pyramid. Like so many others, I came away from the Mem after the end of the last match against Mansfield feeling utterly dejected by events on and off the pitch and wanted nothing to do with football for several weeks after. All the fans wanted in the aftermath was strong and decisive leadership from the top. Chris Booy and to be fair to the Rugby Club's owner came out with a rallying call straight after Bristol narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premiership. Darrall McAnthony immediately apologised to Peterborough's fans after they narrowly missed out on promotion from league 1 and set out a strategy for renewing their attempts to gain promotion next season. I do not wish to be a 'Board-basher' but I would have a lot more respect for them if they came out and publicly apologised for their part in the fiasco. Not all the blame can be laid at their door, players and managers must take their share of the blame and responsibility. It is too easy for players to shirk responsibility and there is no doubt some players last season let themselves and the Club down. The Board cannot deflect their share of the blame either. A succession of failed managers since 2001 and season after season of struggle points to the fact that recruitment of managers has not been effectively carried out. A quick look at John Ward's managerial record since leaving Bristol City would have shown that he was in decline for several years. People are quick to criticise fans' forums but whilst you have the odd stupid comments, the vast majority of comments offer incisive insights into the abilities of players and managers. I remember Oxford fans warning us about Ian Atkins' outdated kick and rush style but the Board were suckered into employing him. Dave Penney's record before he came to Rovers was decidely average. The Club has been lazy in its recruitment of managers expecting all the usual names associated or affiliated with the Club to express interest in managing the Club instead of actively going out to seek the right man for the job.
If the Finance Director could not see relegation as an option until the last 70 minutes of the season, then that is really worrying as the writing was on the wall right from the start of the season when the club could not even fill the subs bench for its first home game against Scunthorpe.
There comes a time when the finger pointing and blame game has to stop and move on. We are where we are. My anger and shame will not leave me until the Club returns to the football league and the players must take that anger and shame into every single match next season to spur them on to their one and only goal of getting back into the football league. They now have to earn my support and respect by what they do on and off the pitch. The Board need to take active and urgent steps to get fans back on side as without them , the Club will never move forward and progress. It needs everyone pulling in the same direction.
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jozer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 365
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Post by jozer on Jun 19, 2014 21:39:45 GMT
No no no no a thousand bloody times NO!
There comes a time when the finger pointing and blaming needs to START!
But if you disagree, why not take that up with NH, who spent Tuesday night blaming everyone except himself and his cronies for the fact that the organisation they lead is in freefall.
Phoni Tombola is not 'really worrying', he is quite simply an incompetant clown who in any other business would have been sent down the road years ago. But he won't because he is Dunford's boy.
Rovers do not 'need the Board', it needs rid of them. They will NEVER change! What regional downs schoolboys league do you have to watch Rovers getting beat in before this sinks in?
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Jun 19, 2014 22:43:43 GMT
No no no no a thousand bloody times NO! There comes a time when the finger pointing and blaming needs to START! But if you disagree, why not take that up with NH, who spent Tuesday night blaming everyone except himself and his cronies for the fact that the organisation they lead is in freefall. Phoni Tombola is not 'really worrying', he is quite simply an incompetant clown who in any other business would have been sent down the road years ago. But he won't because he is Dunford's boy. Rovers do not 'need the Board', it needs rid of them. They will NEVER change! What regional downs schoolboys league do you have to watch Rovers getting beat in before this sinks in? Look, many of us consider it needs to be changed but who do you have in mind to replace them that has the money to buy them out because at the end of the day that is what is going to have to happen. I don't see anyone queuing up to offer do you ? Would you welcome a Vincent Tan type figure, as someone has previously said, be careful what you wish for ! From Tuesday nights meeting I am astounded by their lack of acceptance that they could have acted earlier to avoid our relegation, their lack of acceptance that any of them are culpable for the position we are in, their refusal to acknowledge they need help from other professionals to assist them in the review and evaluation process and finally I just do not understand why they keep ploughing their money into the club without wanting value for money from those and what they invest it in.....are they really that incompetent and stupid, I find it difficult to accept they are based on their supposed successful business acumen. For goodness sake I want a successful club like everyone but to get it we need a well managed club, a successful board, a successful manager, a successful team, a supportive fan base but until we get any of what I want there has to be a revolution , I just don't know how to start it is the problem......
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Jun 19, 2014 22:51:00 GMT
. We're gonna need a bigger marquee!!!!JTS - I hope so! A lot of words from the BoD and minimal actions!!! Over 5 weeks to tell us that the scouting needs to be improved, but no plan of action to improve it is a fine example!!! In fairness Darell Clarke did say he and Marcus Stewart intend going to a lot more games to look at other players rather than rely on someone else's recommendation and would look to make better use of the loan system as he said he had a lot of contacts with other league clubs but would still apply the same principles when recruiting any players.
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jozer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 365
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Post by jozer on Jun 20, 2014 6:29:52 GMT
No no no no a thousand bloody times NO! There comes a time when the finger pointing and blaming needs to START! But if you disagree, why not take that up with NH, who spent Tuesday night blaming everyone except himself and his cronies for the fact that the organisation they lead is in freefall. Phoni Tombola is not 'really worrying', he is quite simply an incompetant clown who in any other business would have been sent down the road years ago. But he won't because he is Dunford's boy. Rovers do not 'need the Board', it needs rid of them. They will NEVER change! What regional downs schoolboys league do you have to watch Rovers getting beat in before this sinks in? Look, many of us consider it needs to be changed but who do you have in mind to replace them that has the money to buy them out because at the end of the day that is what is going to have to happen. I don't see anyone queuing up to offer do you ? Would you welcome a Vincent Tan type figure, as someone has previously said, be careful what you wish for ! From Tuesday nights meeting I am astounded by their lack of acceptance that they could have acted earlier to avoid our relegation, their lack of acceptance that any of them are culpable for the position we are in, their refusal to acknowledge they need help from other professionals to assist them in the review and evaluation process and finally I just do not understand why they keep ploughing their money into the club without wanting value for money from those and what they invest it in.....are they really that incompetent and stupid, I find it difficult to accept they are based on their supposed successful business acumen. For goodness sake I want a successful club like everyone but to get it we need a well managed club, a successful board, a successful manager, a successful team, a supportive fan base but until we get any of what I want there has to be a revolution , I just don't know how to start it is the problem...... Neither do I. But I do know that nothing will change until enough fans get their heads around just exactly how deep in the poo we really are.
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Post by phoenix1 on Jun 20, 2014 6:33:17 GMT
No no no no a thousand bloody times NO! There comes a time when the finger pointing and blaming needs to START! But if you disagree, why not take that up with NH, who spent Tuesday night blaming everyone except himself and his cronies for the fact that the organisation they lead is in freefall. Phoni Tombola is not 'really worrying', he is quite simply an incompetant clown who in any other business would have been sent down the road years ago. But he won't because he is Dunford's boy. Rovers do not 'need the Board', it needs rid of them. They will NEVER change! What regional downs schoolboys league do you have to watch Rovers getting beat in before this sinks in?
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Post by phoenix1 on Jun 20, 2014 6:53:40 GMT
With reference to the reply above, I most certainly disagree with a lot of what the Board has done over the years and felt so angry that I did write to Mr Higgs (see a copy of my detailed letter earlier on this thread) but have not received the courtesy of a reply. Like it or lump it, the Board are probably keeping the Club in business with their money but it could be argued and I have argued the point that their actions over the years have largely contributed to the losses that the Club have made not least in their poor recruitment of managers which has seen them having to pay off a succession of failed managers. It is all well and good us all debating the rights and wrongs of our club but we do not seem to be getting a response from the people that matter- the Board. I would like to see a sensible open dialogue between a section of fans and the Board with a full and frank exchange of views where all parties are given a proper chance to air their views and be challenged on their views. Whether the fan's representatives could fix up such a meeting , I do not know. To be fair to Darrell Clarke, he clearly recognises that without the support of the fans, the Club will not progress on and off the pitch and has displayed a willingness to engage with them. I wish the Board would take a leaf out of his book and start to break down barriers that they are putting up. A united club s a stronger club.
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Jun 22, 2014 12:02:46 GMT
With reference to the reply above, I most certainly disagree with a lot of what the Board has done over the years and felt so angry that I did write to Mr Higgs (see a copy of my detailed letter earlier on this thread) but have not received the courtesy of a reply. Like it or lump it, the Board are probably keeping the Club in business with their money but it could be argued and I have argued the point that their actions over the years have largely contributed to the losses that the Club have made not least in their poor recruitment of managers which has seen them having to pay off a succession of failed managers. It is all well and good us all debating the rights and wrongs of our club but we do not seem to be getting a response from the people that matter- the Board. I would like to see a sensible open dialogue between a section of fans and the Board with a full and frank exchange of views where all parties are given a proper chance to air their views and be challenged on their views. Whether the fan's representatives could fix up such a meeting , I do not know. To be fair to Darrell Clarke, he clearly recognises that without the support of the fans, the Club will not progress on and off the pitch and has displayed a willingness to engage with them. I wish the Board would take a leaf out of his book and start to break down barriers that they are putting up. A united club s a stronger club. The BoD's may consider they are in the process of doing just this by agreeing to holding the EGM and then offering a Q&A session 'sometime' in July to replace the now closed Official Fans forum....who knows ?
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