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Post by Curly Wurly on Mar 2, 2016 21:28:05 GMT
The last ten years (or more) have seen a huge amount of division amongst Rovers supporters, the history of which is well documented and well known/experienced by most on here.
The signs are encouraging that the Al Qadi regime, under Steve Hamer's chairmanship will be much more inclusive and communicative, but I wondered about the ongoing mechanism for fan engagement. The supporters club has prime position and 2 seats at the board table will continue, but does this satisfy those that were proposing alternatives about 18 months ago?
I haven't heard anything relating to this from BSS or KM, or anything in detail from the owner or chairman beyond acknowledging the support and potential fan base.
As we seem to be adopting best practice in other areas, I wondered what thoughts people had on best practice for fan engagement?
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Post by pirate49 on Mar 2, 2016 21:44:36 GMT
I don't understand why BSS or KM can't communicate to/with us through the forums, especially as there is no longer an OS FF. It may be a moot point though but they could say that they are in their positions through the SC, and therefore they are answerable through that body. However as far as I can see their last contributions to the SC site were on 11th November!! bristolroverssc.co.uk/They both put stuff in the matchday programme, but not everybody buys it. Both could do far more to engage with ALL the fans.
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Post by Curly Wurly on Mar 2, 2016 22:00:41 GMT
I suspect that the previous regime discouraged them from doing so. I can see how they might not want to get drawn into a slanging match on a forum, but surely the fora are ideal mechanisms to communicate.
The supporters club website is pretty good now IMO, but as you say, there seems little recent communication from the fans representatives. There might be reasons for this, but let's hope that the new dawn brings a more open approach.
Having said that, the candour of the other board members over the last 10 days is hugely welcome.
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
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Post by eppinggas on Mar 2, 2016 22:12:34 GMT
Fan engagement. Great idea.
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Post by Curly Wurly on Mar 2, 2016 22:16:51 GMT
Fan engagement. Great idea. Sorry my irony detector needs a new capacitor.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2016 22:30:45 GMT
I don't understand why BSS or KM can't communicate to/with us through the forums, Brian will be back when he wants to be elected again. As for Ken, I'd forgotten all about him. Last I heard he was jogging from Exeter to Yeovil or something like that?
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JeffNZ
Administrator
Jimmy Morgan
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Post by JeffNZ on Mar 3, 2016 0:12:09 GMT
I've not discussed with my fellow admin/moderators but one option could be to set up a "Message from the Club" section on the forum which only the official club representative/s can post. i.e no discussions allowed within that section. This may be a duplication of information on the club's official website but I suspect broadcasting to the forum/s would be a much quicker way of directly engaging with the fan base. If any officials from the club are reading this and are interested, get in touch. JeffNZ
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Mar 3, 2016 0:30:24 GMT
I've not discussed with my fellow admin/moderators but one option could be to set up a "Message from the Club" section on the forum which only the official club representative/s can post. i.e no discussions allowed within that section. This may be a duplication of information on the club's official website but I suspect broadcasting to the forum/s would be a much quicker way of directly engaging with the fan base. If any officials from the club are reading this and are interested, get in touch. JeffNZGreat idea Jeff. I assume they could say all the information is already put on the clubs official web site and to be honest that has improved remarkably since the new owners have arrived but there's no harm in giving an invitation, not everyone accesses the club web site. I think Brian SS has occasionally posted on here although not that recently to my recollection.
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Captain Jayho
Andy Tillson
Straight outta burrington...
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 472
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Post by Captain Jayho on Mar 3, 2016 6:49:34 GMT
but surely the fora are ideal mechanisms to communicate. If you mean in the sense of them giving out information then yes. If you mean in the sense of having two way conversations then nothing could be further from the truth if you ask me. I've been on rovers forums since the rovers and city message board all those years ago through to where we are at now. I've seen so many well meaning (and some a little less so) club and supporters club officials torn a new one by idiots having a go at them and refusing to let points go when said official can't or won't agree with them. It's a total shambles and I always ended up feeling sorry for the poor blighter who was putting in time and effort - often voluntarily - to try and explain club process or decisions or to take on board feedback in a virtually impossible situation and whilst being slagged off by multiple forum users. Not everyone acts the idiot but you can guarantee some will and it's totally unfair on the people who are trying their best to do the job at hand and are getting abused on a regular basis. It's a real shame, but if you ask me it's far better to have these conversations on matchdays or in q and a evenings where supporters have to front up and ask the questions face to face in a social environment and not hide behind a keyboard. Of course it's not as inclusive as using a forum which everyone can access but sadly there are always idiots willing to ruin it for everyone else online.
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Post by splitter on Mar 3, 2016 8:23:55 GMT
but surely the fora are ideal mechanisms to communicate. If you mean in the sense of them giving out information then yes. If you mean in the sense of having two way conversations then nothing could be further from the truth if you ask me. I've been on rovers forums since the rovers and city message board all those years ago through to where we are at now. I've seen so many well meaning (and some a little less so) club and supporters club officials torn a new one by idiots having a go at them and refusing to let points go when said official can't or won't agree with them. It's a total shambles and I always ended up feeling sorry for the poor blighter who was putting in time and effort - often voluntarily - to try and explain club process or decisions or to take on board feedback in a virtually impossible situation and whilst being slagged off by multiple forum users. Not everyone acts the idiot but you can guarantee some will and it's totally unfair on the people who are trying their best to do the job at hand and are getting abused on a regular basis. It's a real shame, but if you ask me it's far better to have these conversations on matchdays or in q and a evenings where supporters have to front up and ask the questions face to face in a social environment and not hide behind a keyboard. Of course it's not as inclusive as using a forum which everyone can access but sadly there are always idiots willing to ruin it for everyone else online. I agree with Jayho here entirely. While from the outside it may look like a good idea to engage via the forums, I can say from experience it actually causes more problems and divisions than it solves. Posting any updates that come from the directors, programme articles and the like, on the forums seems a good idea. Using the forums to gauge a general opinion can be good, but to get into two way conversations about the minutiae takes a huge amount of time which is often disproportionate to issue that is being discussed. I would prefer regular (quarterly) surgery type sessions that are minuted with minutes being shared over all outlets after the event with the option of pre-sent questions provided via letter or email for those who may not be able to attend.
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Igitur
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 2,294
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Post by Igitur on Mar 3, 2016 8:37:25 GMT
I've not discussed with my fellow admin/moderators but one option could be to set up a "Message from the Club" section on the forum which only the official club representative/s can post. i.e no discussions allowed within that section. This may be a duplication of information on the club's official website but I suspect broadcasting to the forum/s would be a much quicker way of directly engaging with the fan base. If any officials from the club are reading this and are interested, get in touch. JeffNZGreat idea Jeff. I assume they could say all the information is already put on the clubs official web site and to be honest that has improved remarkably since the new owners have arrived but there's no harm in giving an invitation, not everyone accesses the club web site. I think Brian SS has occasionally posted on here although not that recently to my recollection. Good idea, though, as said, it may just duplicate what's on the OS; it would need a way of alerting us that a message was there as I am sure most posters only use this part of the forum. The club's Twitter has improved particularly during games and whoever does it is to be applauded. It's a bit of a stuck record, but BSS and Ken are absolutely useless at communicating with fans, beyond popping into the odd bar before the game.
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
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Post by eppinggas on Mar 3, 2016 9:52:55 GMT
Fan engagement. Great idea. Sorry my irony detector needs a new capacitor. Apologies. My sarcasm was aimed at the previous regime who made a point of actually disenfranchising fans. I'm hopeful that the new owners will make an effort to reach out to us and communicate better. UTG.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 9:54:10 GMT
I agree with Jayho here entirely. While from the outside it may look like a good idea to engage via the forums, I can say from experience it actually causes more problems and divisions than it solves. Kim Stucky and John Malyckyj never had any real problems. Maybe Ken and Brian should be asked the question and allowed to make their own decision?
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
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Post by kingswood Polak on Mar 3, 2016 10:43:05 GMT
I don't understand why BSS or KM can't communicate to/with us through the forums, Brian will be back when he wants to be elected again. As for Ken, I'd forgotten all about him. Last I heard he was jogging from Exeter to Yeovil or something like that? That's pretty unfair BG, Brian is available to all fans and is at every game plus he has Twitter and Facebook and he does answer questions when asked. If you want his number just ask. His email and telephone number are easy to obtain but let's not forget that he was not welcomed by the previous regime. ok, I get why some think he has not done anything but what exactly can you do when you are basically not included by the very people that took the money ? As I have said before, he has had no chance to implement any of his ideas because of the insular and insecure people in the previous board but he did manage to get things done on a smaller level. The TV's and other small improvements in the clubhouse were down to him making sure that this got across. Brian goes to every game and you could talk to him if you so wished. Now is the time when we will see if he can work the role he has been voted to do and I wish him well in that. There really was nothing he could do before. It was made very clear that his input was not wanted and then hiring Doug Shields was a real stab in the back. Whilst I have nothing against Doug, can you think of anything that he has done ? Can you think of anytime where he and his company were ever mentioned ? I certainly can't. That's not to say nothing was done but it seems very odd that nothing was ever mentioned, not after the initial press release. Brian managed to get me into games that I otherwise couldn't have got into and sorted parking for me. This may well be small for you but it was a big deal for me.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 11:08:07 GMT
I don't understand why BSS or KM can't communicate to/with us through the forums, Brian will be back when he wants to be elected again. As for Ken, I'd forgotten all about him. Last I heard he was jogging from Exeter to Yeovil or something like that?
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2016 11:10:25 GMT
Brian will be back when he wants to be elected again. As for Ken, I'd forgotten all about him. Last I heard he was jogging from Exeter to Yeovil or something like that? That's pretty unfair BG, Brian is available to all fans and is at every game plus he has Twitter and Facebook and he does answer questions when asked. If you want his number just ask. His email and telephone number are easy to obtain but let's not forget that he was not welcomed by the previous regime. My understanding was that he was actually hand picked as a candidate by one of the previous regime? But that's all history, I don't think that anybody is going to hold them accountable for the conduct of the previous BoD, it's a fresh start, so maybe one or both of them will pop over and have a chat with us on here.
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Post by Curly Wurly on Mar 3, 2016 11:41:03 GMT
That's pretty unfair BG, Brian is available to all fans and is at every game plus he has Twitter and Facebook and he does answer questions when asked. If you want his number just ask. His email and telephone number are easy to obtain but let's not forget that he was not welcomed by the previous regime. My understanding was that he was actually hand picked as a candidate by one of the previous regime? But that's all history, I don't think that anybody is going to hold them accountable for the conduct of the previous BoD, it's a fresh start, so maybe one or both of them will pop over and have a chat with us on here. Which brings me back to the original point, which was not only about the fans directors communicating with fans through the various channels available, but more about how we would like to see fan engagement with the new board moving forward. There is a pretty clean slate and a desire to do things right, whether that be through the existing Supporters Club, a supporters trust, or whatever mechanism.
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vaughan
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 1,237
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Post by vaughan on Mar 3, 2016 17:25:15 GMT
In this world of social media and all the misunderstandings, back-biting, wrong emphases etc., I would welcome a return to the old ways of meeting face-to-face. I really can't get worked up about what BSS and KM do or don't do, as it just seems irrelevant to the bigger picture and what we are now trying to achieve. Our new guys are eloquent and want to unite the fan-base, so the proverbial group hug and Q&A (to keep it informative and accountable) would keep everyone (?)reasonably engaged and happy. Failing that, I would ask for a re-vamp of the Letters column in the Green Un. The fan engagement and clarity of thought expressed in first 2 weeks is what we have been craving for over many years. In short, the role of the fans directors is somewhat diluted if the Board are open and receptive to communication from the fan-base. The Fans' Directors can help in this regard and the symbolism sends out a positive message, but so can open forums.
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Post by mehewmagic on Mar 4, 2016 23:37:44 GMT
Sadly i can't really see how the fans directors will have any clout on the running of the club and any good initiatives that come out of board mtgs will be ones supported the owner.
The bottom line is that 92.6% of the club is owned by one source & obviously the president and his appointees will dominate any board.
i am NOT suggesting the the board will make bad decisions or be negativly dictatorial but to expect a source with 7% of the shares to have any power is naive.
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eppinggas
Administrator
Ian Alexander
Don't care
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Post by eppinggas on Mar 5, 2016 9:04:04 GMT
I don't think it's about "power". It's about the new regime being able to listen to fans (via whatever medium) and take on board good suggestions. The new owners talk about respecting heritage and tradition - surely it's only the fans that provide that. Hopefully Fan's Directors have now have the opportunity to get that message across. Must have been very tough for them under the previous arrangement.
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