geoff dunford on made in bristol

That's because Wycombe and Pompey are both run by Supporters Trusts, ie the fans.

Geoff Dunford peferred to surround himself with acolytes. He's very much a Marmite character. I find yeast extract repulsive as well.

Superb post and puts it into perspective. Those who shout hidden agenda really need to check themselves if they really believe this is about one person rather than a litany of disasters over a prolonged period.

I've never heard anyone once criticise Denis Dunford. Honestly

Do you know if it will ever be transmitted from Mendip?

Thanks or posting that Padstow, many people already knew that but some numpties wont believe it even when its told by someone who knows. I was on a supporters group that used to meet with Barry Bradsure and Martin Flook at Barry's County Microwave offices.

I would imagine Geoff D would find it difficult to talk to anyone who has fixed ideas and is ignorant of the facts, someone who speaks and pontificates from a place of ignorance is not easy to talk to let alone discuss matters.

I agree as well, as all I get is Oxford TV!

He was pitch-side for the minute's applause.

Unfortunately, for all his merits and best intents, he kind of melded himself psychologically to the club - he's the club and the club is him and has been modelled in his image according to his priorities, preferences and prejudices.  Wiser stewardship would have avoided that.  I hoped NH might flush that out when he took over and let the club breathe, but he sort of took it as read and let it cloud things without that agenda actually directing things forward backward or sideways any more.  The worst of both worlds.  Ongoing commentary on the club and its affairs just show that neither Mr D, nor the club in not counteracting it, has grasped that it really shouldn't be all about him.

Generally it's viewed as helpful and good form for ex leaders to maintain a dignified distance and silence, but I guess that's personal choice and was never likely to happen in this case.  The club needs to believe it's not all about him as well.  Maybe one day.

Still, I'm sure he means well.

We attended a load of meetings with the FC after leaving Eastville and before moving to Twerton, all run by Geoff D, and only at the last one was Denis present. However that night he spoke with a passion and commitment that set the tone for the first 4 years at Twerton, all in it together and fighting for each other. Unfortunately slowly but surely the mood at that final pre season meeting has been chipped away. Started with the sacking of Rofe, spending hundreds and hundreds of thousands on 3 players from QPR and apart from an intitial blip under Holloway where fans and club were together again the club has gradually but slowly and surely moved away from its fan base, and the realism fans have about our predicament and finances.

Fans have been saying for most of the last 20 years under GD and others we are not structured properly to live within our means and make the best of our opportunity afforded by very good crowd figures considering mainly failure over most of that period (eg 2007 and a cup run in 2008). Our non league status has been an accident waiting to happen and a few exceptional talents up front delayed that realisation.

Some one said GD hasnt been involved for 3 years- I've been trying to tell people for over the 12 months I have directly observed the issue from behind the Exec boxes about his withdrawal from everything except funding failure but few listen (and even fewer actually know the people involved, a fact made clear by many of the comments above).

Its with some relief that the finances have been reigned in, except if you cut to deep to quick, you end up with a lightweight squad, no quality in final third, and a lot of missed opportunities on and off the field.That is where we are, although judging by groups whispering in corridors on Saturday and Higgs saying funding is being made available to expand the squad there are changes afoot.

Where are the issues

1. over reliance on UWE and under optomisation of present commercial opportunity - go to Mem on non match day and you will see little going on despite everyone telling me availability of meeting and conference spaces in Bristol is hard to come by.As I understand it we are probably doing as much as an over stressed back office staff can do so its the usual rag bag Rovers mentality (and I've seen nothing which tells me UWE will be any different, probably a build it and UWE will rent space mentality if anything)

2. running everything on the cheap rather than spending in areas which can become profit centres ie scouting systems - so many times fans have offered to scout, many do so for League and non League sides already, and would do it for free for Rovers if it helped, but not one has ever been contacted to my knowledge.

3. lack of focus on the important issues ie training facilities all levels of the club can use, initiatives to use fan data to maximise sales and revenue

I could go on and on. GD stands accused on these issues, we needed to be rag bag 30 years ago, but with our support, customer potential and goodwill of devoted followers we should be doing far better if properly run and not with a 'Tony the Till' type management.

I've said it before if I was on the Board I'd be having a whip round to recruit a proper CEO with experience running football and commercial side of things properly with a profit/reward by performance income structure in place and try doing things properly rather than on a shoe string. Who knows it may actually work........lord knows lots of the last 20 years or so certainly have not. Windfalls have kept us alive, and they are going to be few and far between.

Knowing us luck and chemistry will lead to a cup run, Trophy and Play off final appearances and another mask to the underlying issues. ANd another nail will be added to the coffin