dagnogo
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 872
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Post by dagnogo on Jun 23, 2014 18:03:20 GMT
Bradshaw used it first back in '06 I believe.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2014 18:25:18 GMT
I just put forward the suggestion of becoming a SC member because if this new group is unhappy they can try and influence the SC to put views forward to the Board. If I recall at the EGM Nick Higgs said he respected the input and suggestions from BRSC ...he hinted keyboard warriors would get no answers from the Club as they were unrepresentative. Just saying Hi Mike, And I was just pointing out that the new group, which has no name, no aims and objectives, no officers, no constitution, no democracy and no members, cannot nominate people for election to BRSC. Even a group that did have all these things could not do that. You are suggesting here that unless you make suggestions via BRSC, you would be regarded as "keyboard warriors (and) would get no answers from the club as they were unrepresentative." When I wrote to Mr Higgs in a personal capacity in January, having been given his email address by the club shop, I made some suggestions as to how easy it would be to unite supporters. I felt this was particularly important seeing that the team was in the lower reaches of League Two, not far from the relegation zone and yet by the same token the club was about to start building the UWE stadium which would be better full than three-quarters empty. Oh, and I also asked that he lifted Kevin Spencer's lifetime ban from the club. I would be very disappointed if Mr Higgs regarded me as a 'keyboard warrior' and therefore declined to reply because there is nothing I would put on here that I wouldn't say to his face, but it sure looks that way. So, Mike, what you are effectively reporting from the EGM is that the club will not respond to any comments from anyone about the running of the club unless they go through BRSC. That's us told, then! Good luck to those of you who are seeking answers. You're going to need lots of it. I would say that the tone and what's said on this forum was totally representative of what people are saying when you speak to them in person. Everybody is sick to death of how the club is run, and more than that, very worried that this isn't as bad as it gets. We have a novice manager with no backbone who made one almighty mess of the last 8 games of the season and the board show no signs of doing anything different. As Nick loves the SC so much I checked the SS Directors information, to stand for office you need to be a SC member, then you need to be nominated and seconded also by SC members. If BSS won with circa 250 votes, then assuming you could convince some of the people who voted for him to defect then you could probably be elected with 150~200 votes. Now that really would give The Wellington Discussion Group some clout, having a FC Director in their ranks.
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Post by markczgas on Jun 27, 2014 9:03:32 GMT
Just to let everyone know. We have invited both Bristol Post and Radio Bristol along for Tuesday's Supporters meeting at The Wellie - awaiting replies but we are hopeful. So make sure you comb your hair and your Rovers shirts are nicely pressed !!
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Post by pirate49 on Jun 27, 2014 9:44:26 GMT
Just to let everyone know. We have invited both Bristol Post and Radio Bristol along for Tuesday's Supporters meeting at The Wellie - awaiting replies but we are hopeful. So make sure you comb your hair and your Rovers shirts are nicely pressed !! ....and Richard Latham, freelance, who writes for the Sunday Independent amongst others, is also aware of the meeting......................
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Post by richardhannay on Jun 27, 2014 10:04:55 GMT
Sorry to muscle in here but I need two people to sign my nomination form living in Bristol(hopefully South Bristol) This is my posting on the Gaslist today.If you can help please pm me. Hi I decided late Monday night to put my name forward for election to the post of fans director, the elections being held later this year.The closing date is 30-6-2014,I had sent two letters to BRSC + an email, yesterday I had a email reply and was able to download the nomination form. I am hoping to get two local people to sign the form by tonight ,but so far I am unable to contact them. I spoke at the Supporters Club EGM recently and have posted my thoughts on The Independent Fans Forum under the name Richard Hannay, I did have two people who were prepared to nominate me but one is in Cornwall the other in Glastonbury so time is not on our side.I didn`t realize the nomination date was so imminent and am standing reluctantly, but it was a question to do something or do nothing. The latest pronouncement from Mr Higgs does beggar belief.
I will say I do support both the Wellington Pub group and the BRISA group(one of the co-founders has offered to propose me),I will be at the Wellington Pub next Tuesday July Ist, I do think the the two groups will need to combine at some point soon. But a dual approach via the Supporters club and and an independent group could work who knows ?
This is hopefully just a backup plan, but this is a work email so you would need your help today if you can help, or you could you email me on rod7654@yahoo.co.uk.
Regards.
Rod Chapman. .
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Post by markczgas on Jun 27, 2014 10:36:05 GMT
Hi Rod,
I didn't go to the EGM but I hope someone who did and were impressed with you can sign for you and they live in South Bristol. I need to check with my two colleagues but hopefully we can give you a platform to speak on Tuesday at some point.
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Post by richardhannay on Jun 27, 2014 11:00:56 GMT
Thanks Mark. Regards. Rod. NB It doesnt have to be South Bristol,it would be more convenient that`s all.
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Post by pirate49 on Jun 27, 2014 20:49:27 GMT
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Post by markczgas on Jun 27, 2014 21:17:30 GMT
I welcome this as I'm sure ALL supporters do, but I would say this is 2 months later than it should have been ! Fingers crossed I might be one of the privileged 150 !!
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Post by markczgas on Jun 27, 2014 21:36:54 GMT
One very big concern though - Pre arranged questions means pre arranged answers. The board might as well not be there. This is the worrying thing. people who went to the EGM also complained there was no chance to ask follow up questions so basically this is a form of censorship - filtering out all the unanswerable/uncomfortable questions.
At the beginning of May on the OF forum I proposed a Question Time format where the board wouldn't know what the questions would be and after answering each question the floor would be open for those present to make a comment or ask a follow up question. I still think it would be great if we could excert some pressure on the club to insist on this format. It is not to catch them out but to allow US supporters to ask all the pertinent questions we would like to ask and give others that chance to respond to the club's answers. This I'm sure will be an item for discussion on Tuesday at The Wellie.
Don't forget everyone we still need lots of answers and changes at the club from top to bottom - Tuesday 7.30 pm. Is still massive !!
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jun 28, 2014 12:24:54 GMT
My thruppence worth,
The forums and posts made could be taken more seriously if many were more identifiable. I fully understand why many prefer relative anonymity but if we were more open then the club would have no way out by saying we are keyboard warriors who hide behind the safety of our computers. Personally, I write as I would speak to the person face to as I find it the easiest way for me. It's not for everyone I guess but it would certainly help us I believe. Outflanking the board is never going to be simple or easy because of the deep seated insecurity and outright paranoia that had taken a grip of the hierarchy and has seeped through to the guys on the pitch. I feel there are some very serious problems with the club that even if we were to have last seasons L2 champions squad, that they would not perform to that level with us. There is an integral problem or problems that have eroded our identity and fragmented our fanbase since our return to Bristol and the Dog has been constantly chasing it's tail down into the abyss that none of our board seem to even want to accept let alone begin to address. What we get is the UWE and magic beans story and that just does not cut it. My fear is that we have not hit rock bottom. If we carry on in the same vein then we can expect nothing but the same results and a loss of future support as the result of that denial and gross negligence.
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Post by swissgas on Jun 28, 2014 13:37:28 GMT
My thruppence worth, The forums and posts made could be taken more seriously if many were more identifiable. I fully understand why many prefer relative anonymity but if we were more open then the club would have no way out by saying we are keyboard warriors who hide behind the safety of our computers. Personally, I write as I would speak to the person face to as I find it the easiest way for me. It's not for everyone I guess but it would certainly help us I believe. Outflanking the board is never going to be simple or easy because of the deep seated insecurity and outright paranoia that had taken a grip of the hierarchy and has seeped through to the guys on the pitch. I feel there are some very serious problems with the club that even if we were to have last seasons L2 champions squad, that they would not perform to that level with us. There is an integral problem or problems that have eroded our identity and fragmented our fanbase since our return to Bristol and the Dog has been constantly chasing it's tail down into the abyss that none of our board seem to even want to accept let alone begin to address. What we get is the UWE and magic beans story and that just does not cut it. My fear is that we have not hit rock bottom. If we carry on in the same vein then we can expect nothing but the same results and a loss of future support as the result of that denial and gross negligence. We all know that is bullsh*t but the majority of fans who are not on the forums don't. The key issue is to convince the majority that change is possible (they already know it is necessary) To do that the numbers have got to be right and I don't think 150 is enough There has to be a media blitz to drive that number up to between 500 and 1000 and once that is achieved there could be an avalanche effect which is something the board have never faced before. With an avalanche coming towards them the board will have to do something and I think that's what the majority want, they may not know exactly what they do want but they are fed up with the board doing nothing other than retreating into their shell and pretending nothing is wrong. Rod Chapman posted a list of names yesterday of people who had tried to do something positive for Rovers but had been cast aside and were now alienated from the club. I don't know Rod or Mark or Jon or Strung Out and I have never met the people on that list because they are figures from history whereas I am from archaeology . But reading the thoughts and opinions of all these people I think we share a common goal which is the betterment of BRFC. If we cannot achieve mass support for change now then looking forward to games against clubs like FGR and Braintree is likely to become the norm and fans who want better than that will be painted as "unrepresentative keyboard warriors". In ten or twenty years time we may be looking back nostalgically to our time in the league just like we look back now to Geoff Bradford and the glorious fifties.
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Jun 28, 2014 14:13:27 GMT
My thruppence worth, The forums and posts made could be taken more seriously if many were more identifiable. I fully understand why many prefer relative anonymity but if we were more open then the club would have no way out by saying we are keyboard warriors who hide behind the safety of our computers. Personally, I write as I would speak to the person face to as I find it the easiest way for me. It's not for everyone I guess but it would certainly help us I believe. Outflanking the board is never going to be simple or easy because of the deep seated insecurity and outright paranoia that had taken a grip of the hierarchy and has seeped through to the guys on the pitch. I feel there are some very serious problems with the club that even if we were to have last seasons L2 champions squad, that they would not perform to that level with us. There is an integral problem or problems that have eroded our identity and fragmented our fanbase since our return to Bristol and the Dog has been constantly chasing it's tail down into the abyss that none of our board seem to even want to accept let alone begin to address. What we get is the UWE and magic beans story and that just does not cut it. My fear is that we have not hit rock bottom. If we carry on in the same vein then we can expect nothing but the same results and a loss of future support as the result of that denial and gross negligence. Wrong post
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Jun 28, 2014 14:15:28 GMT
One very big concern though - Pre arranged questions means pre arranged answers. The board might as well not be there. This is the worrying thing. people who went to the EGM also complained there was no chance to ask follow up questions so basically this is a form of censorship - filtering out all the unanswerable/uncomfortable questions. At the beginning of May on the OF forum I proposed a Question Time format where the board wouldn't know what the questions would be and after answering each question the floor would be open for those present to make a comment or ask a follow up question. I still think it would be great if we could excert some pressure on the club to insist on this format. It is not to catch them out but to allow US supporters to ask all the pertinent questions we would like to ask and give others that chance to respond to the club's answers. This I'm sure will be an item for discussion on Tuesday at The Wellie. Don't forget everyone we still need lots of answers and changes at the club from top to bottom - Tuesday 7.30 pm. Is still massive !! Hi Mark, I appreciate what you say but without pre-prepared questions you face the real possibility of many of them being answered with "we are not prepared to comment at this moment", or "for business reasons this is sensitive information". It cannot be allowed for it to become a bear pit and people just voicing their opinions, just maybe the meeting at the Wellie could be used to formulate some questions with chosen individuals submitting them ? We cannot afford to allow the opportunity the Board are going to give us not to be used properly. We have to begin to develop dialogue with the owners to prove again we are genuine, they aren't just going to do whatever we demand, they don't have to, so start getting realistic and act a lot smarter than they do. Lets not forget they are the one's putting the real money in, and despite our incredulity with the way they run the club that does give them the right to run it however they want. We have to be constructive in our criticism, we have to become smarter with our questions and with our approach to them. They might think some of us 'keyboard warriors' are idiots like we think some of them are but lets not drag ourselves down to their level, lets just make sure we hold them to account....UTG !!
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Post by swissgas on Jun 28, 2014 14:31:46 GMT
Lets not forget they are the ones putting the real money in But is that correct Bridgeman ? In the last sixteen years the fans have put in about 32 million in gate money alone plus the share scheme, supporters club donations, helpline, merchandise etc. During this time how much cash have the Directors put in 5 or 6 million ? And that money has not gone into the black hole like ours has they have a good chance of getting at least some of their money back. An authoritarian regime will keep repeating phrases like "we put the money in" over and over again until the majority take it as fact. As you say, the questioning has to be smart and must get to the heart of the matter so the truth is revealed.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2014 14:41:04 GMT
Lets not forget they are the ones putting the real money in But is that correct Bridgeman ? In the last sixteen years the fans have put in about 32 million in gate money alone plus the share scheme, supporters club donations, helpline, merchandise etc. During this time how much cash have the Directors put in 5 or 6 million ? And that money has not gone into the black hole like ours has they have a good chance of getting at least some of their money back. An authoritarian regime will keep repeating phrases like "we put the money in" over and over again until the majority take it as fact. As you say, the questioning has to be smart and must get to the heart of the matter so the truth is revealed. Plus fans paying for the roof on the Family Terrace, the roof on the Blackthorn End and the floodlights at the stadium.
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Bridgeman
Alfie Biggs
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,549
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Post by Bridgeman on Jun 28, 2014 14:42:42 GMT
Lets not forget they are the ones putting the real money in But is that correct Bridgeman ? In the last sixteen years the fans have put in about 32 million in gate money alone plus the share scheme, supporters club donations, helpline, merchandise etc. During this time how much cash have the Directors put in 5 or 6 million ? And that money has not gone into the black hole like ours has they have a good chance of getting at least some of their money back. An authoritarian regime will keep repeating phrases like "we put the money in" over and over again until the majority take it as fact. As you say, the questioning has to be smart and must get to the heart of the matter so the truth is revealed. Actually you make a very good point concerning how much fans have collectively put into the club over the years and you're right that the headlines are from the owners who say they have put money in to keep it afloat. Ironically it's their own mismanagement that has caused the loss which has required them to have to put their money in. What I still cannot get my head around is why they are prepared to keep pumping their money into a loss making process and not get value for their investment...... absolute madness. Thanks for you and Gasheadwes reminding me how much 'we' have actually put in, that makes me even more determined to make them accountable for their incompetence and gross negligence.
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Post by swissgas on Jun 28, 2014 15:09:02 GMT
But is that correct Bridgeman ? In the last sixteen years the fans have put in about 32 million in gate money alone plus the share scheme, supporters club donations, helpline, merchandise etc. During this time how much cash have the Directors put in 5 or 6 million ? And that money has not gone into the black hole like ours has they have a good chance of getting at least some of their money back. An authoritarian regime will keep repeating phrases like "we put the money in" over and over again until the majority take it as fact. As you say, the questioning has to be smart and must get to the heart of the matter so the truth is revealed. Actually you make a very good point concerning how much fans have collectively put into the club over the years and you're right that the headlines are from the owners who say they have put money in to keep it afloat. Ironically it's their own mismanagement that has caused the loss which has required them to have to put their money in. What I still cannot get my head around is why they are prepared to keep pumping their money into a loss making process and not get value for their investment...... absolute madness. Thanks for you and Gasheadwes reminding me how much 'we' have actually put in, that makes me even more determined to make them accountable for their incompetence and gross negligence. I've got no doubt that when it comes to debate or confrontation the ammunition is there. The only question is whether there will be enough people to make that ammunition effective. It is purely and simply a numbers game now. If the numbers are low the board will dismiss any challenge out of hand and the majority of fans will just nod their heads and carry on If the numbers are high enough the board will not be prepared and there is a serious chance of a breakthrough
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2014 15:19:15 GMT
In that case Swiss, I think then I may be Epipaleolithic.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Jun 28, 2014 16:15:05 GMT
My thruppence worth, The forums and posts made could be taken more seriously if many were more identifiable. I fully understand why many prefer relative anonymity but if we were more open then the club would have no way out by saying we are keyboard warriors who hide behind the safety of our computers. Personally, I write as I would speak to the person face to as I find it the easiest way for me. It's not for everyone I guess but it would certainly help us I believe. Outflanking the board is never going to be simple or easy because of the deep seated insecurity and outright paranoia that had taken a grip of the hierarchy and has seeped through to the guys on the pitch. I feel there are some very serious problems with the club that even if we were to have last seasons L2 champions squad, that they would not perform to that level with us. There is an integral problem or problems that have eroded our identity and fragmented our fanbase since our return to Bristol and the Dog has been constantly chasing it's tail down into the abyss that none of our board seem to even want to accept let alone begin to address. What we get is the UWE and magic beans story and that just does not cut it. My fear is that we have not hit rock bottom. If we carry on in the same vein then we can expect nothing but the same results and a loss of future support as the result of that denial and gross negligence. We all know that is bullsh*t but the majority of fans who are not on the forums don't. The key issue is to convince the majority that change is possible (they already know it is necessary) To do that the numbers have got to be right and I don't think 150 is enough There has to be a media blitz to drive that number up to between 500 and 1000 and once that is achieved there could be an avalanche effect which is something the board have never faced before. With an avalanche coming towards them the board will have to do something and I think that's what the majority want, they may not know exactly what they do want but they are fed up with the board doing nothing other than retreating into their shell and pretending nothing is wrong. Rod Chapman posted a list of names yesterday of people who had tried to do something positive for Rovers but had been cast aside and were now alienated from the club. I don't know Rod or Mark or Jon or Strung Out and I have never met the people on that list because they are figures from history whereas I am from archaeology . But reading the thoughts and opinions of all these people I think we share a common goal which is the betterment of BRFC. If we cannot achieve mass support for change now then looking forward to games against clubs like FGR and Braintree is likely to become the norm and fans who want better than that will be painted as "unrepresentative keyboard warriors". In ten or twenty years time we may be looking back nostalgically to our time in the league just like we look back now to Geoff Bradford and the glorious fifties. You are of course spot on.
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