Fans need some clarification

[mrpotatohead]

Well!,....I bloody try hard with you ,but you'd try the patience of a saint man ,what purpose would this ridiculous idea serve ffs.

Ignore that question because I don't want to know the answer.

[Christies Child]

As somebody said to me the other day when your name was mentioned 'you are like a dog with a bone'...

[mrpotatohead]

Did that ''somebody'', say that to you directly Neil?, or was it relayed via ''Pazs' dad

[SupermarketShrimp]

We don't need any clarification. It's actually none of our business.

What actually needs to happen is some communication to engage with all parties to get everyone pulling in the same direction.

It never happened in the good times so I doubt it'll happen in the bad times.

[KenH]

We don't need any clarification. It's actually none of our business.

Legally true, but in reality, the fans, particularly season ticket holders, need to know what's going to happen next season, otherwise they'll simply not renew their season tickets this Summer.

The Board need to have some news to give before the annual "renewal" season, so that the ST holders renew as usual. Without clarification and some concrete news, I fear a large number of ST holders will hold back, many of which may then not renew at all, even if there's good news announced later on.

I really can't see many people renewing if there are no announcements made - few people would pay for another year of the drivel served up this season (after the drivel served up the season before). Not to mention, of course, that if (heaven forbid) the club went into receivership, the season tickets may end up worthless anyway and not valid for whatever new legal structure the club became.

[bill ding]

We don't need any clarification. It's actually none of our business.

Legally true, but in reality, the fans, particularly season ticket holders, need to know what's going to happen next season, otherwise they'll simply not renew their season tickets this Summer.

The Board need to have some news to give before the annual "renewal" season, so that the ST holders renew as usual. Without clarification and some concrete news, I fear a large number of ST holders will hold back, many of which may then not renew at all, even if there's good news announced later on.

I really can't see many people renewing if there are no announcements made - few people would pay for another year of the drivel served up this season (after the drivel served up the season before). Not to mention, of course, that if (heaven forbid) the club went into receivership, the season tickets may end up worthless anyway and not valid for whatever new legal structure the club became.

That's basically what I was saying earlier in this thread and fully agree Ken.

[SupermarketShrimp]

We don't need any clarification. It's actually none of our business.

Legally true, but in reality, the fans, particularly season ticket holders, need to know what's going to happen next season, otherwise they'll simply not renew their season tickets this Summer.

The Board need to have some news to give before the annual "renewal" season, so that the ST holders renew as usual. Without clarification and some concrete news, I fear a large number of ST holders will hold back, many of which may then not renew at all, even if there's good news announced later on.

I really can't see many people renewing if there are no announcements made - few people would pay for another year of the drivel served up this season (after the drivel served up the season before). Not to mention, of course, that if (heaven forbid) the club went into receivership, the season tickets may end up worthless anyway and not valid for whatever new legal structure the club became.

Drivel of yet another season in the football league, punching above our weight and being amongst the top scorers in the division. I do wonder what people expect on crowds under 2000 compared to the others in the division. Yes Accrington have had one good year. So what.

The situation of the ownership of the club is none of the fans business but I'll agree openly admitting what many already knew has created more questions than answers.

At some point us the fans (and indeed the board) may well take the club by the scruff of the neck and actually sort the mess out. Lots of hot air and nowhere near enough action.

[Seasider9601]

Good post, SupermarketShrimp.

Except. I would have said:

I do wonder what people expect on crowds of just 1500 which is what our "home" crowd is nowadays.

[steve mfc]

Of course the ownership of the club is the fans business because without the fans there is no business.

[mrpotatohead]

Steve. theres not many fans and theres not much of a business, whilst agreeing with the point that it would be great to know whats happening ,theres no obligation, and after the last few years I would say any announcement anyhow would have to be taken wkth a pinch of salt, I mean seriously, If we were told something like.......''Morecambe FC board of directors would like to announce the following, Hoo Flung Dung, a chinese billionaire has paid an undisclosed fee for MFC, Jim Bentley will be retained as manager and the club have appointed Peter Reid as technical Director, Mr Dung has announced priority will be given to the building of a sports bar to the rear of tbe home terrace, and the playing budget for 2017 will be 2 million pounds'', who'd believe it anyway?

[steve mfc]

Steve. theres not many fans and theres not much of a business, whilst agreeing with the point that it would be great to know whats happening ,theres no obligation, and after the last few years I would say any announcement anyhow would have to be taken wkth a pinch of salt, I mean seriously, If we were told something like.......''Morecambe FC board of directors would like to announce the following, Hoo Flung Dung, a chinese billionaire has paid an undisclosed fee for MFC, Jim Bentley will be retained as manager and the club have appointed Peter Reid as technical Director, Mr Dung has announced priority will be given to the building of a sports bar to the rear of tbe home terrace, and the playing budget for 2017 will be 2 million pounds'', who'd believe it anyway?

Well I agree with what you have said I don't expect the club to say anything until any deal is done it was just the implication that supporters don't need to be informed as if we don't matter, but football is a business and we are effectively its customers and as we all know if you don't keep your customers satisfied then the business will suffer.

[KenH]

...... it was just the implication that supporters don't need to be informed as if we don't matter, but football is a business and we are effectively its customers and as we all know if you don't keep your customers satisfied then the business will suffer.

And that, in a nutshell, is the reason for the disappearing fans, year after year. There's the impression given by the Board/management that, whether true or not, the supporters don't matter. That's exactly how the supporters feel and why they're walking away.

Whoever the new owners will be, they need to engage with all fans, past and present, to stop the rot. That's why I'm personally not really in favour of some kind of consortium involving the current members of the board/management as from what I've seen recently, some of them are more interested in brown-nosing the corporates than bothering about the "normal" fans.

[mrpotatohead]

Most supporters don't give a toss whos on the board, or what information is available, they just want the basic building blocks of football life, 1. entertainment on the pitch, 2. a degree of success, 3. decent pies, 4. humane conditions for refreshments at half time, and 5. value for money.

Peter Mcguigan is the chairman, it is his business, and his staff, the ones that he hired, are failing to deliver all of the above and as result of this he is losing money.......his problem.

[SupermarketShrimp]

Of course the ownership of the club is the fans business because without the fans there is no business.

The customers care who owns Asda or sainsburys? Or even know?

After all without the customers there is no business

[SupermarketShrimp]

...... it was just the implication that supporters don't need to be informed as if we don't matter, but football is a business and we are effectively its customers and as we all know if you don't keep your customers satisfied then the business will suffer.

And that, in a nutshell, is the reason for the disappearing fans, year after year. There's the impression given by the Board/management that, whether true or not, the supporters don't matter. That's exactly how the supporters feel and why they're walking away.

It's more the fact that they do nothing to entice new fans. Overtime your existing fanbase always dies off due to other commitments.

[Keith]

Of course the ownership of the club is the fans business because without the fans there is no business.

The customers care who owns Asda or sainsburys? Or even know?

After all without the customers there is no business

Customers of Aldi or ASDA don't have any emotional attachment to the supermarket!

[mrpotatohead]

I am a bit curious to what we are supposed to be emotionally attached to , If its not the globe ,by name or build, or even badge, apparentley not the management for many, either on or off the pitch, its not the players. and our sense of history has all but been erased ...so what is it exactly?.

[Keith]

Ah, but we don't all have a mistress in claret & blue to turn to when things get tough, for some of us Morecambe were a first & only true love, through thick & thin, for better or worse.

[KenH]

It's more the fact that they do nothing to entice new fans. Overtime your existing fanbase always dies off due to other commitments.

Quite the opposite, I'd say. They offer free child tickets, go around some local schools, and have an active "community" section for young players, so they're actually doing quite a lot to get kids into the club.

There are loads of "mature" fans who have just walked away, not due to being old or not having money or having other commitments, they've just lost the motivation to keep coming down. That's the travesty of the situation. I can understand natural loss with age/disability, but the sheer number of people who "could" come but make a decision not to bother is very worrying.

My brother in law is a classic example - been a season ticket holder for 20+ years, regular attender, but didn't renew last Summer and only came down a handful of times last Autumn. I see him regularly, he's just completely lost interest in coming down - still keeps an eye on what is going on, always asks me about the latest match, but he's not been to a game for months. He's literally ripe for the picking to be enticed back again, but he needs "something", a reason to return.

Another is the guy who sat immediately in front of me in the PGM - again he's been there, same seat, even since the move to the Globe, but didn't renew last season - his seat has been empty all season except for one game when they must have sold a ticket! He wasn't old, wasn't inform, another who throughout last season was getting more and more annoyed at the crap on the pitch, started to leave early towards the end, at one of the last games of the 14/15 season, he told me he'd had enough and wouldn't be coming back!

[mrpotatohead]

Keith , I have always supported both, through thick and thin and actually only missed 1 morecambe home game this season whilst watching Burnley , I started attending morecambe matches when I was around 10 years old , and over the years have been to a lot more MFC games than BFC ones its hardly what you would call ''glory hunting'' supporting either team

[Keith]

Keith , I have always supported both, through thick and thin and actually only missed 1 morecambe home game this season whilst watching Burnley , I started attending morecambe matches when I was around 10 years old , and over the years have been to a lot more MFC games than BFC ones its hardly what you would call ''glory hunting'' supporting either team

I wasn't suggesting you were glory hunting, it was you morals, supporting a second club, that I was calling in to question!!!

[Christies Child]

Keith , I have always supported both, through thick and thin and actually only missed 1 morecambe home game this season whilst watching Burnley , I started attending morecambe matches when I was around 10 years old , and over the years have been to a lot more MFC games than BFC ones its hardly what you would call ''glory hunting'' supporting either team

I wasn't suggesting you were glory hunting, it was you morals, supporting a second club, that I was calling in to question!!!

Far be it for me to support a fellow SADARSE (particularly that one ) but to question his morals for supporting a second club when he visits The Globe on a regular basis as opposed to The Turf is a tad unfair when I bet the vast majority support another club but their loyalty first and foremost is to MFC.

[Keith]

Tsk... there I was, getting a little nibble, just working on a full blown Mr PH bite, and along comes Christies Child to swallow the whole rod!!!

Ah well, you should have seen the one that got away...

[mrpotatohead]

Haha, no chance of winding me up Keith , I don't give a Fuque' about anything, especially footyball, I am unflappable, thanks to my new, sunny, disposition since quitting alchol 4 years ago

[marky No.1]

Dunno about that, I've seen you flapping over a few referees and linesmen