Fans Club Open Meeting 01/12/16 - Morecambe Cricket Club

[mrpotatohead]

CC's comments about the offices are a bit wide of the mark, he has stated he WILL talk to potential contractors, but hasn't ,as yet, I suppose he can say what he likes, a bit like the last chairman.

[KenH]

The different departments of the club are being managed by their existing managers, so at the moment it is business as usual,

But I thought that the general manager was on gardening leave? So who's doing his job? Hardly business as usual.

[Gone_Shrimping]

The different departments of the club are being managed by their existing managers, so at the moment it is business as usual,

But I thought that the general manager was on gardening leave? So who's doing his job? Hardly business as usual.

Rod Taylor has been helping out in that respect.

[P/T Indie]

Do we have a commercial Manager that came in to work under mark dixon or did I imagine it.

[Seasider9601]

Do we have a commercial Manager that came in to work under mark dixon or did I imagine it.

Steve Brown? (I might be wrong there) - his name cropped up last night.

[Wild Bill]

Is this meeting still happening tomorrow?

If so, what will be the format?

[Seasider9601]

Yes indeed, 7pm

As to the format, no idea mate, sorry.

[mrpotatohead]

Steve Brown is the commercial manager, he is however just that, and not a director, We were told that Rod is in contact with the new owner and if he can help with anything the staff can't he can be contacted, obviously none of this is ideal , but it's all we have ,for the moment.

I would hope that tomorrows meeting is kept , ''on topic'' regarding the trust, as suggested by Paul.

[outsider]

This meeting is still on. The format will roughly be a quick introduction, then hand over to Nicola who will explain the in's and out's of how to set up the trust Q and A's. Then a vote on if we wish the Fan's Club to become a trust.

[steve mfc]

Hopefully we will still get a good turnout for this meeting, im just a bit concerned that some people might think that its not so important because the players received their wages on time this month, regardless of the financial situation be it good or bad the supporters trust is something we need to get in place.

[marky No.1]

As I see it, the info about the office development has already created some negativity. May I suggest that everybody waits until the plans are released. As for who will take space, it's already been documented that one prominent company based at White Cross in Lancaster will be taking space. The opening of The Bay Gateway has made the Morecambe area of greater attraction than before and we all know of the expansion plans for at least one major company currently based at Heysham which I feel will only be the start of major expansion of businesses in the area.

No apology from me for being optimistic about the future of the area.....

Source please.

MD said ages ago that Omega Holidays (Nigel) were taking 50% of proposed office block. I even said ooo at the time, the offices would have a free view of the game, but i was told the windows would face the other way. Now looking at the housing estate.
Whether that is still happening in the current climate?

[marky No.1]

Is this meeting still happening tomorrow?

Why wouldn't it be? This is an open fans meeting to potentially start a trust, it's not a Directors question and answer...

Having heard "I will happily stay around to assist the new owners if they want me to" I think someone must have left most of the doors ajar

[Posh]

There are lots of questions asked Supermarket, not many answers though( you are welcome to attend these things and ask yourself) top and bottom of it is, Diego owns MFC, A business, and he chooses to answer or not,what he feels like answering, and no one can make him do otherwise as long as he doesn't break any company laws )

Unfortunately a supporters trust can only work with him if he wants them to, as can a board of directors.

I go along with Trevor's line of questioning. So shares have changed hands. Has the money for them been paid? Is it installments or in escrow? Whose money was used to obtain the shares? Were the shares acquired privately or via a company and who invests or owns that company if its was? Abdullah is a director. Is Diego just the puppet while others pull the strings? Why did a financial firm in Middlesbrough broker the deal?

As regards the Supporters Trust, the owners have a legal obligation to engage with a trust. Failure to do so is liable to breach both the law and FA codes of conduct. Having said that why would any owner of a business refuse to engage with it customers?

[marky No.1]

I go along with Trevor's line of questioning. So shares have changed hands. Has the money for them been paid? Is it installments or in escrow? Whose money was used to obtain the shares? Were the shares acquired privately or via a company and who invests or owns that company if its was? Abdullah is a director. Is Diego just the puppet while others pull the strings? Why did a financial firm in Middlesbrough broker the deal?

I personally think nobody from the Club, who are UK citizens can answer this. IMO I don't count PMG as being in this category any longer

[GasheadofAlcatraz]

I just wanted to send my best wishes for the meeting tonight and hope that you are able to take the first steps towards creating a united fan base and one which can serve as a catalyst to help take the club forward.

For me the Shrimps Player commentaries are the nearest thing to being "with the lads - at the game" and their outrageous banter provides fond memories of my time on the terraces following Bristol Rovers. Although never previously claiming to be a supporter of Morecambe FC I must admit to feeling a little quiver now and again so it wouldn't take much to persuade me to join the proposed new Trust.

As I explained to Keith when signing up to Shrimps Voices a few years ago my attachment to Bristol Rovers goes back over 50 years (no child protection officers then) and when we hit a big crisis in the late 1980's I did acquire a shareholding and join the board for a short period. This was at the time when we were forced to play at Bath City's ground and our crowds were averaging 3000 which puts our recent brief sojourn into non-league (when we owned our ground and averaged 6600) into true perspective. I learned a lot during that time and the most important thing was that unity is absolutely essential if you are to survive and eventually prosper. That doesn't mean you can't have different opinions or should always rigidly toe the party line it means you must have the confidence to put aside petty differences and work together towards a common goal. In fact I think the first and most important thing which needs to be done at the meeting is to agree what that goal should be.

It does concern me that, despite the good result on Saturday, relegation is still a danger and (my view is contrary to one posted on here recently) I do think off-field turmoil does affect on-field performance. A positive move by a unified group of supporters would, I believe, send a strong signal to the manager, coaches and players that Morecambe FC is worth fighting for no matter what machinations are happening behind the scenes. The January transfer window could be critical and the ability of Jim Bentley to attract quality players will depend to a large extent on how well the club is viewed within "the game" and how much cash is available for wages. If a Supporters Trust was able to provide short term finance specifically to go towards the acquisition of loan signings in January it would make a significant difference to the chances of maintaining league status. One hundred fans pledging £10 per week for 19 weeks may be all it takes.

[SupermarketShrimp]

There are lots of questions asked Supermarket, not many answers though( you are welcome to attend these things and ask yourself) top and bottom of it is, Diego owns MFC, A business, and he chooses to answer or not,what he feels like answering, and no one can make him do otherwise as long as he doesn't break any company laws )

Unfortunately a supporters trust can only work with him if he wants them to, as can a board of directors.

A) I wanted to come to the meeting, but it was organised twice and cancelled twice, so naturally having a day job and not unlimited funds and time for the m6 at rush tour from Manchester, I was loathe to do it a third time, especially as I'd already committed to radio lancs.

B) I've never met Diego, but probably like yourself I've heard good things about him. The supporters trust movement is there to support him, not to protest against him. Being constructive and holding directors to account is by no means a negative, and this club has operated for too long on blind faith and acceptance and accepting 500k plus losses as being par for the course. It's my belief that this needs to stop now, both for directors pockets and the future of Morecambe FC. We are here to help, every single one of us. Radio lancs want us back on. Let's instead of saying "we are building an office block. Yeah ok Morecambe FC, that's great news. Who's building it, who's going in it, why do we need it, how does that improve the company - this is great. Let's get the proper information and hit the public domain and brag about it, how we are giving back to local business and the community. Let's get people interested in this club again. It's not hard, it just takes passion and hard work.

C) if Diego doesn't wish to engage with anyone, as you say that is his prerogative. He has to at least meet with a trust regularly and tell us where the club is at.. Estimates say we will have between 100/150 at morecambe cc tonight. If you've got that number of people and media interested, all willing to help, for free, no matter what state the club is in for better or worse, then that will speak volumes about his vision for the club and his long term ambitions. Why wouldn't you engage an army of free publicity wanting you to be a hero?

As mentioned at length. 1. I want Diego to succeed. 2. No one is treating this as a protest, more a formalisation of the old fans club so we can kick on and raise more money and have a greater say, and support Morecambe FC in a better way. 3. It only works with strength in numbers. Back it and be involved and the club will be stronger for it moving forward.

[fulwoodshrimp]

Like Trevor I am unclear whether money has yet been paid for PMG's shares. As I have posted earlier, something doesn't seem right about the whole deal. You don't get the feeling we are now owned by a millionaire willing to spend money on the club and for me the sale of Tom B. suggested we needed cash quickly. Silence from the new owner and PMG is strange. If we make few signings in the transfer window that would confirm my feeling that we are not getting the full picture of what is going on.

[mrpotatohead]

3 good posts in a row there, there are alot of unanswered questions , but the key in all this is to be positive and united, hopefully the new owner will see this for what it is, welcome it, and maybe issue some kind of statement when he comes back ( supposedly) today, after talking to his board.

[Trevor]

I work away a lot and cant get there tonight so wish you all well. I just reckon it’ll be a tricky meeting to keep on track so good luck doing that.
Unless someones there who can answer questions about the details of ownership at this point and any immediate future plans and money matters you could easily waste a lot of time speculating and going off rumours.
Nowt to do with me but if I was there id be saying you should concentrate (as Supermmarket shrimp is sensibly saying) and stick to what you do know and what you CAN do.
Maybe looking at two possibilities.
One that no new money is going to come and we are sliding into administration – so how does a trust work with administrators? - and another that says we have a solid board to work with and how is the trust going to be represented in all that.
The gossip can be done over beer’s after the meeting but it’ll waste lots of time if you go on about all that in the actual meeting, unless its based on proper info.
Just my thoughts – and good luck hope it goes really well.

[KenH]

The gossip can be done over beer’s after the meeting but it’ll waste lots of time if you go on about all that in the actual meeting, unless its based on proper info.
Just my thoughts – and good luck hope it goes really well.

Hope that the trust representative can take control of the meeting as she'll have seen it all before and is best placed to keep the meeting on track. MFC fans won't be the first to have issues with their clubs' owners/board so hopefully she'll have experience in sticking to the point of the trust, which at this early stage is simply to set it up.

[Phil Anderer]

I was hoping to come tonight but I've lost a full working day to email issues and will be working late tonight to catch up. Please post any outcomes on here, as I'm definitely interested in being involved.

[P/T Indie]

[quote="GasheadofAlcatraz"]I just wanted to send my best wishes for the meeting tonight and hope that you are able to take the first steps towards creating a united fan base and one which can serve as a catalyst to help take the club forward.

What a great post especially this bit.

I do have my reservations about are we united enough to all get behind one banner and get this thing off the ground and is there enough of us, realistically how many signed up member do we need to make it work 500+?

Normally when there are fans meetings etc they fall pretty flat, people moan we go round in circles and never get anywhere. Then personalities, egos whatever you want to call it start getting in the way and people don't want be part of other peoples gangs etc

I hope for once everyone can put there differences behind them and we can get this up and running.

[mrpotatohead]

P/T, Indie is correct, leave the moans and the ego's at home folks!

[fulwoodshrimp]

Lets concentrate tonight on hearing about trusts, asking questions about them and deciding if we are setting one up. Moans and gossip are for another day!

[Caged Lion]

This is a great initiative, I hope you all have a supersonic evening and find a way to power ahead