Board outside the ground

[BoroRedShrimp]

Not all people have twitter or even a computer, Also people who are on holiday or out & about can' t always get signal depending what provider you are on. It comes down to the club to advertise more to get bums on seats.

[KenH]

The club's advertising/marketing has been dire for years and the Board/management have to accept a lot of the blame for poor attendances.

A few years ago, this same topic was brought up at a fan's forum and the club's response (I think it was the general manager at the time) was that fans can easily look up matches etc on the internet if they're interested. That was an absolutely pathetic response and shows a complete lack of business acumen.

There's a reason why global firms like Coca-Cola continue to invest heavily in branding, marketing & advertising - it's to keep their name at the front of the minds of customers, resellers, etc.

[al1]

At least they do not need to go out and put a 'match off' sign up!

[Westgate Wanderer]

Match now off so i'm wondering if we have a Mistic Meg at the club!

[Rod Taylor]

I love Quinny and everything he’s done and is doing for the club but on Radio Lancashire about 10 minutes prior to kick off last weekend he was asked about the 800+ attendance on the Tuesday night.

He said it was the people of Morecambe’s fault for not supporting their club and that they were a ‘disgrace’. He also said that the club ‘were doing everything it can’.

Sorry, but not updating the ground boards is just another example of the shambolic way the club is now being run, despite the efforts of a few to try and prop it up. It also shows why local people, who have attended games in the past are losing faith. Christ almighty, North West Counties League clubs keep their outside fixture boards up-to-date as it is the simplest form of advertising to regular passing trade.

I can’t wait to get this season out of the way so we can hopefully use the summer to resolve the ownership situation. At the moment, the most likely way is administration, taking the points deduction and using administration to get rid of all the debts, hangers on and clueless and give someone new a clean start. It is getting desperate now.

"Shambolic way the club is now run", Posh are you for real?? Come & talk if you have some ideas. RT

[Posh]

Rod compared to the way Accrington are running their club I stick exactly by what I say about it being shambolic.

I don’t need to come and tell you ideas for how to run the club, the Shrimps Trust have loads. They’ve done a fantastic job of picking up commercial deals with their volunteers; they’ve offered the club a senior national manager at Carlsberg to help with getting better deals on drink and promotions; they’ve implemented the only change behind the Omega Stand, despite all the promises; they communicate with the fans on a regular basis through a better email newsletter than the clubs; and they have a database of members and potential members, which is more than the club has.

Also worth taking a leaf out of their book and the likes of Andy Holt’s at Accrington and start to talk honestly with fans, in particular about the ownership situation. All we’ve had is Burnard’s bizarre behaviour back at the end of last year and the club’s response about its own offer and then nothing. Is Abdulrahman still funding the club? What is the status of the 3G pitches under administration? After it was stated that directors helped pay part of the wages recently are we getting funding from anyone other than Abdulrahman?

Speak to the Trust because they represent me and hundreds of others concerned about the future of the club.

[Rod Taylor]

I do

[Rod Taylor]

Rod compared to the way Accrington are running their club I stick exactly by what I say about it being shambolic.

I don’t need to come and tell you ideas for how to run the club, the Shrimps Trust have loads. They’ve done a fantastic job of picking up commercial deals with their volunteers; they’ve offered the club a senior national manager at Carlsberg to help with getting better deals on drink and promotions; they’ve implemented the only change behind the Omega Stand, despite all the promises; they communicate with the fans on a regular basis through a better email newsletter than the clubs; and they have a database of members and potential members, which is more than the club has.

Also worth taking a leaf out of their book and the likes of Andy Holt’s at Accrington and start to talk honestly with fans, in particular about the ownership situation. All we’ve had is Burnard’s bizarre behaviour back at the end of last year and the club’s response about its own offer and then nothing. Is Abdulrahman still funding the club? What is the status of the 3G pitches under administration? After it was stated that directors helped pay part of the wages recently are we getting funding from anyone other than Abdulrahman?

Speak to the Trust because they represent me and hundreds of others concerned about the future of the club.

I do speak to them formally in my capacity as a director and informally as a proud member of the Shrimp's Trust.
To take a look at the points you raise;
Deals on drinks & promotions: Do you think we just sit back and not look for the best deals available on all fronts? Over the past 18 months we have reviewed our buying habits and I am comfortable with these areas. That is not to say these things should not be looked at on a frequent basis as that is just sensible, standard business practice. This season the club has implemented beer offers, happy hours & reasonably priced food in JB's Bar prior to matches.
The only change behind the Omega Stand:The Legends Wall is a very welcome addition to the area and one that I am proud to see. You say, "despite all the promises". It was me who put his head above the parapet at the last end of season awards night and said the covered area would come to fruition. I also pledged financial help with this from myself and two of my colleagues. That was the situation at the time and remains so. As you may appreciate, the club has been through the mill in the ensuing 11 months and we have had to prioritize our focus and efforts in ensuring we all had a club to support. The plans for this area are still on-going and the Shrimps Trust has shown an interest in fundraising for this initiative. Surely that is part of their role, to provide help and support for the club and additional comfort for fans?
A leaf out of their book: As a businessman, you will appreciate that you cannot give out potentially confidential information that could ultimately harm the club. If you talk to the Shrimps Trust trustees who attend the formal meetings with the BOD representatives, they will tell you I have been upfront, honest and as transparent about the clubs situation as I could possibly have been in the circumstances. We have had very positive meetings with the club listening to and implementing ideas from the Trust. We listened to the requests for giving the bar an identity and naming it as the Trust members wished, making it more fan friendly, MFC memorabilia, etc. This season was only the start for such memorabilia to be on display, there are other plans but do you want me to spill those before they are cast firmly in stone? I will certainly bring the ideas to the next Trust meeting with the BOD reps.
3G pitches: PMG Leisure is still in administration, nothing has changed. Do you want a running commentary about nothing?
Is Abdulrahemen still funding the club: I think that is a private matter between him and the BOD.
Speak to the Trust: I and some of my colleagues do and will continue to do so in a positive way and work with them in a partnership for the benefit of MFC and it's supporters. RT

[Posh]

Thanks for the update.

In response my understanding is no one met with the person the Trust put forward regarding drinks. Beer prices went up and fans expressed concern and publicly went to other places. It is good the club has now responded with offers to keep fans there at different times and responded to the pressure from fans. The argument remains that more can be done. For example, Accrington’s sponsorship deal with a local haulage company and Bowland Brewery, they’ve managed to resolve similar problems at the back of their home stand (with barriers to make queuing easier and providing cover) and get a longer-term deal on prices.

I think all fans were grateful for the offer to resolve the problems behind the Omega Terrace and recognising it. Having said 11 months ago that it was definitely going to happen, it is obviously a concern that nothing has happened. This is what Mark Dixon had done previously. Thanks for letting us know there is a problem and what is being done to resolve it.

As regards not saying anything about the administration even sometimes saying ‘nothing has changed’ or simply explaining the situation, which the club has never formally done, is a simple way of saying to supporters that we want to communicate with you as much as we can and we care. It may even lead to ideas and solutions.

As for private matters, in the absence of any information then fans will make up their own minds. Some information will be confidential or damaging if released, I get that. However, the drip feed of information - directors part paid the wages, there are offers on the table and G Burnard wanted you to resign and give up any rights to loans - is damaging and negative without any context. Anything to put this into a positive context will offset any negativity.

Thanks also for acknowledging what a great job the Trust has done. Hopefully that partnership will continue to deliver solutions where either the club, the Trust or both can’t on their own.

[sandgrown]

great stuff gents, so who's going to change the fixture board outside the ground ?

[bill ding]

I guess it has not been changed yet ???

[HALMA 1983]

Think I'll have a word with Chesh about helping down at the Club once again on a voluntary basis, one day a week (of his choice) now I'm going to have plenty of time on my hands

[paschahound]

The sign board situation has been ongoing for years along with the lack of signs around the area. The one at Skerton took ages to be updated and one year we had almost the lowest attendance of the season for a massive top of the table promotion chasing clash when a brilliant performance and win was achieved against Gateshead.
How about some Phuket style advertising like they do for Thai boxing? Get a van with megaphone and drive round the area, including local villages, while handing out promo leaflets, and someone saying in a dramatic voice 'Tuesday night...Tuesday night...Globe Arena.. See the big action, the best of the best..join in the support of YOUR team, YOUR town... Morecambe against xxxxxxx, Morecambe against xxxxxxx, Tuesday night Tuesday night...' etc

Oh, and no jokes about ladyboys etc plz

[George Dawes]

The sign board situation has been ongoing for years along with the lack of signs around the area. The one at Skerton took ages to be updated and one year we had almost the lowest attendance of the season for a massive top of the table promotion chasing clash when a brilliant performance and win was achieved against Gateshead.
How about some Phuket style advertising like they do for Thai boxing? Get a van with megaphone and drive round the area, including local villages, while handing out promo leaflets, and someone saying in a dramatic voice 'Tuesday night...Tuesday night...Globe Arena.. See the big action, the best of the best..join in the support of YOUR team, YOUR town... Morecambe against xxxxxxx, Morecambe against xxxxxxx, Tuesday night Tuesday night...' etc

Oh, and no jokes about ladyboys etc plz

Or on Match day the Club opens a Thai Massage parlour with staff in Morecambe shirts asking customers would they like an (happy ending) after the massage

[paschahound]

The sign board situation has been ongoing for years along with the lack of signs around the area. The one at Skerton took ages to be updated and one year we had almost the lowest attendance of the season for a massive top of the table promotion chasing clash when a brilliant performance and win was achieved against Gateshead.
How about some Phuket style advertising like they do for Thai boxing? Get a van with megaphone and drive round the area, including local villages, while handing out promo leaflets, and someone saying in a dramatic voice 'Tuesday night...Tuesday night...Globe Arena.. See the big action, the best of the best..join in the support of YOUR team, YOUR town... Morecambe against xxxxxxx, Morecambe against xxxxxxx, Tuesday night Tuesday night...' etc

Oh, and no jokes about ladyboys etc plz

Or on Match day the Club opens a Thai Massage parlour with staff in Morecambe shirts asking customers would they like an (happy ending) after the massage

Come on George! You know people would just blow (cough cough) their 500 baht /12 quid and then not have enough for match admission

[al1]

Hallelujah,a miracle has occurred outside the Globe Arena!

[bill ding]

What tatiehead and CC cuddling

[Wild Bill]

Message to the Trust - lets make resolving the situation a top priority. For whatever reason the club can't get this right, so lets take control.

As a minimum, I think we need three large and well lit signs. We will probably also need to get them sponsored to help cover the costs:

Outside the ground (obviously! And the area around it tidied up so it looks less derelict. )
On the Bay Gateway
On the entrance to Lancaster

I'd be happy to contribute some cash and when back in the UK, would happily support keeping them up-to-date.

[bill ding]

Shrimp roundabout is the ideal place for an extra advertising board (as was years ago) .
Hoof the "Welcome to Morecambe " sign away and stick it there, that is what i see as the main artery for transport into town and people are usually at a crawling pace at that point .
I guess the problem would be working with the local council who maybe dont realise we have a football league club

[seasonsinthesun]

Shrimp roundabout is the ideal place for an extra advertising board (as was years ago) .
Hoof the "Welcome to Morecambe " sign away and stick it there, that is what i see as the main artery for transport into town and people are usually at a crawling pace at that point .
I guess the problem would be working with the local council who maybe dont realise we have a football league club

There is a small sign at the Shrimp roundabout, black letters on white background, which says
"Morecambe football club" on the left as approaching the roundabout from Lancaster, but it is small and not easily seen.

[red shrimp]

The advertisement of the club is awful! someones not doing a good enough job!

[halfwayprawn]

Think I'll have a word with Chesh about helping down at the Club once again on a voluntary basis, one day a week (of his choice) now I'm going to have plenty of time on my hands

Chesh does a great job with what help he has and any help from anyone I reckon would be a welcome

[bill ding]

Things are looking up , went past the ground today and the board advertising the next game reads correctly . Well done to who ever did it

[Christies Child]

Things are looking up , went past the ground today and the board advertising the next game reads correctly . Well done to who ever did it

Chesh had a word with me last night to say that the Board for the next game was going up at half time.

[bill ding]

THE POWER OF SHRIMPSVOICES !!!