What can we do?

[AppleShrimp]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to clarify a few points on this thread and other social media sites:
1) yes, of course, the board read these posts, across all platforms. We are fans of the club and want to keep abreast of what people think. It is important to to look at these forums, because lots of people would rather write it down, than say it to or message us directly I must say however I have been away this week and hadn’t read it until now so the things I said on the podcast last night, we’re along the same lines with no bias or reactive intent.
2) it is not fair to say the board do not communicate or make statements. James or I or both are on the podcast every week. We are very open and honest with everything we say. We cannot tell you everything but we can tell you what we can. I don’t think enough people listen to the podcast. it’s really good.
3) James and I always make sure we visit the away fans at every away game we attend. We visit the fans in the stands to answer any questions people have. I think that is an extremely rare thing.
4) We are here to represent the club and represent your/our club at all times. It has not been easy for many months now but as a board we are strong and we are doing a the best we can.
5) we will update you with more news in the next few days.
6) I appreciate it must be very frustrating not knowing everything that is going on. It is a very different situation to Reading. Things are going very well on and off the pitch considering the limbo we are in.
7) I also appreciate that some people think that having a protest would be a good thing to try and accelerate the sale process. As I said in the podcast, as it is widely and publicly known, Jason wants to get out as much as anyone.
8) I know we keep saying it, but please let the board continue to try and rectify the situation and continue to give your undying passionate support to Ged the guys starting in Milton Keynes tomorrow.
9) Up the Shrimps
CA

[mfc8]

^^^^
Jason wants to get out...

Understand he owns c80% and have seen figure around £20m which I think includes club, stadium, etc.

Not sure of debts.
Not sure whether stadium plus freehold of land included.
Not sure who owns other 20%.

But wonder if some sort of prospectus saying what's available from Jason might be useful.
Assume the £20m is negotiable.

[Billy bodger]

Thanks AppleShrimp for your post, you went a bit further than in your interview on the podcast. Not everyone is on this platform or on Facebook or listen to the podcast or the Shrimps Trust or regularly go to away games or talk with the BoD’s and our Executives. So there will be fans who don’t hear everything or know as much as Joe Bloggs.

I’ve not been on this platform to long and I can't recall seeing anything about the owner and the BoD’s working on the sale together again, but I don’t catch everything that has been posted.

The beef of the fans is with the owner, just as it was when the BoD’s made their statement on the Clubs website about their relationship with the owner,(no confidence in the owner over the sale of the Club), pretty strong but probably nailed how the fans are feeling. For me, that’s the last I heard until last night by reading on hear about your interview on the podcast and your recent post on here. So today I watched my first podcast because of it.

If you do read our post as you say, hopefully you find at least some constructive comments. The debate on this platform on the question “What can we do?” has been especially good and I hope yourself and the BoD’s are appreciative of the fans in their openness on the subject within the debate that has taken place.

I think you have to follow through on what has been announced today, fans will be expecting a statement and that a fans forum comes up soon.

Lastly I’ve no doubt Morecambe fans will continue to get behind the team, that is one thing we all can be sure about.

[BHmfc]

We all know that Jason wants to sell the club but how much is he asking ? There have been all sorts of silly numbers thrown around in the last several months or so, 20 million, 10 million but at those sort of valuations, the club will never be sold. You can ask a million pounds for your house but if it's only worth £50 000 you will never sell it. I'd be amazed if the club is worth anymore than between 1.5 and 2 million. It would be good to have an honest, independent valuation, that way it would be another step forward.

[fulwoodshrimp]

That is a key question. How much is Whittingham asking for the club? Yes, he wants to sell if he makes a killing but that is his sole motive- to make mega money from the sale. I am puzzled if the board are helping to sell the club when they say they don’t know his asking price. You only have to listen at games to hear fans discontent is rising and if we are not careful there will be problems caused by fans frustration and the repeated question powerless fans ask “What can we do?”. Some action such as a March would make fans feel they are doing something but it seems that the Trust and the board don’t want this to happen. I have no doubt Worcester Rugby Club fans wished they had done more. We all want to ensure the survival of our club so let’s be fully involved and work together and an open meeting would surely help. COYS

[Billy bodger]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to clarify a few points on this thread and other social media sites:
1) yes, of course, the board read these posts, across all platforms. We are fans of the club and want to keep abreast of what people think. It is important to to look at these forums, because lots of people would rather write it down, than say it to or message us directly I must say however I have been away this week and hadn’t read it until now so the things I said on the podcast last night, we’re along the same lines with no bias or reactive intent.
2) it is not fair to say the board do not communicate or make statements. James or I or both are on the podcast every week. We are very open and honest with everything we say. We cannot tell you everything but we can tell you what we can. I don’t think enough people listen to the podcast. it’s really good.
3) James and I always make sure we visit the away fans at every away game we attend. We visit the fans in the stands to answer any questions people have. I think that is an extremely rare thing.
4) We are here to represent the club and represent your/our club at all times. It has not been easy for many months now but as a board we are strong and we are doing a the best we can.
5) we will update you with more news in the next few days.
6) I appreciate it must be very frustrating not knowing everything that is going on. It is a very different situation to Reading. Things are going very well on and off the pitch considering the limbo we are in.
7) I also appreciate that some people think that having a protest would be a good thing to try and accelerate the sale process. As I said in the podcast, as it is widely and publicly known, Jason wants to get out as much as anyone.
8) I know we keep saying it, but please let the board continue to try and rectify the situation and continue to give your undying passionate support to Ged the guys starting in Milton Keynes tomorrow.
9) Up the Shrimps
CA

Is this your first post on here since Jan 2023?

[Billy bodger]

This next week is about getting behind the team for these next three games, starting today away at MK Dons (good luck to the lads).

I hope those who are attending the game see us perform to the level of the Mansfield game and just as important, witness us getting something at that venue.

We then have two home games and we the fans need to, at this time get right behind the team, that’s an important aspect we as supporters can perform.

The players and the Club are always grateful for our support so, let’s create a great atmosphere, I thought alongside the Mansfield fans the atmosphere was really good at that game and for me the players responded and gave us a great performance.

Geeet-up!!

[Keith]

It is clear there is support for a march.

Personally, I would be very clear to call it a “demonstration” not a “protest”.

It may sound pedantic, but in my mind, there is a substantial difference.

To protest, you need to have something to protest about, that can have a positive outcome. We could say we're protesting against the owner. But the owner wants the same thing as us, to sell the club. No-one can force him to sell for less than he thinks it is worth. We pretty much all support the board and the work they are putting in to keeping us viable. And, we're a world away from Reading. Their position is existential, they may soon not have a club left. Their campaign is far more desperate than ours.

A demonstration, can be a positive. We're demonstrating a commitment to the club. We're demonstrating our concern for the situation. We're demonstrating our frustrations. It gives us something positive to do.

And, we're raising awareness and advertising the fact that the club is up for sale.

My biggest concern, which has been rising for a while, is that if don't do something, eventually, a group of fans will get together, on the quiet, to organise their own protest, copying Reading's. There have been people saying 'look how much coverage Reading are getting' and 'it's got Gary Lineker talking about Reading'. Well, yes, but Gary Lineker & press coverage isn't making any difference, but a points deduction, or being made to play behind closed doors will have a hugely detrimental impact. I'm concerned that the longer this situation goes on for, the more likely a 'tennis ball protest', or similar, will occur. A points deduction, or playing behind closed doors is hardly going to make Reading's situation worse, but it would be a disaster for us. Doing something positive, even if just to vent frustration, and to have a focus, may be the way forwards.

[Keith]

This next week is about getting behind the team for these next three games, starting today away at MK Dons (good luck to the lads).

I hope those who are attending the game see us perform to the level of the Mansfield game and just as important, witness us getting something at that venue.

We then have two home games and we the fans need to, at this time get right behind the team, that’s an important aspect we as supporters can perform.

The players and the Club are always grateful for our support so, let’s create a great atmosphere, I thought alongside the Mansfield fans the atmosphere was really good at that game and for me the players responded and gave us a great performance.

Geeet-up!!

Absolutely, 100%. Demonstration outside the ground, total commitment to support, inside it!

[Billy bodger]

It is clear there is support for a march.

Personally, I would be very clear to call it a “demonstration” not a “protest”.

It may sound pedantic, but in my mind, there is a substantial difference.

To protest, you need to have something to protest about, that can have a positive outcome. We could say we're protesting against the owner. But the owner wants the same thing as us, to sell the club. No-one can force him to sell for less than he thinks it is worth. We pretty much all support the board and the work they are putting in to keeping us viable. And, we're a world away from Reading. Their position is existential, they may soon not have a club left. Their campaign is far more desperate than ours.

A demonstration, can be a positive. We're demonstrating a commitment to the club. We're demonstrating our concern for the situation. We're demonstrating our frustrations. It gives us something positive to do.

And, we're raising awareness and advertising the fact that the club is up for sale.

My biggest concern, which has been rising for a while, is that if don't do something, eventually, a group of fans will get together, on the quiet, to organise their own protest, copying Reading's. There have been people saying 'look how much coverage Reading are getting' and 'it's got Gary Lineker talking about Reading'. Well, yes, but Gary Lineker & press coverage isn't making any difference, but a points deduction, or being made to play behind closed doors will have a hugely detrimental impact. I'm concerned that the longer this situation goes on for, the more likely a 'tennis ball protest', or similar, will occur. A points deduction, or playing behind closed doors is hardly going to make Reading's situation worse, but it would be a disaster for us. Doing something positive, even if just to vent frustration, and to have a focus, may be the way forwards.

Keith, this is not a love in, lol!

I am not for or against a march, each to their own.I just think people like to do things differently and I hope at the least I have moved the conversation forward in a positive way that stops foolish irresponsible actions like throwing things on to the pitch or worse inside the ground. I also hope that in my way I am helping make the BoD’s and the Clubs executives understand the strength of feeling of the fans, the vast majority really want to see a change of ownership.

Your points on a march are very well made, if people who feel they need to organise a well attended demonstration by the fans by holding a short show of how strongly they feel about the ownership of the Club, after it’s been up for sale for nearly 18mth’s, that is ultimately up to them.

It is wrong to say a well organised, marshalled demonstration OUT SIDE THE STADIUM “won’t achieve anything” it will, for the fans it will release frustrations, it will not however placate or recede the strength of feeling about the prolong drawn out affair of the Clubs sale. As long as the sale drags on the fans will not be happy.