First of all, for those who don't know me, I worked on the new website as a volunteer, so I can't speak for the club. However, as I run an internet company I was able to bring a bit of experience to the process. As a result I wanted to explain a few things about the new site that may not be immediately obvious. These are personal comments
The first thing is that the site is hosted on the premiumtv domain. It probably would have been better to have used morecambefc.com (hey Keith couldn't sort it for Shrimpsvoices so why should we
). However morecambefc.com has been re-pointed to the new site so you can still use this domain.
What happens to the old site? The old site, unlike the new one, retains its archive material and a lot of character thanks to the people who worked on it. As has been said Mat Seage has been done a sterling job in managing it for a few years now. Our hope, and negotiations are in progress, is to turn the old site in to a big archive of our non-league days that anyone can dip into as they wish. More detail will be provided in due course.
Now the new site. This has been, incredibly politely, a very difficult job. The site will have snags on it and errors, however these can very easily be fixed. If you do spot anything please PM or email Derek Quinn or I via this site; contact us through the new site
http://www.morecambefc.premiumtv.co.uk/ ... 6,00.html; or just post a topic on here and we'll pick it up. The fans are the eyes and ears and the site is for you so your help and comments are much appreciated.
Content. We will need content and content ideas from you. In particular, the fans section
http://www.morecambefc.premiumtv.co.uk/ ... 66,00.html gives the club the opportunity to list independent away travel details and contacts, supporters groups, put on the site your photographs (no match action shots please). Again it is going to take time to put in place a process for channelling all this into the site but it will develop with time. Personally I'd like to see the Club Legends section become a real Hall of Fame thing driven by fans - we'll see.
http://www.morecambefc.premiumtv.co.uk/ ... 66,00.htmlThe site will work hand-in-hand with the match day programme. Sean O'Connor has and continues to do a brilliant job with Shrimps Scene and the site may offer an opportunity for Sean to archive some of his old articles through the site. However, like most things this will only become clearer once the new season is under way.
Most importantly is the interactive fuctionality. On the splash page and here
http://www.morecambefc.premiumtv.co.uk/ ... OrRegister you can register to receive the email newsletter and alerts. Again we've got the rest of pre-season to iron out any hiccups but it'll be a great way to keep up to date with signings etc. so get registering now!!!
As for paid content this is still being worked on. However it will come as no surprise that Morecambe World will feature extended highlights of all matches. We are also looking at additional video content including interviews with players and staff; live match commentary home and away (great news for exiles); and a couple of other ideas too. Again, without being boring, there are limited resources for generating content and we're just learning to walk so bear with it. Quinny and the club will announce DEFINITE plans as time goes on.
Finally, the new site generates hard cash for the club in the way the old site couldn't. Centrally negotiated contracts mean that through syndicating news articles; advertising; the World service; and the other interactive and external services every time you click to view the site the club gets an income. Please use it and help everyone involved to develop it further.
Mike Gibson