Quote ="maurice""Don't be defensive in your communications about your project," advises Colin Farmery from Pompey Supporters' Trust. "Some people will be sceptical and negative but if you believe in what you're doing, stay positive about your message, eventually the sceptics will come round."
Great advice for anybody taking this idea forward, often the sceptics have something to lose and will attempt to influence those close to them via negativity. We have nothing to lose IMO and at the same time doing nothing is not an option.
Some fans will not be financially able to support this although they would like to, that's why I like the open share concept allowing family to buy fans shares as presents
To Andy and his team - go do it lads, as once it rolls it won't stop, Leythers are a proud bunch who love their club'"
Mo,
The amount of support generated and recieved via the two threads on this topic and also by PM/Email has been very encouraging to say the least.
As for the negative thinkers i do understand why, its a fact and im sure not just in sport but in any organisation you cant please everyone all of the time though i appreciate its very important to try very hard to do so. I personally dont take offence from any view point and/or even constructive critism and take everyones points onboard and have never dismissed anything and do appreciate people have seen many false dawns and big ideas come and go in the past hence ive never stated any intent to do X,Y or Z to date.
People who are unsure for whatever reason on motives or intent will latch on to the "FAN OWNERSHIP" in a negative way but in reality weather it be a week/ month or at the end of the current season the current structure will have failed and change by some way shape or form will be required IMO.
I need to stress once again im not critising ANYBODY as it seems the active directors and Trevor Barton (who has worked tirelessly for the cause) have played a huge roll in keeping a professional RL club alive following the very sad demise of MR Thomas. They have also had some bad luck along the way which has posibly lead to budgets failing and the constant weight round the neck of the historic debt is some burden to trade with no doubt.
Back on topic, Fan ownership was the thread that intrested me but its greater fan inclusion and fan/ comunity focussed interaction in any future that is the key for me may that be by outright share ownership with a board appointed on thier behalf or a new single investor/ consortium willing to invest X per year with a share sale working hand in hand with the likes of LISA/TDC etc to underpin a successful future by way of keeping SCL LTD alive or "NEWCO" like a Widnes for example but it is far to early to speculate. There will be options.
Very early days but im sure speaking as a fan first and foremost if i knew of at least intrest and posible [uNEW[/u people potentially willing to make financial and professional commiments to make something positive happen id be pleased and take some comfort from these threads.
In the meantime Batley sunday lets focus on what really matters as many as posible fans in the seats and terraces supporting those lads in RED and White on Sunday!!!!!!!
Cheers,
Andy
