07 Feb 2016 00:57:44
Hello ed001,
If you're about. You have mentioned how the advisors to the fsg have been a real let down. I don't know if it'd be possible for you to expand on that. But can you tell, if better advisors are available and fsg are indeed aware of their availability. Are these well respected individuals within the game, or a normal consultancy firms to help grow the wealth of the business.? And you also mentioned something on the lines of "a proper cull". Is your expectation, with regards to that thought, the length and breadth of the club or limited to just the ones representing on the pitch? I'll understand if it takes time or indeed not a good question for this time.
{Ed001's Note - there are better advisors available, they have even tried to bring in some of them, such as Johan Cruyff, but failed. They did use consultants, such as David Dein, but when they were unable to get people like Cruyff that he advised, they fell for the spiel of Comolli instead. FSG have already had a cull of scouting staff and other off field employees, though it doesn't seem to have picked out a lot of the glaringly obvious problems within the club. There is still no one remotely connected to the fanbase to help advise them on fan matters. They are relying on Ayre, who is about as connected to the average fan as I am with oil sheikhs.}
07 Feb 2016 08:02:39
Hi Ed001 in your opinion who would be a good choice to bridge that gap between board and the fans?
{Ed001's Note - someone like Carragher would be the best kind of go between. He has a foot in both camps, so to speak, so can understand both viewpoints. He is also not afraid to stand up and say what he thinks, which is needed.}
07 Feb 2016 08:31:13
Thank you very much for a swift response ed, it's much appreciated mate. They really need to get things sorted. I somehow always end up thinking they're as reasonable as a businessman can be, but how long until they realise that the fixing of some obvious problems will help them make fan trouble a non issue from the word off? But we are where we are. The tricky part is the owners might feel the game is not for them and bid adieu until the next 'businessman' comes in with his agenda. The disconnect between a club owner and the fans is being tested like never before. How do we find the perfect middle road?
{Ed001's Note - they could easily look at Leicester to see how to run a club to get the fans onside and create an amazing atmosphere at the ground. Ok Leicester have to give up that tiny income they would otherwise receive from ground attendance, but I bet their merchandising income has shot up on the back of it and they are getting so much more TV exposure than they would have if the crowd and team were at odds. It is not just those clappers, which cost the club £15k a match, it is the drink tokens with tickets, the bottle of beer on every seat on New Year etc. There have been games that have lost them money on tickets and yet the effects have turned them around. Would anyone question whether it was worth it?}
07 Feb 2016 09:59:17
A good question to end your response with Ed. Food for thought really. It is just plain simple then, they call themselves businessmen and don't even know the basics. They have a drawing board to get back to!
{Ed001's Note - they are businessmen but in a totally different arena from this. That is why they needed to engage local knowledge, which they have failed miserably to do.}
07 Feb 2016 13:49:21
Carragher would have been high on my list too Ed001. I also had someone like Aldridge in mind. One I'm bias as loved the footballer, but he also is very much in tune with the fans, has managed (granted at a lower level) so can deal with boardroom issues and also is not as active in the media like Carragher currently is. I'd assume the amount of work needed by this appointment to try to get a amicable resolution between board and fans would be fairly substantial. Especially within the first 6-12 month period.
{Ed001's Note - good suggestion, Aldo would be great, he is a genuine fan too.}