Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisr
I think you have picked up on several threads not belonging to me, However I never write anything sarcastically.
|
lol, your right I did merge quite a few thoughts from various posts having orignally quoted you. The only bit that I wanted to quote was the bit about us acting like a 2nd rate 4th tier club when that is exactly what we are and are a long long way from not being. I wanted to highlight that even doubling the crowds would only put us on a par with the other poorest clubs, we would still have 18 or so other clubs to match or beat in order to not be a 2nd rate 4th tier club.
I also deliberately mentioned the bit about "where are the brains ..." as it did read sarcastically when coupled with what followed.
Anyway, regardless, the entire post was not in any way an attack on you and was only designed to try to bring us all down a little as it seems to me almost as though we are trying to find an excuse to moan at the club sometimes. That of course is subject to opinion and mine will differ from others.
It is good that now and again this sort of subject rears it's head and that a few people try to have objective input in how we need to progress. With a bit of hope and a fair wind sometimes these ideas will work their way back to the powers that be. The ideas themselves may frequently be fruitless but it does give them an idea as to how the fanbase may be thinking.
The one worry I have sometimes with any work that is going ahead is I wonder what sort of input is sought by the club from the fans? My personal opinion was that the Clayton End could have been done infinitely better for the same money but better effect by building all the structures as part of the exterior wall - thus creating a wind break and a far bigger canopy for shelter from the rain. I cant knock what has happened as it is a huge improvement on what was, I just felt that it lacked input from those that use the End.
The other major thing I wanted to get across was that without any kind of Official statement from the club we have little or no idea as to what the immediate future holds. I KNOW that Andy wants to encourage the kids back, I KNOW that he has heard tales of what The Clayton End was like in its Ultra pomp and would love that to return, but I also KNOW that he won 't make a big play for it until such time as the club is ready to accept an influx of new fans.
That may sound a little daft, and un-businesslike but he has a point. We debated it a couple of months ago as to whether we could take a thousand kids now. Yes is the short answer, we are physically able to accept a thousand kids for the next game but it wouldn't be the experience that it should be and the retention numbers would be awful. Done in the right manner, and at the right time the retention numbers should be magical.
I personally dont like to pester those with chairs at the club. I'll pass my thoughts in person if the opportunity arises, or I'll email it if I think it necessary or helpful - but I don't chase things up. Andy is financially invested to the club for well over a £M and that will be probably be over £2m by the end of the season, if he wants to ignore advice or help because he knows better than that is up to him and we are only customers who can choose to spend or not. We've supported the club when it was crap, we've supported it when it has threatened to not be crap, so it makes no difference to me whether we remain so or not. However, I will try to accost Mr Holt to obtain some answers to questions so that we can ascertain for ourselves where our criticisms need to be directed.
It IS FANtastic that we have people who are willing to offer their opinions, but how many of us will stand up if the call comes for volunteers to realise these opinions? Chris mentioned about questionnaires, and whilst to some this may seem like preaching to the converted, it may also offer clues as to what can be done and where. I often thought it would be prudent to hire some questionnaire folk to trawl around Accrington on a home matchday and quiz folk who AREN'T at the match.