If I Was head of the sky blue trust (20 Viewers)

[Grendel]

I have been asked by numerous people on here what would I do in the position. Well here is a few thought;

Wasps - what has really alienated me from the trust is their stance on wasps. Wasps are a franchise coming into the City. Given the utter nonsense around Sixfields the trust by not actively alienating themselves from the whole circus has made themselves look ridiculous. They should have urged an immediate boycott of wasps and definitely should have shown to the public how this is morally wrong and detrimental to sport in the city.

All members should have been urged not to attend as a minimum.

The council - the council have been major instigators in the clubs downfall. They could and should have been bought to account far more than they have. Inflated rent deals should have been criticised. Any opposition to them politically should have been supported. The sell out should have been objected to and a demand to see the details of the sale should definitely have been at the forefront of any strategy. There should have from the start been an anti council stance and an urgency to galvanise the public against them as ultimately the public opinion is all they value and that is it. Any attempt to stop any moves to a ground in the city has to be openly challenged and become the main focus for the trust. The apparent decision to build a swimming pool which elite athletes will benefit from and will result in the desolation of the Acadamy needs ruthless expose to the public.

Sisu - well here we go. There is no doubt that dealing with owners like sisu is a challenge. However, what a lot of posters on here fail to comprehend is they are the king makers. Demanding they go and hand the club to someone else, shake a fist to Tim Fisher, pour scorn on every dealing that do, siding with people who were never buying the club ever are serious strategic errors. Challenging is essential but blatant disregard and disdain is fatal. In the end you have to establish relationships and work with them.

These are clearly troubled times for CCFC. The trust needs to decide what is the best course of action to take. It has to have one objective - what is best for CCFC.

It's courting of unsuitable suitors, holding less than charitable charity heads in high regard, attendance at wasps games and it's total inability to make the council accountable for anything makes it rather unfit for purpose.

In my opinion.

 

---

[Nick]

Grendel and Steve on tour 2k17

Will reply proper ly later

 

[Otis]

If you were head of the Sky Blue Trust most people would resign.

 

[skybluetony176]

If you were head of the trust you'd have to step out from the anonymity of your keyboard. Never going to happen.

 

[Ashdown]

I have been asked by numerous people on here what would I do in the position. Well here is a few thought;

Wasps - what has really alienated me from the trust is their stance on wasps. Wasps are a franchise coming into the City. Given the utter nonsense around Sixfields the trust by not actively alienating themselves from the whole circus has made themselves look ridiculous. They should have urged an immediate boycott of wasps and definitely should have shown to the public how this is morally wrong and detrimental to sport in the city.

All members should have been urged not to attend as a minimum.

The council - the council have been major instigators in the clubs downfall. They could and should have been bought to account far more than they have. Inflated rent deals should have been criticised. Any opposition to them politically should have been supported. The sell out should have been objected to and a demand to see the details of the sale should definitely have been at the forefront of any strategy. There should have from the start been an anti council stance and an urgency to galvanise the public against them as ultimately the public opinion is all they value and that is it. Any attempt to stop any moves to a ground in the city has to be openly challenged and become the main focus for the trust. The apparent decision to build a swimming pool which elite athletes will benefit from and will result in the desolation of the Acadamy needs ruthless expose to the public.

Sisu - well here we go. There is no doubt that dealing with owners like sisu is a challenge. However, what a lot of posters on here fail to comprehend is they are the king makers. Demanding they go and hand the club to someone else, shake a fist to Tim Fisher, pour scorn on every dealing that do, siding with people who were never buying the club ever are serious strategic errors. Challenging is essential but blatant disregard and disdain is fatal. In the end you have to establish relationships and work with them.

These are clearly troubled times for CCFC. The trust needs to decide what is the best course of action to take. It has to have one objective - what is best for CCFC.

It's courting of unsuitable suitors, holding less than charitable charity heads in high regard, attendance at wasps games and it's total inability to make the council accountable for anything makes it rather unfit for purpose.

In my opinion.

Hilarious !!!!

 

[Nick]

Hilarious !!!!

What is?

 

[Grendel]

If you were head of the trust you'd have to step out from the anonymity of your keyboard. Never going to happen.

What anonymity? The trust hierarchy know exactly who I am.

 

[Grendel]

Hilarious !!!!

I can assure you there would be a lot more focus on what's good for the club and only the club. Not some tub thumping tripe about kissing Tim Fishers hand at sixfields.

It needs professionalism - I am very professional in business.

 

[skybluetony176]

What anonymity? The trust hierarchy know exactly who I am.

The rest of us don't. Stick with being a keyboard warrior. Play to your strengths.

 

[skybluetony176]

I can assure you there would be a lot more focus on what's good for the club and only the club. Not some tub thumping tripe about kissing Tim Fishers hand at sixfields.

It needs professionalism - I am very professional in business.

Focus on what's good for the club?

You don't even want fans asking for costed business plans of renting the Ricoh vs redevelopment of the BPA in a joint venture with CRFC so that's bullshit for starters.

 

[hill83]

 

[Nick]

The rest of us don't. Stick with being a keyboard warrior. Play to your strengths.

Although it is kind of ironic you have told him to stop being a keyboard warrior, while being a keyboard warrior.

Some of the points raised are quite valid, I think the Trust have even recognised them themselves and Steve did mention the other day about a PR person.

 

[shy_tall_knight]

The SBT should distance themselves from WASPS, they will benefit from our continued demise and WASPS know it. Treat WASPS with the same courtesy as SISU and CCC.
Are the SBT wounded by their clashes with SISU ? Didn't TF tear a strip off John Fletch the ex=leader of CCC.

 

[skybluegod]

Whilst I rarely agree with Grendel, and I can see why he riles some people up, I have to say I support him on this matter.
The trust have done very little, as out main supporters group, and tbh they seem to lack any function, or real kind of voice. I personally have never felt the appeal of joining it, as to me, they don't seem to get anything accomplished for the good of the club.

 

[Nick]

The SBT should distance themselves from WASPS, they will benefit from our continued demise and WASPS know it. Treat WASPS with the same courtesy as SISU and CCC.
Are the SBT wounded by their clashes with SISU ? Didn't TF tear a strip off John Fletch the ex=leader of CCC.

And maybe seperate the club and the owners a bit more.

I am not saying they don't support the club, but there are other aspects to the club like sbitc, JSBs etc which aren't sisu and the trusts reach could help them.

 

[skybluetony176]

Although it is kind of ironic you have told him to stop being a keyboard warrior, while being a keyboard warrior.

Some of the points raised are quite valid, I think the Trust have even recognised them themselves and Steve did mention the other day about a PR person.

For it to be ironic grendull would have to step out from behind his keyboard, join the trust if he isn't already a member and make inroad's into getting to the top publicly exposing who he is in the process. I'd love to see it happen and I'd be the first to say fair play to him if he did but lets face it. It ain't going to happen so no irony.

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

I totally agree on almost all points.
Firstly a recommendation to all members to boycott Wasps should be a given. It's hypocritical to boycott Sixfields and then attend Wasps at the Ricoh. It's the same situation and all sports fans should stand together to stop another club doing this.
How anyone who supports our club can support by attending Wasps games is beyond me.
As for the council I detest them and one day I want their smug smiles firmly wiped off their faces. I'm not a Cov citizen but how anyone voted for them whilst supposedly supporting and wanting a bright future for our club is again beyond me. They played a major part in the shite we find ourselves in, an equal part that SISU played also.
I can't see ever some people changing though in their mindset towards SISU, they just won't ever accept them so would never begin reconciling with them and supporting what our owners do in the future.I hate them for what they have done but I've accepted that we have to move on as they are going nowhere until they recover some of their losses . I want all of it to end and work together like you G, but too many people are entrenched in their stance towards this mess
Basically good thoughts, hope one day we are rid of the poison that is the council,SISU and the franchise that is Wasps RFC, and we either have a new ground or we are back at the Ricoh as sole or part owners of the ground, which would mean Wasps selling a share which would never happen unless their bond share scheme goes tits up.

 

[Monners]

Sisu as owners are indeed Kingmakers so therefore the buck stops with them - the strategy of cynically playing the victim, moving to Sixfields, going through the Courts, and thus demonstrating no ambition to work with stakeholders (including the fans) has simply failed and in the process alienated all. In my view this clearly demonstrates no interest in the Club at all - it's just a vehicle to make money (God knows how though!). I know plenty of people who have tried (and still do) the approach that you suggest in working with them and it simply hasn't worked (SCG members, Supporters Clubs and as individuals).

As for the Wasps deal - agreed, the Trust should have officially, and vehemently, been opposed to the takeover - this may have galvanised the support to some extent at the time (except for Italia who is a self serving lost cause of a troll), so an opportunity missed - not that it would have made any difference to the deal of course..

CCC - utter disgrace and should be taken to account for using the Club, and by definition the CIty itself for their own means. You only have to look at Leicester (a city I know well), and more pertinently the Jimmy Hill programme to understand the influence and pride that a successful LOCAL sports club can imbue - good for morale, good for the economy, good for social cohesion and well being etc... These people are supposed to be public servants! Politicians eh!!

Horse has bolted on most of this, but the Trust needs to be both strategic and focused, and indeed balanced - put the fans and therefore the Club first.

Only an opinion as well of course PUSB

 

[Nick]

If this is going to be about the Trust, can it stay constructive. None of the silly insults towards the trust etc and be constructive about it

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

Sorry Nick I went off topic a bit.
Yes I agree totally the Trust should now get more behind the club, stand up for it more.
Can they start to build a meaningful relationship with the club , I would say they could if the will is there. They should definately get behind the new stadium idea at the Butts, they should have realised now there is no future at the Ricoh.
The trust should push for an initial 20000 stadium, not the idea of a two stand stadium as a starter as that will be a ridiculous solution for a period of time.
Get on to the council to release facts and figures concerning the sale to the franchise. Get them to answer such important questions like did SISU really offer more than wasps.
They should be pushing for those answers now.

 

[Brylowes]

I have been asked by numerous people on here what would I do in the position. Well here is a few thought;

Wasps - what has really alienated me from the trust is their stance on wasps. Wasps are a franchise coming into the City. Given the utter nonsense around Sixfields the trust by not actively alienating themselves from the whole circus has made themselves look ridiculous. They should have urged an immediate boycott of wasps and definitely should have shown to the public how this is morally wrong and detrimental to sport in the city.

All members should have been urged not to attend as a minimum.

The council - the council have been major instigators in the clubs downfall. They could and should have been bought to account far more than they have. Inflated rent deals should have been criticised. Any opposition to them politically should have been supported. The sell out should have been objected to and a demand to see the details of the sale should definitely have been at the forefront of any strategy. There should have from the start been an anti council stance and an urgency to galvanise the public against them as ultimately the public opinion is all they value and that is it. Any attempt to stop any moves to a ground in the city has to be openly challenged and become the main focus for the trust. The apparent decision to build a swimming pool which elite athletes will benefit from and will result in the desolation of the Acadamy needs ruthless expose to the public.

Sisu - well here we go. There is no doubt that dealing with owners like sisu is a challenge. However, what a lot of posters on here fail to comprehend is they are the king makers. Demanding they go and hand the club to someone else, shake a fist to Tim Fisher, pour scorn on every dealing that do, siding with people who were never buying the club ever are serious strategic errors. Challenging is essential but blatant disregard and disdain is fatal. In the end you have to establish relationships and work with them.

These are clearly troubled times for CCFC. The trust needs to decide what is the best course of action to take. It has to have one objective - what is best for CCFC.

It's courting of unsuitable suitors, holding less than charitable charity heads in high regard, attendance at wasps games and it's total inability to make the council accountable for anything makes it rather unfit for purpose.

In my opinion.

But, but how would you ever find the time?

 

[Nick]

Thing is, the Trust could put out a stance that not a single city fan can argue with. It brings fans together more, like the statement about the Academy earlier telling everybody to sort it out rather than just SISU etc.

Push to people that the club is not SISU and the club is about things like this : http://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/guardian-article-on-houchens-header.65383/

 

[Monners]

Like I say, be strategic and pull people together - having a balanced view putting the fans first

 

[Sky Blue Kid]

And maybe seperate the club and the owners a bit more.

I am not saying they don't support the club, but there are other aspects to the club like sbitc, JSBs etc which aren't sisu and the trusts reach could help them.

Ya bugga! beat me to it.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Trust members went to sixfields this was not a precursor for joining.
The person who came up with the ribboning the City until we came he also went to sixfields.
There is no way you can monitor your members if they want to go to wasps games as like on here 99% are just named and not known.
I'm sure most of them would probably not renew as most joined as a demonstration against sixfields.
So grendel, Nick see you at the next open meeting we need fans from all sides and with different ideas to attend and stop the stagnation and destruction of our beloved club.

 

[Nick]

Trust members went to sixfields this was not a precursor for joining.
The person who came up with the ribboning the City until we came he also went to sixfields.
There is no way you can monitor your members if they want to go to wasps games as like on here 99% are just named and not known.
I'm sure most of them would probably not renew as most joined as a demonstration against sixfields.
So grendel, Nick see you at the next open meeting we need fans from all sides and with different ideas to attend and stop the stagnation and destruction of our beloved club.

People are giving good ideas here aren't they?

Maybe more interaction in different channels rather than a meeting in a pub that not everybody would / could go to would be a good start? As long as it is constructive and not stupid!

Live streams, online Q and As etc.

A supporter could have the best ideas in the world, but might not want to go to a pub where he knows nobody and everybody knows each other and stand up in front of them all to talk about the ideas...

 

[shy_tall_knight]

SBT needs to rengage with its members, agree with there needing to be a rallying call similar to that regarding sixfields, email members I don't receive e-mails form the SBT. I genuinely believe they need to recognise WASPS for what they are - a major threat to our fanbase

 

[Monners]

I live in Northampton - can't get to meetings. Also, does the Trust liaise with the London Supporters Club - widespread membership with varying views, but with supporting the club at heart (I am a member)

 

[Nick]

I live in Northampton - can't get to meetings. Also, does the Trust liaise with the London Supporters Club - widespread membership with varying views, but with supporting the club at heart (I am a member)

If I remember they didn't get on about some stuff.

Should all really be left behind though and work together, just focus on CCFC.

 

[Monners]

If I remember they didn't get on about some stuff.

Should all really be left behind though and work together, just focus on CCFC.

I am unaware of that, but I avoid the politics when we catch up to be fair. The club do debate stuff and take views into account, but not on match days! Always a wide range of views so maybe some support the trust, some don't

 

[letsallsingtogether]

If I remember they didn't get on about some stuff.

Should all really be left behind though and work together, just focus on CCFC.

I beleive the London supporters had an issue with there chairman who had to resign.

 

[Otis]

If this is going to be about the Trust, can it stay constructive. None of the silly insults towards the trust etc and be constructive about it

Oh shut your gob, you soft twat!

 

[oldskyblue58]

Not an unreasonable opinion Grendel in many ways.

I think the Trust tries to do a lot more than people realise. The communication of such has never been great. Sometimes they lose sight of what is actually important but we can all do that. That said there are a lot of good well meaning people involved who do not deserve the dogs abuse some give out in their direction

I would think the elections will be coming up shortly put yourself up for election and give them the benefit of your experience. Help them out for a while. All I can say is good luck

Same thought for everyone else who chooses to take a more negative view of the Trust. Do something to change it. I am sure they would welcome any help they can get

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Thing is with Sisu now lodging yet another appeal I fear that the club will be futher ripped apart and the two sides who should get together to sort it out are now going to get even further apart.
You wpuld have thought that with sisu and CCC both having new leaders they could at least have met to get and sort some of this shit out....

 

[Deleted member 5849]

I beleive the London supporters had an issue with there chairman who had to resign.

Wasn't that over the wording of a statement?

There is a certain truth in here that if we (we, all of us. Those who went, those who didn't, those who went now and again - whatever!) don't get over Sixfields, we'll let SISU/CCC/Wasps (delete as per preference!) win.

And as per Grendel's OP, I don't disagree with much of it. A lot of that towards the end, however, has gone, and we need to move forward. We won't if we harp on about Haskell etc... although hopefully (hopefully!) lessons have been learned if a similar situation arises again.

FWIW on the Wasps attendance, while I agree with the basic premise there it's a slightly destructive policy. And the Trust did learn (slightly late, but learn they did) that trying to polarise those who went to Sixfields and those who didn't, wouldn't end well. So... I agree that people shouldn't attend Wasps, I agree with the reasoning but... pragmatism says that there are more important things to focus on first, rather than that. It sits uncomfortably with me to say that, as I know what I, as an individual would want but... focus on CCFC first, ignore Wasps as much as possible, bar the fact they're our landlords. What individuals do is down to them.