Too many "Dads Army Campaigns" !

I am a Season Ticket Holder and Saints fan of 35 years. I joined in with the mid nineties Branfoot Protests and I stood tall at the Ipswich Game in 2006 when we ousted Lowe the first time, I will also do whatever it takes this time. I generally believe that it's stability and consistency that breed success, the only consistency these two have brought us however is a losing mentality when we play at St Marys!

We are not asking for a Man City like Sheikh, all we want is a unifying Chairman and a competent Manager who knows the Championship?

As I see it though we have a problem, as concerned supporters we are simply too disjointed. I have visited four different Saints Forums plus BBC 606 & the Echo sports pages, I must have counted 25 different "Dads Army Schemes" aimed at protesting against the board. Some want to use Facebook, some invading the pitch, emails to Wilde, letters to Askham, writing to the Echo, emailing the national newspapers, surrounding Lowes farm, etc, etc. These scattergun ideas are fine but we need a single, well supported, focused idea? I dont see a load of fragmented and miniscule campaigns achieving anything! What we need is less of a Dads Army approach and one thats more like the "Allied Expeditionary Force" (removed Hitler from Europe), we must rally around a single idea (like they did with D-Day) and put all of our energies into it without arguments!

I would like to propose the following plan for selecting this suitable strategy:

Selection

This is clearly the biggest saints forum there is, its for that reason alone that I reckon we use it solely to "decide on" and then "carry out" a single, organised and effective protest to rid the club of these two ASAP! The other forums will of course discuss the plans but it should be here that the idea be decided on (democratically of course).

How

Via a single poll that details say ten to 12 ideas (list them in the same format used below) and a single sticky discussion thread to dissect them, we can then discuss and choose a single goal, organise it well & then carry it off. If technically possible could these be made subscription free?

Its been made clear to me this weekend that Southampton supporters are united in what they don't like (Lowe & the Dutch Experiment) but there is nothing we can all focus and contribute to, well here's one to get us started with:

Idea Number One - The SFC Funeral, the club died on saturday, let us have some closure.

We meet around 2.15 at the Southampton side of the Itchen Bridge (as in the song) or say at the Railway Station. Everyone is dressed in black or dark colours. Very slowly singing OWTS and steadily marching we follow a 6 foot long, symbolic black coffin to be left for M Wilde at Reception. Lowe wont resign, he's far too pig headed for that, we need to target Mr Wilde to remove him again. The people following the coffin carry white A4/A3 paper banners with black writing (easy to do at home, work, school, etc), mine simply reads "Lowe & Jan staying = unrest & relegation, Lowe & Jan going = we have a chance!).

Actually placed inside the coffin are pictures and articles representing the life of Southampton FC that we will have put in en route. I am putting in a picture of the Saints Fans at Cardiff, somebody else could bring a picture of Le Tissier scoring against Arsenal, Bobby in 76, etc. On the top of the coffin it simply reads SFC R.I.P 1885 - January 2009.

All local & national newspapers will be informed together with the two local TV Stations. Hopefully concerned ex players can be invited to join us on the march, I'm thinking Benali, Channon, Peach, Armstrong, etc). The police may even decide to hold up the traffic to escort us?

All the time the organising is going on we can email our concerns to Mr Wilde, I'm simply telling him that Lowe & Jan have to go in the next month or I am not renewing my ST next year. Here is his email address by the way if you ever want to contact him about Merlin Equities?:

wilde@merlionequities.co.uk

I reckon we should do this at the next home game.

Idea Pluses

• A huge embarrassment for Lowe and Wilde. Lots of colourful and striking images of the coffin shown in newspapers and on websites. Striking footage of the long and sombre cortege snaking its way to the stadium.
  

• This idea would actually generate a lot of sympathetic publicity for our cause - compare this to pitch invasions, blockading Lowes farm, etc?
  

• The protest is outside and out of sight of the players. When the game kicks off we will be in our seats again & ready to support the team as we always do.
  

• Doesnt hurt our already fragile finances.
  

• Slow, dignified and non violent.
  

• Even the stayaways can come & join in.
  

Idea Minuses

• Fans would need to get to Southampton a bit earlier & wear black.
  

• We need a coffin - anybody good at woodwork?
  

I think Jan, unlike Lowe, is an honourable man. When he hears about the funeral and see's the pictures he may just resign? Lowe has become plc chairman two times, lets hope Wilde decides to get rid of him twice as well!

I think this is a very, very good idea although some may reject on the grounds the Skates did it before Mandaric, much as I dislike the man, came in and injected modest money and a lot of passion, something we've not seen from SFC for a long time.

Duncan (Fitzhugh) also seems to be organising something, have a look on the thread Ron (Weston Saint) has created. That's not to say that we couldn't run with this excellent idea as well though.

The ideas are getting even more complex! This is so hard to pull off that it simply cannot, though the picture in my head is a bit humerous. Its the kind of thing a few mates would do for a joke and get a few laughs back in return.

Many more people would be up and able to do a pitch invasion during a match I reckon. Though good work, Baldrick. It may be a cunning plan...

The ideas are getting even more complex! This is so hard to pull off that it simply cannot, though the picture in my head is a bit humerous. Its the kind of thing a few mates would do for a joke and get a few laughs back in return.

 

Many more people would be up and able to do a pitch invasion during a match I reckon. Though good work, Baldrick. It may be a cunning plan...

If the Skates can do it after years of being run down by the Gregory lot, I'm sure we could. It's just whether we have better options. The fact that the fans are uniting and getting our ideas together is the biggest positive for me.

I do like the idea, in fact it's ****ing brilliant. I've got a suggestion though. What you really need is for this to be properly choreographed with pall bearers and a few mourners following the coffin in proper funeral attire for effect.

I've got visions of Ted Hanky type dracula costumes being kind of catchy and someone walking in front tolling a deep big ben sounding bell.

To ask everyone to come in fancy dress is too much. Kids might be up for it, but personally i wouldn't do it. That's why you need to choreograph the "main event" and just ask normal fans to join in the procession in black if this wish (handy for me as i wear a black jacket and jeans) but if not just to be there and add support.

And if you could Lawrie to take part and symbolically place his FA cup winning photo in the coffin it'd be a real scoop.

"This is so hard to pull off that it simply cannot"

I really dont think it is. I have googled both cardboard eco-coffins (expensive) and fake halloween coffins that are joined together with velcro (cheapish). All it takes is some spraypaint and somebody artisitic to make it look great. Then we simply turn up in funeral attire & sing our effing hearts out?

Anyway Mods, you OK for it to be posted as idea one on a poll?

"This is so hard to pull off that it simply cannot"

 

I really dont think it is. I have googled both cardboard eco-coffins (expensive) and fake halloween coffins that are joined together with velcro (cheapish). All it takes is some spraypaint and somebody artisitic to make it look great. Then we simply turn up in funeral attire & sing our effing hearts out?

 

Anyway Mods, you OK for it to be posted as idea one on a poll?

As long as it works fine by me, we are both united in wanting the same thing... I didn't know the skates did it either until after my post, so clearly its possible...

We just need something to help kick the message in deeper and deeper. ANYTHING!!!

(i think more people not dressed in black than less people in black may work better...)

I do like the idea, in fact it's ****ing brilliant. I've got a suggestion though. What you really need is for this to be properly choreographed with pall bearers and a few mourners following the coffin in proper funeral attire for effect.

 

I've got visions of Ted Hanky type dracula costumes being kind of catchy and someone walking in front tolling a deep big ben sounding bell.

 

To ask everyone to come in fancy dress is too much. Kids might be up for it, but personally i wouldn't do it. That's why you need to choreograph the "main event" and just ask normal fans to join in the procession in black if this wish (handy for me as i wear a black jacket and jeans) but if not just to be there and add support.

I do like the idea, just can't see lads leaving the pub early to join in!!

I know it seems selfish staying in the pub, i just feel that a large lad section would find the whole thing, not very cool!!!

Good luck though mate, this is what the forum should be about, discussing ideas, agreeing on 1 then seeing it through!

I am a Season Ticket Holder and Saints fan of 35 years. I joined in with the mid nineties Branfoot Protests and I stood tall at the Ipswich Game in 2006 when we ousted Lowe the first time, I will also do whatever it takes this time. I generally believe that it's stability and consistency that breed success, the only consistency these two have brought us however is a losing mentality when we play at St Marys!

 

We are not asking for a Man City like Sheikh, all we want is a unifying Chairman and a competent Manager who knows the Championship?

 

As I see it though we have a problem, as concerned supporters we are simply too disjointed. I have visited four different Saints Forums plus BBC 606 & the Echo sports pages, I must have counted 25 different "Dads Army Schemes" aimed at protesting against the board. Some want to use Facebook, some invading the pitch, emails to Wilde, letters to Askham, writing to the Echo, emailing the national newspapers, surrounding Lowes farm, etc, etc. These scattergun ideas are fine but we need a single, well supported, focused idea? I dont see a load of fragmented and miniscule campaigns achieving anything! What we need is less of a Dads Army approach and one thats more like the "Allied Expeditionary Force" (removed Hitler from Europe), we must rally around a single idea (like they did with D-Day) and put all of our energies into it without arguments!

 

I would like to propose the following plan for selecting this suitable strategy:

 

Selection

 

This is clearly the biggest saints forum there is, its for that reason alone that I reckon we use it solely to "decide on" and then "carry out" a single, organised and effective protest to rid the club of these two ASAP! The other forums will of course discuss the plans but it should be here that the idea be decided on (democratically of course).

 

How

 

Via a single poll that details say ten to 12 ideas (list them in the same format used below) and a single sticky discussion thread to dissect them, we can then discuss and choose a single goal, organise it well & then carry it off. If technically possible could these be made subscription free?

 

Its been made clear to me this weekend that Southampton supporters are united in what they don't like (Lowe & the Dutch Experiment) but there is nothing we can all focus and contribute to, well here's one to get us started with:

 

Idea Number One - The SFC Funeral, the club died on saturday, let us have some closure.

 

We meet around 2.15 at the Southampton side of the Itchen Bridge (as in the song) or say at the Railway Station. Everyone is dressed in black or dark colours. Very slowly singing OWTS and steadily marching we follow a 6 foot long, symbolic black coffin to be left for M Wilde at Reception. Lowe wont resign, he's far too pig headed for that, we need to target Mr Wilde to remove him again. The people following the coffin carry white A4/A3 paper banners with black writing (easy to do at home, work, school, etc), mine simply reads "Lowe & Jan staying = unrest & relegation, Lowe & Jan going = we have a chance!).

 

Actually placed inside the coffin are pictures and articles representing the life of Southampton FC that we will have put in en route. I am putting in a picture of the Saints Fans at Cardiff, somebody else could bring a picture of Le Tissier scoring against Arsenal, Bobby in 76, etc. On the top of the coffin it simply reads SFC R.I.P 1885 - January 2009.

 

All local & national newspapers will be informed together with the two local TV Stations. Hopefully concerned ex players can be invited to join us on the march, I'm thinking Benali, Channon, Peach, Armstrong, etc). The police may even decide to hold up the traffic to escort us?

 

All the time the organising is going on we can email our concerns to Mr Wilde, I'm simply telling him that Lowe & Jan have to go in the next month or I am not renewing my ST next year. Here is his email address by the way if you ever want to contact him about Merlin Equities?:

 

wilde@merlionequities.co.uk

 

I reckon we should do this at the next home game.

 

Idea Pluses

 

• A huge embarrassment for Lowe and Wilde. Lots of colourful and striking images of the coffin shown in newspapers and on websites. Striking footage of the long and sombre cortege snaking its way to the stadium.
  

• This idea would actually generate a lot of sympathetic publicity for our cause - compare this to pitch invasions, blockading Lowes farm, etc?
  

• The protest is outside and out of sight of the players. When the game kicks off we will be in our seats again & ready to support the team as we always do.
  

• Doesnt hurt our already fragile finances.
  

• Slow, dignified and non violent.
  

• Even the stayaways can come & join in.
  

 

Idea Minuses

 

• Fans would need to get to Southampton a bit earlier & wear black.
  

• We need a coffin - anybody good at woodwork?
  

 

I think Jan, unlike Lowe, is an honourable man. When he hears about the funeral and see's the pictures he may just resign? Lowe has become plc chairman two times, lets hope Wilde decides to get rid of him twice as well!

 

Paul what a fantastic post - nail on head and may I say that as a first idea its a bl**dy good one - even fans that have stopped going can (and surely must) join in - also starting it at the station or at west park by the cenotaph (the park by the old Polygon hotel)

Dont start it at the itchen bridge as thats too close to St Marys - we need greater impact than that

Paul there will be no problem with fans getting there slightly early - this march is about the future of our club and we must ALL do what we can

a slow dignified march through the city - hold your head up high and be proud that this day you are going to make a stand

lets be open to other ideas and have the final plan in place ready to go before the swansea game

Stadium side of the Itchen Bridge would be the place, anywhere else other than Hoglands Park would allow the police to block/divert it away from the city centre/SMS.

And if you could Lawrie to take part and symbolically place his FA cup winning photo in the coffin it'd be a real scoop.

This could work, i think if you were to get this sort of recognition from people like Lawrie, Crouch, Benali, Armstrong it would add a more credence to the whole thing and people would be more likely to join in!

I do like the idea, just can't see lads leaving the pub early to join in!!

I know it seems selfish staying in the pub, i just feel that a large lad section would find the whole thing, not very cool!!!

 

Good luck though mate, this is what the forum should be about, discussing ideas, agreeing on 1 then seeing it through!

To be fair you need protests for everyone. The highly charged post match protests are fine, but to appeal to the masses you need a more "family orientated" strategy as well.

The ideas are getting even more complex! This is so hard to pull off that it simply cannot, though the picture in my head is a bit humerous. Its the kind of thing a few mates would do for a joke and get a few laughs back in return.

 

Many more people would be up and able to do a pitch invasion during a match I reckon. Though good work, Baldrick. It may be a cunning plan...

come on brightspark whats so conplicated about walking through the city??? - I do that every home game anyway!!

Also if good numbers attended - it would be send a message in a quite dramatic way

brightspark - its up to us - the time has come for action

To be fair you need protests for everyone. The highly charged post match protests are fine, but to appeal to the masses you need a more "family orientated" strategy as well.

I agree mate, and as my earlier post says i feel if you could get some hi profile recognition to endorse it your on to a winner. Imagine MLT being a poll bearer, that would add 500 to the protest straight away, imo!

Here's some info I found about the Portsmouth Protest (11 years ago):

"Again,we went to a game not knowing if it would our last.This time it was Huddersfield at home and fans marched a coffin up Frogmore Road before kick-off to protest about the threatened death of PFC. Ten minutes of silence, by way of a further protest,was blown away by another Claridge goal. Another vital 1-0 win was earned and the administrators kept things going until a certain Mr Mandaric appeared from nowhere to lead us into a brave new world."

The Interesting point for me was that they were already under administration by the time of the protests!

"This is so hard to pull off that it simply cannot"

 

I really dont think it is. I have googled both cardboard eco-coffins (expensive) and fake halloween coffins that are joined together with velcro (cheapish). All it takes is some spraypaint and somebody artisitic to make it look great. Then we simply turn up in funeral attire & sing our effing hearts out?

 

Anyway Mods, you OK for it to be posted as idea one on a poll?

Could you not ring around local funeral parlours and ask them to loan you a cheap coffin?

Surely there must be a funeral director who is a Saints fan.

brightspark - its up to us - the time has come for action

If someone told me that if I rode a bike through the centre of Brisbane naked Lowe would go I would do it!!! I can only protest on these pages unfortunately

Here's some info I found about the Portsmouth Protest (11 years ago):

 

"Again,we went to a game not knowing if it would our last.This time it was Huddersfield at home and fans marched a coffin up Frogmore Road before kick-off to protest about the threatened death of PFC. Ten minutes of silence, by way of a further protest,was blown away by another Claridge goal. Another vital 1-0 win was earned and the administrators kept things going until a certain Mr Mandaric appeared from nowhere to lead us into a brave new world."

 

The Interesting point for me was that they were already under administration by the time of the protests!

Exactly, we need action now to try and stop us falling into administration.

Saying that, i question if Lowe & actually care if we fall into admin or not, i feel there is a darker motive to the whole Lowe/Wilde pack, Jacksons Farm!!

If someone told me that if I rode a bike through the centre of Brisbane naked Lowe would go I would do it!!! I can only protest on these pages unfortunately

Get on your bike brightspark!!!!

I am a Season Ticket Holder and Saints fan of 35 years. I joined in with the mid nineties Branfoot Protests and I stood tall at the Ipswich Game in 2006 when we ousted Lowe the first time, I will also do whatever it takes this time. I generally believe that it's stability and consistency that breed success, the only consistency these two have brought us however is a losing mentality when we play at St Marys!

 

We are not asking for a Man City like Sheikh, all we want is a unifying Chairman and a competent Manager who knows the Championship?

 

As I see it though we have a problem, as concerned supporters we are simply too disjointed. I have visited four different Saints Forums plus BBC 606 & the Echo sports pages, I must have counted 25 different "Dads Army Schemes" aimed at protesting against the board. Some want to use Facebook, some invading the pitch, emails to Wilde, letters to Askham, writing to the Echo, emailing the national newspapers, surrounding Lowes farm, etc, etc. These scattergun ideas are fine but we need a single, well supported, focused idea? I dont see a load of fragmented and miniscule campaigns achieving anything! What we need is less of a Dads Army approach and one thats more like the "Allied Expeditionary Force" (removed Hitler from Europe), we must rally around a single idea (like they did with D-Day) and put all of our energies into it without arguments!

 

I would like to propose the following plan for selecting this suitable strategy:

 

Selection

 

This is clearly the biggest saints forum there is, its for that reason alone that I reckon we use it solely to "decide on" and then "carry out" a single, organised and effective protest to rid the club of these two ASAP! The other forums will of course discuss the plans but it should be here that the idea be decided on (democratically of course).

 

How

 

Via a single poll that details say ten to 12 ideas (list them in the same format used below) and a single sticky discussion thread to dissect them, we can then discuss and choose a single goal, organise it well & then carry it off. If technically possible could these be made subscription free?

 

Its been made clear to me this weekend that Southampton supporters are united in what they don't like (Lowe & the Dutch Experiment) but there is nothing we can all focus and contribute to, well here's one to get us started with:

 

Idea Number One - The SFC Funeral, the club died on saturday, let us have some closure.

 

We meet around 2.15 at the Southampton side of the Itchen Bridge (as in the song) or say at the Railway Station. Everyone is dressed in black or dark colours. Very slowly singing OWTS and steadily marching we follow a 6 foot long, symbolic black coffin to be left for M Wilde at Reception. Lowe wont resign, he's far too pig headed for that, we need to target Mr Wilde to remove him again. The people following the coffin carry white A4/A3 paper banners with black writing (easy to do at home, work, school, etc), mine simply reads "Lowe & Jan staying = unrest & relegation, Lowe & Jan going = we have a chance!).

 

Actually placed inside the coffin are pictures and articles representing the life of Southampton FC that we will have put in en route. I am putting in a picture of the Saints Fans at Cardiff, somebody else could bring a picture of Le Tissier scoring against Arsenal, Bobby in 76, etc. On the top of the coffin it simply reads SFC R.I.P 1885 - January 2009.

 

All local & national newspapers will be informed together with the two local TV Stations. Hopefully concerned ex players can be invited to join us on the march, I'm thinking Benali, Channon, Peach, Armstrong, etc). The police may even decide to hold up the traffic to escort us?

 

All the time the organising is going on we can email our concerns to Mr Wilde, I'm simply telling him that Lowe & Jan have to go in the next month or I am not renewing my ST next year. Here is his email address by the way if you ever want to contact him about Merlin Equities?:

 

wilde@merlionequities.co.uk

 

I reckon we should do this at the next home game.

 

Idea Pluses

 

• A huge embarrassment for Lowe and Wilde. Lots of colourful and striking images of the coffin shown in newspapers and on websites. Striking footage of the long and sombre cortege snaking its way to the stadium.
  

• This idea would actually generate a lot of sympathetic publicity for our cause - compare this to pitch invasions, blockading Lowes farm, etc?
  

• The protest is outside and out of sight of the players. When the game kicks off we will be in our seats again & ready to support the team as we always do.
  

• Doesnt hurt our already fragile finances.
  

• Slow, dignified and non violent.
  

• Even the stayaways can come & join in.
  

 

Idea Minuses

 

• Fans would need to get to Southampton a bit earlier & wear black.
  

• We need a coffin - anybody good at woodwork?
  

 

I think Jan, unlike Lowe, is an honourable man. When he hears about the funeral and see's the pictures he may just resign? Lowe has become plc chairman two times, lets hope Wilde decides to get rid of him twice as well!

 

Solidarity brother. And don't wear your best sandals.

I like the idea for the protest but fundamentally if we want to be both constructive and milk the media coverage we need to tell the world the club is FOR SALE.

If we protest we risk putting off buyers. If we protest FOR a buyer we may, may, interest someone.

Our fanbase is one of the few saleable commodities this club still has. It has to act responsibly. It has to appeal to buyers.

FOR SALE signs everywhere. SFC WELCOMES NEW OWNER. etc etc.

I like the idea for the protest but fundamentally if we want to be both constructive and milk the media coverage we need to tell the world the club is FOR SALE.

 

If we protest we risk putting off buyers. If we protest FOR a buyer we may, may, interest someone.

 

Our fanbase is one of the few saleable commodities this club still has. It has to act responsibly. It has to appeal to buyers.

 

FOR SALE signs everywhere. SFC WELCOMES NEW OWNER. etc etc.

Female fans leaving St Marys could be in danger of arrest if they carry signs saying "for sale."

I really would prefer the idea to go up against others and be voted on. If it wins however I think it best we unite and each volunteer for small tasks. Here are some that I have thought of:

Liaising with the Echo (I am happy to take this as I have a contact in the sports department)

Producing a flyer that can be put in shop windows & pubs (again happy to take this one)

Sorry, I am on jury service this week (not needed until tomorrow) and so cant do loads?

Contacting Meridian & BBC TV

Contacting BBC Radio

Contacting BBC TV

Trying to get in contact with celebrity supporters (Craig David, Holly Valance, Lucy Pinder, David Frost, Mike Osman, etc)

Making the coffin (i'm thinking maybe a light plywood frame, thick cardboard sides?)

Decorating the coffin

Printing some flyers (I can email them) and distributing them around Southampton?

Anyone want to lead the funeral with a bell and appropiate hat?

Anyone a good speaker want to "say some words" outside reception?

Any others?

Stadium side of the Itchen Bridge would be the place, anywhere else other than Hoglands Park would allow the police to block/divert it away from the city centre/SMS.

If it was organised properly the police would be there to both assist marchers and keep the march under control.

Female fans leaving St Marys could be in danger of arrest if they carry signs saying "for sale."

Just like the old Saint Mary's then!.... allegedly!

An instant and easy win for this campaign... that people could start doing at Norwich... would be to start wearing black arm bands.

Sends a message AND we can get behind the team at the same time.

An instant and easy win for this campaign... that people could start doing at Norwich... would be to start wearing black arm bands.

 

Sends a message AND we can get behind the team at the same time.

I like this, it allows us to show within the ground that we are planning to attend the funeral or have just been to it.

I like this, it allows us to show within the ground that we are planning to attend the funeral or have just been to it.

 

Exactly. It makes a visual statement against the board, whilst the fans can chant support for the nippas at the same time.

So it should satisfy those who want to support AND those who want to make a statement that they want Lowe out.

This is a good idea,but I think we need to save this sort of protest for later in the season,if(when) its needed.

I am now back in the UK having followed some discussions on what can be done whenever I could get to a computer. There were some good suggestions on the boycott thread which I started and a poll showed that virtually 80% of the fans would be prepared to take part in some form of boycott or other, with a very clear majority in favour of a mass boycott until Lowe was forced out.

I had suggested in that thread that the contribution of CB Fry was spot on in how this campaign should be organised and that this should be our approach, because as amusing and effective that the parading of a coffin might be, the only realistic way to rid the club of people who have ruined it is via a mass boycott.

I'm sure that he won't mind me reproducing his ideas here again. If his plan gets widespread approval, then I think that this is the route we should employ. His reasoning and approach is spot on for me.

Originally Posted by CB Fry

An organised boycott is the only way, and really is doable if everyone gets behind it.

How do you do it - not that hard.

Pick a TV game.

Give the day a name "the big boycott", "stay away for change" something (without Lowe's name in it). Branding it makes it easier to get it noticed in the local media. In fact, make it positive not negative - "Save our Saints" is a million times better than "Lowe out".

Enrol Lawrie, Mark Dennis, Benali, Merrington, Channon and assorted other local Saints legends and post them to pubs, clubs, church hall all over the city and the region to make communal events of watching the game on TV.

Hire Central Hall as a key venue and get Lawrie to host it.

The point is you make the boycott an event you have to make watching the game on TV a big communal event all fans can feel part of.

You have to make the boycott something to actively do rather than just telling people to not do something.

Instead of just saying "don't go, don't go" you have to tell people "go to this instead".

Save our Saints. Twenty Locations in the city/region. Saints celeb at every location. Small charge to go to either local charity/or to the running costs of the event.

Posters and banners for every other pub in city to run their own event.

The local media would be all over it. Trust me the Echo might be up the clubs arse now but they love an event and they'd print a colour poster on the day before in their centre pages. 100 letters from readers would guarantee it. Papers love a campaign.

Empty stadium for one game.

Lowe would have to resign the next day. He would, not least because Wilde and co would bottle it.

It can be done.

This is a good idea,but I think we need to save this sort of protest for later in the season,if(when) its needed.

surrey1saint

Were you not there on saturday? Fans fighting all around us, two thirds calling for lowe to go, no fight after the first 20 minutes, awful tactics, Armstrong thrown out, the Echo staff told to move, pitch invasions, fans arguing with Poortvliet, losing 2 soft goals against the team below us, 400 outside reception - When do you think it is needed then!

Wes Tender

The original point of this thread was to list each protest idea, provide a poll & pick one democratically. So lets make CB Fry's idea number 2. Like my funeral idea it needs prodding & poking to see if it stands up.

Any others?

Wes Tender

 

The original point of this thread was to list each protest idea, provide a poll & pick one democratically. So lets make CB Fry's idea number 2. Like my funeral idea it needs prodding & poking to see if it stands up.

 

Any others?

OK then. Idea two it is then. I predict that it will be the one chosen. Some might not like the fact that a mass boycott deprives the club of badly needed money, but that is just the kick in the balls that will have the Bank pull the plug on Lowe if he doesn't resign first. I had called it the nuclear option a couple of months ago, but now there is an increasingly united belief amongst the majority of fans that Lowe and his stupid experiment will bring anihilation to our beloved club if allowed to continue. The time for the most drastic but effective action has come.

I like it too Wes, it will fall down though if the next time we are shown on TV is the last game against Notts Forest to stay up (eek)?

I like it too Wes, it will fall down though if the next time we are shown on TV is the last game against Notts Forest to stay up (eek)?

We will be down long before that game unfortunately.

The people following the coffin carry white A4/A3 paper banners with black writing (easy to do at home, work, school, etc), mine simply reads "Lowe & Jan staying = unrest & relegation, Lowe & Jan going = we have a chance!).

 

That sounds a bit wordy "Lowe Out" "Wilde Out" "Save Our Saints" much more to the point and media friendly.

Good idea overall though, we are at the point of no return.

In relation to both 'big' ideas posted on this thread, I believe BOTH need to be implemented. If publicised in the correct way (i.e. remove the negative - go with the positive 'save our Saints' position), these ideas will provide a huge amount of attention. Both ideas would need the involvement of the Police, particularly the protest march I would suggest.

SaintRobbie - I think the club will be dead before a buyer is found. And anyway its less likely anyone will buy the club if we do not show how passionate the supporter base is...just standing by watching the death throes of the club while Lowe and/or Wilde fail to act is not the answer. You need to hit them where it hurts most and unfortunately that means taking away the PLC's biggest asset - it's customer support. Until that happens, Lowe will maintain a vice-like grip on the club and continue with his wacky ideas.

I would attend both initiatives and I am sure many, many others would too. The time has come - let's pool our passion for the club and do something constructive.

I do like the idea, in fact it's ****ing brilliant. I've got a suggestion though. What you really need is for this to be properly choreographed with pall bearers and a few mourners following the coffin in proper funeral attire for effect.

 

I've got visions of Ted Hanky type dracula costumes being kind of catchy and someone walking in front tolling a deep big ben sounding bell.

 

To ask everyone to come in fancy dress is too much. Kids might be up for it, but personally i wouldn't do it. That's why you need to choreograph the "main event" and just ask normal fans to join in the procession in black if this wish (handy for me as i wear a black jacket and jeans) but if not just to be there and add support.

Wearing black is not really fancy dress, I'm sure most on here have some sort of black top like one of the old away shirts, even wear it inside out if you don't want to show any logos.

Great idea i wish you the best of luck,if this came of let's say a few thousand marching would make me thinks quite a big impact if i'm in England i'll be only to pleased to march.

I really would prefer the idea to go up against others and be voted on. If it wins however I think it best we unite and each volunteer for small tasks. Here are some that I have thought of:

 

Liaising with the Echo (I am happy to take this as I have a contact in the sports department)

Producing a flyer that can be put in shop windows & pubs (again happy to take this one)

 

Sorry, I am on jury service this week (not needed until tomorrow) and so cant do loads?

 

Contacting Meridian & BBC TV

Contacting BBC Radio

Contacting BBC TV

Trying to get in contact with celebrity supporters (Craig David, Holly Valance, Lucy Pinder, David Frost, Mike Osman, etc)

Making the coffin (i'm thinking maybe a light plywood frame, thick cardboard sides?)

Decorating the coffin

Printing some flyers (I can email them) and distributing them around Southampton?

Anyone want to lead the funeral with a bell and appropiate hat?

Anyone a good speaker want to "say some words" outside reception?

 

Any others?

I'm up for getting in contact/liasing with the media for sure, I definitely think they'd cover it

And if you could Lawrie to take part and symbolically place his FA cup winning photo in the coffin it'd be a real scoop.

think this would make it too personal, rather than fans v board, know what you are saying but think it would be counterproductive

This could work, i think if you were to get this sort of recognition from people like Lawrie, Crouch, Benali, Armstrong it would add a more credence to the whole thing and people would be more likely to join in!

again think Crouch makes it too personal, ex-players without an agenda except a love of the club would help

Cheers FHS

If we get the go ahead from the poll the you can do the following:

Contacting Meridian & BBC TV

Contacting BBC Radio, Talk Sport, etc

I'll talk to the Echo and design some flyers.

Any more volunteers?

I was just reading about the first ever "Fans United Day" on the Brighton Forums:

http://northstandchat.com/archive/index.php/t-13122.html

Maybe this could be the third idea? It could even be combined with the first idea (Funeral March) e.g. fans from all around the UK are invited to pay their respects to SFC, were you a fan of Matt Le Tissier, did you enjoy it when we beat Man U 6-1 or Liverpool 4-2. Afterwards you are all invited inside for drinks and a sing song?

I'd be happy to print off the flyers & deliver them, just let me know where you want them being delivered.

I'd be happy to print off the flyers & deliver them, just let me know where you want them being delivered.

Cheers SITH!

If we win the poll I'll be in touch!

I know we've only got two suggestions so far - but should we not get the poll going at least. So that we've got time to organise :smt102

Just for info, this advice on "saving your club" was written by Brighton Fans & can be found on their brilliant website set up to help others in a similar predicament (well done lads, one of the most unselfish things I have ever seen in Football).

http://www.clubsincrisis.com/advice.asp

Bridgetoofar

I think we will need the full list of 10-12 before they can create the poll?

This is Weston Saints plan to remove Lowe (thanks for the heads up saint1977):

First find a consortium of business men who have a passion for Saints. Say Salz, Davies and others who I will not name as I have promised confidentiality. Then find a football CEO to bind it all together.

 

Ask them to put together a business plan for the next 3 or 5 years to save the club and take it forward.

 

Once you have that you need to review the shareholders list and write to all shareholders setting out the plan and asked for pledged support.

 

If you are lucky to get enough support you then get the consortium to go to the financial institutions including Aviva for support of the plan and showing the shareholder support.

 

Just may be Wilde and some of the others who support Lowe at present will see that alternative and break ranks.

 

Once you have a pledge for 50% or more, you approach the board and ask them to resign. If they do not you call for an EGM.

 

Once Lowe has gone the rebuilding can take place but it will not happen tomorrow. It needs time