Saint Fan CaM

Mmm, was a little concerned until I saw the source. Need to keep the nerve and be patient with regards new players I think. Difficult when you see the oppposition teams snapping up players you thought might come to us. But AP/NC know best and we'll have a top team to support next season I'm sure.

Sorry Steve you misunderstood what I meant there I think. I was not for minute suggesting that the forum should be driven by the club, but rather the output from the forum could potentially contribute to the decision making at the club in a constructive and positive manner. At the moment, I think most forum users could only guess at the reality of how much the Board look at forum output such as the results of polls on here for example. It is all largely hearsay. It might be more transparent and open to all forum users if specific polls were clearly designated as 'club polls' in a formal way to provide fans input. I repeat, this would not be the club influencing TSF - quite the opposite. Lastly and the main thrust of my post, was that this would also mean that not just one 'spokesperson' would be in the spotlight with all the nonsense that attracts. The forum itself might be seen in an even more professional light and attract a higher membership - surely not a bad thing?

Absolutely love the shirt and love the manner in which the club has portrayed the release - "A kit from yesterday for the team of tomorrow"!!! Says everything about the strategy - very positive indeed. I will be buying one as soon as I can lay my hands on one and I'm not a footie shirt kinda bloke.

While the idea that this forum is a more valid representation of views is correct IMO. However, there is absolutely no need for a single representative to be pushed forward as "the voice of TSF". It is abundantly clear that the site is able to publish sensible polls to enable fans to express an opinion. The missing component is that TSF has no formal link to the club and the OS. If that aspect was in place, the club could request the criteria for a poll to TSF MODs - they put the poll in place and any paying member (of TSF or indeed perhaps even any ST holder) who wishes to express an opinion could do so. The results could then be published via the OS and used as consultative notes in Board meetings. It would be so easy to set-up at little or no cost and wouldn't involve some trumpted up individual turning up on TV screens claiming to be the "voice of the fans". Open, transparent, truly reflective of fans views.

I cannot see a permanent switch myself. However, I think that due to the rigours of a L1 season, AP knows that flexibility across the back four and particularly on the flanks, will provide the best chance of a succesful campaign.

I agree to an extent - I always used the free credit option, however there are other options. And anyway, those who rely entirely on credit facilities to fund anything, do not automatically have the right to those funds. Credit is an advantage yes, but it is not a God given right. The club has a responsibility to provide a good footballing squad that wins games and provides a good degree of entertainment - nothing more, nothing less. Lastly, there is a credit crunch going on - people are losing their jobs and houses - people are sleeping rough on the streets and going hungry. And there are infantile whingers kicking up a stink because a football club has withdrawn a credit facility?!? I think a little perspective and humility could be put to good use.

I would love it to be that simple. And black for away kit is the biz.

Good point - I agree.

Great post. For years we've waited for the moment the club was run in a professional way and there was hope at the beginning of the season - not of steering clear of relegation, but of real, determined and lasting success.

I think StuRS has put more people on the ignore step than there are posters on his (somewhat pointless) thread! lol Or to put it another way, soon he'll be talking to himself, everyone will be laughing at his threads and he'll be oblivious. Mmm, not a bad idea that.

Nothing about regulating the salaries of a given squad though, which would have sorted out a lot of issues in the game and possibly assisted in making football matches more accessible to the lower paid and thus increasing gates.

Can't honestly see this happening. We're still L1 - we'll be lucky to attract Antonio back to the club. But hey, who knows - we got Keegan once upon a time.

Well having read one page of retort's to Alpine's post, I think I can risk not reading the remainder of the thread to say simply - NAH.

I guess thats why one of the 1st decisions made by the new regime was to ensure all 'freeloaders' (from the corporate area) had to pay to see a game?

Can anyone be sure that it is actually Cortese that has made this decision? Perhaps in an advanced grown-up management sort of way, he has given one of his senior managers ultimate responsibility for the deployment of ticketing policy and practice. Perhaps he is just being a strong Executive by standing by his managers decision? Have we seen any direct quotes from Cortese in terms of the decision? Not excusing the decision, but why is it that there are some people seemingly intent on bringing Cortese (our best CEO in decades) into disrepute for a relatively small matter in the grander scheme?

Please do not tell me what I do or do not think. Can we see the list that shows four figure numbers of Saints fans that have been affected to the point that they cannot purchase their ticket at no extra cost to published prices please? I'll not be holding my breath. Not seen any lies - just poor communication in the light of the Charter not applying beyond last season. Mountain and molehill spring to mind TBH.

Well one persons tedium is anothers persons valid viewpoint I suppose. Balanced views are what makes for a rich and diverse world. It's the abuse that generates that is difficult to stomach - wouldn't you agree? :cool:

I do agree with this in fairness. I was not aware the Charter had effectively been amended and this is the biggest disappointment for me with regards to on-going supporter relations. However, in the grand scheme of things, do I care about this more than I do about the players signed and the results next season? Simple answer is "no".

At last we agree Stu. There are plenty of other options which do not carry cost to the club, but which require individuals to arrange. There is no excuse!

At last, some common sense!

If your 'scheme' is totally independant of the club - i.e. the club have nothing to do with the scheme and no liability to costs - why can't these fans just go get on a similar credit scheme independantly??? If it is because they do not have the money to do so, then they should not be applying for credit in the 1st place surely? IF there was any kind of link between the club and Zebra or whoever, then there will be administration costs to the club at least.

Steve, I accept that there are a small minority of people that are affected adversely by the decision. That's life and it's tough, but as you and other's have pointed out the credit crunch has affected many organisations and individuals and action is often painful for someone in the food chain. In terms of the 40% you quote, I could argue then that 60% affected by the club's decision could therefore be eligible for a credit card?! The clubs decision to remove the 0% installments was based clearly on last seasons costs (I've heard £40-£50k mentioned). I do agree that perhaps the club could have looked at other options, however do we really think that Nicola (a highly respected financier handling £millions) has not given all reasonable thought to the matter? Even taking up the option of an independant credit company (if there is one available) will cost the club something in administration I would suspect - if that's say £10k/year for example and that's what's needed to balance the books, then it's a cost worth saving if the club is being run within it's means. Or perhaps NC should sack a junior groundsman instead?

An excellent balanced post. I would take issue with just one small part however - do we really know that a sizeable section of the fanbase are actually very concerned about the change in credit arrangements? As an example, I have always used the option of installments, but have also had the foresight to save early so I can still pay up-front. That's called taking responsibility. If I had not done this, then yes I would be a bit miffed that the club had taken away the option, but could only really blame MYSELF for relying on the good-will of the club. In summary, I think there are more people like me than those who are left without any method of payment. Fans just need to adjust and it will take some longer than others I guess (particularly those that are a little prone to hysterics on here! lol).

And this is person who expects all other posters to debate matters in a civil manner?!?! Not sure why you feel the need to get personal, however I think a look in the mirror would be wise before accusing others of the above - after you've wiped the spittle off it of course. If you have the funds to pay up front why don't you? Is it because you feel you need to make a point about something to big yourself up on an internet forum? Do you want to form an army of protestors to storm SMS? Err, what exactly is your plan - not attend games in protest? The most economic option is not to buy any ticket thus not spend any money. I don't actually believe there are too many that will exercise that option frankly and even the low % disgruntled now will be flocking back when we win the league, because that's the nature of the things.

There - fixed it for you.