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Is Cortese deliberately trying to annoy the fans.


landford.saint

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I have supported saints for over 40 years, and was vociferous in my desire to rid us of 'Duckhunter Lowe". N.C. came in saying all the right words of transparency, communication, and 'giving

the club back to the fans'. But despite promises in the charter, they have dropped the instalment plan at short notice, penalising the poorer fan. He has introduced £3 additions to sales, again penalising the poorer fan,

and now he has abandoned ST holers to 'claom' their usual seats. All of these things in isolation are not major things, but the culminative effect of these I know has p!ssed off slot of fans. I think NC needs to takeore advice from people like D. Luker, to repair some of this PR damage. If he was deliberately trying to gradually annoy people this would be the way to go. Deliberate? I don't think so. But definately avoidable.

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I have supported saints for over 40 years, and was vociferous in my desire to rid us of 'Duckhunter Lowe". N.C. came in saying all the right words of transparency, communication, and 'giving

the club back to the fans'. But despite promises in the charter, they have dropped the instalment plan at short notice, penalising the poorer fan. He has introduced £3 additions to sales, again penalising the poorer fan,

and now he has abandoned ST holers to 'claom' their usual seats. All of these things in isolation are not major things, but the culminative effect of these I know has p!ssed off slot of fans. I think NC needs to takeore advice from people like D. Luker, to repair some of this PR damage. If he was deliberately trying to gradually annoy people this would be the way to go. Deliberate? I don't think so. But definately avoidable.

 

This happened last year against Northampton in the Carling Cup, I don't remember a single person moaning about it then.....

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He and his team will bring success to our club. He has a clear plan which is totally devoted to long term stabilty at the highest level of English football. You won't be complaining in a few year but i'm sure you'll find something else to moan about. Get over it

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Can't see it myself Landford, he is representing ML's business interest so not sure it's that although I do agree that certain recent moves have been a bit odd. The mood from fans will pick up once more new signings are announced and also a good start that gets us in an automatic promotion spot will also help. I'd like to see the installment plan back next year although I must admit I didn't use it. NC may be testing out his audience to see what it can bear and what it can't so if we sell 2k less STs say then that might be a message. I think NC has done well so far, not perfect but no CEO is, and has gotten ML to invest so in return I've been happy to buy 2 STs and might even buy my first Saints shirt since the Draper Tools (I don't look good in footy shirts but our new one is nice IMO).

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As I said I don't think so but that doesn't t avoid the fact that that is the effect.

 

I understand where you're coming from but what stats are we using to measure the "annoyance" levels that some people are perceiving?

 

This forum has a quorum of about 10 people (give or take) that have taken significant exception to 'developments' on the ticket sales side of things. However, there has also been anecdotal evidence from others that if you talk to Saints fans outside of the voiciferous online community then there doesn't appear to be much 'unrest' out there.

 

As I say, what's the benchmark we are using here to measure these perceived significant levels of dissatisfaction? The vocal minority or the silent majority?

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I do hate to say I told people so. Things will only get worse.

 

Look at some of the things since Cortese has been introduced.

 

- Banned the Echo ( which is the mouthpiece for SFC for alot of people who rely on it for news about the club )

- Banned Benali

- Slated legends like Le Tiss, Mac, Keegan et al

- Deliberately kept silent when all speculation about Pardew was happening.

- Deliberately keeping details of the Pre-Season tour from fans ( Echo announced 3 weeks ago they knew where it was )

- Deliberately leaving press releases until 11:20pm so The Echo cannot report it the next day, for no other reason than to p!ss the paper off at the expense of the fans.

- Charging a £3 booking fee.

- Charging a £2 matchday price.

- Most expensive tickets in the league.

- Removal of payment plan.

- Deliberate late notice of payment plan.

- Refusal to enter into engagement with supporters over issues.

- Creating a supporters charter then tearing it up, going against many of the aims in the said charter.

- Late notice of season tickets going on sale for no apparant reason.

- No Season Ticker Holder priority for cup tickets.

- Trying to pass off the no sponsorship as a gift to the fans whilst increasing other revenue streams to cover it tenfold.

 

There is just a few PR gaffs / customer fails by our whiter than white Chairman Mr Cortese in the last 2 months.

 

It amazes me that people can not put all these points together to get a picture of the sort of person we are dealing with here.

Edited by Dave Benson Phillips
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Scrapping of installment plan: understandable to get rid of the plan, but unforgivable to not give enough notice for fans to prepare other payment options.

Ticket tax: understandable to charge a fee rather than add on to ticket prices, but £3 seems way over the odds of the actual costs involved.

Lack of half-season tickets: really can't fathom this one.

Lack of ST holder priority for Bournemouth game: a bit daft by the club, no real reason not to do this and a bit of a kick in the bawls for ST holders. It'll be interesting to see what the approach is for more major cup games, if its general sale for all then I think its a bit of a worry.

Lack of clear communication from the club: this is a definite area of concern for me. The club absolutely has the right to change its working practises as it sees fit, but to score a series of potential own goals along the way without clearly defining matters to the customers seems a bit odd. As has been stated, all of the issues above are relatively small on their own but when added up together it begins a slightly worrying trend. And one that could easily be avoided if the club would just live up to their promises of engaging with the supporters.

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I have supported saints for over 40 years, and was vociferous in my desire to rid us of 'Duckhunter Lowe". N.C. came in saying all the right words of transparency, communication, and 'giving

the club back to the fans'. But despite promises in the charter, they have dropped the instalment plan at short notice, penalising the poorer fan. He has introduced £3 additions to sales, again penalising the poorer fan,

and now he has abandoned ST holers to 'claom' their usual seats. All of these things in isolation are not major things, but the culminative effect of these I know has p!ssed off slot of fans. I think NC needs to takeore advice from people like D. Luker, to repair some of this PR damage. If he was deliberately trying to gradually annoy people this would be the way to go. Deliberate? I don't think so. But definately avoidable.

 

Well, there you go, you've answered your own question so the point of this thread is what? Ah, bring up points to moan about that have been already covered in numerous threads already. Season ticket holders not getting 'their' seat has happened in previous seasons but this one we'll moan about it. Get a grip.

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I do hate to say I told people so. Things will only get worse.

 

Look at some of the things since Cortese has been introduced.

 

- Banned the Echo ( which is the mouthpiece for SFC for alot of people who rely on it for news about the club )

- Banned Benali

- Slated legends like Le Tiss, Mac, Keegan et al

- Deliberately kept silent when all speculation about Pardew was happening.

- Deliberately keeping details of the Pre-Season tour from fans ( Echo announced 3 weeks ago they knew where it was )

- Deliberately leaving press releases until 11:20pm so The Echo cannot report it the next day, for no other reason than to p!ss the paper off at the expense of the fans.

- Charging a £3 booking fee.

- Charging a £2 matchday price.

- Most expensive tickets in the league.

- Removal of payment plan.

- Deliberate late notice of payment plan.

- Refusal to enter into engagement with supporters over issues.

- Creating a supporters charter then tearing it up, going against many of the aims in the said charter.

- Late notice of season tickets going on sale for no apparant reason.

- No Season Ticker Holder priority for cup tickets.

 

There is just a few PR gaffs / customer fails by our whiter than white Chairman Mr Cortese in the last 2 months.

 

It amazes me that people can not put all these points together to get a picture of the sort of person we are dealing with here.

 

It's only Bournemouth you tit. I bet if a bigger game comes up in a cup game they'd give STH priority.

 

Some of our fans just love to moan about everything, no doubt if we made a decent signing this week that would turn into a 'no payment plan' argument.

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NC hasn't ****ed me off at all. I enjoyed last season more than any other season and Things will only get better. Some people need to wake the fook up and realise that we have a decent business man in running our football club. Just think how Man Utd fans feel having their club used as a rich mans piggy bank

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It's only Bournemouth you tit. I bet if a bigger game comes up in a cup game they'd give STH priority.

 

Some of our fans just love to moan about everything, no doubt if we made a decent signing this week that would turn into a 'no payment plan' argument.

 

Depends if we're told how the transfer fee is to be paid, TBH.

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Scrapping of installment plan: understandable to get rid of the plan, but unforgivable to not give enough notice for fans to prepare other payment options. Why is it understandable? There was no costs, thats why every single club our size in the country has one.

Ticket tax: understandable to charge a fee rather than add on to ticket prices, but £3 seems way over the odds of the actual costs involved. The booking fee was included last year, the year before, the year before that... the booking fee is nothing more than a 10-15% price rise hidden in a booking fee.

Lack of half-season tickets: really can't fathom this one. They don't want season ticket holders. If people find it acceptable that they are forcing people out of being able to afford a season ticket then they really need to have a look at the wider picture.

Lack of ST holder priority for Bournemouth game: a bit daft by the club, no real reason not to do this and a bit of a kick in the bawls for ST holders. It'll be interesting to see what the approach is for more major cup games, if its general sale for all then I think its a bit of a worry. No cost to the club, no administration, click of a button stuff, nothing more than a complete lack of thought for STH's

Lack of clear communication from the club: this is a definite area of concern for me. The club absolutely has the right to change its working practises as it sees fit, but to score a series of potential own goals along the way without clearly defining matters to the customers seems a bit odd. As has been stated, all of the issues above are relatively small on their own but when added up together it begins a slightly worrying trend. And one that could easily be avoided if the club would just live up to their promises of engaging with the supporters.

 

The club don't want to engage with supporters and see them nothing more than a £ sign. If people are happy with that and will pay anything they charge then good luck to you, many many people won't though, and the club will suffer as a result.

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It's only Bournemouth you tit. I bet if a bigger game comes up in a cup game they'd give STH priority.

 

Some of our fans just love to moan about everything, no doubt if we made a decent signing this week that would turn into a 'no payment plan' argument.

 

So out of a dozen points, you have picked out the last one and called me a tit, how brave.

 

There was no reason to remove the STH priority. The tickets are on sale 6 weeks before FFS!!! And big boy, it might be only Bournemouth, but there are very limited seats available in the Northam, which happens to be the most popular stand, not to mention the fact that ST groups could have just sorted their own tickets out, now everyone needs to round money up and go buy together... it's an un-needed pain in the arse.

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Clearly NC was critical of MLT in the OS piece which perhaps wasn't needed but can you demonstrate where he's had a pop at Keegen? Benali - we don't know what happened there despite lots of third-hand rumour on here. I've no problem with him banning the Echo, it should be banned on the grounds of good taste anyway. Pardew - NC was damned if he did or didn't, he is ambitious and as some wise posters pointed out the Swiss like to do things discreetly. Didn't we all hate it when Askham and Wiseman wanted to hang on to 4th from bottom whilst helping themselves? Most expensive tickets in the league - ok, granted but we are not playing in the sheds that most lower league teams playing, we put Farton to shame which was a PL ground last year. Plus you cannot say with Lambert, Fonte etc that he hasn't invested in the squad? There should have been more warning over ST sales and the installments, I totally agree there. However, do remember that the PLC was supposedly open yet we still had Steve Wigley enforced us, effectively relegating us by August 2004. NC hasn't done anything like that. I would like to see ST priority for Cup games but I don't like the AFCB game will sell out until nearer the game anyway.

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some people are never happy. I suggest you follow an american sport that is scripted to keep people happy. Maybe WWF wrestling is the way forward for you. The fact that the only bid on the table to keep the club alive was from ML/NC suggests to me that they have the right to do the **** they like if they deliver a saints team for us to watch

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The club don't want to engage with supporters and see them nothing more than a £ sign. If people are happy with that and will pay anything they charge then good luck to you, many many people won't though, and the club will suffer as a result.

 

I'll answer your questions, even though I agree that Cortese is being too ruthless in trying to extract every last penny from the paying customer.

 

Installment plan; unerstandable to scrap it in its previous form as the club were losing money from it for no real gain. The argument whether they should offer an alternative has been done to death so I won't revsiit that, but my point of lack of notice stands; if they'd announced the scrapping of the plan months before this isn't an issue.

 

Tciket tax: I think its perfectly understandable to have a ticket tax separate to the cost of the ticket so that the booking process is transparent. that said, it needs to be reflective of the actual cost, and £3 is too high IMO.

 

Half season tickets: like I said, I can't fathom it out, not sure if I agree with your reasoning that they don't want ST holders but you may be proved right, we'll see.

 

And I agree with your last point.

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NC hasn't ****ed me off at all. I enjoyed last season more than any other season and Things will only get better. Some people need to wake the fook up and realise that we have a decent business man in running our football club. Just think how Man Utd fans feel having their club used as a rich mans piggy bank

 

LMFAO

 

A decent businessman that says " We want to encourage people to purchase in advance " , then goes and makes the cheapest way for most to buy tickets buying at the box office on the day. Great business decision. lol

 

That's just one example. Making kids prices more expensive for a Carling Cup game than it is for a league game? Yeah... priceless. lol

 

Alot of his ticketing I swear he is just writing on the back of a fag packet.

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I do hate to say I told people so. Things will only get worse.

 

 

 

It amazes me that people can not put all these points together to get a picture of the sort of person we are dealing with here.

 

Hate it? Really - nahhhh you love it, go on, feeeeeel the satisfaction of being right - get a right smug grin on your face as you sit there typing.

 

While you're there though, best do a prediction of how 'things will only get worse' as well - you can save that one up for another day.

 

Can you also tell me 'the sort of person we are dealing with' as well please, because not too many months ago, when we were up to our necks in deep smelly stuff it appeared to me that most fans were ready to bite this guys hand (of friendship) off.

 

Absolutely bemused by the cr@p being handed out here, yes we are a little more expensive than your average L1 team, do we possibly have one of (if not the) best set of players in the league - thus they cost a little more. Check out Man Utd, Chelseas prices and then check out Blackburn, Stoke etc - same sort of pricing policy...!

 

It is very easy to analyse the negatives - try doing the same with some of the positives that this guy has done for our club - start with when he more or less picked us up outta the bin, remember that?

 

PS - Are you 19C in disguise by any chance?

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some people are never happy. I suggest you follow an american sport that is scripted to keep people happy. Maybe WWF wrestling is the way forward for you. The fact that the only bid on the table to keep the club alive was from ML/NC suggests to me that they have the right to do the **** they like if they deliver a saints team for us to watch

 

Bingo. Not only did they save the club but it has a brighter future than most could have even imagined a year ago. We are winning games, scoring goals, buying players, improving training facilities, developing the academy, and realistically aiming for the premiership. People who try and sow discontent about the chairman based on *****ing about instalment plans and lack of information about pre season are beyond a joke imo.

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I understand where you're coming from but what stats are we using to measure the "annoyance" levels that some people are perceiving?

 

This forum has a quorum of about 10 people (give or take) that have taken significant exception to 'developments' on the ticket sales side of things. However, there has also been anecdotal evidence from others that if you talk to Saints fans outside of the voiciferous online community then there doesn't appear to be much 'unrest' out there.

 

As I say, what's the benchmark we are using here to measure these perceived significant levels of dissatisfaction? The vocal minority or the silent majority?

 

*cough*

 

Dear landford.saint,

 

Please can we agree how we are measuring the level of annoyance BEFORE we start talking about the things that are annoying. That way we know whether we are talking about a storm in a tea cup or a significant issue amongst the fan base as a whole.

 

Regards,

Trousers

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I'll answer your questions, even though I agree that Cortese is being too ruthless in trying to extract every last penny from the paying customer.

 

Installment plan; unerstandable to scrap it in its previous form as the club were losing money from it for no real gain. The argument whether they should offer an alternative has been done to death so I won't revsiit that, but my point of lack of notice stands; if they'd announced the scrapping of the plan months before this isn't an issue.

 

Tciket tax: I think its perfectly understandable to have a ticket tax separate to the cost of the ticket so that the booking process is transparent. that said, it needs to be reflective of the actual cost, and £3 is too high IMO.

 

Half season tickets: like I said, I can't fathom it out, not sure if I agree with your reasoning that they don't want ST holders but you may be proved right, we'll see.

 

And I agree with your last point.

 

Installment Plan, it has been proved on here there is no cost to the club, I don't know why people are still so blind to it. If it was not a profitable system then can you please ask me why does every single club in the country with our level / larger support have an installment plan?

 

With regards to the ticket tax, fair enough, in alot of walks I don't have an issue with a ticket tax, the club are not doing anything differently this season as to what they have done in previous seasons where there was no booking fee. The most transparant thing for the club to do would have been to whack each ticket up a quid or two, they have added the booking fee to increase the cost of a match ticket without people noticing too much.

 

I could give you AT LEAST 10 reasons as to why the club are showing they don't want season ticket holders, I challenge anyone to give me 10 reasons as to how they have shown they are trying to maximise season ticket sales. I am willing to give £100 to a charity of their choice if anyone can match my reasons.

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I understand where all the animosity towards NC comes from.

 

However, I have no doubt that he is doing what is best for SFC. He has a plan, one that he and most on this forum thinks will work to achieve the goals he and the owner have set themselves. If SFC getting back to top of the game means Im going to be annoyed with the Chairman, then its a price I will pay. SFC or me in football terms, SFC wins everytime.

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I understand where all the animosity towards NC comes from.

 

However, I have no doubt that he is doing what is best for SFC. He has a plan, one that he and most on this forum thinks will work to achieve the goals he and the owner have set themselves. If SFC getting back to top of the game means Im going to be annoyed with the Chairman, then its a price I will pay. SFC or me in football terms, SFC wins everytime.

if that price is £1000 for next years season ticket?
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he gave a Saints fan a cup of tea.

 

He didn't actually, the security did, he came out drinking his own cup of tea checking the the people in the queue got a cup of tea from the staff.

 

Funny how some of the pro-stories of Cortese get dressed up where as the anti ones get shot down. ( I know you are being sarcy ;-) )

 

So... anymore examples?

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I definitely think hes out to alienate us all so he can have the whole of SMS too himself on match days.

 

 

God I want the season to start so paranoid retarded threads like this one turn into football debates!

 

Jonny, come on sonny, let's be positive, have you any examples of how Cortese is really showing himself to be respectful of supporters and a shrewd businessman etc?

 

Let's have a Cortese love-in and all talk about what a great PR man he is with some great examples.

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Stu, you've turned into a bigger **** in this persona than the previous one. What was the point of the change?

 

Don't hijack the thread timmy and keep it constructive please.

 

Do you have any examples of good PR / customer service that Cortese has demonstrated?

 

Come on guys, you are all quick to know people that don't like Cortese... put some justification and examples into the debate to back up your opinions.

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Don't hijack the thread timmy and keep it constructive please.

 

Do you have any examples of good PR / customer service that Cortese has demonstrated?

 

Come on guys, you are all quick to know people that don't like Cortese... put some justification and examples into the debate to back up your opinions.

 

I have a feeling I probably wouldnt like Cortese if I met him - but I dont care how much of an arse he may or may not be. Saving the club and getting the team heading in the right direction gives him at least three moan free years imo.

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