Directors today...

In all seriousness - let it go (none issue)

A lot of people saw the tweet and the discussion on radio and presumed the directors sat there by choice - they didn't they were put there.

Yes the directors should maybe sit with the away supporters, their choice, occasionally.

Agree with others - direct the disgust at them about other things - theres plenty

CCUs seating plan on the other hand......

borderterrier wrote: They know just how people think about them. They know only too well the stick they would receive

If they are aware of this then it's unacceptable for them to just sit there and not care about it. They need to acknowledge the issue and tell us how they plan to fix it. Because if nothing changes, attendances will continue to drop and eventually the club will die.

CCU wrote:

Mullen103 wrote:

CCU wrote: Folk still going on about this?!

Only at Carlisle...

Where do you sit at cusg meetings?

Do you sit with the club and trust or away from them?

We like the end of the table, usually opposite NC...

Happy to accept!

Mullen it's a non issue by itself but the lack of communication represents a bigger problem. They don't really engage with fans, then they complain about lower attendances. And what about Nixon smirking at fans? There could well be an innocent explanation for that too, just like there was with the seating at Plymouth but we simply don't know because of the lack of communication. You have to admit that seeing directors smirk in response to criticism one week, and then sit with the other teams fans he next week looks very bad. You could easily understand why a fan might see those two events, feel that the board are treating them with contempt, and decide not to go back. If there is an innocent explanation for both events, shouldn't the board be keen to communicate that to avoid such misunderstandings?

Kessler wrote: Mullen it's a non issue by itself but the lack of communication represents a bigger problem. They don't really engage with fans, then they complain about lower attendances.

Agree! or in the case of Holdsworth, they only say something when there are complaints rather than being proactive.

I'm drafting my questions for the next CUSG meeting and one of them will be if CUOSC can ask John Nixon to provide an explanation for his actions at the Crewe match. If there was an innocent explanation then he needs to explain it because it looks like he was being antagonistic towards fans so I think we deserve an explanation.

To be fair to AJ and SP - whenever I personally have been critical to them, they have listened - I don't agree with their responses, but they do listen.

JN though just smirks, e.g like the Crewe match and doesn't answer questions or just walks away. Happened numerous times with me and I lost it with him (and his misses) and started shouting at him for some answers. That's the problem people have with him and the same thing happened in his last employment.

I don't, personally, think JN cares about what people think about him or the club as long as he gets out of it what he wants.

Mullen103 wrote: To be fair to AJ and SP - whenever I personally have been critical to them, they have listened - I don't agree with their responses, but they do listen.

I agree. And Clibbens is not popular on here but people do respect that he has the decency to reply when they criticize. If the directors made a serious effort to engage with us I think most people would be happy with that.

Mullen103 wrote: JN though just smirks, e.g like the Crewe match and doesn't answer questions or just walks away. Happened numerous times with me and I lost it with him (and his misses) and started shouting at him for some answers. That's the problem people have with him and the same thing happened in his last employment.

JN or the club definitely need to make some kind of statement about it. If the relations between fans and directors are so broken down that a director will smirk at fans criticizing him and then refuse to explain his behaviour, something needs to change. There may be an innocent explanation. If there is, JN needs to clarify what it is. If not, then we have to assume he has no explanation for his actions and that he was openly treating fans with contempt. Someone like that has no business being on the board of directors of a football club. If he doesn't care about the club or the fans then he needs to resign.

Kessler wrote: Mullen it's a non issue by itself but the lack of communication represents a bigger problem. They don't really engage with fans, then they complain about lower attendances. And what about Nixon smirking at fans? There could well be an innocent explanation for that too, just like there was with the seating at Plymouth but we simply don't know because of the lack of communication. You have to admit that seeing directors smirk in response to criticism one week, and then sit with the other teams fans he next week looks very bad. You could easily understand why a fan might see those two events, feel that the board are treating them with contempt, and decide not to go back. If there is an innocent explanation for both events, shouldn't the board be keen to communicate that to avoid such misunderstandings?

What really enraged me was when they cheered the goals with the away fans!

Amen......The End.

I still thing their parasites though - no matter where they sit!

Vitriolic is pushing it a bit.

nobbyblue wrote: Vitriolic is pushing it a bit.

Not so much that, other areas yes - which I don’t have any sympathy for!

Funny that - this seating situation has been cleared up by NC within days.

If NC is reading the board then how about answers to the other stuff asked on here, come on then Nigel explain the EWM situation to us all or is this a post that you will pretend not to have read?

The way they treat the fans I reckon they've got of pretty light. If the had the bottle to face the fans they'd learn the true definition of vitriol. Instead of hiding behind Nigel ,Nixon should be the one to respond

No questions have been raised to the club but I thought I would clarify matters with you as representatives of our fan groups in case you are challenged.

I find this concerning because it goes back to what others have said about them being reactive instead of proactive. Rather than thinking it letting us know what was happening in the first place to avoid any misunderstanding, they were silent about it and are only now replying because people have complained about it.


We are sorry this arrangement clearly upset a number of supporters. There was absolutely no disrespect intended towards any CUFC fans

Nigel you say there is no disrespect intended and I accept there was an innocent explanation this time, but you have to realize that the BOD's actions are giving people precisely that impression. If they don't mean us any disrespect, why did a director at the Crewe match smirk at fans who were criticizing him?

CCU wrote: There was nothing to know about in the first place ffs!

Directors sitting where Directors are told to due to some Ground Works ongoing!

No wonder no sod comes in to buy us eh?!

Ok so what about a director smirking at fans criticizing him the previous week. Why has there been no explanation for that? Because while there does seem to have been an innocent explanation for the seating at Plymouth, I'm struggling to think of anything that could justify a director behaving that way towards fans.

CCU wrote: If you’ve only just realised he doesn’t give a shit about the fans you must have had your head in the sand for over a decade!

I want the directors to be honest with the fans. They claim they care, so if that's true then how do they explain JN's behaviour at the Crewe match?

I notice on the club's weekly newsletter that Nigel's " vitriolic" had been removed

CCU wrote: There was nothing to know about in the first place ffs!

Directors sitting where Directors are told to due to some Ground Works ongoing!

No wonder no sod comes in to buy us eh?!

Yeah, they should probably go for Plymouth if that’s where they want to sit.

Can’t help feeling an awful lot of energy being wasted on a seating plan.As for smirking, I’m not sure what facial expression would be appropriate.

Suggest you all focus on the bigger picture.

Laffy wrote: Can’t help feeling an awful lot of energy being wasted on a seating plan.As for smirking, I’m not sure what facial expression would be appropriate.

Suggest you all focus on the bigger picture.

That’s the problem, a lot of people seen the big picture, you can’t miss them all in the Plymouth end.

munchymagic wrote: Funny that - this seating situation has been cleared up by NC within days.

If NC is reading the board then how about answers to the other stuff asked on here, come on then Nigel explain the EWM situation to us all or is this a post that you will pretend not to have read?

It was a good explanation by NC and cleared it up. I wasn’t vitriolic many others were on the Twitter - I don’t take back parasites as they are.

But as you say Munch they must read this board/twitter/FB and there’s been many vitriol at them and questions on other matters. They responded to this one as they was a clear explanation, they don’t respond to others as they isn’t an explanation!

I’m afraid NC is probably embargoed from saying anything-that’s how juntas work

I have it on good authority that John Nixon has terrible wind problems. Could have led to an involuntary smirk.

CCU wrote: No wonder no sod comes in to buy us eh?!

Watch this space. CUOSC can elaborate.

nobbyblue wrote: I have it on good authority that John Nixon has terrible wind problems. Could have led to an involuntary smirk.

I heard that too. Apparently he started out at Pirelli inflating tyres.

Kessler wrote: No questions have been raised to the club but I thought I would clarify matters with you as representatives of our fan groups in case you are challenged.

I find this concerning because it goes back to what others have said about them being reactive instead of proactive. Rather than thinking it letting us know what was happening in the first place to avoid any misunderstanding, they were silent about it and are only now replying because people have complained about it.


We are sorry this arrangement clearly upset a number of supporters. There was absolutely no disrespect intended towards any CUFC fans

Nigel you say there is no disrespect intended and I accept there was an innocent explanation this time, but you have to realize that the BOD's actions are giving people precisely that impression. If they don't mean us any disrespect, why did a director at the Crewe match smirk at fans who were criticizing him?

Jesus Kessler, as with the IP address of the Trust, you like to make a mountain out of a molehill. Are you actually annoyed that the BoD didn’t provide us with seating arrangements prior to kick off at Plymouth? And that JN smirked at home to Crewe? Give it a rest FFS.

franksidebottom wrote: Are you actually annoyed that the BoD didn’t provide us with seating arrangements prior to kick off at Plymouth?

I'm not annoyed at the seating arrangements themselves, but at the bigger picture re lack of communication from the club. The directors behaviour over the years has resulted in a breakdown of communication and trust, many fans feel that they are treating us with contempt. The seating arrangements probably wouldn't be an issue at clubs where there is a healthy relationship of trust between fans and owners, but at our club in these circumstances it just looked like yet another way the directors were snubbing their own fans.

franksidebottom wrote: And that JN smirked at home to Crewe? Give it a rest FFS.

Yes I am annoyed. If fans are spending their time and money at BP then they should be treated with respect. The directors say they care about engaging with the fans, but smirking at them for criticizing you suggests otherwise. I think it's reasonable to ask for an explanation. If there is an innocent explanation like there was at Plymouth then that's fine. But considering how little the directors are trusted, if they do something like this but refuse to give an explanation for it, they can't really blame fans for assuming the worst.

It's not making a mountain out of a molehill frank. There was an innocent explanation for the seating and there could well be an innocent explanation for the smirking. But even if so, there's still the problem that there is so little trust/relationship between the fans and the owners. What is their plan for addressing that? Because it's not healthy for the football club in the long term.

Why not turn up at 7.30 tonight at the glass doors and ask JN why he smirked against Crewe and explain how you were jolly well annoyed at his actions, so much so you’ve spent most of the time since expressing your anger and fury on the supporters messageboard?

franksidebottom wrote: Why not turn up at 7.30 tonight at the glass doors and ask JN why he smirked against Crewe and explain how you were jolly well annoyed at his actions, so much so you’ve spent most of the time since expressing your anger and fury on the supporters messageboard?

I don't think I've ever expressed anger or fury on here, so I'm not sure why you're saying that. Maybe I ask difficult questions, but I think those questions do need to be asked. Maybe if more fans asked difficult questions, and we had a supporters group that actually did hold the BOD to account on our behalf, the club wouldn't be in the mess it is now.

Haha, you strike me as the sort of bloke who would write to Points of View complaining about the bad language before the watershed on TV, or write a strongly worded letter to the council complaining about the amount of leaves on your lawn falling from council trees.

franksidebottom wrote: Haha, you strike me as the sort of bloke who would write to Points of View complaining about the bad language before the watershed on TV, or write a strongly worded letter to the council complaining about the amount of leaves on your lawn falling from council trees.

I think supporting your local football club and having concern for how it's being run is quite a bit more important than those two issues. Are you happy with how the BOD are running the club frank?

Back in the bad boy’s stool again Kessler-within reason, equity/shares/directorships give you the authority to behave how you like as it’s your property. That’s life-and your only recourse is to vote with your feet

Laffy wrote: Back in the bad boy’s stool again Kessler-within reason, equity/shares/directorships give you the authority to behave how you like as it’s your property. That’s life-and your only recourse is to vote with your feet

Your confusing two different things there Laffy, what the BOD can do and what they should. I completely accept that the directors can smirk at fans if they want to. It's their club on their property. I'm saying that they shouldn't.

I get why it might look like making a fuss over nothing, I do see why frank said that. It might be little things, but the little things add up over time. The way I see it is that if we're unhappy with how the BOD are running the club, we should be asking the difficult questions. We should be holding them accountable, through the official fans trust who have seats on the board specifically for this reason. If we don't do that, then it's unlikely anything will change. And attendances will continue to drop and we'll have lower and lower budgets, we'll go into non league and eventually the club will die. I don't want the club to suffer that fate.

Without boring all, I tried and failed .The BOD have their own bubble and think they know best-only a steamroller after an earthquake will change the mindset.EWM have kept the train running in good faith but all it has done is perpetuate the regime.

Laffy wrote: The BOD have their own bubble and think they know best-only a steamroller after an earthquake will change the mindset.EWM have kept the train running in good faith but all it has done is perpetuate the regime.

So if fans shouldn't criticize the BOD, what should we do instead? Just watch in silence as they slowly kill the club?

Kessler wrote:

Laffy wrote: The BOD have their own bubble and think they know best-only a steamroller after an earthquake will change the mindset.EWM have kept the train running in good faith but all it has done is perpetuate the regime.

So if fans shouldn't criticize the BOD, what should we do instead? Just watch in silence as they slowly kill the club?

"Just sit in silence as they slowly kill the club I love?"

By merely posting on here, that is exactly what you are doing.

munchymagic wrote:

Kessler wrote:

Laffy wrote: The BOD have their own bubble and think they know best-only a steamroller after an earthquake will change the mindset.EWM have kept the train running in good faith but all it has done is perpetuate the regime.

So if fans shouldn't criticize the BOD, what should we do instead? Just watch in silence as they slowly kill the club?

"Just sit in silence as they slowly kill the club I love?"

By merely posting on here, that is exactly what you are doing.

I also try to get answers by asking questions at the CUSG meetings. They may not answer, but at least I try, at least I'm making an effort.

You have forgotten Kessler that several have tried and failed-some through employing sound business tactics built over many years of experience.Others through protest eg MRF.

Lack of money through their own arrogance nearly smoked them out-but EWM saved their skins.Now they can’t get out because they are totally locked in, relying on PD and the vertical position of his thumb.

I suggest all the cards now lie with PD and it is him who should be lobbied-but to do that, you need an alternative plan

Kessler wrote:

franksidebottom wrote: Haha, you strike me as the sort of bloke who would write to Points of View complaining about the bad language before the watershed on TV, or write a strongly worded letter to the council complaining about the amount of leaves on your lawn falling from council trees.

I think supporting your local football club and having concern for how it's being run is quite a bit more important than those two issues. Are you happy with how the BOD are running the club frank?

I hate the way they’re running the club but I couldn’t give a monkey’s where they sit at an away game and I’m not bothered if JN smirks or not, the directors have done far worse which was swept under the carpet so smirking really isn’t a big deal.

franksidebottom wrote:

Kessler wrote:

franksidebottom wrote: Haha, you strike me as the sort of bloke who would write to Points of View complaining about the bad language before the watershed on TV, or write a strongly worded letter to the council complaining about the amount of leaves on your lawn falling from council trees.

I think supporting your local football club and having concern for how it's being run is quite a bit more important than those two issues. Are you happy with how the BOD are running the club frank?

I hate the way they’re running the club but I couldn’t give a monkey’s where they sit at an away game and I’m not bothered if JN smirks or not, the directors have done far worse which was swept under the carpet so smirking really isn’t a big deal.

Agree

I think the “seating plan” annoyed people due to some “mischievous” journalism it turned out to be a none issue.

JNs smirk is bloody annoying though. People ask him questions in a civilised way and he either smirks, ignores and walks away.

Both things are small in comparison to other things yes.... but as Kes says it really just adds to the long list.

Is this thread still going ffs? If ever there was a time for the mods to lock a thread then this is surely it.

When I hear the words smirk and all the EFL crap, I balance it with the thought that I’m not on the hook for all those loans and PGs-all of their own craft.

Seating plans and facial expressions are a sideshow-likewise my Garmin hat!