Unita Fortior Fans Group

I asked a question via zoom on the night. It wasn't answered. I was told it was a hard question. It was, the answer is beyond me, alone I can do nothing, but a supporters club, surely part of the remit of a Supporters Club to Support the Football Club?

My question was: There are 15 games left to save our League status, what are you, the supporters club personally, not the club, going to do to help Carlisle United survive?

I wasn't intending to be awkward or difficult asking the question. It's just, to me, there is no more important question right now. Alone there is very little I can do, surely the Official Supporters Club should be at least thinking about it?

I had to drop the kids off at the pool in C Stand toilets one time.

Sometimes when you've got to go, you've got to go.

Everything worked as you might have expected, on the facilities side, perfectly adequately. The worst thing about the experience was burning all the skin off my hands when washing due to the water being roughly 100 degrees.

Quoted from Bumble on Sunday, 27 February 2022

My question was: There are 15 games left to save our League status, what are you, the supporters club personally, not the club, going to do to help Carlisle United survive?

Organise a sub-committee for some meetings to discuss?

Hi all,

A post to create some discussion amongst you all!

What do you think a Trust should do?

Fundraise? Communicate better/more, both with the fans and the club? Improve social media output?

Anything you think of, let us know!

UNITA FORTIOR

Crikey, where do you start?!

Make yourself known to be serving the fans as opposed to serving the club.

Stop using the News & Star column as your primary source of communication with the fans - nobody reads it.

Overhaul the woeful membership application process.

Much more fundraising ideas.

State it as your primary aim to make it known to the other owners that a proper, full time commercial, sales & marketing manager is imperative. The club are losing a fortune without one.

Hold people at the club accountable for incompetence - the DoF should have been called out long before he was relieved of his role. The catering company should have been held accountable for the shambles at last weeks meeting, etc, etc.

Be at the forefront of all fan initiative and fund raising schemes. It shouldn’t be up to others to be sorting out flags for the ground, old replica shirts for display, pin badges, crowd-funding schemes to pay for players, Jimmy Glass t-shirts, Roma Anglo-Italian mugs, 1995 legends nights, etc. A race night or a quiz every now and again isn’t very imaginative.

Get out in amongst the fanbase to attract new members instead of waiting for them to come to you.

Give members more of a say in important decisions at boardroom level.

Make being a member more worthwhile.

Can’t argue with any of that Frank!

The first thing is to resign en-mass, and appoint a new board.

The next is to design a clear criteria, and develop this into a policy on potential Club Takeover's.

This should be agreed with the members and adopted.

This should have clear protocols on how the Trust should act, when it should/should not be involved in discussions and negotiations with a potential new owner.

This criteria should be shared and agreed with CUFC Holdings, and used as a steering document.

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If I had any confidence that this could happen, I would suggest other ideas, however I don't.

Anything that improves on half a dozen or so in effect being the trust and making decisions will be an improvement. If it is just a change of personnel then that isn't progress

Any major decision should be put to the Membership IMO.

If only 50 vote, so be it, they were asked etc…

Quoted from ccu on Monday, 07 March 2022

Any major decision should be put to the Membership IMO.

If only 50 vote, so be it, they were asked etc…

In my opinion, this is one of the biggest single problems.

If you have a member on the board then you are immediately constrained from speaking to the membership because of the secrecy of a board meeting.

At the moment a member of CUSC sits on a board and votes but cannot tell the membership what he voted on and how he voted. THAT JUST DOES NOT WORK.

I have been told that being on the boards is the only way that the board listens to fans. That is probably true when CUOSC only has a few hundred members. Get a couple of thousand members then the boards have to listen, meetings between a board and representatives of CUOSC could go ahead without the secrecy restrictions and fans not directly involved would still feel represented.

Bumble, would think most folk fully understand there’s a certain level of legality around the elected CUOSC Rep’s on the two Board’s at the Club and what they can/can’t discuss - That comes with the territory!

They could certainly use their vote based on feeling of both the CUOSC Board and Membership if regular meetings to gauge feelings on issues happened though?

I was more thinking of the decision CUOSC made internally to potentially dilute their holding for EWM to takeover - To not bring something of this magnitude to the Membership is bordering on criminal IMO! I fully get there is a democratically elected Board in place, but an event of such importance would be deserving of the entire Membership having their say…

Quoted from ccu on Monday, 07 March 2022

Bumble, would think most folk fully understand there’s a certain level of legality around the elected CUOSC Rep’s on the two Board’s at the Club and what they can/can’t discuss - That comes with the territory!

They could certainly use their vote based on feeling of both the CUOSC Board and Membership if regular meetings to gauge feelings on issues happened though?

I was more thinking of the decision CUOSC made internally to potentially dilute their holding for EWM to takeover - To not bring something of this magnitude to the Membership is bordering on criminal IMO! I fully get there is a democratically elected Board in place, but an event of such importance would be deserving of the entire Membership having their say…

I do think some folks don't realise that the rep's hands are tied as to what they can report back from board meetings, a lot of folk have no experience in those circles, so why should they know. I think also because CUOSC appears like a secret society, people don't know what is being not spoken of because of boardroom reasons and what is just not being reported back. A more open CUOSC is needed.

I totally agree with you about the potential dilution of their holding. I know plenty of people who think the holding is irrelevant and equally, I know plenty of people who think it is vitally important. Either way, it is seen as central to CUOSC's existence. For me, all members should, indeed must, have the right to vote on it. I can see absolutely no reason why a potential takeover couldn't wait for three or four days until the members had the chance to vote. Indeed the very fact a takeover was such a rushed job it couldn't wait sends out alarm signals.

CUOSC must modernise its systems so that in the event of a vote needed to be done, a vote can be done online in a matter of hours or two days at most, and then the CUOSC board will have a much more accurate feel of what their members think.

Quoted from Bumble on Monday, 07 March 2022

Quoted from ccu on Monday, 07 March 2022

Bumble, would think most folk fully understand there’s a certain level of legality around the elected CUOSC Rep’s on the two Board’s at the Club and what they can/can’t discuss - That comes with the territory!

They could certainly use their vote based on feeling of both the CUOSC Board and Membership if regular meetings to gauge feelings on issues happened though?

I was more thinking of the decision CUOSC made internally to potentially dilute their holding for EWM to takeover - To not bring something of this magnitude to the Membership is bordering on criminal IMO! I fully get there is a democratically elected Board in place, but an event of such importance would be deserving of the entire Membership having their say…

I do think some folks don't realise that the rep's hands are tied as to what they can report back from board meetings, a lot of folk have no experience in those circles, so why should they know. I think also because CUOSC appears like a secret society, people don't know what is being not spoken of because of boardroom reasons and what is just not being reported back. A more open CUOSC is needed.

I totally agree with you about the potential dilution of their holding. I know plenty of people who think the holding is irrelevant and equally, I know plenty of people who think it is vitally important. Either way, it is seen as central to CUOSC's existence. For me, all members should, indeed must, have the right to vote on it. I can see absolutely no reason why a potential takeover couldn't wait for three or four days until the members had the chance to vote. Indeed the very fact a takeover was such a rushed job it couldn't wait sends out alarm signals.

CUOSC must modernise its systems so that in the event of a vote needed to be done, a vote can be done online in a matter of hours or two days at most, and then the CUOSC board will have a much more accurate feel of what their members think.

Can’t be that difficult to achieve this in the 21st century, and an absolute necessity given the geographical spread of our fan base.

The online presence is simply not good enough in all honesty, right down to the application system. A full three weeks from my application before I was finally issued with a membership number. I’d had an email after a fortnight saying confirmation would come once payment was received. That payment was made by bank transfer at the time I applied, which I pointed out. Yet still another week passed before confirmation was given. Such a disjointed, convoluted process - not fit for purpose.

UF deserve credit for driving the recent increase in membership, but the trust themselves have been very poor on this front. It’s an invisible organisation to many, and needs to be far more prominent both online and on the ground.

The next would be to have a clearly defined role for the Trust, and a list of expectations based on a long-term development plan.

These should have set time frames, and sign posts, and should be measurable and strong enough to withstand a performance audit.

A members annual report and update on how the Trust is performing against the defined roles and goals should be produced, and scrutinised.

Unqualified part timers, sitting on there fat axxe while holding a significant share of any business is unacceptable.

They should create a revenue stream that can sustain one full-time position, (secretary role or the likes) and have much tighter Governance.

Anything that is not statutory or mandatory should be kicked into touch, as they become a diversion and distraction.

Always been of the opinion that an organisation has more credibility and standing if it has a decent level of finance behind it, this is an important area where the current trust falls well short. I asked the question at a recent meeting and one member of the committee proudly informed me they raised £13,000 last year. Pretty feeble in todays financial climate in all honesty.

Moving forward, if the trust was to evolve into a decent, well ran organisation with a healthy membership, my proposal would be for members to have the option to pay a weekly or monthly subscription. £4 a week (price of a pint) equates to £208 a year, multiplied by 1,000 members is £208,000. A serious amount of money. How and when it would be spent on could be decided by the members but it would give the trust a lot more credibility. It might be wishful thinking getting 1,000 members, all of whom are willing to donate such sums of money, but it’s an idea. I don’t see the current trust board coming up with many.

CCU you have a point on that potential dilution that's for sure . But going forward I will be amazed if anyone takes the club on and allows the 25.4% share to remain at that unless it produces the 25.4% share of any investment or guarantee for losses . It wouldn't happen in most other businesses and tbh I wouldn't allow it and I am a fan !!
It's like buying a house that has a sitting Tennant that wants a say in any work done but wont/ can't pay for any of it while wanting a say on who does it and how you remortgage the place

I am of the same opinion as Frank is, i would be happy for members to have a monthly sub to build up substantial coinage to be put to good use..

Is it not worth putting forward for the future in discussios..simple concept could pay off dividends.

Hi all,

We’d like to announce that Claire Winder, formerly Fans Rep at Brunton Park, has joined our Working Group.

Claire has excellent experience from this role and is a welcome addition to the fold.

UNITA FORTIOR

That’s put the vixen in the chicken coop-well done Claire

Lets see if the silly old fart Jenkins tries to discredit her again....after the shan 6 years ago...it still boils my piss to this day, trying to discredit her for being open and transparent to fans while instead backing a tit who made comments about Hillsborough...As most will know that was the main bluntness off my last rant before my public flogging.

Im glad she has got on board again and i am sure she will make a difference too joining in.

Quoted from TheMansfieldMoonie on Monday, 07 March 2022

Quoted from Bumble on Monday, 07 March 2022

Quoted from ccu on Monday, 07 March 2022

Bumble, would think most folk fully understand there’s a certain level of legality around the elected CUOSC Rep’s on the two Board’s at the Club and what they can/can’t discuss - That comes with the territory!

They could certainly use their vote based on feeling of both the CUOSC Board and Membership if regular meetings to gauge feelings on issues happened though?

I was more thinking of the decision CUOSC made internally to potentially dilute their holding for EWM to takeover - To not bring something of this magnitude to the Membership is bordering on criminal IMO! I fully get there is a democratically elected Board in place, but an event of such importance would be deserving of the entire Membership having their say…

I do think some folks don't realise that the rep's hands are tied as to what they can report back from board meetings, a lot of folk have no experience in those circles, so why should they know. I think also because CUOSC appears like a secret society, people don't know what is being not spoken of because of boardroom reasons and what is just not being reported back. A more open CUOSC is needed.

I totally agree with you about the potential dilution of their holding. I know plenty of people who think the holding is irrelevant and equally, I know plenty of people who think it is vitally important. Either way, it is seen as central to CUOSC's existence. For me, all members should, indeed must, have the right to vote on it. I can see absolutely no reason why a potential takeover couldn't wait for three or four days until the members had the chance to vote. Indeed the very fact a takeover was such a rushed job it couldn't wait sends out alarm signals.

CUOSC must modernise its systems so that in the event of a vote needed to be done, a vote can be done online in a matter of hours or two days at most, and then the CUOSC board will have a much more accurate feel of what their members think.

Can’t be that difficult to achieve this in the 21st century, and an absolute necessity given the geographical spread of our fan base.

The online presence is simply not good enough in all honesty, right down to the application system. A full three weeks from my application before I was finally issued with a membership number. I’d had an email after a fortnight saying confirmation would come once payment was received. That payment was made by bank transfer at the time I applied, which I pointed out. Yet still another week passed before confirmation was given. Such a disjointed, convoluted process - not fit for purpose.

UF deserve credit for driving the recent increase in membership, but the trust themselves have been very poor on this front. It’s an invisible organisation to many, and needs to be far more prominent both online and on the ground.

I put the “technology” in for the trust to be able to do the exact thing. They use it for the AGM votes so they was/is absolutely no reason they couldn’t fix up a quick vote on the site re the EWM dilution or absolutely anything, it’s piss easy to do.

I also created a poll option for them to use, used once and never used again. The whole purpose of it and my suggestion was to use it regularly.

Technology is there for them, you can’t make them use it.

The trust have created some good articles on their site, but use it to its full potential and involve the supporters/members which was the whole purpose I set it up that way.

Quoted from markredfox73 on Friday, 11 March 2022

Lets see if the silly old fart Jenkins tries to discredit her again....after the shan 6 years ago...it still boils my piss to this day, trying to discredit her for being open and transparent to fans while instead backing a tit who made comments about Hillsborough...As most will know that was the main bluntness off my last rant before my public flogging.

Im glad she has got on board again and i am sure she will make a difference too joining in.

The interesting thing will be if Claire stands for a trust position, no idea if that’s the case but under our owners you wouldn’t put it past them to withdraw the holdings board offer.

I created the trusts site for them and put in the forms they can use for absolutely anything. They use them for the AGM votes. The trust said they had to make the dilution decision quickly - takes 5 minutes to knock up the form and another 5 to email members, to say this wasn’t possible is bollocks.

I created a poll option for them to use and was told they’d use it. It’s been used once.

I created their sign up form for them. At the time it included a PayPal option (they removed it as PayPal is too expensive) but I wanted to put in a payment gateway but they said the bank wouldn’t have it - Change [censored] banks to one that will ffs! many do free business banking or extremely cheap.

I offered to set up the ssl certificate for the site, had everything ready apart from the trust having to identify/confirm themselves and heard nothing back.

You can create the tools for them but you can’t make them use it. Without blowing my own trumpet I achieved something useful for the trust then in the ten years prior along with Mike Denovellis supporters club work, yet the same people remain.

I got pissed off and stopped communicating with them because the site wasn’t being used in the way intended. They were many of good articles but nothing in interacting with members or votes/opinions.

That would make things very interesting indeed...hypothetical right now of course,but she is not afraid to ask the important questions .. they dont like that sort of stuff.

Quoted from markredfox73 on Friday, 11 March 2022

That would make things very interesting indeed...hypothetical right now of course,but she is not afraid to ask the important questions .. they dont like that sort of stuff.

Nah they don’t - that’s why AJ doesn’t do forums anymore as he gets flustered and starts talking.

That’s why we, the supporters, need to make sure he’s at the next one.