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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 9:46:43 GMT
These are fantastic days for supporters and the club has done amazingly to get where we are today.
But I agree the segregation arrangements for the Genco Stand are naff.
This is not complaining but simply begging the club to look again.
Surely we can't still be short of cash to do it.
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Post by Harry on May 2, 2024 9:50:46 GMT
The proposals put forward by jdl or bernie (not sure who) are so much better in every way than the current arrangements.
Even if the cost is 30k or 40k, it would improve so much on the current set up.
Love to see a proper full house (4,000 plus) versus Chatham Town.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 10:42:26 GMT
Can't believe that either bernie's or jdl's consultancy fees would cost that much.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 11:11:34 GMT
Can't believe that either bernie's or jdl's consultancy fees would cost that much. Back in the day, mine might have! Worth every penny though... I think I can lay claim to being the first to come up with the idea of using the TE for away fans* (although, it's so obvious, it might have just been 'in the air' anyway), but I'm happy to share it with a fine, upstanding chap like Bernie. *I remember it well because it got such a vehement negative response at the time! How things have changed... |
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 11:16:29 GMT
The proposals put forward by jdl or bernie (not sure who) are so much better in every way than the current arrangements. Even if the cost is 30k or 40k, it would improve so much on the current set up. Love to see a proper full house (4,000 plus) versus Chatham Town. If we have near 4000 for that match next season (if they dont bottle the final) there will be 100% trouble in the ground with the 2 sets of fans only 30ft apart. |
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 11:29:14 GMT
Thinking about it further...
What is the problem?
1) Trouble between rival fans - exacerbated by the current segregation arrangements, especially sharing the Genco.
2) The impact of this on trying to grow our income by increasing attendance, as newcomers, especially families, are put off coming back.
3) The loss of a chunk of the Genco.
4) Our best stand, and arguably the stadium's greatest asset, not being fully available to home fans.
Is this a serious problem?
Not that serious, no - we can live with it. But it will gradually cause problems by slowing/preventing the growth of income, damaging the club's image, and causing a growing split between board and fans.
How much will it cost to fix?
No one really knows - almost certainly more than we normally have available in the budget, quite possibly more than what's left of the Cup money.
Is it worth doing?
Depends on who's paying for it! I would argue that it is - providing the money is available/can be found. The long-term effects of leaving this unresolved will both constrain our income, make the match-day experience less pleasant/attractive, and cause a growing division between fans and board.
If the money isn't available, then I think the club should make this a priority for future budgeting/fund raising, with the aim of doing it as soon as possible, ideally before our next spell in the NL. It should take priority over other potential projects, such as developing the river side (although, ideally, this would be done as well, as the two are complimentary).
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 12:37:09 GMT
I would argue it could cost more in the long term not to do it.
There are regularly away fans on social media saying they won't attend due to having objects thrown at them.
There were families turned up due to the FA Cup never to be seen again.
How much are we spending on stewards both sides of the wanker barrier and police to stand on the stairs?
How much would it cost if we were fined or forced to play games behind closed doors?
In the end it's not the end of the world if it doesn't happen. But people will keep talking about it.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 14:03:39 GMT
The thing is JDL, we know the club has made circa £700,000 from the FA Cup run, all totally un-budgeted.
The Revenue must be rubbing its hands and getting its paws on taxable profits for the year.
Whatever is said about replacing the 3G playing surface, gantry etc, can anyone be saying this was unexpected and unplanned expenditure ?
No question there will have been some diversion of funds and the owners must feel a lot more comfortable now.
But the bottom line is the FA Cup run was a massive, unexpected windfall.
We should not be proposing fresh new fund raising to do the right thing.
Maybe what you propose isnt a perfect outcome (that bird flew the nest a while ago) but it is a darn sight better than what we have at present.
The lobbying represents a genuine and heartfelt opinion of loads of supporters.
We cant always be in the wrong.
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Post by jackster on May 2, 2024 14:19:49 GMT
Can't believe that either bernie's or jdl's consultancy fees would cost that much. Back in the day, mine might have! Worth every penny though... I think I can lay claim to being the first to come up with the idea of using the TE for away fans* (although, it's so obvious, it might have just been 'in the air' anyway), but I'm happy to share it with a fine, upstanding chap like Bernie. *I remember it well because it got such a vehement negative response at the time! How things have changed... Back in the day, my dad, who was a West Ham supporter, spoke in awe about a certain Martin Peters, who apparently was desribed by the then England Manager Alf Ramsey, as being 'ahead of his time' You earlier procrastinations about the stadium design and useage was always going to fall on deaf ears of less enlightened supporters. But in fairness it is not always easy to to visualise or comprehend emerging future requirements which have become today's unwanted problems. Your original minority view now has the support of the masses ! |
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 14:31:53 GMT
Back in the day, mine might have! Worth every penny though... I think I can lay claim to being the first to come up with the idea of using the TE for away fans* (although, it's so obvious, it might have just been 'in the air' anyway), but I'm happy to share it with a fine, upstanding chap like Bernie. *I remember it well because it got such a vehement negative response at the time! How things have changed... Back in the day, my dad, who was a West Ham supporter, spoke in awe about a certain Martin Peters, who apparently was desribed by the then England Manager Alf Ramsey, as being 'ahead of his time' You earlier procrastinations about the stadium design and useage was always going to fall on deaf ears of less enlightened supporters. But in fairness it is not always easy to to visualise or comprehend emerging future requirements which have become today's unwanted problems. Your original minority view now has the support of the masses ! Dave U said, "if you are so good why are you not running a football club?" |
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 14:50:46 GMT
If the club seemingly can't even afford to spend 30-50k on sorting the segregation situation after earning anything from 700 to 900k from the cup run, it's never going to happen till we get new owners.
Its quite sad really.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2024 15:05:41 GMT
If the club seemingly can't even afford to spend 30-50k on sorting the segregation situation after earning anything from 700 to 900k from the cup run, it's never going to happen till we get new owners. Its quite sad really. £30-50k was just a random number someone said. I’m sure the club will have a supporters meeting, perhaps raise it there, or if someone has time, write the ideas down on a email and send it to the club. That way they will realise some fans think it is a situation that needs addressing. It would be a shame to not be able to choose to stand behind the goal we are attacking. I do this sometimes depending on how the game is going. |
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Post by stones1 on May 2, 2024 15:15:25 GMT
I think a huge stumbling block to any plans is the riverside fence.
Needs to be moved to make enough room for even a temporary stand down that side, or for any potential walkway for a segregation setup in the town end (cordoning it off isn’t the difficult part let’s be real here). Can imagine being that close to a river bank the posts would be extremely deep and I doubt at the time of construction the club ever thought they’d need to be moved (especially considering the club budgeted for 800 average attendance at the beginning) The police surely wouldn’t be happy with a setup where fans mix in the car park pre and post match for a segregated fixture.
Whether we like it, agree with it or not. There will be a numbers element to the whole thing in terms of entrances and exits per spectator etc. So that’s probably why we haven’t seen anything done this season but you’d have to imagine the club will look at it in the off season, to try and reduce incidents if nothing else.
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Post by Dickie on May 2, 2024 15:23:59 GMT
What stumbling block ?
The club already own the lands outside the fence on the riverside.
In fact, quite a while back the Council came in for some stick for its slowness in selling the land to the club.
The whole point of the exercise was to provide the space for tiered covered terracing/seating in the riverside.
Now we are told the club can't afford to do anything.
You can look for problems or excuses to do nothing, but lack of space on the riverside is not a get out.
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Post by scooby on May 2, 2024 16:07:06 GMT
Can we now end this never changing scenario.
Dave u and now Tim have told us, the majority, they are right and we should just accept this. The club are inconceivable and steadfast that nothing will change. The two and the club just show their inability and naiveness by ignoring the situation and taking little swipes at anyone who dares to disagree.
If the club didn't foresee any issues they didnt want to. I can go back to the 70s and remember all the trouble from barrow to gravesend. It's never going away. It's like telling a dog to stop barking.
Finally others will disagree with me but, I'm sure, will explain their reasons logically and with no confrontational attitude. Why is this person not running a club? Happy dayz
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