The Forum Thingy

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 07/11/2007

THE club has announced that there will be a fans forum on November 29. This forum will give the fans the opportunity to express their opinions but also to learn how the club and management view the current situation and how they intend to address it.

Now that seems clear enough, but those who have attended any form of public meeting will know that many opinions are expressed and very few reach a conclusion or agreement on affirmative action.

It would be a pity therefore if the forthcoming forum is no more than a shouting match or just a place to complain.

If there is anything to be achieved at the forum it will only be achieved if there is a set plan of action and an organized and prepared presentation.

It is clear that very few are satisfied with where we are at the moment and where we seem to be going and the club are aware of that, so there seems no need to be proclaiming that fact.

I think most people want answers to the many questions they are asking and I can guarantee that not all questions will be asked or answered unless you plan to stay all night.

So I would suggest the following.

Let the trust play its full role in representing the fans and supporters. Let the trust take the lead role in getting the answer to the questions you have. The trust talk to the club on a regular basis and some of the questions and answers can be sorted out before the actual forum.

The trust can also sort the questions out before the forum as some people will be asking the same questions but in different ways.

So that instead of a 'free for all' there can be a set agenda where the chairman will have his say, the manager will have his say and the trust will be given an opportunity to ask all the relevant questions and after that, a general question and answer time for everyone.

By setting that type of agenda, the important issues will be covered and everyone will be given an opportunity to have their say.

In my experience, this type of set agenda is the most productive. It is also the best way of keeping the meeting under control without it reverting to a shouting match or general free for all.

So, once again, I will set up a fans forum Message board on the Fishy for you to list your questions to management and Board that you feel needs answering.

If you cannot get to the forum, your questions can still be answered.

Everything on that board will be passed on to the trust for their attention. Click HERE for the fans forum MB.

Good luck at the forum.

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