[Archived] Venkys PR.. what do you think?

[Veevs]

It's been a funny old few weeks just gone by.. a protest, a very poor start to the season and an exciting Arsenal victory but for me the strangest and most important change seems to of been from Venkys themselves.

Over the last few weeks we have had better communication from them and that is without a doubt an interesting twist on matters, now news breaks that they are to quote Nicko are inviting "A hand-picked set of fans, many who attend forums or run websites, will be invited to see them, at their expense, to discuss the key issues" and I hope they invite the likes of Kamy and Glenn (allowing an interview for the podcasts would be cool *hint hint*) for balanced opinions.

For those not following:

They attended a home game for a change (maybe a sign of things) which was very brave given the protest that day

Kean interview and podcast with this site

Lots more newspaper articles

Players released to speak to the press

This new invite fans to Pune scheme

New Kean interview with Glen who organised the march

All in all very interesting, still not sure about it all myself, I still feel a little bitter about how they have gone about things since the release of the sales document, but this more open level of communication can only be good right?

[perthblue02]

Would be interesting to find out who is behind the recent tornado of spin , if Alastair Campbell wasn't a dingle my money would have been on him but then again think he might have been behind the previous 9 months of pr disasters .

If they come out and tell the supporters what's going on and no flights of fantasy it will be a good move for both them and the club and also might bring back onside some supporters who feel that the club has been taken away for them. Venkatesh and Mrs Desai need to be the ones doing the speaking in future they come across as fairly genuine, and they need to gag Balaji and Kean because any good work that is done could easily be undone in two minutes by the latter two mentioned .

It really is a case of wait and see

[Veevs]

Def wait and see on this one..

From a psychology and marketing perspective the whole trip to Pune thing is a double edged sword for Venkys..

1 - They will have to show it's not just a PR experiment, but an actual willingness to listen to fans

2 - They will have to show that its a balanced mix of fans, not just rewards to their backers

3 - In some way they will have to show they actually listened to these fans

4 - It will probably have to be documented in an article of some sort (i.e. what advise they received etc)

5 - They will have to be very careful with what they say just in case it's taken the wrong way or reveals what should not be revealed

6 - They will have to be careful about who they invite, from the sounds of it half the people invited will have to temper their advice such as not to upset Venkys and loose the links they are building up as such they must have a control group of people who have nothing to loose or gain from this trip (well except the free holiday lol).

I guess the key part is number 1 is it a PR excerise to appease fans.. or a genuine attempt to learn about football/understand the fans/receive advise from impartial fans (fans are after all the ones with the smallest agenda in that they only want success for the club.. employees, consultants, agents all have agendas even if only at a subconcious level).

[Mercer]

If Messrs Williams, Finnn etc were still managing in their old roles, none of this would have been remotely necessary.

It's about having the right people in the right roles at the right time, from top to bottom of the club and that particularly includes the football manager !!!

Simple.

[PAFELL]

Would be interesting to find out who is behind the recent tornado of spin , if Alastair Campbell wasn't a dingle my money would have been on him but then again think he might have been behind the previous 9 months of pr disasters .

If they come out and tell the supporters what's going on and no flights of fantasy it will be a good move for both them and the club and also might bring back onside some supporters who feel that the club has been taken away for them. Venkatesh and Mrs Desai need to be the ones doing the speaking in future they come across as fairly genuine, and they need to gag Balaji and Kean because any good work that is done could easily be undone in two minutes by the latter two mentioned .

It really is a case of wait and see

I suppose for Kean it would his agent. Is that not one of the roles that agents do for their clients.I presume that would one of the things they did for their clients.

It is funny how now the owners, kean feel the need to get themselves in the media - especially if they think it is only 1% of supporters are protesting. If they really thought that 99% were supporting them, why speak at all.

[Rover_Shaun]

New Kean interview with Glen who organised the march

Has this been released? Or are you mixing it up with the Kean/kamy podcast?

[John]

Getting Kean actually in the Sky studio last night would have been planned and pushed for from his side. Very rare Premier League managers actually go into the studio these days (if done at all it would be over the phone).

[dave birch]

The idea of inviting "fans" to Pune is totally unnecessary.

All they need to do is get some people who know what they are doing in key positions at Ewood. They were there not long ago.

Time for a bit of re-thinking from our owners and swallowing some pride and get John Williams (and others)back.

Yeah, I realise he probably wouldn't want to, but flying fans to Pune. Strikes me as a way to quieten the squeaky wheels.

[Veevs]

Has this been released? Or are you mixing it up with the Kean/kamy podcast?

Glen has mentioned it in other threads.. Kean offered.. will be this/next week apparently.

[Seggie]

If Venkys want to send me some free tickets to go India, I'll take them, I'll tell them what I think.

Us student types like free things,

Seriously they could do this in Blackburn by video link or have them come here. Id happily meet them at Ewood too.

[AllRoverAsia]

It's been a funny old few weeks just gone by.. a protest, a very poor start to the season and an exciting Arsenal victory but for me the strangest and most important change seems to of been from Venkys themselves.

Over the last few weeks we have had better communication from them and that is without a doubt an interesting twist on matters, now news breaks that they are to quote Nicko are inviting "A hand-picked set of fans, many who attend forums or run websites, will be invited to see them, at their expense, to discuss the key issues" and I hope they invite the likes of Kamy and Glenn (allowing an interview for the podcasts would be cool *hint hint*) for balanced opinions.

For those not following:

They attended a home game for a change (maybe a sign of things) which was very brave given the protest that day

Kean interview and podcast with this site

Lots more newspaper articles

Players released to speak to the press

This new invite fans to Pune scheme

New Kean interview with Glen who organised the march

All in all very interesting, still not sure about it all myself, I still feel a little bitter about how they have gone about things since the release of the sales document, but this more open level of communication can only be good right?

Passage to India

Perhaps this thread should be renamed ''Replying to Venky's PR & trip to India .....what do you think?'' as I am sure the proposed visit of fans to meet with the owners in India is going to generate a lot of comment.

Whilst I welcome such an initiative imo it would be better to hold it at Ewood preferably with the Owners and also senior Club management including SK in attendance.

As our Owners have bought us and have been a couple of times to Ewood already so can now find us on a map and have now also bought a house in the region this should be easier to schedule.

It would be good PR for the Owners to show that they are willing to travel to meet and talk with us in our ''home'' aka Ewood Park. Just my initial thoughts.

[Billy Castell]

I've not got the e-mail so I won't be needing my passport. Glen9 seems to think there's something fishy about the selection of the candidates. I wonder what that is all about. Perhaps Braddock will be appointed as a fan's representative on the board.

[rogerjonesgloves]

I've not got the e-mail so I won't be needing my passport. Glen9 seems to think there's something fishy about the selection of the candidates. I wonder what that is all about. Perhaps Braddock will be appointed as a fan's representative on the board.

Or Glen could arrange a protest march in Pune.

[Rover_Shaun]

Glen9 seems to think there's something fishy about the selection of the candidates.

Does that translate to "They haven't asked me"?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Positive moves...it's about bl00dy time the PR improved!

[ABBEY]

the idea of them sending fans to pune is a barmy as kean going. Why dont they have a barbie at the new pad.Invite us all as well then they would get some super d duper thoughts.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

the idea of them sending fans to pune is a barmy as kean going. Why dont they have a barbie at the new pad.Invite us all as well then they would get some super d duper thoughts.

It does seem a little OTT - but maybe they intend to show the fans what they have done in India. I believe they are renowned for their charity work in India - so maybe it is part of an effort to prove to fans the type of people they really are ?

I think they have realised that they won't get anywhere unless they take the fans with them. Hopefully they will listen to the constructive ideas put forward by the fans - which will show more than anything whether it is just a PR stunt. For now I give them the benefit of the doubt - on what is a great gesture.

[Billy Castell]

Does that translate to "They haven't asked me"?

No, it translates as Glen9 mentioned something was awry about the selection process should this happen, but would/could not go into detail. I couldn't give a flying crap whether I'd be asked, as I'd not go, and I am not arrogant enough to assume I would be considered important enough to be asked.

[only2garners]

No, it translates as Glen9 mentioned something was awry about the selection process should this happen, but would/could not go into detail. I couldn't give a flying crap whether I'd be asked, as I'd not go, and I am not arrogant enough to assume I would be considered important enough to be asked.

I'll refer you to the Pune Trip thread where I have outlined how the 9 were selected.

[Rover_Shaun]

No, it translates as Glen9 mentioned something was awry about the selection process should this happen, but would/could not go into detail. I couldn't give a flying crap whether I'd be asked, as I'd not go, and I am not arrogant enough to assume I would be considered important enough to be asked.

I mean they hadn't asked glenn but I was just being pedantic

But it doesn't matter as the identities of The Nazgûl are slowly being revealed

[A cup of beans]

Does that translate to "They haven't asked me"?

[3rdpillar]

This trip to India, stinks! Stinks I tell ya.

[rogerjonesgloves]

I mean they hadn't asked glenn but I was just being pedantic

But it doesn't matter as the identities of The Nazgûl are slowly being revealed

Wouldn't Fellowship be more appropriate?

[philipl]

I don't know if Rovers are involved but the PR might need to get busy with this:

HMRC tell Sky News they are: "aware of a potential tax issue concerning the payment of agent fees."

[tony gale's mic]

If Messrs Williams, Finnn etc were still managing in their old roles, none of this would have been remotely necessary.

It's about having the right people in the right roles at the right time, from top to bottom of the club and that particularly includes the football manager !!!

Simple.

Yep, the Trust barely communicated with the fans (in fact never did), but they didnt need to. John Williams did sometimes, but again the way he ran the club meant that even though his public statements didnt tell us a great deal (apart from the LT interview where he told us where the transfer money had gone), we all trusted him to get on with it.