[Archived] Next protest

[Fowl Play]

I'm not really bothered about knowing whats going on at the circus.

I just want the circus to stop and become a football club again.

[K-Hod]

Got to agree with Jim on this Glen. To date you have achieved a lot but I fear this could be a big mistake. There is absolutley no chance that Kean+cronies will be going into this meeting for a good old heart-to-heart. You are being suckered into a PR-trap and unless you are barrister-like in debate or have a few aces hidden up your sleeve, I would suggest some serious thought is given to cancelling the meeting. There are many ways you can spin this but I would just go with the truth. And that should be that the guy isn't trustworty, has spoken untruth after lie after downright bullpoo - he does not deserve to be debating the future of BRFC with supporters that have the long-term interests of the club at heart. Just give it some serious thought please.

Oh and by the way don't take any notice of what TomM is saying above - some waffle about it being too late to backdown and what would it look like? - maybe that's what he was thinking about before his ill-fated Pune trip? Maybe he's hoping you fall into the same trap and end up becoming the next Patsy?

You really don't like the Fans Forum do you?

[Roverall]

He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon.

An exercise in futility, and exactly what Kean wants to spin.

"Constructive dialogue". Utter ######. We need him and Venky's OUT.

[Tom]

I'm not going to rise to that but:

It may be better to cancel but I also think the damage is done as Kean can now say he was willing either way.

[roverandout]

couldnt give a damn what drivel kean comes out with, as people have said before it will be platitudes and pre-meditated answers to what will be asked, hes probably reading the 'what the managers should say to supporters' manual and being quized on it by agnew, like revising a driving test manual. i would ask him one question then walk out, that question would be 'when are you going to resign', the end!!!

[BuckyRover]

Don't bring Manuel into it

[roverandout]

ha ha changed it.

[G Somerset Rover]

Kean still goes on about his interview with Kamy like it brought peace to the world so I really can't see how this will help.

[xtp]

It is true that there is more wrong at the club than just Steve Kean. The entire infrastructure is a shambles and needs to be sorted. I respect and appreciate the work Glen and others have put in trying to address these issues. They have clearly worked tirelessly, with no financial recuperation, for the good of the club. Personally, I suspect that the meeting with Kean is a mistake and will be spun. But then, who am I to judge? I haven't sat in on these meetings or spent even a fraction of the time and energy on this that they have.

Not many of us have.

[Mike Graham]

Can I go to this meeting with Coco please? I have prepared and have my steel toe capped wellies polished, and my flare to slip up his bottom once lit. We can always video it for the big screen!

[Mattyblue]

I've been a big supporter of the protests,letting people do their own thing for West Brom is a good idea, but for me you are now veering well of course, 'mission creep' the Yanks call it.

Meeting Kean will achieve absolutely nothing and Im amazed you have gone down that path- bet Agnew was rubbing his hands.

The views of the regular fan and the actual cause seem to be being ignored so a select few can hobnob with the high and mighty over coffee.

Kean out and Venkys put your money in and STFU, or sell up. That's what it's all about. You can say the protests were always about increasing communication, but for those that have been there with you from the start, they really wern't.

[47er]

Poor old supporters between a rock and a hard place eh Matty? Get 6 pints from the next 2 games and we have a chance of staying up but we are stuck with Kean forever which means we won't stay up!

Not surprising supporters are turning on each other. None of us know or can agree what to do for the best. If we do lose the next 2 games, I'm certain all hell will break loose, we'll be united then!

A positive suggestion------how about some pro-Mark Hughes chants?

[EwoodDawn]

For me, Glen & Simon MUST insist on the meeting being video-recorded by an independent party who will not edit it in a dangerously biased manner, as I think most of us fear Mr Agnew and his employees might do.

[92er]

If the meeting is going to go ahead, just consider how effective Kean can be in this kind of medium.On the podcast he did for us, he sounded quite believable and I felt, without taking it too far, he almost had an hypnotic effect on the listener.It was only after he had finished that I was able to balance what he was saying with what he had actually done.

And remember that with the help of other people-I speculate this could include his agent and Agnew-he is able to keep on the right side of Mrs Desai. So I would suggest you don't underestimate him.

On listening to his interviews on the radio and the TV-and including our own podcast-many interviewers don't ask follow up questions.

What I mean is that a question is asked, Kean comes out with a platitude and then the interviewer moves on.

Be prepared to ask follow up questions.

I would also suggest you don't have too wide an agenda-consider what Exiled in Toronto has said and maybe even contact him for his ideas. I haven't contacted him to see if he would be agreeable, but I'd guess he would be.

If you do want to get out of the meeting, also consider what Kean said recently, that he would be willing to be interviewed, but he didn't want the interview to be held against him or to be overly analyzed. You could say there were going to be extremely tough questions about his record, about how the team were progressing now that the transfer window had closed, about the success of that transfer window, and which part of his record as a Premiership manager suggested he was going to be able to help the Rovers avoid relegation.

It would then be interesting to see if the interview would be postponed or not.

[bob fleming]

Meeting with Kean this week, today or tomorrow, time and place to be decided, with i'm hoping at least 8 supporters. This will be frank, no beating about the bush, and on footballing and supporter issues

Glen, before you start the interview can I suggest that you show him the Lifes A Pitch clip posted by Topman in the Kean thread? Ask him for his comments, particularly regarding his paymasters. Then: "The national press have finally caught up Steve, the games up. Have you no dignity? In the best interests of the club just resign."

Then when he starts banging on about "pulling together, injuries, positivity" just say "how's you agents son doing in the reserves? Ribiero? Your taking the ######. Do you honestly believe you'd have got an interview for the job if 1. The new owners new a single thing about football? 2. Their advisor wasn't your agent? Why on earth are you still here?" then I'd just get up and walk out stating I hear enough bull from him post match every Saturday.

[47er]

I mut say, I don't see any point in talking to Kean at all. He's not going to agree that he isn't up to the job is he? And if you point out his mistakes he's going to ask "what sort or qualifications do you have to criticise me?" Do we really think we can keep Kean and still get something out of this season?

Given the utter shambles they've made of it, it should be Venkys humbly sitting down with supporters to learn what we think of their ownership so far and what needs to be done. At that point we start with Kean!

Since they probably think we are not fit to be in the same room as them it'll never happen. But the Kean thing is simply a waste of time imo.

As for protests, how the games play out will determine that. Grim times.

[Steve Moss]

Didn't mean ass I meant a head butt

Kean most certainly is.

I've been a big supporter of the protests,letting people do their own thing for West Brom is a good idea, but for me you are now veering well of course, 'mission creep' the Yanks call it.

This absolutely worries me.

Stick with what you know, protesting and otherwise expressing dissatisfaction with the manager and the course the owners have placed us on. But DON'T engage with Venkys on their terms. For a USA/English equivalent, Britian slaughtered us Colonials on the open battlefield but we hung in their and blasted them from the woods, etc.

Venkys know what you want. You know what you want. Negotiations will do nothing to achieve Kean's removal or convince Venkys to see the error of their ways. Stick to you game plan and make Venkys address Rovers' fans as a whole by sacking Kean (and appoiinting a chairman, etc), not 'minuted meetings'. That is their world, not yours.

Just my two cents. And if you elected to ignore the above, that is fine. I appreciate all you've done to date.

[Andy]

Glen, before you start the interview can I suggest that you show him the Lifes A Pitch clip posted by Topman in the Kean thread? Ask him for his comments, particularly regarding his paymasters. Then: "The national press have finally caught up Steve, the games up. Have you no dignity? In the best interests of the club just resign."

Then when he starts banging on about "pulling together, injuries, positivity" just say "how's you agents son doing in the reserves? Ribiero? Your taking the ######. Do you honestly believe you'd have got an interview for the job if 1. The new owners new a single thing about football? 2. Their advisor wasn't your agent? Why on earth are you still here?" then I'd just get up and walk out stating I hear enough bull from him post match every Saturday.

If the meeting is to be anything close to a success for Rovers and it's supporters, then it has to be along the above lines.

What an absolute fiasco the club has become.

The people I feel sorry for in all of this are the absolute die-hards who put Rovers above pretty much everything else in their lives - must be devastating.

[Jock]

Just imagine the spin the fraudsters will put out after this meeting. The thought of it makes me feel physically sick. Not in my name. I'll never accept these people running the club. If anyone has an issue with me i dont give a f***.

Typical spineless Rovers fans. I'd rather stand with the real fans who stood with me against City at the front of the Blackburn End when they took over. Those were real fans who defended our great club from bullies.

Wake up people, this is what the Venky PR bullies are doing,theyre making friends with you so they can kick you in the nuts again at a later date.

This saga reminds me of George Orwell's Animal Farm. Please dont meet those with their snouts in the trough.

[Exiled in Toronto]

If the meeting is going to go ahead, just consider how effective Kean can be in this kind of medium.On the podcast he did for us, he sounded quite believable and I felt, without taking it too far, he almost had an hypnotic effect on the listener.It was only after he had finished that I was able to balance what he was saying with what he had actually done.

And remember that with the help of other people-I speculate this could include his agent and Agnew-he is able to keep on the right side of Mrs Desai. So I would suggest you don't underestimate him.

On listening to his interviews on the radio and the TV-and including our own podcast-many interviewers don't ask follow up questions.

What I mean is that a question is asked, Kean comes out with a platitude and then the interviewer moves on.

Be prepared to ask follow up questions.

I would also suggest you don't have too wide an agenda-consider what Exiled in Toronto has said and maybe even contact him for his ideas. I haven't contacted him to see if he would be agreeable, but I'd guess he would be.

If you do want to get out of the meeting, also consider what Kean said recently, that he would be willing to be interviewed, but he didn't want the interview to be held against him or to be overly analyzed. You could say there were going to be extremely tough questions about his record, about how the team were progressing now that the transfer window had closed, about the success of that transfer window, and which part of his record as a Premiership manager suggested he was going to be able to help the Rovers avoid relegation.

It would then be interesting to see if the interview would be postponed or not.

I've passed on all the advice I have. However, I'm not sensing much receptivity to alternate approaches. It seems to be something of a closed shop for ideas at least.

[BuckyRover]

I've passed on all the advice I have. However, I'm not sensing much receptivity to alternate approaches. It seems to be something of a closed shop for ideas at least.

Thinking about it.

Why did we ever need an organised protest?

If you are protesting against war or austerity then you need it to be organised as you need a place to meet, but why do you need an organiser to organise a protest at a football match?

Discuss

[sentient]

Glen, if you do go ahead with this and you make a mess of it then you wll be pillaried by all sides - think carefully about you are doing.

If you do decide to go into the meeting the best advice I can think of is that YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS.

DO NOT ALLOW THEM ANY CONTROL! The meeting is for them to explain their actions and omissions. They are on trial not you or the fans. I'm afraid they will try to hang you out to dry and paint you as the problem (some people want to believe this), afterall you are threatening millions of pounds of income for these people! You must be strong and forceful. Walk out at the slightest sign of trickery.

Oh yeah, and have a pre-prepared statement (in your head!) just in case you need to walk out.

[BRFC1995]

If we are, as is very likely being outplayed and passed to death ala sunderland with 30% posession and 2-0 down after 60 minutes i know what i'll be doing......i can't see how an hour of not telling someone they are sacked in the morning makes them smarter tactically.

There must always be a breaking point where enough is enough so just crank the pressure right up to speed the process along is my attitude, He will still be a useless liar and leech on the club after tea and cakes, just seems an utterly pointless exercise.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

I've been a big supporter of the protests,letting people do their own thing for West Brom is a good idea, but for me you are now veering well of course, 'mission creep' the Yanks call it.

Meeting Kean will achieve absolutely nothing and Im amazed you have gone down that path- bet Agnew was rubbing his hands.

The views of the regular fan and the actual cause seem to be being ignored so a select few can hobnob with the high and mighty over coffee.

Kean out and Venkys put your money in and STFU, or sell up. That's what it's all about. You can say the protests were always about increasing communication, but for those that have been there with you from the start, they really wern't.

Totally agree Matty. Not that I wanna have a pop at the protest organisers in the slightest and I can understand how doing something like this at least appears to look like progress. But I tend to shake my head in bafflement when I read stuff about Glen, the sponsors, councillors, local businessmen, Jack Straw etc go on about needing a line of communication. Is communication really gonna solve anything?

Noel Gallagher did an interview with Sky a few months ago where he responded to a question about the new chief exec at Man City by saying something like "Who gives a ****?". As a fan I don't see the need for us to communicate with the manager or owners, they're there to do a job. And their job is:

Kean - Keep the club out of the relegation zone.

Venkys - Sack Kean if he's not doing the above.

Thats all they have to do and to me its either a case of they do it or we give them grief, and continue to give them grief until they do it. Anything else is just clouding the issue and isnt really something I'm interested in or feel should be the realm of involvement for fans.

[glen9mullan]

Ok folks Read through all these comments and I always take everyones thoughts on board.

Point 1 (Dunno how to do multi quote) Tom says "He don't agree with level of success" My answer to Tom, If the fans forum had addressed these issues, both in Pune and since you came back then Simon and I, Plus hundreds of others would not now be in the trenches banging on doors. You and the fans forum already have an open chain of communciation with the club, but as the supporters representatives have failed to do anything to address the issues. Its sad that supporters have had to start from scratch to open a chain of communication which the forum have taken for granted. We have had to go to club sponsors, local business's , councillors, Jack Straw just to bang down the wall, when you lot could have done it very easily, so if you don't mind I find your comment insulting. You guys had big chance in Pune brought us back nothing and we still dont know what happened on trip, no club statement no nothing.

Point 2- The Steve Kean Meeting does seem to be causing some annoyance amongst some people, Firstly Simon and I insisted on this meeting, and it was not offered, we have also made it clear no PR present, This will be frank and straight to the point, We will not be raising our voices or being arrogant, as we are better human beings, However we will be addressing issue's past and present, including remarks and contempt he has shown supporters. We have not campaigned for his removal to have Tea and Biscuits and people who know me and have met no, I'm straight talking and don't beat about the bush. This will not be a PR Spin, as we are quite capable of releasing our own press releases. If he pulls out of the meeting then the press will go to town on it, We have some interesting things to put to him, and a few documents to show him. I want to be able to look the man in the eyes and discuss gripes, This is not about giving him another chance or having a biscuit over a coffee, this is about cards on table. (This is guranteed and will take place at the training ground next week, as the negotiations last week and this week have left us with no time to fit this in before the next 2 games)

Point 3- Board Meeting- This will be attended by the Board, Chaired by the council, with high profile influences present and around 10-12 supporters. The agenda has been set by the supporters, Most on here have contributed to this, The proposals have also been selected by the supporters, again many in here have contributed to it. This will not be the only meeting but the first of many, the next 6 weeks is crucial to the survival of this club, and this needs to be done, or i'm affraid the likely hood of Venkys coming back are slim, If this goes well a meeting with Venkys is probable. (This will take place in the council chambers next week )

No-one I.e Battersby ETC has influenced us to postpone ORGANISED protest for 2 games, It is a good will gesture from us, to allow these talks to take place, This was proposed by US 9 days ago, Everything has been done on OUR request and the club have been working hard to make this happen. Please dont be under any illusion that this is a cop out or Luke Warm meeting, You guys have set the agenda, there has been no cherry picking from the club, and they are as keen as us to answer the concerns we all have and get Venkys to do likewise.

IMO this is massive progress for a group of supporters who previously had no official communication line, and have had to start from scratch, There is a lot of work gone into this and the people who have protested and the people on here who have contributed to the agenda have all played their part.

We are not in the little league here, things off the field could seriously impact this club to the levels that our club goes back 30years in space of a couple of months. Why do you think so many high profile people are getting on board?

I'm very passionate to see this through and put safeguards in place to ensure supporters don't need to take to the trenches again, Please those who have trusted Simon and I so far, trust us on this, We aint dancing anyones's tune, quite the opposite we are leading talks and doing things the right way, and all for the price of taking away the ORGANISED ELEMENT of protest, which so many on here have called to end for ages and refused to protest until they are unorganised. Its quite funny also that those who called for organised protest to end are now slating us for agreeing some progress.