[Archived] Fans Forum Statement

[PAFELL]

Its irrelvant, as it was open to everyone to run for it, and open to everyone to vote, but it eclipsed the 1000 mark which is far more than any other group, as no other group has an elected commitee,

So you think that a 1000 or so people who voted can represent 20,000 other supporters. Did every other supporter know what was going on. Or just those who had a computer or were in the manxman for a meeting.

How was it discussed with people who are not on various rovers related websites - or were they excluded.

[Paul]

Im lead to believe that certain individuals have spoken to you regarding how things started etc, and for their benefit I wont disclose this on a message board unless you want to keep probing me??

All I have left to say is this is completely untrue.

[glen9mullan]

All I have left to say is this is completely untrue.

If this is what you are saying, that its not been discussed with you, then someone has been telling prokies, im more than happy to discuss this via telephone with you?

[PAFELL]

I see you are still trying to pointb score despite knowing the truth??/

This statement was not written by me for one as my computer was broke so I take great exception to you once again trying to put a quote out that was not written on my facebook,

secondly this statement if I remember correctly was aimed at a group which had written a remit to oppose the action group, and was also stating the group had not done anything since the Bolton game, to the discust of the group in question. This particular group wanted to endorse illegal activity, which is something the action group will not condone. So before you look for the odd statement please back it up with the FACTS

So Paul is right this statement was written. Matters not if by you or not. You actually confirm it was written in your post. Which I have highlighted.

[mark1875]

All I have left to say is this is completely untrue.

well if people on this site haven't told you about their involvement, you clearly n

o nothing about anything lol. totally clueless. I'll happipally fill pu in if ur mates wont

[glen9mullan]

So Paul is right this statement was written. Matters not if by you or not. You actually confirm it was written in your post. Which I have highlighted.

I guess that suggest you promote illegal activity?

The Action Group does not and has no interest in developing relationships with people who do

[Paul]

If this is what you are saying, that its not been discussed with you, then someone has been telling prokies, im more than happy to discuss this via telephone with you?

Glen, you don't know me very well. I do not want to see anything undermine the club and secondly I always say what I believe. I can categorically assure you no one has discussed this with me. I have exchanged one PM with a member on here with regard to the aspect of BRAG having deep involvement in the bid that was still to be announced. I initiated the PM conversation.

If it can be proven someone has spoken to me about this I'll leave this MB and never return, beacuse it is simply untrue.

....and I'm now going to sleep!!

[glen9mullan]

well if people on this site haven't told you about their involvement, you clearly n

o nothing about anything lol. totally clueless. I'll happipally fill pu in if ur mates wont

I agree with this 100% which has given me an idea for next blog post

[Paul]

well if people on this site haven't told you about their involvement, you clearly n

o nothing about anything lol. totally clueless. I'll happipally fill pu in if ur mates wont

Sorry that makes no sense to me. I know what it says but it still makes no sense.

Anyway I'm not going any further with this as it's not going to help anything

[mark1875]

I agree with this 100% which has given me an idea for next blog post

promised he'd explain to poor Paul how wrong Paul was. yet can't even tell his best mate. your namesake must improve lol. clearly doesnt trust poor deluded Paul with the truth.

[Doug]

Reality check, I have several season ticket holders working with me at the moment and I happened to mention the stuff that's been going on by the 'representatives' of the fans, and, guess what...none of them either knew of the organisations, or, felt it was right for them to represent them as ST holders.

Can I suggest that some sort of 'flyer' is sent to ST holders or at least handed out to fans as they enter the ground, to tell them whats going on!!

It seems to me there are 'minority' groups seeking to represent the 'opinion' of the majority of the fans.

[Parsonblue]

Looking on as a mere supporter of Blackburn Rovers and a member of neither the FF or BRAG it appears to me, unless I'm missing something, that this is a battle of egos between two very small interest groups.

The Fans Forum has been around for many years and if you read the minutes, which are, and always have been, widely available on the official website you would soon know what the remit of that group is. One friend described them as the group who investigate "cold pies" and "leaking roofs". An over simplificiation I'm sure but I knew what he meant. That they were involved with things that involve the fans and their matchday experience at Ewood Park. The standing area in the Darwen End and unreserved seating being something which they successfully championed. That people have been willing to give their time and energy to such work is commendable.

BRAG has been born out of events that have occured at the club since Venky's arrived. Unlike the Fans Forum they are involved in direct action in an attempt to achieve change with regard to the direction, or lack of it, that the club has embarked upon.

Both groups claim to represent supporters and yet, in all honesty, neither group does. Unless the Fans Forum or BRAG have elections involving the 18,000 to 20,000 who attend matches at Ewood Park they clearly don't speak for the majority. Whilst the members of BRAG may feel they capture the mood of the majority of fans the fact that many supporters who oppose Venky's are also far from convinced about the methods employed by BRAG would suggest that the fanbase if far from united.

The great irony is that both groups believe that talking to the directors at Ewood Park will have an influence on the ownership when, according to what was said at the shareholders meeting, the decisions taken about the club are taken in Pune and not Blackburn. In other words neither side have a direct line of communication to the real power at the club.

To put it crudely, it would appear that all this bluster seems to be about which group gets to have most communication with the puppets at Ewood. Meanwhile the puppeteer continues continues to remain aloof from it all and the club continues to implode.

The bottom line, sadly, is that the group which prove to be most effective will be the several thousand season ticket holders who turn their backs on the club and opt not to renew in the summer. As yet I don't think we have an interest group for the disillusioned but I'm sure one will be set up in time.

[PAFELL]

I guess that suggest you promote illegal activity?

The Action Group does not and has no interest in developing relationships with people who do

What was this group that was promoting illegal activity. First I have not heard of such. What did they want to do? I do not recall anything mentioned on this messageboard about a group wanting to promote illegal activity.

I would have thought that somebody would have said from admin, that there is a particular group of people trying to promte illegal activity. At least warned people of such a group. This is the first I have heard of such a group.

You talk about unity. Yet in the past few weeks the Fans forum has received critical remarks,

Ian Battersby, critical remarks about his trips to Pune.

How does any of that help unity?

[Baz]

well if people on this site haven't told you about their involvement, you clearly n

o nothing about anything lol. totally clueless. I'll happipally fill pu in if ur mates wont

I dont think insulting people is likely to persuade them.

[glen9mullan]

Reality check, I have several season ticket holders working with me at the moment and I happened to mention the stuff that's been going on by the 'representatives' of the fans, and, guess what...none of them either knew of the organisations, or, felt it was right for them to represent them as ST holders.

Can I suggest that some sort of 'flyer' is sent to ST holders or at least handed out to fans as they enter the ground, to tell them whats going on!!

It seems to me there are 'minority' groups seeking to represent the 'opinion' of the majority of the fans.

This is in hand, and a very constructive point which we are trying to address,

[mark1875]

Sorry that makes no sense to me. I know what it says but it still makes no sense.

Anyway I'm not going any further with this as it's not going to help anything

if your mate won't defend the protests he shouldn't have encouraged the start of them. end of

[Ripleys love child]

This mb is gettin more and more f****** up than the rovers itself.

[PAFELL]

Looking on as a mere supporter of Blackburn Rovers and a member of neither the FF or BRAG it appears to me, unless I'm missing something, that this is a battle of egos between two very small interest groups.

The Fans Forum has been around for many years and if you read the minutes, which are, and always have been, widely available on the official website you would soon know what the remit of that group is. One friend described them as the group who investigate "cold pies" and "leaking roofs". An over simplificiation I'm sure but I knew what he meant. That they were involved with things that involve the fans and their matchday experience at Ewood Park. The standing area in the Darwen End and unreserved seating being something which they successfully championed. That people have been willing to give their time and energy to such work is commendable.

BRAG has been born out of events that have occured at the club since Venky's arrived. Unlike the Fans Forum they are involved in direct action in an attempt to achieve change with regard to the direction, or lack of it, that the club has embarked upon.

Both groups claim to represent supporters and yet, in all honesty, neither group does. Unless the Fans Forum or BRAG have elections involving the 18,000 to 20,000 who attend matches at Ewood Park they clearly don't speak for the majority. Whilst the members of BRAG may feel they capture the mood of the majority of fans the fact that many supporters who oppose Venky's are also far from convinced about the methods employed by BRAG would suggest that the fanbase if far from united.

The great irony is that both groups believe that talking to the directors at Ewood Park will have an influence on the ownership when, according to what was said at the shareholders meeting, the decisions taken about the club are taken in Pune and not Blackburn. In other words neither side have a direct line of communication to the real power at the club.

To put it crudely, it would appear that all this bluster seems to be about which group gets to have most communication with the puppets at Ewood. Meanwhile the puppeteer continues continues to remain aloof from it all and the club continues to implode.

The bottom line, sadly, is that the group which prove to be most effective will be the several thousand season ticket holders who turn their backs on the club and opt not to renew in the summer. As yet I don't think we have an interest group for the disillusioned but I'm sure one will be set up in time.

Good post.

[glen9mullan]

What was this group that was promoting illegal activity. First I have not heard of such. What did they want to do? I do not recall anything mentioned on this messageboard about a group wanting to promote illegal activity.

I would have thought that somebody would have said from admin, that there is a particular group of people trying to promte illegal activity. At least warned people of such a group. This is the first I have heard of such a group.

You talk about unity. Yet in the past few weeks the Fans forum has received critical remarks,

Ian Battersby, critical remarks about his trips to Pune.

How does any of that help unity?

I dont see asking Battersby why Anderson facilatated his trip to Pune and his attendance in such meeting is being critical? It was asking a genuine question to which I knew the answers and an answer he has failed to disclose in public.

Transparency is something all supporters want,and imo it was a vaild question which he chose to answer.

On the fans forum they claim to have a different approach, but despite asking on numerous occassions they have not stated what this approach is, unless I missed it?

[mark1875]

I dont think insulting people is likely to persuade them.

as i said in my after post if glens namesake was honest about his involvement in the protests, Paul would not be so direct. just because paul knows nothing shouldn't be held against him. providing my post remains :-)

[PAFELL]

I dont see asking Battersby why Anderson facilatated his trip to Pune and his attendance in such meeting is being critical? It was asking a genuine question to which I knew the answers and an answer he has failed to disclose in public.

Transparency is something all supporters want,and imo it was a vaild question which he chose to answer.

On the fans forum they claim to have a different approach, but despite asking on numerous occassions they have not stated what this approach is, unless I missed it?

Who was the group wanting to participate in illegal activites. As I said earlier, first I have heard of them.

[Silittl]

Olive branches have been offered yet only 3 people of the FF have offered to even consider this chance to unite.

As for representing the Fans BRAG is very much in its infancy and it is our plan to ensure it is democratically elected group by the majority of fans!

We are still evolving and listening to fans. We have made mistakes and will probably make even more. As long as we learn from them and ensure all fans feel included. Then I feel we can offer a strong and democratic voice to all BRFC Supporters.

Though as in life things take time.

Again I offer the olive branch to those who wish work as one.

[Baz]

as i said in my after post if glens namesake was honest about his involvement in the protests, Paul would not be so direct. just because paul knows nothing shouldn't be held against him. providing my post remains :-)

Go on spell it out for me, I dont understand what you mean.

[glen9mullan]

Who was the group wanting to participate in illegal activites. As I said earlier, first I have heard of them.

It was a splinter FB group, who felt we did too much by the book and they wanted to turn ewood into a warzone, this is something I would never get involved in, as we are football supporters

[Tris]

The FF do not represent the fans as they arent elected by the fans - Im not knocking those on the FF - but what mandate do you have to represent my and any other fans views?

Far more than voted the FF

I think you're both on record as big supporters of John Williams and his methods, but maybe you have both forgotten how the Fans Forum came to be.

John Williams made it happen 13 years ago, by taking on board the passion some fans had for the club, displayed by their letters / calls / rants / personal visits - mainly negative as you'd expect - and he put that together, added in representation from regional groups (eg South Lancs, North Lancs, Disabled, Asian), and created the Fans Forum.

Those initial selection criteria set down by John Williams have been respected ever since. Nobody can really argue that there is any better way of selecting a panel of fans who represent a true cross section of the support, and nobody can say that John Williams got the initial idea wrong either. Until Pune, nobody ever did.

Its irrelvant, as it was open to everyone to run for it, and open to everyone to vote, but it eclipsed the 1000 mark which is far more than any other group, as no other group has an elected commitee,

I'm baffled. I have the Lancashire Telegraph delivered every morning, I am internet connected, on Twitter, Facebook, I have an Ewood Park Season Ticket, I drink in Blues Bar after every single home game, I play 5-a-side in a Rovers shirt every Saturday morning in the Soccerdome, I listen to the radio, I have plenty of mates who have protested officially and others who have ranted in despair from the terraces, and yet more who have just stopped going on Ewood. But I had no idea how to vote in your election never mind partake in it. Neither did anyone else I spoke to in Blues last week, or at the Soccerdome. Or the people I spoke to from the Northern Ireland branch who were over for the game, or the people from the London branch who were up for the game. Or the people I have spoken to who don't go to Ewood anymore.

What's more, I attended your first public meeting in the Jack Walker pub and left my contact details on a piece of paper which went around - and I still didn't know how to vote or take part. I don't even know to this day who stood, who won, who lost or what the positions up for election were??

So just wondering how you define "everyone"??

Venky Apologist rubbish.

The calls for your resignation as forum enmasse a few months ago were for the wrong reasons. You shouldn't go as a message to Venky's, you should go because your an embarrassment to Blackburn Rovers Supporters.

Shocking absolutley shocking.

Messages to Venkys. What have we seen ... 5 months of open protests, banners at home and in India, main sponsor going public on several occasions, local MPs going public (and one actually bringing it up in Westminster), local council leader going public, Lancashire Telegraph using their front page to hit Venkys as hard as is possible locally, a well publicised joint statement from every website going, 3 public meetings, pleas in public and in private from Ian B and Ian C for communication, a massively powerful leaked letter to Venkys from former board directors with associated hard hitting comment from Nick Harris ...

... and you are murdering the Fans Forum for trying something slightly different???? Even though to a person, everyone on the Fans Forum wants the same outcome as you and all BRFC fans??

Do you have a better idea lined up which you will share with us?