[Archived] Fans Forum Statement

[Silittl]

Nobody gave a damn, we were winning games. We got the minutes on the website, but did anybody read them ? Did we do enough else to promote things either ? Maybe not, but its the same issue BRAG are getting in reaching many fans in getting out the message to the majority.

Don't disagree with that post! FF have an advantage in terms of experience and longevity. Thats just my personal view.

As I pointed out BRAG are officially only a few months old and still evolving! We wont be for everybody but I genuinely believe we can reach out to masses with the right approach and inclusive behaviour of members as we grow.

PM received and I will be hoping to arrange meeting before Villa game

[deftangel]

The BRST IMHO has to start as a neutral group and invite membership from all Rovers fans. Their policies will then become dictated by its members. It cannot be seen as just being an offshoot of any one of the groups knocking around. This isnt likely to be a short term thing tho, which is an issue it appears.

The open meeting we kind of agreed that ALL groups should arrange to send representatives (FF, BRAG, ALL Websites) + extend to likes of Ewood Blues and also meet the challenge of finding the unprepresented majority. I still think that could be done, and after agreeing with SL earlier have sent a PM. BRAG and the FF take the brunt of criticism because we've all put ourselves in the public spotlight.

I wouldn't disagree with any of that at all but where we have the two (currently) highest profile groups at somewhat of an impasse in terms of their thinking of how we move forward then committing to doing the leg work to bring all of those other parties into the ST would;-

Keep everybody busy and distract from the soap opera of this thread

Provide a forum for the differences between the two to be resolved as they are two far apart presently for that to happen individually

Actively demonstrate the BRST is *not* just an off-shoot of one or the other groups when two so diametrically opposed groups are actively involved working together in bringing it in to being.

I don't see Venky's doing much else apart from keep their heads down until the summer where the picture of where we are will be clearer so attempts to re-open dialogue with them and further protests are less important than uniting the fanbase at this present time, in my view.

[sentient]

What is quite strange is that a nondescipt statement from the fans forum has created this chaos! WHY?

If you care to look at the preceding posts you will see plenty of beligerence from anti-protest (rupee-in-the-pocket) supporters that are very high status (in their opinion). I think these people are trying desparately to defend their personal positions (must be looking like right self-serving look-the-other-wayers by now). But probably just little old drunken conspiracy me instead eh? God bless venkies you gotta love em..... hic!

[Tris]

The BRST IMHO has to start as a neutral group and invite membership from all Rovers fans. Their policies will then become dictated by its members. It cannot be seen as just being an offshoot of any one of the groups knocking around. This isnt likely to be a short term thing tho, which is an issue it appears.

The open meeting we kind of agreed that ALL groups should arrange to send representatives (FF, BRAG, ALL Websites) + extend to likes of Ewood Blues and also meet the challenge of finding the unprepresented majority. I still think that could be done, and after agreeing with SL earlier have sent a PM. BRAG and the FF take the brunt of criticism because we've all put ourselves in the public spotlight.

Agree with all of that. There is more to be added though.

The BRST **has** already started as a neutral group. BRST as it currently stands, is the only group to have a legitimate mandate to represent *ALL* Rovers fans, because they took that step of holding a fully public start-up meeting last May, under all the auspices of a proper Fans Trust, and made it happen. No other group can say they have done that. So how Simon Littler can wade in 10 months after a meeting that he didn't attend and make statements like the one quoted below, is beyond me.

Tom the problem I see with the trust is that certain members of FF are trying get on the committee and therefore it could dilute or even weaken the position the trust has to take in terms of the middle ground.

What position the "trust has to take" can only be decided by a full and proper meeting of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Trust, organised by that body, chaired by their current chairman, minuted and held under the proper rules -- -- -- as voted for by the people who attended King Georges Hall last May. BRST is only a legitimate body because 50 of us showed up in May 2011, paid for raffle tickets, signed that we had attended, and voted for the thing to start.

So neither Simon Littler or anyone else can dictate what BRST will or won't do, or will or won't stand for. As for "trying to get on the committee" - I can't see anyone from the Fans Forum who is trying to.

At the same time, I didn't see Simon or Glen or anyone else from BRAG showing any concern last May, when the Supporters Trust held their (very well publicised) set up meeting?

[Beta Ray Bill]

Can this thread be renamed Life of Br(fc)ian ?

[Ozz]

So we have the established FF and the newer BRST and BRAG all jockeying for position to be front of the queue to be ignored by Venkys first. Not sure that's a race I would want to win!

Sorry, carry on folks....

[arbitro]

I really hope that Venkys representatives DON'T read this thread. With all the dick measuring going on you are playing right into their hands. It seems to me that a lot of posters on this thread want to have their ten minutes of fame and will do anything to get onto committees or whatever they are called. Let me tell you that the VAST majority of fans don't know what BRAG or the FF is and more importantly don't really care.

How on earth is this going to help our clubs plight?

[Mattyblue]

I really hope that Venkys representatives DON'T read this thread. With all the dick measuring going on you are playing right into their hands. It seems to me that a lot of posters on this thread want to have their ten minutes of fame and will do anything to get onto committees or whatever they are called. Let me tell you that the VAST majority of fans don't know what BRAG or the FF is and more importantly don't really care.

How on earth is this going to help our clubs plight?

Finally someone has told it exactly like it is.

People are largely not interested in commitees, action groups, fans forums and unfortunately supporters trusts, as I think BRST are finding and we found when setting up BRISA many moons ago.

Folk will protest in one of two ways: getting involved on a matchday or by no longer going to Ewood, and that's that.

When Glen et al were organising the marches and so on, he was on the right track, now you all seem to be enjoying the limelight and the positions of authority you have created for yourselves.

[ABBEY]

All sides should sit back do nowt and let the venkyscum rape the arse of us. I am glad I'm under CSA stress as I can't be arsed with waving my willy .

[SouthAussieRover]

All sides should sit back do nowt and let the venkyscum rape the arse of us. I am glad I'm under CSA stress as I can't be arsed with waving my willy .

Understandable when it's your willy that lead to the CSA stress.

Anyhows I digress...

[ABBEY]

Pmsl

[Kamy100]

Wowzers just caught up with the last few pages.

All I will say is that in my opinion meeting with Paul Hunt et al. achieves very little because Venky's appear to be taking very little notice of any recommendations/advice given by these people. It's great that all these groups are trying to do something but afraid it is having very little impact on Venky's.

My personal opinion is that the best way forward is BRST or the reformation of BRISA, they would have the opportunity to get a mandate to represent the majority of fans. I work in the media and talk to the fans on twitter and face to face, have to admit that I did not hear about the "open" meeting yesterday for the Action Group, I wouldn't have attended anyway but if a group wants to be as open and transparent as the Action Group claim then they should have put a huge effort in to publicise this meeting in the way they put a effort in to publicise "official" protests. I am not having a dig, I just think that the Action Group if they want to be taken seriously by the majority of fans have to become a lot more professional in the way they present what they stand for, particularly in terms of PR etc.

[DaFrame2r]

Well I don't know how it helps if the venky's don't give a (Please don't use that word again) about the club

[Silittl]

A meeting is to be arranged for all forums to meet and find a middle ground. However I will take issue with a statement made by Kammy about our professionalism. A new group in its infancy and still learning as previously mention in several

of my earlier posts.

In addition I think very important you think back to the very beginning.

[Kamy100]

A meeting is to be arranged for all forums to meet and find a middle ground. However I will take issue with a statement made by Kammy about our professionalism. A new group in its infancy and still learning as previously mention in several

of my earlier posts.

In addition I think very important you think back to the very beginning.

It's nothing to do with the group being in it's infancy, like I said it is constructive criticism, you need to use the same channels as you use to publicise protests to advertise these open meetings, those channels obviously work because everyone knows when protests are happening.

You guys have come a long way in the short time that you have been around, but the group is now at a cross roads, now like it or not you need to “professionalise” your setup, you have become much more than just “a bunch of fans wanting Steve Kean out” which how all of this started. You need to sharpen up your PR and take time to develop your press release so that they convey the message that you want to send accurately.

Like I said I am not having a pop at you, I more than anyone know how much work is involved, I am trying to provide you with some constructive criticism.

[Silittl]

Kamy appreciate your comments and now the committee has been formed this will happen.

[PAFELL]

PAFELL I personally spoke to the police about this group and informed them of what we knew!

Why cos I take my little lad to every game and protest and his safety along with other Rovers fans is a concern of BRAG. Hence why we distanced ourselves and reported it to police. We do not and will not ever condone any form of illegal activity.

I hope this puts that point to bed

That is a fair point. But when you knew about it, you should have warned people on here - for the same safety reasons. But lessons to be learned, I suppose.

[PAFELL]

I see your point and agree to a certain extent. However I feel it's because up until they went to Pune what did they do to let fans know they existed unless you knew of there existence. I attach no blame to the FF for this I just think its time for change. Which some within the FF seem to resist.

BRAG is not the the whole answer but can play a big part. I just hope it continues with the transparency it has started with. Though it won't be for everyone.

I also think there are personality clashes as well which don't help.

With respect, I have known about the FF for ages. Yet I do not live in the area. They often shared what was brought up on their meetings, they asked if anybody wanted things bringing up etc. They have not just represented themselves. If they were they would not of either shared the minutes of their meetings or ask other supporters if they had things they wanted mentioned.

[SouthAussieRover]

With respect, I have known about the FF for ages. Yet I do not live in the area. They often shared what was brought up on their meetings, they asked if anybody wanted things bringing up etc. They have not just represented themselves. If they were they would not of either shared the minutes of their meetings or ask other supporters if they had things they wanted mentioned.

With respect, you only know what you read on here or the official site

[ABBEY]

Or twitter

[DaFrame2r]

I understand the feelings. Taken over by a bunch of clowns with no football knowledge, robbed of a quality manager guaranteed to stabilize the club and potentially push on for midtable and beyond, only to have Kean thrust upon us, a man without the necessary experience or talent for the job. But I won't support BRAG who have ruined our reputation front of the media and other clubs.

[K-Hod]

Some form of action needs to take place one the that is inclusive of every fan.

What that is we have some ideas but we also require more ideas from every corner.

A weak statement by the FF trying not to Upset the Rao family is disgraceful.

+1

[PAFELL]

With respect, you only know what you read on here or the official site

With regards the FF of course. That is where they informed everybody what they were doing.

[bannedwidth]

It's like two groups armed with a wet flannel trying to put out a forest fire

[Stuart]

It's like two groups armed with a we flannel trying to put out a forest fire

At the minute the flannel wavers are slapping each other with them.

Let's hope they don't make up! :cringe: