[Archived] Open Floor Meeting To Unite The Fans

[OJRovers]

A flyover message over a sold-out Pune stadium for the England ODI match would make a massive impact.

[glen9mullan]

The last thing we want or need is yet another new group forming.

The three groups on the top table - BRFC Action Group, Ewood Blues and Rovers Trust - should be given the mandate to now propose the next actions based on ideas from last night's meeting.

I would divide the work into two - Ewood Park/Blackburn based initiatives and India based ones.

There is a lot of work needs to be done to get any of the ideas being floated up and running and successful.

Anyone who wants to get involved should contact one of the three groups and offer their services stating what they think they can bring to the party.

Last night showed more than enough fans still care as much as ever and want some positive action to end the Venky's regime.

The fact that the chief football correspondent for The Times, Oliver Kay, could be bothered to voluntarily spend his Thursday night in Blakey's Bar shows we are certainly not being ignored or forgotten by the national media.

The Times of India published a very decent feature last week on the shambles that has been the Venky's ownership.

Carefully planned, unified action is what's needed. One trip to India is all that's required, not two or three different groups flying out. And January 2017 coinciding with the cricket ODI in Pune is the perfect opportunity to allow for proper planning and maximum results.

Unity was the aim last night and that's what we got. Keep it simple folks!

As the PR Guy for the Rovers Trust, I'd suspect you would say this,

Will the Rovers Trust lead protest?? Simple yes or No will do

The reason this needs to be under a different banner, is the end game, which is for Venkys to sell the club. The Rovers trust loses all credibility or any 1% of a chance of meeting the owners and negotiating any type of sale, if they are organising protest, this is simple business.

If you was organising a protest against my business, you would be the last people I would speak to or bother selling to.

This was exactly my point regarding focus and think outside the box, as so much is 6-12 or even 18 months behind, things which are already happening,

Its vital that we don't step back 2 or 3 years.

Some people have stood stlll the last couple of years, whilst others have continued to make in-roads. Going backwards now, could end any hope for survival, I cannot stress enough how important it is that this steering group is elected by the supporters and is not self appointed.

I know more than most , what it takes, and could bet my life on it, that no one has spent more hours than I in this fight, I have seen the pitfalls, made the mistakes, done the trial and error. If you take one part from my attendance last night, take the part of, if you don't know the enemy you are actually going to a gun fight with a knife.

This fight needs new people, with one objective, whilst the other groups continue to be groups and back the cause as individual supporters and not groups.

If this is done the other way, I'm certain we will end up with zero credibility and any hope the trust has of one day having supporter representation dies with it too.

[SuperStella]

Thought last night went really well, despite a few idiots talking whilst others were speaking. These are probably the same people who cite communication being a problem with Venky's! It's just sheer rudeness.

Few thoughts afterwards...

Although the event was free, it may have been an idea to have an online sign up option to attend, such as Eventbrite. This would have stored all those who attended contact details for a mailing list to share planned protests etc.

Personally, taking the fight to India and also making our feelings known at home games is the best way forward. I'd just be wary that pitch invasions and any other illegal activity will just tarnish fans and not get us anywhere.

Lets approach this in the right way - peaceful, creative, constructive, work together, communicate and be in this for the long haul.

[mustard]

Populated by Burnley fans hiding behind Rovers misnomer...really wouldn't take any notice pal.

Not just them. Read "Lord of the Pies" comments. Went to the meeting last night and disagreed with it all apparently. Some fans WANT us to fail. God knows why, but they do.

[Neal]

I'd second Neal being involved more prominently if he wanted to be, told him last night (although didn't introduce myself) that he spoke well and if I'm not mistaken he spoke about 5 years ago with passion at the Manxman although I think his fashion choices have changed a bit in that time, was also prominent in early pictures with the Venkys out bed sheet (or was that Kean out can't recall now) and with the blackpool March is obviously keen to get involved in new ideas.

Yeah I did speak at the manxman although I can't remember what I actually said back then! Yeah it was the 'Kean Out' banner... My mum killed me for doing that because the paint went straight through onto the driveway... Every time you drove up to the house you were greeted with 'Kean Out' hahaha... I moved out shortly after...

Joking aside, I'd happily get involved and do what I can. I'd also very much like to see the lady that spoke early on be involved too... I didn't catch her name and I spoke to her afterwards outside too. She was polite, focused, firm and articulate.

I like how we're considering Neal's role in this due to his spray on trousers.

You've got to be brave to pull off trousers like those, perhaps we can make it mandatory that we wear such trousers at any protest?... I'm sure Birdy would look stunning in them.

[mustard]

Not just them. Read "Lord of the Pies" comments. Went to the meeting last night and disagreed with it all apparently. Some fans WANT us to fail. God knows why, but they do.

Apparently, this Lord of the Pies chap is the same one who ruined the last meeting by shouting anyone down.

[Ricky]

I think it's great to see all of the groups and representatives pull together. I also feel it is absolutely vital that all posters, banners, etc have all of the logos on as per the poster that's been put on here.

I don't think it would be wise to set up a new group. I think you will get a lot more buy in from showing a united front between all of the other groups.

[SuperStella]

- Merge all supporters group and give it an official name and accompanying branding

- Devise a 'protest plan' with a timeline of activities i.e. Wolves game walk in / out, Twitter campaign for Poultry India convention, Pune trip - have this communicated as far and wide as possible with individual press releases prior to each event.

[Amo]

Didn't realize that the Wolves match is almost two months away. Too little, too late.

And what if we (somehow) win a few games before then? Can see the likes of Birdie quickly backpedalling on that one. "We've got a chance to stay up! Get behind 'em FFS!"

[TBTF]

Didn't realize that the Wolves match is almost two months away. Too little, too late.

And what if we (somehow) win a few games before then? Can see the likes of Birdie quickly backpedalling on that one. "We've got a chance to stay up! Get behind 'em FFS!"

I think it's great to see all of the groups and representatives pull together. I also feel it is absolutely vital that all posters, banners, etc have all of the logos on as per the poster that's been put on here.

I don't think it would be wise to set up a new group. I think you will get a lot more buy in from showing a united front between all of the other groups.

Were Senaca or the Ian's there? if so did they speak?

[J*B]

Were Senaca or the Ian's there? if so did they speak?

Both got leathered at the bar and ended up singing a song about Paul Dickov.

May or may not be true.

[chor808]

- Merge all supporters group and give it an official name and accompanying branding

- Devise a 'protest plan' with a timeline of activities i.e. Wolves game walk in / out, Twitter campaign for Poultry India convention, Pune trip - have this communicated as far and wide as possible with individual press releases prior to each event.

Agree, who is doing this. After the meeting what are the next steps?

Were Senaca or the Ian's there? if so did they speak?

If they have any plan to try and buy the club they should keep miles away from protests etc...

[Gav]

Were Senaca or the Ian's there? if so did they speak?

No, both out of the area yesterday so couldn't attend.

[PeteJD13]

the next steps are key now, we need to start building momentum up, the wolves game is to far away really. There are a lot of nay sayers out there who want us to fail with the protests ( god knows why ) just have a look at roverstalk and facebook groups to see people wanting this to fail.

I cannot get behind any idea of throwing things on the pitch etc, I think the india trip is a brilliant idea as long as its done correctly I think it will be.

[donnermeat]

Poultry convention, great idea. I'd certainly contribute to a fund towards that.

This is their bread and butter, so let's feed them a big s**t sandwich!

[windymiller7]

Couldn't attend last night due to the time I get in from work but full credit to all who went and especially those who arranged it all. Sounds like we're actually getting somewhere & starting to all pull in the right direction (well, nearly all).

We got a bit of airtime on this morning's news on Rock FM also. Sounds like they had a reporter there and they aired a couple of comments from 2No attendees. I know it's only regional, but every little helps. They're also part of the Bauer group which has local radio stations up & down the country so if things start getting bigger it's not a bad thing having them onside.

Well done to all, sorry I couldn't be there.

#venkysout

[ABBEY]

A flyover message over a sold-out Pune stadium for the England ODI match would make a massive impact.

a kamakaze one i hope

[LDRover]

Apparently, this Lord of the Pies chap is the same one who ruined the last meeting by shouting anyone down.

The clown with the backpack on saying 'Politicise it, politicise it' all the time?

[yoda]

I think it's great to see all of the groups and representatives pull together. I also feel it is absolutely vital that all posters, banners, etc have all of the logos on as per the poster that's been put on here.

I don't think it would be wise to set up a new group. I think you will get a lot more buy in from showing a united front between all of the other groups.

You'll be changing your avatar any moment now then

[Tom]

The clown with the backpack on saying 'Politicise it, politicise it' all the time?

Who is he? He was st the Manxman one similarly angry and certainly passionate.

I think the learning from last night is advertise the end time clearly but wrap up questions well before then so we can agree the next steps

[donnermeat]

He seemed a little old for walking around with a 'JD Sports style' drawstring bag.

I'd have been annoyed if I was sat behind him, can't fault his passion though I suppose.

[Jock]

a lot of people shocked that Brockhall may not be safe and also there's still loads of Rovers fans that aren't clued up about certain football agencies.

[Iceman]

Didn't realize that the Wolves match is almost two months away. Too little, too late.

And what if we (somehow) win a few games before then? Can see the likes of Birdie quickly backpedalling on that one. "We've got a chance to stay up! Get behind 'em FFS!"

Thats exactly my concern as well. We have 5 games before that, so the protests should at least start at the home games.

[mark1875]

I think the learning from last night is advertise the end time clearly but wrap up questions well before then so we can agree the next steps

This is the thing we are aware we need to get right moving forward. It needs to be stated on the agenda that the open floor will end at a certain time, so decisions can be formalised and a summary can be made to close the meeting.

Thats exactly my concern as well. We have 5 games before that, so the protests should at least start at the home games.

The majority looked at the Wolves game, simply because of the televised element. However that is just planned action in terms of the #In18Out75 movement, there will be people protesting at each game before them, of that there is no doubt.

The club are now upping their searches, they will confiscate banners found on entry, but will not take them from you in the ground, unless they contain offensive words. They have put in place instructions and plans on how to deal with Chickens entering the field of play, Inflatable objects being thrown on the pitch, Pitch Invasions, Supporters congregating at the Player/Directors entrance, as well as any direct threats made to staff.

They are on guard, aware and becoming prepared for all protest.

Last night i was introduced to the new 'Protest Liaison Officer' of Lancashire Police and he informed me that the police would assist with any protest, providing it was on the right side of the law and it was peaceful. However my conversation was only short with him, as they were asked politely to leave the meeting, which in all fairness they offered to do from the outset.

[tomphil]

Thats exactly my concern as well. We have 5 games before that, so the protests should at least start at the home games.

Maybe it'll inject some effort in the players and those at the club to get their fingers out and get some results in the meantime so that's no bad thing.

I'm certain they'd have signed virtually no one if there were no rumblings of discontent in the last 2 weeks. They've made a token effort at least when it looked as though they were set to leave it like it was.

Hopefully some alarm bells are beginning to ring !