Repercussions - From the PL, FA, UEFA and within the Club

[Prestwich_Blue]

You appear to have gone quite hostile towards the club which may be a reaction to the ESL debacle , or it could be something more underlying from your dealings with the club .

Are you willing or able to share the reason(s) please ?

I'll just say that I've had a lot of long and off-the-record conversations over the last week with people who know different bits of this, including at PL and government level. These completely changed my original view.

One of those conversations had my jaw hitting the floor when I heard how far up the chain this went & who was involved in some of the conversations over this.

People are saying it won't happen again for years. I was too originally but then I remembered 'Project Big Picture', which was a power grab that we were involved in (although we kept quiet once it was leaked). That wasn't that long ago yet most had forgotten about it.

 

[plattlanebenches]

The clubs involved don’t care about the fans. We could demonstrate and boycott all we like but money talks. They will make tons of money from tv rights to the Far East etc so even if the games are in empty stadiums they won’t worry.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

I'll just say that I've had a lot of long and off-the-record conversations over the last week with people who know different bits of this, including at PL and government level. These completely changed my original view.

One of those conversations had my jaw hitting the floor when I heard how far up the chain this went & who was involved in some of the conversations over this.

People are saying it won't happen again for years. I was too originally but then I remembered 'Project Big Picture', which was a power grab that we were involved in (although we kept quiet once it was leaked). That wasn't that long ago yet most had forgotten about it.

thank you for that.

I guess that most of us will never get to know much of what is going on in such matters.

 

[jrb]

I attended a meeting in Manchester a couple of summers ago about fans going to European away games. It was under the auspices of the FSA and Kevin Miles (FSA head honcho) and his European equivalent were there, plus fan representatives from the 'big 6'. They are incredibly well organised groups who are respected by their clubs. They couldn't believe we didn't have a proper Supporters Trust.

I had a good chat to Joe Blott of Spirit of Shankly as we walked back to Victoria and he asked me why that was. All I could think of is that we're a very tolerant bunch, having been through so much over the years. Occasionally we'll snap, as we did with Forward with Franny, Free the 30000 but even back in 2005, when we were in an absolute mess, it was a struggle to get something going.

The OSC don't get involved in club politics and never have. I can't and won't criticise them for that. Their success depends on a good relationship with the club.

City Matters isn't that group as we only talk about operational stuff although this latest fiasco will certainly come up at our next meeting. But Soriano won't be there so any anger we display, or messages we put over, will have to go up the chain and can safely be ignored.

1894 are great and could be that independent group but they're not a formal group in the way a trust is, being more concerned about atmosphere and banners. I also thought that stamping their feet and saying they were withdrawing their cooperation with the club & demanding the removal of their banners was a bit childish and immature.

Didn't expect that from you PB. That's out of order!

It wasn't long ago you were calling Soriano and others at the club everything under the Sun on BM. Especially before you became a City Matters Rep. You seem to have changed. Hmmm.

1894 had every right to remove the banners and to withdraw cooperation with the club in the light of City joining the ESL! Regardless if 'you' think that was a childish and immature move.

1894 would have been at the protest today if it had still gone ahead, along with 100's of other City fans.

1894 do much more than just trying to improve the atmosphere and making banners. You don't know everything 1894 do. And who we speak to at the club. And what we have spoken to the club about. On-going.

Whether you're bothered or not PB, I'm pretty disappointed in you, and your petty attack on 1894. When in reality we should all be pulling together in the same direction after Mansour, Khaldoon, and Soriano tried to take the club into the ESL.

I hope your next City Matters meeting with City is constructive and positive. But make sure you don't choke on the free prawn sandwiches.

Regards.

jrb.

 

[Academica]

I attended a meeting in Manchester a couple of summers ago about fans going to European away games. It was under the auspices of the FSA and Kevin Miles (FSA head honcho) and his European equivalent were there, plus fan representatives from the 'big 6'. They are incredibly well organised groups who are respected by their clubs. They couldn't believe we didn't have a proper Supporters Trust.

I had a good chat to Joe Blott of Spirit of Shankly as we walked back to Victoria and he asked me why that was. All I could think of is that we're a very tolerant bunch, having been through so much over the years. Occasionally we'll snap, as we did with Forward with Franny, Free the 30000 but even back in 2005, when we were in an absolute mess, it was a struggle to get something going.

The OSC don't get involved in club politics and never have. I can't and won't criticise them for that. Their success depends on a good relationship with the club.

City Matters isn't that group as we only talk about operational stuff although this latest fiasco will certainly come up at our next meeting. But Soriano won't be there so any anger we display, or messages we put over, will have to go up the chain and can safely be ignored.

1894 are great and could be that independent group but they're not a formal group in the way a trust is, being more concerned about atmosphere and banners. I also thought that stamping their feet and saying they were withdrawing their cooperation with the club & demanding the removal of their banners was a bit childish and immature.

I think any fans group trying to influence or change club policy would be like banging your head against the wall. They really don't care, they have shown this by constantly, moving people from their seats, season ticket price rises are just two examples. This week is just another example of supporters being an afterthought and at times just something that has to be tolerated even if they are a bit of a nuisance.

 

[pottsy]

I think any fans group trying to influence or change club policy would be like banging your head against the wall. They really don't care, they have shown this by constantly, moving people from their seats, season ticket price rises are just two examples. This week is just another example of supporters being an afterthought and at times just something that has to be tolerated even if they are a bit of a nuisance.

But they did influence club policy Col. They were part of a number of groups that lobbied government and shadow cabinet directly and demanded that government keeps its promise over having a review in football and it is when the government said they would legislate against the Madrid ruling thats when the clubs u/turned and decided not to proceed.

1894 have been in daily contact with Joe Blott and he completely rates the work they do so rather than namedrop people from passing conversations years ago take a closer look at what has been going on.

 

[M18CTID]

I attended a meeting in Manchester a couple of summers ago about fans going to European away games. It was under the auspices of the FSA and Kevin Miles (FSA head honcho) and his European equivalent were there, plus fan representatives from the 'big 6'. They are incredibly well organised groups who are respected by their clubs. They couldn't believe we didn't have a proper Supporters Trust.

I had a good chat to Joe Blott of Spirit of Shankly as we walked back to Victoria and he asked me why that was. All I could think of is that we're a very tolerant bunch, having been through so much over the years. Occasionally we'll snap, as we did with Forward with Franny, Free the 30000 but even back in 2005, when we were in an absolute mess, it was a struggle to get something going.

The OSC don't get involved in club politics and never have. I can't and won't criticise them for that. Their success depends on a good relationship with the club.

City Matters isn't that group as we only talk about operational stuff although this latest fiasco will certainly come up at our next meeting. But Soriano won't be there so any anger we display, or messages we put over, will have to go up the chain and can safely be ignored.

1894 are great and could be that independent group but they're not a formal group in the way a trust is, being more concerned about atmosphere and banners. I also thought that stamping their feet and saying they were withdrawing their cooperation with the club & demanding the removal of their banners was a bit childish and immature.

Strange comment that last one Col. You sound even more pissed off with the club than we are so I’m not sure why you’d be against the idea of removing our banners which is what the fans of all the other clubs involved were doing anyway. If anything, not asking them to remove our banners would’ve been far worse and effectively endorsing this shit show of an idea!

Regarding the bit immediately before, you’re right that 1894 isn’t formal in the way a Supporters Trust is. As you know though, we have campaigned on numerous fan-specific issues with other fan groups and supporters trusts so we do a lot of things that supporters trusts do anyway but we’re not a supporters trust by name. We were approached 4 or 5 years ago about setting one up but we simply don’t have the time or the numbers to do it along with everything else. If you think about why 1894 was set up in the first place - to try and improve the atmosphere and do displays, etc - and then look at other clubs, you’ll see that a lot of those clubs have different groups for different things. United have MUST but Stretford End flags do the banners. Liverpool have Spirit Of Shankly but they don’t do atmosphere and banners because the Spion Kop group look after that. As things stand 1894 can’t do what we do now and run a supporters trust on top of that but we could if a lot more people stepped forward and got involved.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

Didn't expect that from you PB. That's out of order!

It wasn't long ago you were calling Soriano and others at the club everything under the Sun on BM. Especially before you became a City Matters Rep. You seem to have changed. Hmmm.

1894 had every right to remove the banners and to withdraw cooperation with the club in the light of City joining the ESL! Regardless if 'you' think that was a childish and immature move.

1894 would have been at the protest today if it had still gone ahead, along with 100's of other City fans.

1894 do much more than just trying to improve the atmosphere and making banners. You don't know everything 1894 do. And who we speak to at the club. And what we have spoken to the club about. On-going.

Whether you're bothered or not PB, I'm pretty disappointed in you, and your petty attack on 1894. When in reality we should all be pulling together in the same direction after Mansour, Khaldoon, and Soriano tried to take the club into the ESL.

I hope your next City Matters meeting with City is constructive and positive. But make sure you don't choke on the free prawn sandwiches.

Regards.

jrb.

This sort of stuff makes me weep. Just because we (we being football fans of all clubs) won a battle with ESL, there is going to be a war. Anybody who thinks this is over, and I’m not talking about halfwits talking about sanctions from bodies that haven’t been wronged, is sadly mistaken. As has been mentioned Project Big Picture was a matter of months ago. Unless the government, UEFA, broadcasters and fans get their act together we will lose the war. Every time 14 clubs meet with The Premier League to demand CEO’s resign, or get points punishment, every time a Jermaine Jenas or Bryan Swanson spouts their bile, another Big Picture or ESL gets closer.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

No chance, we and the other 13 clubs deceived UEFA , FIFA and their own home football associations, so a fan rep would have 0% credibility or trust.

it’s been shown this week the power our fans have. Without us the club would be in a mess. We also don’t have that international fan base at the minute, so if we don’t show up the grounds half empty.

A proper supporters trust would have credibility. As I mentioned a spirit of shankly group is what we need

1894 group are by far the best organisation we have and I hope they continue to do their work, as it makes a difference

 

[Academica]

But they did influence club policy Col. They were part of a number of groups that lobbied government and shadow cabinet directly and demanded that government keeps its promise over having a review in football and it is when the government said they would legislate against the Madrid ruling thats when the clubs u/turned and decided not to proceed.

1894 have been in daily contact with Joe Blott and he completely rates the work they do so rather than namedrop people from passing conversations years ago take a closer look at what has been going on.

I didn't know I had name dropped anybody. I totally support the work that 1894 do and in no way do I mean to belittle the work they do. I really wish they had more influence at the club, but I stand by my previous comments that they are seen as nothing more than a little irritation. I don't think is inclusive to City. Take the the NHS it's a fantastic organisation, but it would just run a lot smoother without the pesky patients. Without 1894 and City Matters we don't have much else so keep up the fight.