Just got home from the forum. Very enjoyable evening, well supported and I thought the 'panel' did very well with the questions. I think most of the questions from this thread got asked, although - inevitably - some were not able to be answered

The stock answer 'That's a decision for the new head coach' was used a fair few times Interestingly, it was indeed said that the decision on giving Sykes a new contract was the decision of Mick Potter (referred to as Michael Potter for some reason by Peter Hood at that point). Just checked on the BBC website and it was announced that the new contract had been signed on June 17th. So either that wasn't correct, or Potter had been lined up as new coach for a lot longer than we imagined!

I thought there were some very intelligent answers from Paul Medley about youth development, and the new Tong setup sounds very promising.

Oh and the beer prices are Ryan Duckets fault.....But we are cheaper than Quins!

Or maybe they just ran the sykes re-signing past all (both) the prospective candidates still in the running at that stage and they all agreed with it.

Anything on the stadium?

There's a meeting on the 26th with the new council. Guess we might hear something after that

It was put this way, change of Government, change of local council = more delay, although the working group of interested parties is to meet on Aug 26th 2010

I thought one was particularly idiotic. Ryan had spent most of the night answering questions from a business standpoint and between him and Peter Hood, they'd outlined constantly about finances and how the club were doing their best with what they had.
Then a discussion about the Shirt Presentation night came up, and just after it had been said that previous Player Of The Year nights had lost the club money, and that last year's presentation was cancelled because nobody bought tickets, el stupid said the Shirt Presentation should be free.

As if she hadn't listened to a single bloody word that Ryan, Peter or Stuart had said all night.

I thought all of the people answering questions did so very well for their own areas of expertise. In particular, Paul Medley could give a good insight into things from a player and sports science point of view, which perhaps most fans don't quite understand properly (as again, was evidenced by a couple of people in attendance).

Good night I thought and questions well answered by those on the stage.

They had a right to ask what seemed to be negative questions, thats what a Forum is for and I thought the Club dealt with them competently and professionally.

The issue of bad language during Matchday getting worse was also brought up and the concensus was that the Club should do more to curb it!

My suggestion was better Refs would help reduce it!

So anytime an Orford rumour from Aus/UK comes up on the Internet now, hopefully we can dismiss it, and believe what we've been told which is excellent news!

Also, Langley signing is superb, sounds like a decent evening from what I'm reading (couldn't attend due to work commitments). Still arent prepared to hold my breath on OSV yet though!

Far and away the best attended forum - I think the club were both surprised and a bit humbled by how many concerned fans were prepared to turn out to hear what they had to say. And, IMO, far and away the best set of answers to a LONG list of questions that I have seen given at a forum.

A little thing that I thought mattered more than a little and maybe sent a message out they did not realise - all the hierarchy, from the chairman down, digging out all the extra chairs and opening up the extra room and setting chairs out. They all mucked in and just got on with it, cos needs must. Said something, did that IMO. And OK, I could not resist telling Peter Hood as he went past with half a dozen chairs that this gave the description "Chairman" a whole new meaning...

I thought it was a very good forum, well managed, very good answers from the panel, difficult questions answered (as far as they felt they could anyway) another St Crispin's Day speech from Medders, all in all it probably went as well as it could have - I suggest in no small because of a largely sensible and reasonable audience prepared to give the panel a fair hearing.

Probably we'd have been shocked had the Langley signing NOT been announced, but very welcome news nonetheless.

OK the talk has been talked, now the walk needs to be walked. I think there were enough hints tonight though that we'll see some walking the walk in the very near future, so fingers crossed.

only downside to news so far is lack of news re menzies. to me that says he's going, which I can understand given quota situation. As long as we use the quota spot to good effect to strengthen in a position we need to, probably in a back/halves position where the players just arent available off quota, and dont just bring a journeyman over then I can follow the clubs reasoning.

hopefully news re other re-signing/new signing will now start to filter through now the langley one is out of the way too.

Away shirt to be a different colour next year, I hope its pink, or Melbourne purple.

You'll hear little, if anything. Until about 2nd September when there may well be a bit of a rush. Nailed on.

Great news re Langers as posted before. There were some incapable of hearing what the club is trying to achieve as mentioned by Dilligaf. The insights by Paul Medley were particularly helpful e.g. when he addressed the fitness question by telling us how many of the squad were fit to fully train. The overview of the training facilities was particularly encouraging and hopefully we will make hay with this before others catch up. I'd wanted to know about this and whether they had 3G astroturf (something I've trained on and is excellent) to be told Tong has 4G!!?

Warm weather training is something the team has missed for that early season prep IMO and should reflect well in results.

Also the explanation of the dynamics of junior rugby was good, why the UK is not producing decent outside backs because of the failings of the amateur game in the winter, was something that hadn't occurred but makes perfect sense

Glad I went