I have read with interest this thread and just want to applaud Andy Mazey for his enthusiam despite the occassional negative thread. It is clear that people who have been involved in the past and have put lots of energy and money into the Club only to see it fail have now got a tainted view of matters. Maybe it is realism but I agree with Mapeleyther that it is better to go down swinging than to stand there and do nothing.
I think the fan ownership is certainly worth exploring further and maybe a detailed debate with the Club, BOD, LISA, and TDC is the way forward. I think we all know that we need to draw in more support but saying it and doing it are two completely diffrent things! Maybe if the fans did own the Club then we would have hundreds trying to drum up support instead of the usual few who get disillusioned when their continual attempts don't produce results.
All I know is that our Club is over a 100 years old and we owe it to past and future generations to do all we can to ensure it survives and prospers.

What is stopping hundreds drumming up support now. What is the difference between doing it now and doing it as fan owned other than £50 a month more coming out of your pocket than if hundreds drummed up support now with nothing extra coming out of your pocket. Just a question.

No offence taken and perhaps I was a little harsh in my post but all I was trying to say that if you're asking the 'average' fan to stump up money (forgetting the business folk for a moment) you need to make it clear from the off that they won't be getting to make any decisions, they will merely be contributing to the clubs finances.

I will say that we absolutely need to make some changes at the club and if fan ownership is the only way to save it then I would back it 100%, I just hope that when the shareholders get to vote for their BOD, they choose very, very wisely.

And are these the very same fans who will be asked for cash?

The 'ordinary' fan doesn't care how your business (or any other) runs, they just want to know 1) Will their investment be looked after. 2) Will they get a say in how it is spent.

It really is that simple and your genius is totally irrelevant to whether they choose to invest or not.

Well maybe if the fans have a stake in the Club they will be more willing to promote it. Clearly it is not happening too well at present judging by the crowds we are getting. Trying to get the young kids to the LSV is the trick to the future of the Club and if anyone can provide a solution to this then they have my vote for Chairman!

I would feel far easier having a share holder certificate in return for my £50:00 a month and elect a B.O.D to run the club on my behalf.

I would much rather that than invest in the current set up of SCL with all it's directors who are still holding on to worthless shares and have my contribution soaked up in existing debt. whilst there being no other director investment from SCL

It would also prevent uncomfortable situations where Trevor turns up to LISA, say's the budget is wrong, the club now has a serious cash flow problem that could see it go under and walks out with £15k of members money.

This of course is just my personal view.

Well Said Astleyred.

I think im safe to make this quote as ive never worked on TV, im not over 70, i dont posess a shellsuit or smoke cigars "the potential impact kids and schools could play in a real comunity/fan driven club excites me".

Kids are the next generation and future of the not just the club but the town that potential needs tapping into far more than we are/ have done in the past from what i see. Again not a critism of anybody just an observation.

Going forward if we were able to put to one side the lapsed fans and people who dont come for whatever reason and dont try and keep chasing the lost 300 or so or keep pestering BOB to fetch his mate who isnt really intrested in coming our efforts could collectivley find new people create and extend a new fan base and the old ones will eventually jump back on the bandwaggon as a result. Set high targets and expectations of ourselves monitor and minute all meetings produce glossy documents of all meetings and issue to all shareholders and form a powerful structured group were averyone knows what the overall goal is.

If we fail we fail (i dont ever like to consider this as an option by the way) in a transparent and honest manner all and all stood together then at least we can all say as fans we tried and most likely still be better off than now anyway.

Momentum can be gained and built on if structured and managed strongly and correctly. we need to understand the needs of people across the board weather it be the guy who pays to stand on the terrace or the buisnessman who pays to sponser a game and taylor Leigh Centurions to suit them not vica versa. Sell our product to every walk of life and sell it well.

Lots of things to be explored if the initial hurdles can be gotton over and enough intrest and suport is recieved then who knows what can happen.

JC

I am most upset about your remarks .

I do a good job at what I do and there's more then me involved.

I think some people on here have good ideas and others are happy to just whinge and insult people but not really do anything to help.

Your lack of understanding is unbelievable, you need to join some commitee's and share your knowledge. I am a fan, I want the club to be the best it can be as most fans do, what is obvious is that this ain't it

you can read into my posts what ever you want linda,ther was no insult there

For your information MISh is a member of the PSG and attends meetings with Trevor and the rest of them