Getting back to the title of the thread…

Have been a long time lurker on this board, and a contributor years ago to its predecessor(s); however, gave up as it all seemed pointless as the more sensible posters on here generally cover my thoughts.

Like many born into a fishing family on Hessle Road, supporting Hull was a given: it’s a cross we have to bear.

Have had a season pass from when I could first afford one in the late 70’s, and this year was the first time I have seriously considered not renewing it.

The reasons are many, a major one was being forcibly removed from West stand W12 where many of us sat together for years to make way for expanded “family seating” and into the North Stand (the away stand), or face a huge price increase. The fact our old seats - apart from the derby, or when tickets are given away - sit empty just across from us all serves only to increase the bitterness. This was a great thank you for all of us affected allowing the club to keep our money during the Covid season.

So, “Finances and supporting the club”. The above has clearly affected the attitude of all, and has been reflected in the merchandise sales; for a relatively small group, season on season this has not been insignificant.

I see early in this thread we have had the usual Lord Kitchener-esque “your club needs you”, with the implied notion that if we don’t just keep coughing up on passes, merchandise, etc we will be directly responsible should the club fail.

In my humble opinion, this is disingenuous to say the least. Does the ownership therefore take no responsibility for the state the club is in, and it is simply because the fan base don’t empty their pockets often enough? Hull FC has been criminally mismanaged for a long time now, and each latest disaster is glossed over with further jam tomorrow promises that play on the wish fulfilment fantasies of the paying fan.

For me, this ran out some time ago. I still have a pass only because my fellow ex-W12ers renewed, having given up on any notion of entertainment or pleasure at the MKM/KCom in 2018.

A word that apparently does not apply at Hull FC looms large - Accountability.

It is quite rightly being applied to a playing group (note - not a team) who are the most pathetic and spineless in the competition, but it MUST begin with the ownership.

I know there is no queue of investors or potential alternative owners, but Adam Pearson has made some catastrophic decisions during his tenure, and seemingly has not learned from them at all. Most glaringly, the fact that Tony Smith is the first genuine, time-served rugby league man to be involved outside of coaching during APs tenure (should his de facto director of rugby position be correct) is damning.

I don’t have an answer, none of us (realists) do, but “here’s more of the same, open your wallet” simply will not wash anymore.

I will always be a Hull FC fan, I have no choice. But my days of Stockholm Syndrome are over; and asking around, I’m not alone.

Excellent post. I agree wholeheartedly.

A great post and analogy which if being honest is likely to be a common feeling throughout a large number of the clubs fanbase.

Added to the fact the the club and AP himself for sometime now only seem to want to communicate with its fanbase when the begging bowl is out. The club for some reason seems to have disconnected itself from the life blood of the club and I can't remember a time that this club and its fans have been so far apart.

I think AP has done so much to try and bring this club back to being one of the greats in RL and will always be thankful for that but and its a big BUT he has also created a club that lacks passion, commitment and accountability from the top to the bottom.

Great post, I sometimes find it baffling how some people are so ignorant to some of the mistakes AP has made. Constantly going cap in hand to us loyal supporters and what do we get for it? Zero Communication, Kept in the dark on contract situations, no fans forums. I may of spoken about this previously, but last year me and a member of Hull's marketing team spoke about how the atmosphere can be improved at the MKM, we spoke about ideas and I gave him contact details for us to speak further, I haven't heard anything back from them since.

For roughly four years pretty much all rugby decisions, from retention & recruitment was overseen and negotiated by a man who's previous position was marketing and announcing the team sheets on matchday. No real rugby knowledge and years of giving ridiculous deals to his mates now see us in a genuine relegation battle. I have always felt, even when doing well in 2016/17, we were incredibly light in terms of the hierarchy, people expected to handle ridiculous amounts of work, which for all the hate the DJ gets, I cannot fault his work ethic. The point is that he shouldn't of been in the role in the first place. Everyone has some blame for our current situation, but I believe most of it is on AP's shoulders. My worry is that he's now in too deep, I wouldn't be surprised if he has turned down investment purely because of his self-pride, which will only continue to damage our club further.

I agree with the previous posts, I don't think Clarky is right for the position he is in.

Saints have Mike Rush, Wigan have Radlinski, Warrington have Fitzpatrick. They are rugby people. We have an ex DJ, and pitch announcer. With AP confirming that Smith will have that role now fills me with some hope, but its going to take a few years to reverse the issues.

The lack of communication from the club is shocking to be honest. To find out that Brown and Sao actually are contracted until next year is baffling to be honest. The contract extensions to Shaul (never announced), and Houghton (wasn't announced by the club if I recall) again is shocking.

In terms of the matchday experience, we were told this was going to change, improve. We still have Great Balls of Fire, still have Boot It....nothing changes, it is stale, old and boring. To get 15k against Cas, and then 17k Hull fans to the Derby, the club deserve to give us more - communication, enjoyment, and a sense of belonging to the club, which I think we all feel is lacking these days.

Houghton was announced in an almost embarassed way as the way it was worded makes us beleive he decided to take up his extra year, which is crazy no player should have that power even one that has played so many times for us.

Also agree about the matchday experience, changing the music playlist costs nothing, though for me the sound was too loud before the Derby, impossible for any atmosphere to build.

I remember one game many moons ago under the Hetheringtons were simply giving out thousands of flags on a sunny afternoon geed the crowd up and helped the team get over the line. We dont seem to try anything different anymore.

I know people criticised the hetheringtons, and rightly so at times, but the match day experience (and atmosphere) was far better between 2003-2010 ish than it is these days, feels like these days it's a case of turn up, order a beer, watch the rugby, get disappointed again, go home thinking of what else you could have done with your day...Leigh are setting the standard this season of what a match day experience should be like. Toulouse last year was the best pre / post game experience I've been to.

What did Toulouse have?

I have always thought that a Fan Zone around the ground - marquee's with beer, bands on, rugby related games for the kids etc. are just an easy thing to accomplish

They had pretty much what you suggested, a fan zone outside the ground with games, players that weren't playing mingling with fans, food stalls, a nice bar, then post game a band playing in the bar and fans from both teams mingling, felt like more of an event rather than just a game then go home

Have to agree Toulouse's match day set up is the best ive experienced. A nice summer day in the south of France does help mind

Steve0 mentioning the early 2000’s versus today - was when Trish Goldsmith ran the match day/sponsorship side and did a great job with limited resources.
When she left (to go to Salford at the time), job was given to her deputy - with no wage increase - who carried on quite well until she also left within the next season or two. Since then, get the impression nobody has been handling it properly, or in a professional capacity: guess it’s not viewed as important.