As I have said before, this cannot be allowed to turn into a witch hunt and any group that may or may be formed, cannot be set up just because people are spitting their dummies out over our current form, or issues they feel exist with the board. I feel that it is imperative that a new trust is formed between supporters and the club.

My personal feelings on the issue are that people want to start up an independent supporters association, but the black and whites association already exists, and they have done a fantastic job for many years.

I think the time could be right to boost numbers for the B&W’s and also make it a little easier for people to join. Currently members pay £5 per month, with the money been used for youth development or buying equipment for the club, if and when requested. I think it would be wise if the black and whites gave fans the option of paying 3, 4 or 5 £££’s per month, something I believe the committee are considering.

If the B&W’s could increase numbers and revenue, they would all of a sudden become a far more attractive group for the club to rekindle their relationship with. In return for purchasing equipment or handing over funds to the club, I feel that it would be an idea for the B&W’s to ask for 2 or 3 meetings with the club per year. This way an independent fans forum could take place, with the committee members taking what they feel to be genuine and realistic issues direct to the club, without them having to face your regular run of the mill numpty’s.

Apart from been a member of the black and whites, I am in no way involved with them, so I don’t feel that I have a personal agenda in trying to fly their flag. However, I have ran my thoughts past the committee members I know and they have taken them onboard and will be attending the meeting on the 9th July.

I think a link up between the two groups and evolving into a single voice is a great idea, as would be the eventual disbandment of FCVoices, that way there can be any "divide and conquor" tactics from the club.

Why would we have any say in that? As far as I can tell they have no membership and therefore no mandate to act on the fans behalf so we have no right to ask them to disband. FC voices was set up by the club to act as a conduit for the fans to highlight any issues to the club. I think they do a good job and are completely different to an independant supporters group anyway. I think it would be helpful for the independant group to have a seat at the table within FC voices aswell as their own formal meetings with the club.

I'd certainly be interested in hearing what the Black and White Association has to say as I dont really know that much about them.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that there is a space on FC Voices that is nominally for an ISA rep but is currently vacant.

Correct Kosh.

FC wanted to cut all ties with HISA at one point and this was the only way we could all find to keep them on the scene.

I can not stress enough that it is vital to the whole club that we reform HISA or form a new ISA. A pressure group it may be with the aim of supporting the club and not a debating society with a policy of attacking the board, coaches and players.

If that happends what would happen to the members like myself that represent a certain fan base like disabled and Ex players etc?

FCVoices and HISA are different organisations, HISA will have a membership Voices have not.

Yeah but I mean if Voices disbanded because of a fans group? The whole point of Voices was to have representation from a variety of fan bases ( I know you know already Ian, ) This is why I don't think Voices should/would fold, and theres a space already and waiting for the next representative of a fans group

You'd join HISA (or whatever it is called).

As it is you could have HISA and FCVoices having oposing opinions, which would hand the power straight back to the club.

There is a place on FC Voices Committee set asside for a representative of an Independant supporters group just as there is for Black and whites, the disabled supporters and the ex players. B&W decided not to take the option up but the other two have representatives there at every meeting. That place is there for any representative nominated by The ISA, that is built into the constitution of FC Voices. I would hope that the two groups could work together and no doubt the members of Fc Voices would, as the new group gained some momentum, decide themselves whether they still had a role to play!

In fact I would hope that there would be a place on the new organisations Committee for a representative from FC Voices!

I think you will find that the members of Fc Voices are a bit above open warfare and and would only get involved when they could help.

It is hardly likely that they would side against the fans organisation, they are more likely on certain issues to either support them or stand aside and let the ISA get on with it! When FC Voices got as many fans saying they backed Friday games as those who said they were against them they just decided to do nothing because as they have no mandate from a membership they could not get a clear indication of what the fans wanted!

There is no place for meglamania in this excercise if there was it would fail!!!

It will not be in any new organisations interest to go ham fisted at it and expect an organisation who have built a strong relationship with the club to fold before they have even found out whether the club will talk to them!!

That would look really unproffessional for starters! The new organisation needs to be concentrating on building a relationship with the club first and formost, and opointing out to the club the benifits of working together, rather than looking for absolute power as far as the fans organisations are concerned!

Spot on

But this is the point that we try to make, FC Voices members don't have opinions as a group.(Maybe as individuals we do but not as a group) Fans come to us with a query/problem/question, we try to find answers or work with the club to resolve issues. Thats why we have representation of fans and groups.

Not for me!!