Who voted Barry onto the board of directors?

[oafcprozac]

Having slept on this, it's key that as a fanbase we are again split. The last thing I want to do is create another faction, we've lost too many match-going fans as it is, anything that further polarises our fanbase is not what is right for the club and certainly not what I am trying to achieve. I see there being four key groups on this thread

 

1) Those that whole-heartedly support Barry's approach and want the Status Quo to remain

2) Those that would welcome change but not so radical and want the change to come from within the Trust itself.

3) Those that want a complete change and approach to how the fans rep interacts with club and fanbase

4) Those that simply want to have a cheap pop

 

All fine, if you put your head above the parapet, it is there to be shot at, the initial idea on both sides was one of clearer communication, perhaps a regular interaction/interview and key points could be reported back to this website, helping to put to bed various rumours and tackling issues that are affecting our fanbase. Yes, we have a fans' representative on the board but many of us feel we are let down in terms of regular communication and whether we feel our views are actually taken into consideration.

 

Despite some comments to the contrary this thread is not personal, neither is it an attempt to manoeuvre myself into position, believe me I have enough on my plate at the moment with commitments most evenings and a sick wife. What I want is for the whole fanbase to have voice that represents us all, what remaining fans we have, we need galvanising not polarising.

 

Perhaps I need to overcome my issues and reservations with involvement in the Trust to truly help affect change, I'll think it over….

Edited July 8, 2013 by oafcprozac

[Matt]

WANTED: Football club PR. Must like the sound of their own voice, and regularly expects their existence to be authenticated.

[garcon]

We love you, Rummy.

 

 

Oh wait...

[BP1960]

I'm not a member of Trust Oldham. But everything I read tells me they are a fans' organisation, not a members only club.

 

Their web site tells me their aims are:

 

1.

Protecting the future of Oldham Athletic: Having a fan on the board of the club is vital in ensuring a debacle similar to that of the 'Chris Moore Era' will never happen again un-noticed. Whilst the Trust may be unable to stop such an event happening, we will be in a good position to see this happening, and have plans formulated to cope with such a situation.

(Question: What are these plans?)

 

2.

Representing the views of the fans: The fans are the very soul of the club - there is no doubt of that. By having a fan on the Board of Directors, the view of many Oldham Athletic fans can be aired at board-room level. The Trust will always strive to ensure that fans are treated in a fair manner, and help build a fan-friendly football club.

(Questions: How does this happen? How do fans views get collated, represented, discussed and, perhaps most importantly, how do fans find out about this?)

 

3.

Investing in the future of Oldham Athletic: The Trust will continue to raise funds to invest in the future development of the football club - starting at youth-team level. We will work closely with the youth set-up to help youngsters in Oldham develop their footballing talent so we can see more players like Chris Taylor, Neil Eardley, Dean Smalley and Matty Wolfenden progress into the first team.

(Question: What support has the Trust given to the youth set up in the last 12 months?)

 

---

On point one I'm interested to know what cash reserves the organisation has. My fear is that at some point legal help will be needed. While at a high level this can often be obtained free with goodwill if a serious threat to the future of the football club arose then expensive costs could need to be met by Trust Oldham. Building up such a reserve and maintaining it is, to me, vital.

 

On point two communication is everything. It's why the thread started. It's why Prozac wants to try something different. Indeed, I'd go a step further and suggest that the lack of communication by Trust Oldham has directly contributed to some fans giving up on supporting the club. This needs radical overhaul. What has the Trust done? Why has it done it? What were the outcomes for fans? How did the Trust engage those fans? Put on repeat, week after week. The Trust web site, if maintained, could be a powerful tool. A refresh every couple of years isn't good enough. Stuff goes out of date very quickly.

 

On youth, what support has The Trust provided? How have they funded this? How can it be demonstrated that this is over and above what the football club's budget would have provided? I'm genuinely interested, but don't have a clue.

 

There is probably an army of people out there who are keen to help in some way, but don't really know what that help should look like. A small inner circle of people committing time and working hard to run round in circles doesn't appear to achieve a great deal. A handful of events and a bit of cash raised that's absorbed somewhere, not sure where, but presumably to benefit the town's football club.

 

Look outwards, engage, make some noise. And think about what your true purposes are and how you can be more inclusive. If Trust Oldham can get its act together and the football club can get the new stand up there is a real opportunity to get something positive in motion.

 

 

The Trust website is useless, no news or events, if anything this is one thing that needs changing.

[oafcmetty]

 

Bucket collections apart and one or two bits and pieces it was well under £100k that the Trust raised - it mostly was the club's money. The Legends game money was the clubs', so were other funds. The Trust were custodians of those amounts and gate receipts. Somewhere along the line people began to believe that the £230k was raised by the Trust it wasn't, I don't know the exact total and whilst the total the Trust raised was significant the majority of that total was the club's money that the Trust ringf-enced - asked by Jarvis and Joy so that it didn't end up in the Black Hole. The Trusts efforts were admirable (I was part of those fund raising efforts in a small way, bucket collecting, attending every event I could, buying books about Sheep on Pitches for £30 a time etc…)

 

I too have been guilty of thinking that we paid 6 figures for our 3% stake, it was nothing like that - the 3% was a genuine gesture by the new owners, which was gratefully accepted by us all.

 

The Legends Game idea came from the Trust. Gordon did most of the heavy lifting though in terms of getting it arranged.

[beag_teeets]

Are we have this bloodless coup or not? Doesn't have to be bloodless, I'm easy.

[Lookers_Carl]

The Trust website is useless, no news or events, if anything this is one thing that needs changing.

And it will be within the next few weeks although as o4u correctly stated, the content needs to go with it.

 

At the last meeting which I attended, I agreed to work with Darren from Redstar Creative and Wardlelatic regarding the website. Just come out of a 45 minute meeting with Darren and hope to get this moving. I am going to draw up a map of the site and will put it up on here once done, any feedback will be helpful, positive or negative.

 

Regarding any potential content that isn't simply a rehash of OS news, any feedback welcome.

 

Hope this is of some help re the communications issue.

Edited July 8, 2013 by Lookers_Carl

[blueatheart]

 

I'm sure I've been here before, about five pages ago...

[BP1960]

And it will be within the next few weeks although as o4u correctly stated, the content needs to go with it.

 

At the last meeting which I attended, I agreed to work with Darren from Redstar Creative and Wardlelatic regarding the website. Just come out of a 45 minute meeting with Darren and hope to get this moving. I am going to draw up a map of the site and will put it up on here once done, any feedback will be helpful, positive or negative.

 

Regarding any potential content that isn't simply a rehash of OS news, any feedback welcome.

 

 

Thanks for your prompt response, that may go a long way to addressing various concerns.

[Lookers_Carl]

Thanks for your prompt response, that may go a long way to addressing various concerns.

No probs

 

As I said before I realise this is in no way 'the answer' but hopefully this will provide the trust with an up to date communication platform that will look up to date, integrate with various social media platforms and be more mobile/ tablet friendly

 

I would like to think the content will follow but I will open it up to the rest re what you would like to see, and see if it can be done.

Edited July 8, 2013 by Lookers_Carl

[BP1960]

No probs

 

As I said before I realise this is in no way 'the answer' but hopefully this will provide the trust with an up to date communication platform that will look up to date, integrate with various social media platforms and be more mobile/ tablet friendly

 

I would like to think the intent will follow but I will open it up to the rest re what you would like to see, and see if it can be done.

 

Did you mean content ?

[Lookers_Carl]

Did you mean content ?

Whoops, edited

[c.hill12]

Just trawled through this thread and for me, one thing is blatantly obvious. What the trust needs (or even the club) is some sort of communications officer(whether voluntary or in a full time post)

Through work i am on the committee of a branch of a national organisation. Since our communication officer role became vacant, membership dropped slightly. I have been out and spoke to members/ex members/potential members since and their biggest concern is lack of communication. Sound familiar?

I don't think this is a coincidence. There should be a role, separate from barry's(his role is now a director of oafc2004 and i don't believe this can be effectively achieved together) that involves getting out into to fan base on match days/at events etc to engage with the fans. Maybe even liaising with the community trust to get the trust into the community. Having a number that is published and making the officer contactable by phone/text/email and in person around the borough. While he/she's out and about promoting the trust and it's events.

[rudemedic]

Just trawled through this thread and for me, one thing is blatantly obvious. What the trust needs (or even the club) is some sort of communications officer(whether voluntary or in a full time post)

Through work i am on the committee of a branch of a national organisation. Since our communication officer role became vacant, membership dropped slightly. I have been out and spoke to members/ex members/potential members since and their biggest concern is lack of communication. Sound familiar?

I don't think this is a coincidence. There should be a role, separate from barry's(his role is now a director of oafc2004 and i don't believe this can be effectively achieved together) that involves getting out into to fan base on match days/at events etc to engage with the fans. Maybe even liaising with the community trust to get the trust into the community. Having a number that is published and making the officer contactable by phone/text/email and in person around the borough. While he/she's out and about promoting the trust and it's events.

According to this it's got one, it's Rick Attwood aka Wardle Latic, who is still heavily connected to this site as a site manager.

http://www.trustoldham.co.uk/pages/the-team/who's-who-home.aspx

[c.hill12]

I know the title is there but rick also has all his other commitments. I mean a dedicated communications officer who puts all their time purely into this role.

[leeslover]

I've had various IT issues, but here are my thoughts:

 

The Club seem to appreciate the work Barry does for them. I know that SC would make him a Director regardless of the Trust shareholding. It therefore makes sense for Barry to remain doing the work he does within the Club.

 

The structure of the Trust is, and always has been, rotten to the core. I say this without meaning offence to the people on there or what they have done. This must change. It may need for a dozen or so people to get co-opted to the board so as to force a constitutional change. If Barry or other board members block this, then they are dead to me as fans representatives.

 

Personalities are a problem, a good set up isn't reliant on one person. The Trust was marred from nearly the start with Barry and Woody Allen playing ego games over the internet. It should have been set up so that change and progress can be made.

 

No offence to Prozac, but I can agree with you 100% one day,and think you are talking :censored:e another - much like the rest of us on here (except me). The role you suggest would be appreciated by some at some times,and really piss people off at others. Can you imagine the next time a manager-sacking frenzy kicks up and we are all at each others' throats? What angle would you take?

 

It would be healthy for the club to have a genuine channel to the fans. SC is a forceful man but would I believe respect someone who would tell him to :censored: off from time to time. The Trust needs to clearly define it's role. Is it a fundraising arm of the club? Is it banking money for the future? It's hard to give money to an organisation when you have been told entirely conflicting accounts of what it will be used for.

 

 

 

 

 

Like many others, I will offer what help I can to a renewed Trust, although I am too distant to be directly involved.

[Dave_Og]

 

 

 

The structure of the Trust is, and always has been, rotten to the core. I say this without meaning offence to the people on there or what they have done.

 

They'd have to have pretty thick skins not to be offended by that!

[leeslover]

 

 

 

 

The structure of the Trust is, and always has been, rotten to the core. I say this without meaning offence to the people on there or what they have done.

 

They'd have to have pretty thick skins not to be offended by that!

 

They'd have to have pretty thick skins not to be offended by that!

 

Systems dear fellow, not people. The self-electing system was always likely to lead to the committee being inward looking. It's the same reason why one can't criticise the Trust without it being seen as an attack on the committee. They have become one and the same. The current people might be rejuvenated under a workable structure that engaged them with members.

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

I think this thread mostly stems from Paul's, and most peoples frustration at the long and lingering poor marketing connection the club has with the fans. It's not helped by Paul bumping into SC just in passing and revealing more information than Barry ever let slip. But I disagree that we need someone not involved with the club being in some quasi-official capacity of a fans liason. The Trust should be the link between the board and the fans. Nothing else.

 

Like leeslover states (albeit with as much subtlety as a Glasgow kiss), The Trust has simply withered in recent years and doesn't even have a lucid connection with Playershare. The Trust needs a proper restructure and perhaps act as an information hub for all kinds of fan issues. Use these messageboards to convey the latest goings-on because to a fan like myself, this is the only place I seemingly get my daily fix of OAFC tat.

[real]

I see there being four key groups on this thread

 

1) Those that whole-heartedly support Barry's approach and want the Status Quo to remain

2) Those that would welcome change but not so radical and want the change to come from within the Trust itself.

3) Those that want a complete change and approach to how the fans rep interacts with club and fanbase

4) Those that simply want to have a cheap pop

 

….

And there you go again being divisive blunt and insulting. Something Barry has often been accused of too.

It puts me in mind of the closing scene in animal farm (Orwell, not porn).

 

Incidentally, despite numerous people saying so, you have ignored those that feel that it is a waste of time and effort as the incessant requests for more and more information are futile and do not have a genuine purpose. Essentially, they are just the random wishes of those who "feel" they have a right to such information.

[Barryowen]

Leeslover and Frankly make some excellent points. I am not opposed to more people being involved with the Trust and I am not opposed to change. Indeed I acknowledge that we need to improve and up our game in some areas. This will be addressed. We have suffered a loss of helpers in the past few years but a number of people are returning and a few new fans are joining us. I would never stand in the way of progress nor would I want the fans to lose the knowledge we have gleened about running a football club and the daily problems that arise. This has been made possible by the excellent manner in which Simon Corney allows me to be so involved. He could easily taken another route which would have rendered me less inclusive.

 

Those who know me are aware of my eagerness to act for the fans but I cannot second guess what Simon wants to tell Prozac or any other fan for that matter. Prozac in not privy to confidential information and other fans may well have been given the same information. They just choose not to speak about it or publish it onh the basis that it aint that improtant anyway. Equally it may well be that Simon believes that he should be the only person to reveal certain facts and that it is his perogative as to whether he wants things in the public domain. More recently when fans became upset about the Vaughan situation I went on the official site and clarified matters. When necessary I will continue to do so.

 

We really do try and keep fans abreast of all important developments but you would be very bored if we tried to update you on a daily basis. The Salford based publicity was what it was and did not need much comment. When it did, it was for the Chairman to release any detail. If a trust acts properly in such circumstances it merely observes to ensure that the fans interests are protected . My working relationship with the Chairman makes this an easy task on the basis that he will share confidential information with me. You just have to trust that your representative is old and wise enough to keep your interests at the forefront.

 

I encourage young and old fans to become involved with the Trust if you want to instigate change and amongst you a new leader will emerge, but you will not achieve it from behind a keyboard as some might believe. In this debate some of those who class themselves as my opponents make a lot of sense. I welcome challenge and change and will fight any leadership battle.

 

Once the accounts are completed an AGM will be held and those up for re-election will fight for their positions with (not against) any new nominees. What I susupect is that everyone will get involved because the Trust needs many workers.

 

Barry

[Barryowen]

Sorry re the spelling. Pressed the button to go before I checked.

[lancy lad]

People are missing the point of the thread and taking up their personal issues (as usual).

 

Where and when will there ever be an opportunity to vote Barry off and elect someone else from a democratic vote, if Barry continues to avoid questions and not communicate properly?

 

I'm not interested in knowing what people have to argue with prozac.

 

There may be others who would like to stand as chairman of the trust or a similar role.

[Oh Heck C-Beck]

Why don't the trust have a heavily moderated thread on OWTB as a start to improving communication? (I mean heavily moderated in terms of removing debates/arguing/personal stuff etc). Lots of forums have threads with particular rules, I don't see why this couldnt work here.

 

People can simply post questions/queries/worries/suggestions and someone from the trust could answer these in time. Any other posts could be removed. I know for a fact that the Brighton version of OWTB used to do this with the actual club, with the club posting anonymously. I guess people from within the club would answer stuff in their remit. If questions cannot be answered these could also be addressed in this thread with a simple, thanks but I am afraid we dont have that information, or cannot answer that etc.

 

It would be a start at least, and would help to organise a two way dialogue between the fans and the trust etc.

 

I also see the trust is looking to revamp the website. Why don't you move to Wordpress, a new good looking site could be up within minutes with a decent free template and it is built around a blogging platform, so why not have a regular trust blog? It doesnt have to be all secretive confidential goings on, you could have a whole host of people writing on there about all things Oldham Athletic, generating interest in the trust. I bet you could recruit a lot of content writers through this site.

 

I really think with the right attitude the trust could position itself as another online focal point for OAFC. If you have a busy website, you will have a lot more interest in the trust.

[jsslatic]

Barry,

 

Any chance of a response any time soon?

 

Thanks