OAFC - Oldham Athletic Fans' Charter

[oafc1955]

Perhaps a 'protest' as you put it may create enough publicity to eventually attract outside investment. One thing is certain.....if we sit on our arses and do nowt there's only one direction we're heading.

We haven't heard a peep from Corney this season and with directors and CE's jumping ship something within the club is clearly wrong.

[opinions4u]

I think a lot of blame can be put on the current owners but for me, the questions should be asked of the fans that are staying away and the general population of Oldham.

Do they really want a club in the town anymore? When it's gone, it's gone. The fans that are left don't get behind the team from the first whistle. We're even getting away fans now taking the piss out of our support.

If the so called fans continue to stay away, then for me they are as much to blame as the owners. I get it's boring football at the moment but playing in front of our home crowd wouldn't inspire or motivate me to give 110% either.

Possibly the worst chicken and egg post ever.

 

When the team play well we get behind them.

 

But when was the last time the team got anywhere near winning a dozen home league games in a season?

[real]

I think a lot of blame can be put on the current owners but for me, the questions should be asked of the fans that are staying away and the general population of Oldham.

Do they really want a club in the town anymore? When it's gone, it's gone. The fans that are left don't get behind the team from the first whistle. We're even getting away fans now taking the piss out of our support.

If the so called fans continue to stay away, then for me they are as much to blame as the owners. I get it's boring football at the moment but playing in front of our home crowd wouldn't inspire or motivate me to give 110% either.

This is like Gerald Ratner complaining that people don't buy from him anymore. Whilst some fans will spend money regardless, others will only do so if they feel it's worthwhile. It's up to the club to convince them it is.

[real]

Double post

Edited November 14, 2016 by real

[kowenicki]

I'd need a manifesto before I'd sign up.

 

Yes I'm serious.

 

If this is to be done it needs to be done properly or forget it.

[oafc1955]

Possibly the worst chicken and egg post ever.

 

When the team play well we get behind them.

 

But when was the last time the team got anywhere near winning a dozen home league games in a season?

Just checked that out......it's 11 seasons since we won 12 home games..WOW!!!

[yarddog73]

Since 12th October 2014 we've had 12 home wins.

[yarddog73]

Sorry that was the 25th October 2015

[yarddog73]

Sorry that was 25th October 2014 :) can't edit but we got there in the end.

[HarryBosch]

I think a lot of blame can be put on the current owners but for me, the questions should be asked of the fans that are staying away and the general population of Oldham.

Do they really want a club in the town anymore? When it's gone, it's gone. The fans that are left don't get behind the team from the first whistle. We're even getting away fans now taking the piss out of our support.

If the so called fans continue to stay away, then for me they are as much to blame as the owners. I get it's boring football at the moment but playing in front of our home crowd wouldn't inspire or motivate me to give 110% either.

 

It's Catch 22 - people are staying away for various reasons, most of which are linked directly or indirectly to Corney & Co's poor running of the club.

They (and the majority of us, within reason) would like Corney to sell.

But the fewer fans we get the harder it is to sell and the harder it is for SC to do a better job of running it (whether he's capable or not).

 

I think people underestimate how much :censored: TTA would be willing to put up with to ride out however many years it takes to cash in on something they, rightly or wrongly, allegedly think they can get £24m for.

Or are they sitting on it until we have another spike in property and land prices - which we will - at which point they hope to get even more than the alleged £24m?

 

We simply just want to watch a football team that scores a few goal & gives us a glimmer of hope of getting promoted.

But you've got to look at it from their side too - they're playing the long game waiting to, at worst, cut their losses or, at best, somehow still come out of this shambles with a profit. As is their right.

For that reason I don't think he'll ever let things get too bad (i.e relegation) but, given the perceived general ineptitude of everybody involved in running the club he'll eventually :censored: that up too.

 

I don't think we'll ever get what we want from this kind of protest group but, done well, applying a bit of respectful pressure can't do any harm.

[BP1960]

I think it's fair to say we all want change. We don't know what the difference will be as yet and it's for all of us to decide.

Just answer yes or no for now and let's see if there's enough initial support.

The players were motivated enough to beat Scunthorpe before 2,900 though.

[longtimeblue]

The players were motivated enough to beat Scunthorpe before 2,900 though.

Everything about that statement, used as a positive spin, really does emphasise how :censored: it is. Genuinely sad.

[pinevillawill]

In comparison to other clubs, our recent history has been relatively stable.

 

What 'positive outcomes' are you looking for? Historically, we're a modern day League 1/League 2 club with small crowds and limited finances - and that's what we are today, and will most likely be in many years to come.

 

Corney isn't everyone's cup of tea, that's for sure. But the grass isn't always greener.

Edited November 14, 2016 by pinevillawill

[yarddog73]

Sorry pinevillawill but I have to disagree, I think the club your describing there is Rochdale, granted I'm only mid 40's but I've got to say in my 30+ years attending the last 6/7 years has been as bad as it gets, historically we are now what you'd say is a lower end Championship top end League 1 team despite the :censored:e Corney would have you believe and in any case why should we accept mediocrity the whole club is rife with a losers mindset and that for me stems from the top.

[GlossopLatic]

In comparison to other clubs, our recent history has been relatively stable.

 

What 'positive outcomes' are you looking for? Historically, we're a modern day League 1/League 2 club with small crowds and limited finances - and that's what we are today, and will most likely be in many years to come.

 

Corney isn't everyone's cup of tea, that's for sure. But the grass isn't always greener.

 

The positive outcome would be new ownership with fresh investment and ideas who will breath new life into the club.

 

See this link here

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36778409

 

4 months ago we were in talks with upto 5 potential new investors and Corney was willing to sell what has happened here? Have they been put off by the price with what is an unconfirmed rumour of £24 million for the lot? Are their other things that have gone on that have deterred any potential investors?

 

You would also have to ask how motivated Corney is to stay on and how resistant he is to selling. Running our club is probably alot tougher than some of us think and probably involves dealing with things behind the scenes that we don't realise. He could be under pressure from Blitz to get his money back which may have deterred investors especially with the land and other issues linked to the club.

 

The desired end result would be new ownership. Step 1 would be dialogue and fact finding about how to get that and find out what is being done right now.

Edited November 14, 2016 by GlossopLatic

[Latics and England]

As has been said above, this is impossible to answer without having a clear view as to what is being suggested.

 

The problem is that there really doesn't seem to be a consensus regarding what the fans want or what people see as possible. I look at some other clubs with organised protest groups and am not convinced that their situations are worse off than ours (Charlton being a prime example). They do, however, seem to have a goal that they are all working towards.

 

What I am convinced of is that Oldham Athletic cannot move forward under the current ownership. I don't believe that the new stand can become enough of a money earner to allow us to compete at the top end of League One and even if it could, the time that it will take to pay off the money spent on building it will mean that this would be in the medium to long term.

 

It is 100% fair to say that Simon Corney has presided over a period of stability in terms of league position and that the grass isn't always greener. It is quite possible that if he left (whether 'forced out' or otherwise) we would be in a worse position than we are right now. The fans need to ask themselves whether they would be prepared to take that risk.

 

For what it is worth, I am getting towards the point at which I am prepared to take the risk. I am seeing an owner who is failing to do what is best for the club, after many years when I might have disagreed with him but was convinced that he was doing what he thought was best.

 

I can't support something with no clear aims but I am supportive of the fans working together to try to achieve a better future for the football club.

[chris_ktf]

 

It's Catch 22 - people are staying away for various reasons, most of which are linked directly or indirectly to Corney & Co's poor running of the club.

They (and the majority of us, within reason) would like Corney to sell.

But the fewer fans we get the harder it is to sell and the harder it is for SC to do a better job of running it (whether he's capable or not).

 

I think people underestimate how much :censored: TTA would be willing to put up with to ride out however many years it takes to cash in on something they, rightly or wrongly, allegedly think they can get £24m for.

Or are they sitting on it until we have another spike in property and land prices - which we will - at which point they hope to get even more than the alleged £24m?

 

We simply just want to watch a football team that scores a few goal & gives us a glimmer of hope of getting promoted.

But you've got to look at it from their side too - they're playing the long game waiting to, at worst, cut their losses or, at best, somehow still come out of this shambles with a profit. As is their right.

For that reason I don't think he'll ever let things get too bad (i.e relegation) but, given the perceived general ineptitude of everybody involved in running the club he'll eventually :censored: that up too.

 

I don't think we'll ever get what we want from this kind of protest group but, done well, applying a bit of respectful pressure can't do any harm.

Spot on.

 

The only quick solution would be if Corney & co decided to take a considerable hit. Which ain't gonna happen.

 

Said it so many times now-

 

Business first.

 

Football second.

 

As you say, that's is their right. However we can see what it's doing to the club.

 

Really hard to see a positive way forward for all concerned.

[boundaryblue80]

In comparison to other clubs, our recent history has been relatively stable.

 

What 'positive outcomes' are you looking for? Historically, we're a modern day League 1/League 2 club with small crowds and limited finances - and that's what we are today, and will most likely be in many years to come.

 

Corney isn't everyone's cup of tea, that's for sure. But the grass isn't always greener.

 

That's bull:censored:. Before we landed back in the 3rd tier, we were a bottom end 2nd tier club historically. There was a table in the early 2000's produced that showed all football league clubs average positions over the history of the clubs existence and we landed around 17th in the 2nd tier. Roll on to 2016 and we have been stripped bare and watched our natural position drop to the level we are at. Our recent history has caused us to be that club you speak of. That comes down to these clowns who want their £9m losses paying before buying the land, stand and club. :censored:ing wankers!

[yarddog73]

The historic table which I think BB80 is referring too now has us as the 37th ranked team in the English football pyramid, you have to really go back to 1964 through to 1970 for a similar period in the clubs history.

 

This site gives a good overview of how we've faired from 1907 onwards.

 

http://www.statto.com/football/teams/oldham-athletic/history

[pinevillawill]

Sorry pinevillawill but I have to disagree, I think the club your describing there is Rochdale, granted I'm only mid 40's but I've got to say in my 30+ years attending the last 6/7 years has been as bad as it gets, historically we are now what you'd say is a lower end Championship top end League 1 team despite the :censored:e Corney would have you believe and in any case why should we accept mediocrity the whole club is rife with a losers mindset and that for me stems from the top.

Point taken.

 

This is our 99th season in English football.

 

We have spent 44 of those seasons, including the last 20, in the third tier. Therefore it could be argued that we have very much found our level.

[piglinbland]

Your posts are spot on, pinevillawill.

 

The only thing at Oldham that has changed is that internet has provided a platform for each and every fan to scream from.

[NewBlue]

Point taken.

 

This is our 99th season in English football.

 

We have spent 44 of those seasons, including the last 20, in the third tier. Therefore it could be argued that we have very much found our level.

It also tells you we should be competitive at this level, which we haven't been for 7(?) years.

[Guest nonaenever]

Just "bumping" this back to the top - I`m back from London tomorrow night and will have a shufty at where we're at over the weekend when I have some proper time to absorb everything. Thank you very much for all the comments and the voting thus far.

[Guest nonaenever]

Got an hour spare and note that some have, understandably, said they won't vote for someone anonymously behind a keyboard, so, a little about my credentials. Basically, a down to earth fella who has supported Latics since the 1970s - I would say I am "in tune" with most football/Latics fans. Business wise, I worked for 12 years for a FTSE100 bank - within their wholesale banking division primarily concerned with asset finance for corporate customers - so not the "greedy banking" retail sector!

 

During that time I had responsibility for receivables on a book size in excess of £3billion and managed 5 specialist departments with a staffing budget in excess of £2M. I reduced the default rate from circa 6% to under 2% and achieved a significant reduction in bad debt write-offs. I was also handed responsibility on the asset management side of the business, with a maturing, mixed asset portfolio of £180M; projected losses when I took over responsibility were circa £8M over 24 months. I managed to turn that projected loss of £8M into a small profit of £250,000.

 

How was that achieved? Not by me as one person that's for sure! It was achieved by the effective management of people, enthusing the staff, harnessing and implementing innovative ideas and sheer hard work. Oh, and a novel idea, I told my employer I would forego the bonus they promised me PROVIDING they allocated the money for me to reward the staff instead. The staff were incentivised, worked hard towards the goals set - and were rewarded financially too once the goals had been achieved.

 

I`ve been involved in a lot of project work and was often utilised to "problem solve" or "crisis manage" where situations seemed almost irretrievable. Nothing is irretrievable if people go about things in a positive manner with a sensible plan and are properly managed. I actually detest corporate buzz words and all that nonsense BUT the one phrase which I actually stand by fully is this, "If you do what you've always done - you'll get what you've always got"

 

​I think that phrase probably sums up what I feel about Latics at present. As I`ve mentioned on another thread, the hierarchy, in my view, need to take a step back and do some strategic thinking instead of knee-jerk little projects here, there and everywhere which will not resolve the long-term issues. Change is clearly needed in Latics' whole approach to many issues.

 

So, that's a little bit about me and, if this idea of OAFC (Oldham Athletic Fans' Charter) does take off, I will certainly draft an initial "manifesto" as some have called it. Please note, though, this is not about me. I`ve always been a very inclusive type of manager - if it's decided that I might lead on this, there will be a process of meeting, canvassing views and ideas before a final draft of the Charter for presenting to the board.

 

One last point - although effectively a pressure group, it is intended to fully liaise with the club (if they will) in a mature and professional manner to achieve the best possible outcome all round. Communication not constant confrontation will be the strategy.

[opinions4u]

Should this / could this become a new "thrust of the Trust" in some way? Perhaps further growing the Trust's credibility?

 

I'm sympathetic to most of the stuff covered and ideas put out there. It could add a real energy to an organisation that already liaises with the football club.

 

Keep going.