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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: Spring on March 23, 2017, 06:22:32 PM
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The Chairman has offered an invitation to those passionate fans who object to his tenure to have a face to face meeting. He had no need to do this and I for one give him the benefit of doubt that his motives and his attitude to the meeting would be positive. Is there anyone amongst us that wants to meet?
I seriously would have taken this up but am 200 miles away and not in the most mobile of situations.
Come n iif you love our club give the guy a chance to explain his position.
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I have sat down with Grahame in the past. Alongside Brian. It reminded me of being back at school.
Given that Grahame hung up on me on Saturday after I asked him about the twitter ( I wanted to know who would be continuing the tweets for our exile fans and he replied he didn't care who was tweeting as he was watching the game), I'm in no rush to arrange to sit down with him.
Should the protest organisers (and there are people leading this) want to do so, that their perogrative, but I get the feeling they don't.
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Interesting points that I wasn't aware of ......I appreciate the update and maybe I am smoking pot..
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Interesting points that I wasn't aware of ......I appreciate the update and maybe I am smoking pot..
Can I have some?
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High time.
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Next season no fans as easy as that f**kit hate them
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Next season no fans as easy as that f**kit hate them
There'll still be some in attendance next season regardless. I reckon they'll be a 350-400 average and maybe even 450 for the big local games against Warrington and Ashton. If Trafford come up we might even scrape 500.
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I have sat down with Grahame in the past. Alongside Brian. It reminded me of being back at school.
Given that Grahame hung up on me on Saturday after I asked him about the twitter ( I wanted to know who would be continuing the tweets for our exile fans and he replied he didn't care who was tweeting as he was watching the game), I'm in no rush to arrange to sit down with him.
Should the protest organisers (and there are people leading this) want to do so, that their perogrative, but I get the feeling they don't.
there is nothing to discuss, the protest group is quite clear in it's aim
Mr Rowley assured us in his Tuesday programme notes that he doesnt intend to step down as chairman so there nothing constructive to discuss is there?
The worm has turned, Rowley on borrowed time, the quicker he see's that the quicker we will get our football club back, just hope there is one left by then
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Having this meeting offered it would in my eyes seem to make perfect sense to meet with the chairman. To refuse to meet would surely leave the board saying that they have tried to meet to discuss but the group refused. I understand the sentiments but refusal to meet seems a poor option.
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I have sat down with Grahame in the past. Alongside Brian. It reminded me of being back at school.
Given that Grahame hung up on me on Saturday after I asked him about the twitter ( I wanted to know who would be continuing the tweets for our exile fans and he replied he didn't care who was tweeting as he was watching the game), I'm in no rush to arrange to sit down with him.
Should the protest organisers (and there are people leading this) want to do so, that their perogrative, but I get the feeling they don't.
At the risk of being fair to Graham here Jack, I don't think his response to a phone call from you in the second half of the Stalybridge game asking WHO. DOES. THE. TWITTER? can be taken as representative of his willingness to discuss things with supporters!! 😂😂
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Having this meeting offered it would in my eyes seem to make perfect sense to meet with the chairman. To refuse to meet would surely leave the board saying that they have tried to meet to discuss but the group refused. I understand the sentiments but refusal to meet seems a poor option.
The third line of the statement makes the meeting pointless in my eyes mate. It says I'm not going anywhere but by all means come and meet me.
Again I stress it's not personal but if anyone did attend a meeting I cant see them coming out saying "we've had a chat and we now see that change isn't needed after all". I really can't.
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Having this meeting offered it would in my eyes seem to make perfect sense to meet with the chairman. To refuse to meet would surely leave the board saying that they have tried to meet to discuss but the group refused. I understand the sentiments but refusal to meet seems a poor option.
he refers to the group but its much more than that,if only 29 people had enough of the chairman there wouldn't be much of a problem
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Having this meeting offered it would in my eyes seem to make perfect sense to meet with the chairman. To refuse to meet would surely leave the board saying that they have tried to meet to discuss but the group refused. I understand the sentiments but refusal to meet seems a poor option.
The third line of the statement makes the meeting pointless in my eyes mate. It says I'm not going anywhere but by all means come and meet me.
Again I stress it's not personal but if anyone did attend a meeting I cant see them coming out saying "we've had a chat and we now see that change isn't needed after all". I really can't.
Agreed, I think the offer of a constructive meeting is too little too late. Far more than 29 people want change and the Club needs change to rebuild. The only solution I can see is that Rowley will eventually have to fall on his sword. How and when he can decide, but this can't continue into the Summer and the start of next season.
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Toff Apple
I totally agree with you. It would be even better to decline the meeting and to publically state the reasons for this, than just to ignore the invite.
It also looks as though the whole protest movement has totally run out of steam and apart from a few 'insults' traded on the forum, there is little being offered, certainly nothing constructive which I find a great shame as the club is in dire need of a revival and part of this has to be a rapprochement between the Board and the passionate Alty fans that are represented on this site.j.
I also have to say that ringing the Chairman in the middle of a match was perhaps not the best timing. If he had been seem to be having a long telephone call he would probably be accused of being disinterested in the football. One has to be even handed in looking at things.
Right, I have my tin hat on and I repeat my only interest is the overall well being of the club which I have supported for 65 years ( yep since the early days of Brian Prolze) ......I am not a spy.......I am not an official of the club........I have never met our Chairman or any of the board etc etc.
Let the bombardment begin but please make it witty as well as aggressive..
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Toff Apple
I totally agree with you. It would be even better to decline the meeting and to publically state the reasons for this, than just to ignore the invite.
It also looks as though the whole protest movement has totally run out of steam and apart from a few 'insults' traded on the forum, there is little being offered, certainly nothing constructive which I find a great shame as the club is in dire need of a revival and part of this has to be a rapprochement between the Board and the passionate Alty fans that are represented on this site.j.
I also have to say that ringing the Chairman in the middle of a match was perhaps not the best timing. If he had been seem to be having a long telephone call he would probably be accused of being disinterested in the football. One has to be even handed in looking at things.
Right, I have my tin hat on and I repeat my only interest is the overall well being of the club which I have supported for 65 years ( yep since the early days of Brian Prolze) ......I am not a spy.......I am not an official of the club........I have never met our Chairman or any of the board etc etc.
Let the bombardment begin but please make it witty as well as aggressive..
Given we'd be locked out of an account, it was the exact time to question why it had been done.
Grahame has yet to speak to me or Andrew which is appalling.
I believe the group leading the protest have send correspondence to the board.
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I have sat down with Grahame in the past. Alongside Brian. It reminded me of being back at school.
Given that Grahame hung up on me on Saturday after I asked him about the twitter ( I wanted to know who would be continuing the tweets for our exile fans and he replied he didn't care who was tweeting as he was watching the game), I'm in no rush to arrange to sit down with him.
Should the protest organisers (and there are people leading this) want to do so, that their perogrative, but I get the feeling they don't.
At the risk of being fair to Graham here Jack, I don't think his response to a phone call from you in the second half of the Stalybridge game asking WHO. DOES. THE. TWITTER? can be taken as representative of his willingness to discuss things with supporters!! 😂😂
I think it does Ballers. I think the childish manner to being asked a question is the key here. He didn't like what was being said, and he hung up.
He could have asked politely to speak post-match, or spoke to andrew or I in the last week, he hasn't.
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I think the fans should meet with GR. As Toff says, to not do this would simply allow GR to say 'these people just want to mouth off, they're not interested in dialogue'. And in terms of what it might achieve, GR may currently have no intention of resigning but the job of this entire protest movement is to convince him to do just that and this meeting can be a part of that.
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Spring, I can't help thinking your misjudging things a bit here.
This isn't a tiff that needs a couple of people's heads banging together and a pint bought.
Forget this forum for a second, from what I can see based on the difference in what people are seeing on the terraces and official attendances the majority of season tickets holders are not going. Many have stated they are not renewing (and I accept some will).
These are arguably the clubs best supporters, who invested in the club up front after a pathetic relegation. For them to not attend a game they have paid for when they are the essentially the platform of the suppprt is very very worrying
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Hashtag
You make two good points, which I had not considered and I apologise for this.
I am pleased that some correspondence has taken place and I can understand why the content has not been made public.....perhaps there is still a glimmer.
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markecky
The points you make, which I totally believe, make it all the more serious and point to the need for a defined plan of action.
Unless one believes the Chairman will resign and there will be something better put in place (and I am not convinced on either of these things) then I just believe that something needs to be done. A meeting would have the objective of talking and listening, in order to determine what his total stance was and then there could be one of two directions.......continued all out opposition or ( and you may think unlikely) some form of rapprochement .
I just think that once one rules out discussion, it is a sad, sad day........much bigger disputes than Alty FC have been solved by discussion !!
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Either the chairman doesn't recognise the level of unrest (unlikely I would have thought) or he and the board are taking the view that people will come back once we have played half a dozen games and are top of the glue league.
It's a gamble and the funds need to be in place to backfill the lost revenue from the inevitable early season drop in crowds but I really do think that is what they will be planning for.
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Cheshire Cat
And in your view is the reason he insists on staying on because he genuinely believes there is no better alternative and the club would suffer if he left ( which has to be said is quite possible) or simply that he is not open to an other person being considered as chairman? ( again which is quite possible).
I believe the above is the $64,000 question because I do not think any of us understand the implications of change on the financial structure of the club.
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If the protest group wants a change in leadership then be constructive.
What you require is an alternative that would benefit the club,.... otherwise the Chairman would be negligent in resigning if it left AFC with nobody capable of doing the huge amount of voluntary work needed and moving the club forward.
So far I havent seen a single positive suggestion. Ideal time for a Multi-millionaire Alty Fan to surface,.....
Just commenting like,... ::)
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I agree that suggestions/criticism should be positive/constructive ones.
But, perhaps there should be one chair at one side of the room, and 29 at the other- one for each registered protester. When others turn up (both those who stay away and those who chose not to walk out), that should signify the extent of the unrest.
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If the protest group wants a change in leadership then be constructive.
What you require is an alternative that would benefit the club,.... otherwise the Chairman would be negligent in resigning if it left AFC with nobody capable of doing the huge amount of voluntary work needed and moving the club forward.
So far I havent seen a single positive suggestion. Ideal time for a Multi-millionaire Alty Fan to surface,.....
Just commenting like,... ::)
If you had read any correspondance from the protesting group, you would see that they are asking Mr Rowley to ANNOUNCE HIS INTENTION to stand down, and putting it out publically that we are welcoming people into the board and inviting people to announce they'd like to be chairman.
Whether Mr Rowley stays at the club after he steps down and continues in a voluntary role is up to him and the incoming chairman.
I reiterate, it is not up to us as fans to name names for a potential chairman. Nobody would put their name forward for a role that is, as yet, not vacant.
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Toff Apple
I totally agree with you. It would be even better to decline the meeting and to publically state the reasons for this, than just to ignore the invite.
It also looks as though the whole protest movement has totally run out of steam and apart from a few 'insults' traded on the forum, there is little being offered, certainly nothing constructive which I find a great shame as the club is in dire need of a revival and part of this has to be a rapprochement between the Board and the passionate Alty fans that are represented on this site.j.
I also have to say that ringing the Chairman in the middle of a match was perhaps not the best timing. If he had been seem to be having a long telephone call he would probably be accused of being disinterested in the football. One has to be even handed in looking at things.
Right, I have my tin hat on and I repeat my only interest is the overall well being of the club which I have supported for 65 years ( yep since the early days of Brian Prolze) ......I am not a spy.......I am not an official of the club........I have never met our Chairman or any of the board etc etc.
Let the bombardment begin but please make it witty as well as aggressive..
There is work going on behind the scenes, and a statement is being prepared, hopefully for release later today.
Temporary silence doesn't equate to nothing happening.
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Cheshire Cat
And in your view is the reason he insists on staying on because he genuinely believes there is no better alternative and the club would suffer if he left ( which has to be said is quite possible) or simply that he is not open to an other person being considered as chairman? ( again which is quite possible).
I believe the above is the $64,000 question because I do not think any of us understand the implications of change on the financial structure of the club.
I think he believes he is a good enough man for the job. (Which I recognise isn't either of your options).
Beyond that who knows. I haven't spoken to him but I believe he is Alty through and through. Perhaps he feels he should still be the figurehead but the board needs bolstering and that would be good enough. We shall have to wait and see if this afternoon's announcement can shed any light.
Whether the club will suffer or not is something to consider if you are thinking of resigning. So far, the indications are that he hasn't even considered such an action.
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Thanks Whiskers and The Cat for your info.
It is good that things are going on and I agree that these things have to be done with a degree of discretion.
Like all other interested supporters, we await the communication in due course.
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If the protest group wants a change in leadership then be constructive.
What you require is an alternative that would benefit the club,.... otherwise the Chairman would be negligent in resigning if it left AFC with nobody capable of doing the huge amount of voluntary work needed and moving the club forward.
So far I havent seen a single positive suggestion. Ideal time for a Multi-millionaire Alty Fan to surface,.....
Just commenting like,... ::)
If you had read any correspondance from the protesting group, you would see that they are asking Mr Rowley to ANNOUNCE HIS INTENTION to stand down, and putting it out publically that we are welcoming people into the board and inviting people to announce they'd like to be chairman.
Whether Mr Rowley stays at the club after he steps down and continues in a voluntary role is up to him and the incoming chairman.
I reiterate, it is not up to us as fans to name names for a potential chairman. Nobody would put their name forward for a role that is, as yet, not vacant.
Believe it or not but the club has been looking for years for new blood to come in.I know many people think this isnt true but it is.
Do you really think anyone who is really and sincerely interested would wait before the chairman announced he would step down before making enquiries etc.
If a rich benefactor doesnt appear, which has never happened so far,... then the only alternative is more volunteers who have the club at heart, whether they know anything about appointing managers is another thing, however one could argue they couldnt do any worse,... but be careful what you wish for.
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No I don't believe it Ian
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HAs anyone considered that all this public protestation and abuse of The Chairman, the Board, Certain volunteers etc may in fact serve as something of a stumbling block / deterrent to anyone considering involvement or investment?
Would you, having done due diligence on the Company and found it financially sound and overall a decent investment be inclined to get involved or invest having read the recent utterances?
Before anyone reminds me that it is the football side that counts I would merely reply that anyone with enough cash to make the sort of investment it is perceived is required has not got that money (or if inherited, kept it) without some degree of Business savvy
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If it’s to be a negotiation for an end to the protests, then here’s my suggested list of conditions:
Chairman steps down if promotion is not achieved in 17/18;
Football Club adopts formal objective of sustaining a full time professional team at National League and ultimately, Football League level
An independent strategy project is commissioned to look at options for delivering the above objective, including a review of the structure of the Club’s ownership
All conflicts of interest with the Community Sports Company are ended, or managed transparently and appropriately through an agreed and documented published procedure, as appropriate
A documented and published procedure for the appointment of managers is developed and agreed
Supporters’ representatives attend Board meetings
Board meeting minutes (non confidential items) are published.
Any cross subsidies between the Community Sports Co and the Football Club are ended.
An investment working group is set up with the specific aim of attracting investors and developing commercial partnerships.
Any more?
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HAs anyone considered that all this public protestation and abuse of The Chairman, the Board, Certain volunteers etc may in fact serve as something of a stumbling block / deterrent to anyone considering involvement or investment?
Would you, having done due diligence on the Company and found it financially sound and overall a decent investment be inclined to get involved or invest having read the recent utterances?
Before anyone reminds me that it is the football side that counts I would merely reply that anyone with enough cash to make the sort of investment it is perceived is required has not got that money (or if inherited, kept it) without some degree of Business savvy
Don't try and state that we have been in any way abusive, because that is a downright lie.
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No I don't believe it Ian
Just never happened, a few cranks sniffed around but its a constant source of puzzlement to me why nobody ever has. Never happended when I was closely involved either.
Ironically, the best things ever to happen to this club in the last 20 years were Geof Goodwin getting involved (thanks to Ecky) and getting the CSH built.
So we have ended up with this community model which was working fine until catastropic managerial appointments derailed things.
I respect the fans views but nobody is really coming up with much of an alternative, are they?
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Ok Pukka, how many people with the sums we want have been directly asked?
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It's not even who has been asked Jack but what is being sold to them, what vision, what motivation?
In effect pukka is telling us that we have had the same unsuccessful investment strategy for over a decade?
If you really want the investment you'd change or stick as it is and whine that only the odd cranks pop around (at a guess to see if they could get involved and make money from selling the ground - with it being the only visible incentive)
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Ok Pukka, how many people with the sums we want have been directly asked?
You dont ask very savvy rich people to spunk all their money, they either want to get involved either out of being philanthropic or to massage their ego.
I know one or two have been sounded out but as yet nobody has had enough love for the lcub and enough dosh to move us forward.
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It's not even who has been asked Jack but what is being sold to them, what vision, what motivation?
In effect pukka is telling us that we have had the same unsuccessful investment strategy for over a decade?
If you really want the investment you'd change or stick as it is and whine that only the odd cranks pop around (at a guess to see if they could get involved and make money from selling the ground - with it being the only visible incentive)
The current "investment strategy" is getting the community involved so lots and lots of people invest small amounts affordably.
The vision of selling ownership/ major shareholding would basically be,..........please give us all your money so we can spend it !
Both Jack and yourself seem to be placing your whole solution on someone wealthy investing, whether being sold a vision or not, when the evidence and history just dont support that being viable.
It seems to me that the strategy was working well until bad decisions derailed the plan. Who is to say the original community plan still cant work?
I accept it wont work unless we start winning games and get back out of the gluepot.
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Ok Pukka, how many people with the sums we want have been directly asked?
You dont ask very savvy rich people to spunk all their money, they either want to get involved either out of being philanthropic or to massage their ego.
I know one or two have been sounded out but as yet nobody has had enough love for the lcub and enough dosh to move us forward.
Mr Waterson doesn't have "enough dosh to move us forward" but has been welcomed onto the board. However, if we had that kind of investment on a larger scale we would then have "enough dosh".
Your community plan, but with higher staking customers at board level, or so to say.
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Ok Pukka, how many people with the sums we want have been directly asked?
You dont ask very savvy rich people to spunk all their money, they either want to get involved either out of being philanthropic or to massage their ego.
I know one or two have been sounded out but as yet nobody has had enough love for the lcub and enough dosh to move us forward.
Mr Waterson doesn't have "enough dosh to move us forward" but has been welcomed onto the board. However, if we had that kind of investment on a larger scale we would then have "enough dosh".
Your community plan, but with higher staking customers at board level, or so to say.
Yes, I agree. Been done before as well, but again there dont seem to be people queueing up at present.
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HAs anyone considered that all this public protestation and abuse of The Chairman, the Board, Certain volunteers etc may in fact serve as something of a stumbling block / deterrent to anyone considering involvement or investment?
Would you, having done due diligence on the Company and found it financially sound and overall a decent investment be inclined to get involved or invest having read the recent utterances?
Before anyone reminds me that it is the football side that counts I would merely reply that anyone with enough cash to make the sort of investment it is perceived is required has not got that money (or if inherited, kept it) without some degree of Business savvy
No volunteers have received any abuse. Football is an emotive pass time, chairman have always come in for flack. I do wonder if half of you in your world are Altrincham supporters or Grahame Rowley supporters. You want to get your priorities straight.
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I suppose one positive thing that can be said about the total debate is that it involves a lot of people with a passion for the football club. When we really have to worry is when nobody cares a jot about the demise of the club ......we are truly in a fix then.
From my ivory tower, many miles away The Community Hall Project was an excellent initiative and the fact that the form of the football team plummeted had nothing at all to do with the Community Hall but everything to do with a number of bad managerial appointments.
What has been worrying since has been the rather 'thin skinned' attitude of those that run the club, who appear to think that any criticism is unfair and who continue to make a complete botch of communications. Twittergate is the latest example of this and nobody at he club has yet explained this aberration.
I entirely take the point that new investors do not grow on trees but have to take peoples word that the current hierarchy would welcome them if it meant their power was reduced. I am reading between the lines hat some people are saying that Mr Rowley for all his faults, all his mistakes, all his aversion to criticism is the best we have got ..... and other solutions either do not exist or could well be worst.
Out of this at least lets get a Supporter Rep as a non executive member of the Board.......that at least would be a step forward and given it was the right person would surly help.
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It's not even who has been asked Jack but what is being sold to them, what vision, what motivation?
In effect pukka is telling us that we have had the same unsuccessful investment strategy for over a decade?
If you really want the investment you'd change or stick as it is and whine that only the odd cranks pop around (at a guess to see if they could get involved and make money from selling the ground - with it being the only visible incentive)
The current "investment strategy" is getting the community involved so lots and lots of people invest small amounts affordably.
The vision of selling ownership/ major shareholding would basically be,..........please give us all your money so we can spend it !
Both Jack and yourself seem to be placing your whole solution on someone wealthy investing, whether being sold a vision or not, when the evidence and history just dont support that being viable.
It seems to me that the strategy was working well until bad decisions derailed the plan. Who is to say the original community plan still cant work?
I accept it wont work unless we start winning games and get back out of the gluepot.
Telling the right story, in the right way, to the right people attracts money.
When the club accept this, or new leaders come in and are prepared to listen to this advice (the case studies don't lie), we will scratch around begging for money.
We're just scared.
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HAs anyone considered that all this public protestation and abuse of The Chairman, the Board, Certain volunteers etc may in fact serve as something of a stumbling block / deterrent to anyone considering involvement or investment?
Would you, having done due diligence on the Company and found it financially sound and overall a decent investment be inclined to get involved or invest having read the recent utterances?
Before anyone reminds me that it is the football side that counts I would merely reply that anyone with enough cash to make the sort of investment it is perceived is required has not got that money (or if inherited, kept it) without some degree of Business savvy
I speak only for myself, an Altrincham Fan of nigh on fifty years although longevity of support seemed irrelevant to some merely days ago.
How it can be decided whether anyone has or hasn't been abused depends, I assume, on how people define abuse. I do know that people consider themselves to have been abused solely because they hold a different view to the people who want a change of Chairman.
So far as I am concerned, my priority is right vis the survival of The Club I love and support.
I wonder how many of those advocating boycotts, walkouts etc, all of which will destabilise the Club can say the same?
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Exactly Jack.
Ian, we don't have ambition. We should be right into the people doing the Altair development or the new hotels in Alty telling them we'll have this a football league town for them by 2020 2025, pushing the club as Manchester's next football league club or Cheshire depending who you ask. Think of all those people like the Swales and White of yesteryear who now will never get close to owning or even having influence in city or united or Liverpool nowadays.
What do we push? Notwithstanding that the community work we do can also be excellent recruiting as that footprint is attractive to investors, that we can be a conference north club that runs a good community scheme, come on.
Mom league football has never been as trendy as it is now, we got over 2,000 for a home match v Salford City for gods sake! And still nothing?
Without that all you will get is chancers sniffing a ground sale, that I don't wish for!
But you at it off mate. In the meantime, we can only go one the fact the late great David Butns, god rest his soul, is the only director we've had from outside this century.
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I am aware of course that we do have some excellent local business men and women and benefactors who contribute without seeking any reward or fanfare, but I find it hard to believe they would not be equally as enthusiastic for this approaching
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It's not arrogance if you've got the ability to back it up.
If we could bottle Grahames or anybody at the clubs passion (even though his executions are poor) and sell it we'd be rolling in it
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If the protest group wants a change in leadership then be constructive.
What you require is an alternative that would benefit the club,.... otherwise the Chairman would be negligent in resigning if it left AFC with nobody capable of doing the huge amount of voluntary work needed and moving the club forward.
So far I havent seen a single positive suggestion. Ideal time for a Multi-millionaire Alty Fan to surface,.....
Just commenting like,... ::)
If you had read any correspondance from the protesting group, you would see that they are asking Mr Rowley to ANNOUNCE HIS INTENTION to stand down, and putting it out publically that we are welcoming people into the board and inviting people to announce they'd like to be chairman.
Whether Mr Rowley stays at the club after he steps down and continues in a voluntary role is up to him and the incoming chairman.
I reiterate, it is not up to us as fans to name names for a potential chairman. Nobody would put their name forward for a role that is, as yet, not vacant.
Believe it or not but the club has been looking for years for new blood to come in.I know many people think this isnt true but it is.
Do you really think anyone who is really and sincerely interested would wait before the chairman announced he would step down before making enquiries etc.
If a rich benefactor doesnt appear, which has never happened so far,... then the only alternative is more volunteers who have the club at heart, whether they know anything about appointing managers is another thing, however one could argue they couldnt do any worse,... but be careful what you wish for.
Ian,
Well, when I finally managed to blow out the myriad candles on my birthday cake back in November of 2015, I certainly didn't wish for two consecutive relegations and the football club to become a laughing stock!
Why are you advocating continuity at the top against a backdrop of colossal and ignominious failure by the current chairman?
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Quote from: Ladies Supporter on Today at 02:46:27 PM
I speak only for myself, an Altrincham Fan of nigh on fifty years although longevity of support seemed irrelevant to some merely days ago.
How it can be decided whether anyone has or hasn't been abused depends, I assume, on how people define abuse. I do know that people consider themselves to have been abused solely because they hold a different view to the people who want a change of Chairman.
So far as I am concerned, my priority is right vis the survival of The Club I love and support.
I wonder how many of those advocating boycotts, walkouts etc, all of which will destabilise the Club can say the same?
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Phil,
Please forgive my increasingly addled brain but I confess that I'm not quite sure what you are driving at regarding your observation that "longevity of support seemed irrelevant to some merely days ago."
As to your closing remarks, many of those disaffected younger supporters who walked out of last Saturday's fixture against Stalybridge Celtic may not have followed the Robins for the duration that that either you or I have, however what they have done is loyally paid to watch Altrincham FC games both home and away on a regular basis over many seasons (far more than you or I as regards away fixtures), so I'm rather disappointed that you should have the temerity to question either their love or support for the club.
I was proud to walk out alongside them.
As for the football club's survival, that's exactly what the dissidents are fighting for, as it has become moribund under the control of Grahame Rowley.
Do you sincerely believe that our current car wreck of a football club isn't already destabilised?
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HAs anyone considered that all this public protestation and abuse of The Chairman, the Board, Certain volunteers etc may in fact serve as something of a stumbling block / deterrent to anyone considering involvement or investment?
Would you, having done due diligence on the Company and found it financially sound and overall a decent investment be inclined to get involved or invest having read the recent utterances?
Before anyone reminds me that it is the football side that counts I would merely reply that anyone with enough cash to make the sort of investment it is perceived is required has not got that money (or if inherited, kept it) without some degree of Business savvy
I speak only for myself, an Altrincham Fan of nigh on fifty years although longevity of support seemed irrelevant to some merely days ago.
How it can be decided whether anyone has or hasn't been abused depends, I assume, on how people define abuse. I do know that people consider themselves to have been abused solely because they hold a different view to the people who want a change of Chairman.
So far as I am concerned, my priority is right vis the survival of The Club I love and support.
I wonder how many of those advocating boycotts, walkouts etc, all of which will destabilise the Club can say the same?
Clearly you do not understand what abuse is. Abuse is not having a different view. It could be cruel or violent treatment, neither of which have occurred.
Please do not be sensationalist or say things like this without backing it up.
In regards to public protestation, clearly someone may thrive on the chance to come into a well run scenario, make a difference and be the saviour.
I would argue this would be the best time for an external person to come in.
Also, a quick way to solve the issue of boycotts, walkouts and loss of revenue would be for the increasingly unpopular Chairman to step down. Thus, more supporters would be inclined to stay...
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If the protest group wants a change in leadership then be constructive.
What you require is an alternative that would benefit the club,.... otherwise the Chairman would be negligent in resigning if it left AFC with nobody capable of doing the huge amount of voluntary work needed and moving the club forward.
So far I havent seen a single positive suggestion. Ideal time for a Multi-millionaire Alty Fan to surface,.....
Just commenting like,... ::)
If you had read any correspondance from the protesting group, you would see that they are asking Mr Rowley to ANNOUNCE HIS INTENTION to stand down, and putting it out publically that we are welcoming people into the board and inviting people to announce they'd like to be chairman. Whether Mr Rowley stays at the club after he steps down and continues in a voluntary role is up to him and the incoming chairman.
I reiterate, it is not up to us as fans to name names for a potential chairman. Nobody would put their name forward for a role that is, as yet, not vacant.
Believe it or not but the club has been looking for years for new blood to come in.I know many people think this isnt true but it is.
Do you really think anyone who is really and sincerely interested would wait before the chairman announced he would step down before making enquiries etc.
If rich benefactor doesnt appear, which has never happened so far,... then the only alternative is more volunteers who have the club at heart, whether they know anything about appointing managers is another thing, however one could argue they couldnt do any worse,... but be careful what you wish for.
Ian,
Well, when I finally managed to blow out the myriad candles on my birthday cake back in November of 2015, I certainly didn't wish for two consecutive relegations and the football club to become a laughing stock!
Why are you advocating continuity at the top against a backdrop of colossal and ignominious failure by the current chairman?
Barry, You clearly havent read my posts carefully enough, (particularly you being a wordsmith), I find that surprising. Where am I advocating continuity? Ian
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If the protest group wants a change in leadership then be constructive.
What you require is an alternative that would benefit the club,.... otherwise the Chairman would be negligent in resigning if it left AFC with nobody capable of doing the huge amount of voluntary work needed and moving the club forward.
So far I havent seen a single positive suggestion. Ideal time for a Multi-millionaire Alty Fan to surface,.....
Just commenting like,... ::)
If you had read any correspondance from the protesting group, you would see that they are asking Mr Rowley to ANNOUNCE HIS INTENTION to stand down, and putting it out publically that we are welcoming people into the board and inviting people to announce they'd like to be chairman. Whether Mr Rowley stays at the club after he steps down and continues in a voluntary role is up to him and the incoming chairman.
I reiterate, it is not up to us as fans to name names for a potential chairman. Nobody would put their name forward for a role that is, as yet, not vacant.
Believe it or not but the club has been looking for years for new blood to come in.I know many people think this isnt true but it is.
Do you really think anyone who is really and sincerely interested would wait before the chairman announced he would step down before making enquiries etc.
If rich benefactor doesnt appear, which has never happened so far,... then the only alternative is more volunteers who have the club at heart, whether they know anything about appointing managers is another thing, however one could argue they couldnt do any worse,... but be careful what you wish for.
Ian,
Well, when I finally managed to blow out the myriad candles on my birthday cake back in November of 2015, I certainly didn't wish for two consecutive relegations and the football club to become a laughing stock!
Why are you advocating continuity at the top against a backdrop of colossal and ignominious failure by the current chairman?
Barry, You clearly havent read my posts carefully enough, (particularly you being a wordsmith), I find that surprising. Where am I advocating continuity? Ian
Ian - As a man who always appears to have a particular interest in the subject of investment perhaps you would be willing to help the fans group? You seem to be on the same page as us in terms of the need to attract new investment into the club.
Your experience gained from the 3 weeks you spent on the board back in the mid 90s could be invaluable.
The previous strategy of sitting on our hands and waiting for investment to arrive doesn't appear to have worked. What is being proposed is a high profile public appeal by the board for new investment into the football club (alongside a share issue). By that we mean actually going out and asking people, and inviting people to come forward. Publicly. It's 2017. That doesn't have to involve a £10k advert in the FT anymore (a previous concern of the board). There is more than one way to skin a cat and we shouldn't underestimate the role that the print media, the Internet, or social media could play in this.
Perhaps this is a discussion you would be willing to facilitate with Grahame Rowley?
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Time to go
Only saiid with half a tongue in cheek but perhaps you have suggested the cusp of an idea. If the supporters are fed up with the performance of the Chairman and the Board perhaps you create a parallel structure. You could elect a Parallel Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Twitter rep, PR rep etc and do things like trying to attract investment, communicate better than the half hearted efforts of the club etc. It might even get a bit of publicity and you may attract more interest and investment when the current lot might not really have their heart in being usurped.
Stranger things have happened. I don't think you will get away with advertising and interviewing for the manager however, so probably another of my dumb ideas.
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If the protest group wants a change in leadership then be constructive.
What you require is an alternative that would benefit the club,.... otherwise the Chairman would be negligent in resigning if it left AFC with nobody capable of doing the huge amount of voluntary work needed and moving the club forward.
So far I havent seen a single positive suggestion. Ideal time for a Multi-millionaire Alty Fan to surface,.....
Just commenting like,... ::)
If you had read any correspondance from the protesting group, you would see that they are asking Mr Rowley to ANNOUNCE HIS INTENTION to stand down, and putting it out publically that we are welcoming people into the board and inviting people to announce they'd like to be chairman. Whether Mr Rowley stays at the club after he steps down and continues in a voluntary role is up to him and the incoming chairman.
I reiterate, it is not up to us as fans to name names for a potential chairman. Nobody would put their name forward for a role that is, as yet, not vacant.
Believe it or not but the club has been looking for years for new blood to come in.I know many people think this isnt true but it is.
Do you really think anyone who is really and sincerely interested would wait before the chairman announced he would step down before making enquiries etc.
If rich benefactor doesnt appear, which has never happened so far,... then the only alternative is more volunteers who have the club at heart, whether they know anything about appointing managers is another thing, however one could argue they couldnt do any worse,... but be careful what you wish for.
Ian,
Well, when I finally managed to blow out the myriad candles on my birthday cake back in November of 2015, I certainly didn't wish for two consecutive relegations and the football club to become a laughing stock!
Why are you advocating continuity at the top against a backdrop of colossal and ignominious failure by the current chairman?
Barry, You clearly havent read my posts carefully enough, (particularly you being a wordsmith), I find that surprising. Where am I advocating continuity? Ian
Ian,
I arrived at that conclusion owing to your use of the dispiriting phrase: "be careful what you wish for", that dreaded mantra which I've heard uttered ad nauseam by those who seek to preserve the current (misfiring) status quo at the club.
Apologies if I incorrectly associated you with those apologists for the reigning chairman.
Should you genuinely wish to facilitate change at the top, I'd be delighted to welcome you into the ranks of the "angry minority" and thereby swell our numbers to 30....
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Barry
My concern is simple, there is no obvious alternative at present.
Even the angry minority cant think of one,..... it seems many just think as soon as GR goes someone with loads of money, and/or nouse will magically appear to run the club.
I agree it would be wonderful if it did though, never needed anything so much.
I do like Jacks suggestion of a major PR/charm campaign to the business community and local richlist, however there are several factors that seem to work against us;
1. We dont own the ground, only a very philanthropic Alty Fan or a madman would invest in the club now.
2. We have received huge amounts of grant aid that would have to be repaid if we stopped meeting the terms of the aid (community use).
3. The finances will be a fraction of what we have earnt,... next year in the gluestick.
4. The clubs hardcore support are turning their backs, so the angry minority are potentially putting new investors off.
My greatest concern is if this plight precipitates the complete collapse of the club and financial ruin and eventually it folding.
A very worried fan who, i'd like to think, does see the whole picture btw.
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Barry
My concern is simple, there is no obvious alternative at present.
Even the angry minority cant think of one,..... it seems many just think as soon as GR goes someone with loads of money, and/or nouse will magically appear to run the club.
I agree it would be wonderful if it did though, never needed anything so much.
I do like Jacks suggestion of a major PR/charm campaign to the business community and local richlist, however there are several factors that seem to work against us;
1. We dont own the ground, only a very philanthropic Alty Fan or a madman would invest in the club now.
2. We have received huge amounts of grant aid that would have to be repaid if we stopped meeting the terms of the aid (community use).
3. The finances will be a fraction of what we have earnt,... next year in the gluestick.
4. The clubs hardcore support are turning their backs, so the angry minority are potentially putting new investors off.
My greatest concern is if this plight precipitates the complete collapse of the club and financial ruin and eventually it folding.
A very worried fan who, i'd like to think, does see the whole picture btw.
Your thinking appears to be clouded by the assumption that anyone would only get involved with the football club if they had a chance of getting their hands on the ground? And we actually think the off-field activities make us a more attractive proposition for other people to come forward, not less as you (bizarrely) appear to be suggesting.
I don't recall any similar public appeal being made over the past 20 years? We've spent most of that time playing the martyr while trying to run the football club on raffles and coffee mornings, and look where it's got us. The lowest point in the club's history.
Now is the time to get together and work jointly on a high profile appeal, to force a share issue, to get the football club back to where it belongs, and to give the community what it wants from its local football club.
What better legacy could there possibly be for the likes of Grahame Rowley and yourself.
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I think points 1,3 and 4 can be dealt with easily enough, particularly point 4.
I'm not sure I even want to go there with point two...
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What continues to distress me on this site is the response received by anyone who has a counter view. Pukkapieman made some interesting points, not at all in an aggressive way but they were points that most intelligent people should at least consider before rejecting or before replying with a logical rebuttal.. However several on the site seem to have a gut reaction to insult, call the person the vilest names they can muster and act like headless chickens.
Only a total fool would not understand that if the present regime go without a known replacement being in situ that the club could face the possibility of a financial disaster, as has happened to many other clubs. I totally agree that Rowley has been a total failure as far as the footballing side of Alty is concerned and even he must accept that unarguable fact. As such I believe he should definitely be replaced but only in an orderly way that ensures the future of the football club is protected.
Whenever anyone says 'hey guys' we must do things with some thought, they get attacked by several of the posters and they are usually the ones that usually do not have a record of posting anything constructive.
I suspect we all know who they are, apart from themselves.
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Would the club simply end if GR resigned?
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Yes the world would stop turning
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I only ask because there are still people who post on here who are under the impression that Altrincham FC will cease to exist if GR is not chairman. It doesn't seem terribly likely to me either tbh, but there you go...
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Brian
You are hopefully right but the point I was trying to make is that when people try and debate it and understand the implications they are immediately set upon and no meaningful debate or knowledge is secured.
Can you perhaps enlighten me.
1) What is the share structure of the club?
2) Who are the major shareholders?
3) What are the mechanisms if the major shareholders want to withdraw and retrieve their investment?
4) Are there any major debtors? Who?
5) What effect would there be if some of the major sponsors pulled out due to their support for the present regime?
6) Under what circumstances would Grant Aid be repayable?
These questions are not asked because I for one moment want Mr Rowley to remain but that in the best interests of our football club, I think it prudent to know ALL the possible consequences of any acrimonious withdrawal.
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How can Rowley remaining be in the best interest of the club when he is totally clueless as a director. He is not a major investor or shareholder but behaves like GOD
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Glad to note your points. What level of shareholding and investment does Rowley have?
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Glad to note your points. What level of shareholding and investment does Rowley have?
He's our third biggest, but not a majority.
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What continues to distress me on this site is the response received by anyone who has a counter view. Pukkapieman made some interesting points, not at all in an aggressive way but they were points that most intelligent people should at least consider before rejecting or before replying with a logical rebuttal.. However several on the site seem to have a gut reaction to insult, call the person the vilest names they can muster and act like headless chickens.
Only a total fool would not understand that if the present regime go without a known replacement being in situ that the club could face the possibility of a financial disaster, as has happened to many other clubs. I totally agree that Rowley has been a total failure as far as the footballing side of Alty is concerned and even he must accept that unarguable fact. As such I believe he should definitely be replaced but only in an orderly way that ensures the future of the football club is protected.
Whenever anyone says 'hey guys' we must do things with some thought, they get attacked by several of the posters and they are usually the ones that usually do not have a record of posting anything constructive.
I suspect we all know who they are, apart from themselves.
Who says I have a counter view?
All I am pointing out are the potential realities if GR just walked away without an alternative plan in place.
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He doesn't strictly need to walk away. Stepping aside as the public face of the club would possibly be enough for now in many peoples' eyes.
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had he stepped aside a few weeks ago and become community director we'd all be pulling together now, twittergate would not have happened and we'd be talking football.....next season etc etc...
Do the right thing please Grahame, preserve your legacy.....this is destroying my club and you have no right to do that out of ego.