Cork City "BOARD"

**Snatch** · 10/09/2001, 3:31 PM

Lots of interesting statements here.
To be fair to the board most of us don't actually know what level of interest each of them have in the welfare of our club. I presume that when they rescued the club from liquidation that they had benevolent intentions for the future of the club.
However I do firmly believe that they should come before the supporters' club regularly both to listen to the concerns of the fans and to inform us of their short and long term intentions for the club.
Such events would ensure that fans don't feel agrieved and also give the Board a chance to express their opinions.

I also think that a regular article by the board in the programme addressing serious club issues would be most beneficial.

**rebel yell** · 10/09/2001, 8:29 PM

Adam I agree it would take strong character to stand up to any football board. They might laugh but if the protesters are reflecting the fans discontent, it is actually the board who will end up the laughing stock. There are a couple of points to be considered. Firstly this board is already driving away supporters, just look at the attendance at the X this season. What will they do if the hardcore turn against them? They'll only have themselves to laugh at. Secondly could they afford the bad publicity demonstrations would bring? Thirdly look at Strachan at
Coventry- fan power got him ousted even though their directors had backed him financially. Fourthly. You can't treat your customers with contempt. Look at Gerald Ratner who called his jewellery in his shops crap which reflected on his customers who
deserted a century old name. The club are treating the fans with disdain, where is our Flancare? Finally I have only suggested a few methods although highly visible ones. The supporters could
even organise a petition on this site and e-mail Gerry Desmond
who seems a fair-minded person to pass our concerns onto the club. If these are ignored well then their respect for us fans will be
highlighted for what it is. And finally no-one seems to be arguing
about the diagnosis only the treatment. The club is sick at heart
and no amount of an ostrich mentality will make that go away.
We could all bury our heads in the sands and hope things are better when we get our heads out, but it will be no thanks to us.
Think about it- our Roll Of Shame in Cork. Cork Hibs , Cork Celtic
Cork Alberts, Cork Utd all driven into the ground because those who supported them up to a point let those in charge get away with murder. Are we seeing history revisited?

**Snatch** · 11/09/2001, 9:15 AM

Point well made by rebel yell. It is indeed the role of every good supporter to voice their concerns when we feel the club is being run poorly. But first things first, we must find out the true state of affairs regarding the board. A questions and answers meeting between the board and concerned supporters should be organised for the benefit of both parties and the Club itself.

A special artical on the event should then be published in the programme and on relevant web-sites

**pete** · 11/09/2001, 10:12 AM

Whatever happens a clear distinction should be made between City on & off the pitch!

Any protest or whatever is going to be seen as supporters moaning about the position in the league table to which the Board shall see the solution as a couple of wins & move up the table = end of protests.......

Leonard · 11/09/2001, 10:42 AM

If we have filters to cut out bad language, why can't we have filters to cut out **** like that written by S�Ccfc. What an idiot. The board have invested nothing in this club. All this club is at the moment is a few jerseys and a couple of contracts. The club has no permanent home, no shop, not even a reliable contact address (anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with Noel O'Mahoney will know what I mean).
As for Cork fans being "fickle" - easy mistake to make - if you're an idiot. The patience of City fans has been stretched to the limit the past few seasons. It's hard not to be fickle when you can't even find out where the pre-season friendlies are being held. Much as I hate the GAA, at least they know how to market themselves and keep their fans. Instead, we are ignored and OUR money that WE pay at the gate disappears down some tax loophole and into someone's back pocket in dirty fivers.
We are being conned. Don't know about the retarded goldfish on this site, but I don't particularly like being conned and shat on by crooks.
Time to sort it out.

**S�C** · 11/09/2001, 9:51 PM

Thus proving my poit about fickle Cork football fans, you turn o one of yourow who expresses an opinion that is not your just as quick as you turn on the team.
Read the program, Board are investing in the Stadium.
I take execption to your childish antics, no wonder we cant get fans in the door when we have cynical fans like yourself, cant handle a view different you your own, shame that.

**rebel yell** · 11/09/2001, 10:35 PM

STCFC. Can I correct u on one point at least? I and others on this site IMO are not disgruntled just because the results are poor. In fact if you read back thru the posts you'll see the criticism began even before the season. A 3-1 win over Pats is a good result but
City's problems go much deeper. Shels will probably expose this I feel but it still isn't about one or two matches. We're p1sh and unless we get Gerry Mccabe in, we're doomed. But as i have oft
repeated IMO it's off the pitch where our problems lie.
Gunther [COLOR=red]Red Card NOW!!!!![/COLOR]

**pete** · 12/09/2001, 9:48 AM

Read the program, Board are investing in the Stadium.

I believe almost all the monies for this are grants of some form or other + profits from the club lotto?

The question really should be what happened to the money when the club average 5000 a game a couple of seasons ago? We appear to be able to survive on 1000-1500 gates now just about & i doubr the costs are much less now than the great 'nearly ' season?

Leonard · 12/09/2001, 10:24 AM

I take exception to your views on Cork City FC Soccfc. I really do find it hard to believe that some fans still can't see what this board have done to the club over the past few seasons (unless you're someone lower down than a fan at City, such as a board member).
You are right on one point - I have difficulty in people having different points of view to mine, especially when that person is some snotty kid who still believes in the tooth fairy, so stop wasting everyone's time and go to school or something.

**JC_GUFC** · 12/09/2001, 12:05 PM

Jesus this thread is so like all the debates going on at Galway United at the minute it's scary.

I think everyone's in agreement that all fans want is a bit of respect. Last season some fans worked tirelessly selling lotto tickets and the like only to be told that they should be selling more.

Clubs need to realise that it's not fans' duty to do these things and anyone who is prepared to help the club should be thanked.

I went to ask our chairman for a ticket to Ireland v Holland, he said no so I asked whether it would be right to expect that tickets given to Galway United should be given to people who travelled to support the club in Gortakeegan against Monaghan United (no directors turned up for that game) so he then asked me "Who are you that I have to answer to you?"

We've set up a Supporters' Trust in Galway United but now it seems that they're not going to co-operate with us unless people (ie me and another guy) stop posting messages about them on the internet.

So in other words they just want it as it was last year when the Supporters Club did all the work for them and they take our money.

The good thing about the Trust is that they need us more than we need them - if they don't get involved we can raise funds and then spend it our own way, eg by buying a plot of land which could be handed over to the club if they agree to our demands.

CU
JC

P.S. I should also add that the club has not produced accounts for the last 5 years.

**pete** · 12/09/2001, 3:31 PM

Galwaay JC,

Does the Trust have a piece so to speak of Galway like say an owner of the club?

What exactely is the Trusts role thats any different from a supporters club?

Seems like Longford (Bulgarian travel arrangements excepted) are maybe the only well run club at the moment?

**JC_GUFC** · 12/09/2001, 4:39 PM

at the moment no.

The Trust has listed 5 main aims which is wishes to achieve.

1. To ensure the longterm future of Galway United.

2. To get meaningful representation for the fans on the board of Galway United.

3. To make the club fully accountable to its supporters.

4. To ensure the club reaches the highest levels of business management.

5. To develop youth & community relations within Galway City & County.

The Trust will not hand over any money to Galway United football club until we are satisfied that these 5 aims can and will be achieved.

Previously our Supporters Club just handed over money to the directors without knowing how it was being spent - indeed last season Galway United received 2 grants totalling about �60,000 but no-one knows where the money went.

The Supporters Club also did have a member on the board of directors but given that he didn't hear anything about Don O'Riordan's sacking until Don himself told him indicates that it was not meaningful!

CU
JC

**rebel yell** · 12/09/2001, 6:15 PM

Wise words there JC. U also seem to have a vision and a purpose
which makes u unfit for membership of our respective boards.
U epitomise what is sadly lacking in our clubs. No wonder u are
villified! Galway Utd have suffered from the same sort of shorttermism as has plagued us for years.

Every revolution was first a thought in one man's mind and when that thought occurs in another man, it is the key to that era.
Emerson 1841

**�anna** · 13/09/2001, 10:40 PM

To be honest, i know i've been a massive critic of the board in previous times, but i think things are on the up. The attitude and behaviour of certain members of the board has illustrated a willingness to listen to and interact with supporters that has been sadly lacking. I don't think the current board will ever be the visionarys many of us would want them to be, but they have shown- in recent months- a more approachable attitude.
I can't see anyone wanting to buythe club right now, i mean we must be regarded as the most ungrateful and grumpy lot of fans in the country! I would love to buy the club in the morning, but i cant! Many others feel the same. I think it's a case of working with what you've got. Rather than antagonise the board by abusing them, attempt to accomodate them and get the best from them. Some of them are willing to talk to fans and be reasonable- others aren't certainly- but we have to deal with reality rather than wishing for things that are extremely unlikely.
That said, thing have a long way to go.