Supporters' Director - Should it continue?

Henry Irving

I posted this on another thread but to bring it to more people's attention.


The other directors will have their views on should the Supporters' Director continue or not and they will have the final say but what do you all think.

I think part of the problem is that the role is not defined. Is it to communicate, to be a sort of omsbundmand (sp?), to be a voice on the board, to be a voice of the board or something else entirely

I think there is a certain amount of postive publicity from being able to say "we're open and listen so much we have a fan elected on to the board" but there is also an arguement to say that it has had it's time and why should the board risk getting someone who isn't as wonderful as the previous incumbents. That's a joke but would the board want just anyone there? Does there need to be a more thorough selection process and a "job" description.

My time is up at the end of this season and I don't want to continue as I don't think it's good for one person to stay too long and because I was elected for two years only. I do think there is an arguement that 2 years is not enough and maybe it should be three for future SDs

I can feel another article coming on but what do people think. Take the personalities out of it and whether I've done a good or crap job. Is there a role for a SD in the future and if so what should it be?

Charlton Dan

Sorry Fan's what?

WSS

I'd say no but then people would just moan that the board doesnt have a real link with the fans.

We'll need a nigerian speaking one next year as well.

Barn Door Varney

Without seeing results it is hard to judge whether there is any point or not.

As you say it's good PR for the club to say it has a fan on the board but is that all it is, PR?

I'm not knocking you or anyone else that has done the job, it seems a pretty thankless task, but it would be good to see some examples where the SD has brought about change.

Charlton Dan

If there were some sort of tangible job description given to the SD that the fans were aware of then yes. However, as it is no one is sure what responsibility he / she has. This might be where all the flak comes from.

Overall I'd say yes though. Cos I think its good for us to have one of ours on the board

Sco

Perhaps the title is a little grandiose. I'd like to see the average fan's opinion represented in the boardroom, but know that it's influence would be limited.

I'd hope that the board would like to gauge our opinions as well - it makes good business sense.

They could just check forums such as these, but then it is not a focused source for opinion. When issues arise, having them represented is important.

I think it should be move of alternative route to contacting the club rather than the first port of call. There are people paid to answer a majority of the queries.

StanmoreAddick

I too say yes- It's something that demonstrates the undeniable link between the fans and the club, and part of our recent tradition

I think the role is unlikely to ever publically get a "tangible job description" but behind the scenes, i'm sure that, if the FD ( whether past present, or future) gives sensible ideas, both formally and informally, then they're opinion will be sought and valued, like in any management organisation.

oohaahmortimer

any volunteers to take over when henry steps down..........surely no one's mad enough;-)

Charlton Dan

[cite]Posted By: oohaahmortimer[/cite]any volunteers to take over when henry steps down..........surely no one's mad enough;-)

I'll do it.... And if that c**t Varney tries anything...Well ;-)

Sco

I vote Westside - I think I know how he'd represent us on the boardroom table ;0)

ShootersHillGuru

Obviously Henry knows what he`s talking about on this one but I guess most people would view the demise of the Supporters Director as being a step backwards. Perhaps its a good idea to continue if for no other reason that we are all pretty much in the dark over potential changes at board level over the coming months what with the speculation about new investment / takeover etc. We might need a good strong voice if things don`t go as well as we all hope ? Just a thought !

F-Blocker

I think the role should continue, but be re-classified as "Supporters' Representative" - Director implies some sort of power and influence which, I think, is why Henry's getting a load of "sort this - fix that" aggro.

"Representative" carries a bit more of an informal air but would still allow input at board level etc.

falconwood_1

It is good PR for the club (and there's not a lot of that about after the way they dealt with the Ladies team and the Dowie court case).

I don't see there being a need for a link between 'fans' and the board anymore.

When you are told that to hang a flag up at your own ground that it has to be treated for fire resistancy I sort of lose the will to live really.....

Henry Irving

[cite]Posted By: Barn Door Lisbie[/cite]Without seeing results it is hard to judge whether there is any point or not.

As you say it's good PR for the club to say it has a fan on the board but is that all it is, PR?

I'm not knocking you or anyone else that has done the job, it seems a pretty thankless task, but it would be good to see some examples where the SD has brought about change.

Not ignoring you but I'd rather not answer this right now in this thread. I'm interested to hear what others have to say as I have an obvious bias towards it continuing and me saying what I think I or the other SDs have done would queer the slant of the thread perhaps.

LenGlover

Don't beat yourself up over this Ben.

I drew an analogy on the other thread with the role of parent elected governor at a school, a role I had experience of. Parents have vastly differing opinions on how children should be brought up and what should happen in the school environment. For example some parents think children shouldn't be given homework whereas others consider that they should. What should the parent elected governor say and do in such a situation? In my opinion you are a representative not a delegate (how could you be a delegate when opinion is divided?) so you canvass as broadly as you can, make a value judgement based on all the information available and act accordingly.

As long as you have carried out the process with integrity and fully communicated the reasons for reaching the conclusion that you did reasonable people can ask no more of you, even if they disagree with your eventual viewpoint.

So it is with your role, particularly this radio thing today. I certainly was not aware before today that radio rights are subject to football league interference. You've made us aware of that fact and also that the Club have come to a decision based on commercial benefit and benefit to the greatest number of fans. What more can you reasonably be expected to do?

I consider that there is a role for a supporters director although perhaps his / her remit should be more clearly drawn and communicated mainly to stop the kind of aggro you've gone through of late. I don't blame Tel, Lee or anybody else because I think there is a genuine ignorance amongst the majority of fans as to what you can (and cannot) do in the role.

Cynics might argue that the Board likes it that way as it deflects some of the flack from them to the present incumbent. I don't hold with that view as the Board has been very fan friendly over the past fifteen years or so.

Ben won't thank me for this but as he has been accused of not responding to e mails I can categorically state that I had cause to raise a matter with him and he acted within 24 hours to resolve the matter. I'm not a member of the official supporters club branches or any "clique" I'm just an ordinary fan.

So my conclusion after all the rubbish above is keep the role but educate fans as to the scope of it.

LenGlover

[cite]Posted By: falconwood_1[/cite]It is good PR for the club (and there's not a lot of that about after the way they dealt with the Ladies team and the Dowie court case).

I don't see there being a need for a link between 'fans' and the board anymore.

When you are told that to hang a flag up at your own ground that it has to be treated for fire resistancy I sort of lose the will to live really.....

I know where you are coming from but isn't that the fault of the Government (over officious health and safety bollox) rather than the Club?

I think that is part of the problem. A lot of things (smoking, standing etc) that wind people up are out of the Club's control.

Airman Brown

Most fans don't know what the supporters' director does - but then again in my experience the average citizen has very little grasp of what their local councillor does or is allowed to do, but that isn't an argument for abolishing elected councillors. It's an argument for engaging and educating the public.

At worst the elected director's position is window dressing, but you aren't going to improve the link between the club and fans by getting rid of it unless you replace it with something better. I think there ought to be more representation, not less.

LoOkOuT

Hear, hear

Charlton Dan

I think the common denominator here is that the SD / FD / FR ,or whatever it is called is, in principle, a good idea. Its just that we, the fans, tend not to know what power and responsibility that position comes with.

Perhaps a clearer mandate is the answer. Ben?

northstandsteve

The role had more significance when dare I say it we were a smaller club.The trouble is back in it's infancy there was a closeness between the board and the fans which is no longer the case.The club has grown so much that it seems dare i say it the board no longer have to rely and maintain a relationship with the hardcore 5000 die hards.However following relegation it may be something they have to re think.This is not a slur on the current board just a realistic view of how football and charlton have progressed over the past 10 years.

Charlton Dan

[cite]Posted By: northstandsteve[/cite]The role had more significance when dare I say it we were a smaller club.The trouble is back in it's infancy there was a closeness between the board and the fans which is no longer the case.The club has grown so much that it seems dare i say it the board no longer have to rely and maintain a relationship with the hardcore 5000 die hards.However following relegation it may be something they have to re think.This is not a slur on the current board just a realistic view of how football and charlton have progressed over the past 10 years.

Good point

letthegoodtimesroll

the sd role is a pretty important one in my book...lets not forget that in every football club, charlton included (though we seem to have been blessed with the current lot but for how much longer we now have to question) there are two sides with different agendas...on the one side there are the owners and on the other side there are the fans...this is an explosive mix and its the sd's job to act as go between and peace maker...and if the fans haven't been telling the owners to fck off after last season when we had 3 managers and a relegation and the last couple under curbs whe the football was dire then the sd must have been doing a pretty good job...

Badger

It think it's healthy,it should continue and we need more representation, Just look back and see what has happened over the years to our club.

We have something to be proud of and i think the board WHO are also fans recognise this as well,how many other clubs give supporters the same oppurtunity.

Let's not forget the Back to the Valley campaign,the target 10k and the understanding we have with the club.

How many times are we quoted as being that great "CLUB" with great supporters and and so on, a SD might not get everything right all of the time but how many peeps from this forum would be able to give up free time to represent our views,It's very time consuming.

That's my 2 peenorth, well done H.

kigelia

I think it is great that the fans have a representative on the board. The analogy to a school governor made earlier is exactly how I see the role.

The problem with that is that people expect the SD's to be 'one of us' and it is always going to be difficult to be a member of the board and a member of the rank and file support. Making clear what the role entails will help, but to be frank about it, those who moan about not getting their way (which is what it boils down to most of the time) are not likely to pay attention if told that the SD's role is not to fight every little battle for them.

Having a fan able to join in with the strategic decisions that affect the club is a fantastic thing and long may it continue.

Imissthepeanutman

I think all true CAFC Directors should be fans representatives on the Board. I think even if you have a Supporters Director its unlikely/unrealistic to expect that Director to be given much power or influence when that individual has no financial status with the club compared to the fellow directors who may have injected millions. So we just have to get real. Its all very 'nice' but not much more than that. I doubt we can better Henry in the role. To combine a career/family and CAFC SD is one hell of a task. To then be all things to all men, fellow directors and supporters, is just not on as has been witnessed by some of the other threads. So although I originally thought it was a good idea I no longer think so and would rather the club take on the responsibilities of dealing with fans interests broadly with specific allocations of responsibilities to Directors and Executives through traditional channels rather than through one individual. If the Directors are unsure how the fans feel forums like this one will give them a good idea.

leftbehind

I say yes why not it does no harm even if the fans dont get much out of it.

Gives the person a insight into the club and the runnings.

Does no harm

northstandsteve

right that sit then,im standing for election who's votin 4 me.

leftbehind

[quote][cite]Posted By: northstandsteve[/cite]right that sit then,im standing for election who's votin 4 me.[/quote]

Cross my palm with gold and i may

northstandsteve

im only joshin not a cats in hells,all the abuse,im surprised ben aint topped himself.

leftbehind

Not a job i would do either

Ketman

In a word YES