Following on from the "Write to Katrien" thread I felt that there needs to be a purpose to such a campaign, one that isn't just counter productive abuse as seen from a few on that thread but which aims to achieve something, however limited and unsatisfactory that might be to many. But it is has to be something concrete and measurable, something to aim for.
Many will say that "we just want them out" which is a legitimate view but not likely to encourage compromise or communication.
It also has to be something which can been seen and which, if it takes off, becomes harder and harder for Katrien, Roland and the media to ignore or claim they are unaware of.
And it needs to be something that most fans can buy into and join in with without violence or missing games
So here goes.
Spell it out in Black and White
The aims are:
- That by the end of the current season the board spell out exactly and with time frames and budgets what the business plan is for Charlton Athletic
- That by the end of the current season the club opens meaningful and two way dialogue with fans through public meetings attended by board members, regular articles on the clubs OS and any other avenues they choose.
- That the club immediately bring in and follows a policy of 100% response to all non-abusive letters and emails from fans and that the club publishes a list of senior managers with their emails so fans can contact the correct person directly.
- That the club create, by March 2016, and publicly invite membership from the fan base for a marketing working group to work towards having 20,000 gates at the Valley on a regular basis.
Why Spell it out in Black and White. The colours are part of our club colours and we won the FA Cup in white shirts and black shorts. They, of course, are also the colours of printed text.
The message to the club is "spell it out in Black and White" ie what are you doing and why.
Fans can show their support by wearing black and white badges, shirts, scarves (ala Man Utd fans yellow and green scarves), banners and this will be a visible display that can be seen in the stands, on the sofa and elsewhere. Change your icon on here or facebook if you want
It's a simple message that can be repeated to Katrien, to Roland and other staff "Please spell it out in black and white"
Fellow fans, feel free to laugh, to ridicule, to ignore, to say it is too much, too little or too late but it is something.
Over to all of you
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Comments
Something needs to be done.
Soon there will be a mob outside the West Stand similar to the Blackpool scenario.
This is a start and something that everyone can get behind.
Maybe a banner at the top of the forum as well, with the slogan written on? Was it @Stig that was good at that sort of thing? Could be wrong.
While this is all so fresh with last nights debacle, this is going to be one of the best times to get everybody on board.
I wrote a post recently saying that I was very indifferent about the current board. Bollocks to that, they're not doing well enough.
Something needs to change, desperately.
People will say that it's pointless, the owners don't care and won't change. Well, if we do nothing and just sit back and watch then of course that's going to happen. At least go down trying!
Maybe CAST could kick things off by sending some black and white scarves to its members for winter?
The only way it will work though is if it s properly visible. Scarves, t shirts etc will all need to be made, which will lead to people feeling like more of a 'group', which in turn will lead to more songs, protests etc.
The next match I have a spare ticket for and can attend is the Bolton match. My non attendance is my protest but I will have something black and white that day.
Since the turn of the year the group has been more successful in knowing when to take a back seat, proved it can successfully organise and facilitate balanced evenings without become a hate-ridden pitchfork affair, and shown as pretty much the driving force behind the Olympic Stadium pressure that it can carry out impressive campaigning in a diligent way.
I don't want the Club to ignore them any more. I want the Club to be screaming out to them 'help us'. Help us get this club back on track. Help us understand and act upon why fans of 20/30/40/50 years are now becoming so indifferent, detached and unconnected that they are walking away from maintaining the weekly rituals they have carried all their lives. Help us before this club slowly dies in its current form.
And not just through CAST, but that would be a start for me in purposely showing that they accept that 'its Roland's way, or the highway' is quite possibly the single most destroying thing that can be done by running a Club half-heartedly from a distance.
And i want Roland here on Saturday. Have some balls man and don't let your unqualified employee have to front it all.
If we do this we should set up social media accounts specifically for this too.
What it lacks for one is a punchline. What happens when they don't?
Or what happens when the plan they reveal is rubbish?
I think appeasement has had its day with them.
Just don't go to games until they sell and actively seek new owners as we use every means possible to ridicule and hurt them.
Would you buy a Football Club if you saw empty seats and barely anyone attending... Would you buy a club if you always have to answer to people (Based on the fact that you've built your money, listening to your gut rather than to other people?).
If I was one of those rare millionaires in the world I'd be asking myself:
- Who are these people to tell me what to do with my money (If they believe that by having a Season Ticket they have the right to tell me what to do, I'll just fork out an extra £400 per year for one myself)
- If no one attends these matches it must mean that the club has very few supporters so I'm not going to make any money from selling tickets
Sprouts out
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Traditional-Sports-Club-Team-Scarf-Football-Hockey-School-University-Supporter-/281062953056?var=580178864472&hash=item4170a85060:m:mZxMrtR6w0YpVpk4lvZSupg
( no i don't know the seller !)
Count me in.
Have to consult on the detail of my business plan so the fans can feel involved? No.