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Post by jamo on Apr 30, 2016 19:22:46 GMT 1
Plenty of talk around Mellon departing the club, maybe he will, maybe he won't, and that will continue in the coming days. I'm in the camp of hoping he stays but fully understand the counter argument.
The real debate of course lies elsewhere about the future of our club.
I genuinely think the club now stands at a crossroads, if we take the route with the current chairman still in control then we are quite frankly only putting off the inevitable, take a different route and there is some hope that we can stabilise and hopefully develop and prosper.
Potentially this is as big a defining moment for our club as any in my 50 odd years going to watch them play.
Make no no bones about it- despite us on paper looking a stable and well run club- this whole football club is in a spiral of negativity and decline and that solely rests at the chairmans door. He is killing this club pure and simple, through his management, ambition and leadership. His ego, temperament and stubbornness are very, very serious obstacles to us achieving stability and prosperity and will without any doubt lead us into an era of decline, possibly irretrievable decline.
Without doubt we owe this man a huge thank you, cometh the hour then he was undoubtedly the man, he stabilised and steered us into safe waters and delivered the new ground with zero debts. But that was then and this is now and any goodwill and support from that time has long disappeared. Everyone I now speak to regarding the football club speaks of the same thing, go and go now. Were he to do this then he has the chance to leave with his reputation still intact, under his own terms and with some dignity and self respect.
I get the view that people have simply had enough of him and his chairmanship and the sooner he leaves the sooner this club - on and off the field- can get on with becoming the all inclusive, community and supporter focused club it should be, but never, ever will be with him at the helm.
Just go and go quickly.
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salopstan
Midland League Division Two
Posts: 122
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Post by salopstan on Apr 30, 2016 19:35:07 GMT 1
Top top post.......
No time for the fans and not accommodating enough to allow investment from outside by others. To many local business men have become involved and walked away and this now hinders our chances as a club to move forward.
Mr Bywater, Mr Passant...... If you read this please consider how you can help this club move forward, to benefit the town and the community.
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Post by shrewforever on Apr 30, 2016 19:36:04 GMT 1
Spot on..........op..
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Post by northwestman on Apr 30, 2016 21:12:22 GMT 1
We have been operating for nearly 4 years now with a Board of 2.
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Post by TonyKellysBelly on Apr 30, 2016 21:27:58 GMT 1
Top post Jamo, can't disagree with what you say.
We operate in a very unhealthy way with a board of 2, well 1 in reality.
We cannot stay as we are, if the chairman stays then he needs to allow investment and different opinions and ideas.
I hope MM stays, not sure who else is out there who would do a better job given what he had to play with. Heard Cotterill's name banded about but that's not the way to go for me.
Time for the chairman to make the right decisions.
Do you think he will consult the fans......I doubt it.
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Apr 30, 2016 21:31:41 GMT 1
Are you just trying to get yourself an invite "for a coffee"?
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Post by SouthStandShrew on Apr 30, 2016 21:39:16 GMT 1
Heard they do latte now.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 21:39:29 GMT 1
An interesting post from a fine elder statesman and Town patriot. I am in agreement.
This club has long since been a joyless, soulless entity.
And we need big change both on and off the field.
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salopstan
Midland League Division Two
Posts: 122
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Post by salopstan on Apr 30, 2016 22:38:46 GMT 1
What's the supporters groups relationship like with the chairman?
Would I expect to see him at the supporters player of the year evening in Tuesday?
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Post by jamo on Apr 30, 2016 22:49:44 GMT 1
What's the supporters groups relationship like with the chairman? Would I expect to see him at the supporters player of the year evening in Tuesday? Yep. He'll be sat at Lord Lucans table
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Post by champagneprince on May 1, 2016 1:09:06 GMT 1
"His ego, temperament and stubbornness are very, very serious obstacles to us"
There seems to be a negative slant placed on this by the OP but I suspect that it's these very attributes that have made him the businessman he is; self-made and successful enough to own a football club. That's not something the vast majority of us will ever be able to do.
In addition to that, not too many question his position when we do well on the pitch. When it goes well for us, it all tends to go quiet on the RW front.
But.
Like the OP I too sense that the club needs to be re-invigorated in some way. The number one objective is to keep a football club in this town. It can't become Hereford, it can't be as low as Telford whose Ice rink attracts more custom and I too fear that it's on that downward spiral (albeit a slow one). The people of the town have some affection for the club, but it's not enough to turn up on League One matchdays versus the competition of Sky TV, Cineworld or out-of-town shopping with the Mrs. I don't think it's reached a tipping point yet where the downward spiral might be irreversible, but it's not far from it.
Quite simply the fans want more, we don't see ambition that matches our expectations, it needs change if we are going to keep football in the town. Surely, it's just as easy to gain 2000 fans on matchdays as it is to lose 2000 fans on matchdays? It's a fine line.
A new chairman, with new ideas, could attract those 'floating fans' who only attend the Man United type games, but the way I see it it's not going to go that way, it's more likely to go the other.
The time will come one day to go, so now is as good a time as any.
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Post by staffordshrew on May 1, 2016 1:10:23 GMT 1
Managers you hire and fire, CEO's come and go. Does a chairman just resign? What happens if RW was to say that's it I'm going? There are definately worse ones out there, at Blackpool for example? Perhaps what we need is a white knight to ride into town and challenge the old guard but where are they?
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Post by jamo on May 1, 2016 8:14:55 GMT 1
Managers you hire and fire, CEO's come and go. Does a chairman just resign? What happens if RW was to say that's it I'm going? There are definately worse ones out there, at Blackpool for example? Perhaps what we need is a white knight to ride into town and challenge the old guard but where are they? Where are they ? Why do you think we have Board of 1 ( I know it's officially 2 but everyone knows it isn't ) plenty of interest been shown over the years from very good, knowledgable and wealthy local businessmen. They all walked away. The question you should be asking is why would that be the case.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2016 8:30:32 GMT 1
Managers you hire and fire, CEO's come and go. Does a chairman just resign? What happens if RW was to say that's it I'm going? There are definately worse ones out there, at Blackpool for example? Perhaps what we need is a white knight to ride into town and challenge the old guard but where are they? Where are they ? Why do you think we have Board of 1 ( I know it's officially 2 but everyone knows it isn't ) plenty of interest been shown over the years from very good, knowledgable and wealthy local businessmen. They all walked away. The question you should be asking is why would that be the case. The obvious answer is he doesn't want to sell. I totally see where you're coming from in the OP but if he doesn't want to leave... As a exile who doesn't hear the gossip is there any current interest from investors or any sign of RW reducing is interest (I suspect know one knows the latter)? And where does the training ground deal leave us, RW tying up loose ends or as committed as ever? We can do a lot worse than RW, with a good CEO and under him, the right manager and a bit of luck I think we could be like Oldham!! What ambition! But to get regular 7-8k crowds, really engage with the people of the town and stop missing commercial opportunities seems we a need fresh ideas and leadership.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2016 8:38:19 GMT 1
Managers you hire and fire, CEO's come and go. Does a chairman just resign? What happens if RW was to say that's it I'm going? There are definately worse ones out there, at Blackpool for example? Perhaps what we need is a white knight to ride into town and challenge the old guard but where are they? Where are they ? Why do you think we have Board of 1 ( I know it's officially 2 but everyone knows it isn't ) plenty of interest been shown over the years from very good, knowledgable and wealthy local businessmen. They all walked away. The question you should be asking is why would that be the case. Although it's not an argument for RW not to go, surely Staffordshrew's point is valid. Who will have the most influence in who becomes our next Chairman as and when? What is the process? And just look at the experiences of some of our local rivals, David Keyte at Hereford for instance ... "Wealthy local businessman/fan" does not necessarily mean good Chairman. In fact, I see RW's reputation here now as very similar to that of GT, before he left Hereford... Quite a few fans would like a change despite appreciating what he's done. I'm just saying, be careful, be very, very careful what you wish for.
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Post by northwestman on May 1, 2016 8:55:42 GMT 1
Where are they ? Why do you think we have Board of 1 ( I know it's officially 2 but everyone knows it isn't ) plenty of interest been shown over the years from very good, knowledgable and wealthy local businessmen. They all walked away. The question you should be asking is why would that be the case. Although it's not an argument for RW not to go, surely Staffordshrew's point is valid. Who will have the most influence in who becomes our next Chairman as and when? What is the process? And just look at the experiences of some of our local rivals, David Keyte at Hereford for instance ... "Wealthy local businessman/fan" does not necessarily mean good Chairman. In fact, I see RW's reputation here now as very similar to that of GT, before he left Hereford... Quite a few fans would like a change despite appreciating what he's done. I'm just saying, be careful, be very, very careful what you wish for. The experience of Wrexham fans with Pryce Griffiths also comes to mind. 'Mr Wrexham' sold out to Hamilton and Guterman, was to be paid £30k a year for 5 years as a 'consultant' and was promised a 500k bonus if the land was sold or developed. The Pryce Griffiths Stand has unsurprisingly now been renamed.
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tosalop
Shropshire County League
Posts: 33
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Post by tosalop on May 1, 2016 8:56:31 GMT 1
The old sack the board chant!! It normally appears when things are going wrong on the pitch yet the manager is still popular amongst the fans. Its easy to swap managers and you can change your players yearly(more often at the moment) but to have a chairman who is a fan and is willing to pay the bills is still a good thing. You have to be careful what you wish for!
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Post by mattmw on May 1, 2016 9:13:04 GMT 1
Don't necessarily think it's new investment that we need just new skills and ideas on the board, and a willingness to let those people do their job
So many opportunities around the new ground have been lost by not having a modern, commercial outlook at the club, and a staffing structure that allows innovation not stifles it
As others have said there are plenty of people in Shrewsbury and Shropshire who can offer that. Now is the time to get them involved
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Post by wakemanender on May 1, 2016 9:35:38 GMT 1
Supporters of near neighbours Wrexham, Chester and Hereford would love to be in our shoes. A solvent club in Division 1 of the Football league. Our Chairman has been at the helm whilst these clubs have dropped like stones out of the league. We are a small town unlikely to be able to sustain a Championship team but with every chance of consolidating in Division 1 with the right manager who has experience in this league. The Chairman is responsible for us being where we are just the same as the Chairmen of the above mentioned clubs are responsible for where they are. Don't remember much moaning about the Chairman last season. Its MM who has failed this season and on his own admission he has had the full backing of RW and been in a position to bring in players he wanted. What more can a Chairman do than back his Manager. MM now says we should bring in Div 1 ready players for next season. I say we should bring in a Div 1 ready manager and lay off the Chairman.
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Post by suttonshrew on May 1, 2016 9:40:29 GMT 1
I've said before on here that the chairman is owed a lot of praise for what he's done. He's built a legacy here that he should be proud of, but his inability to work with other local businessmen is a problem. So many missed opportunities especially with the new ground.
I'm not saying it's time to sell, but I'd like to see some sort of dialogue take place with those who may be interested taking the club on so we know that his legacy is secure and the club is in good hands going forward. At the same time get these guys back involved in the club until he decides to step down.
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