Next Structured Dialogue Meeting With BFC

SLO_BFC

Well-known member
The next Structured Dialogue meeting between fans' representatives and the BFC directors (Brett Gerrity and Ben Mansford) will take place on Wednesday 4th March at 7pm at the club. Invitations have gone out to fans' groups but, as per the previous meeting, there will also be two places available to supporters who don't belong to any recognised fan group. To apply, email slo@blackpoolfc.co.uk by 27th February. If there are more applicants than places a random ballot will select two to attend.
 
Well done BST on leading the way nationally and shaming many of the other clubs Trusts too.

Wholesale engagement is the only way forward and BST stick to their principles fairly and without prejudice,so I hope you guys turn up in your droves and support their initiatives.
 
Any chance the minutes will be quicker this time?

At the previous one you got the feeling those had attended had been gagged not to speak until the minutes had been released and from memory it took a few weeks for them to be circulated, by which point the talking points were less relevant.

I understand the need to keep some commercially-sensitive information out of the public domain, but the last SDM had the feeling of an old boys' club with not much wider engagement. Almost harking back to what we had before with BSA.
 
I'd like to see some probing on the position Ben Mansford reportedly adopted on safe standing as it seemed at odds with the available evidence and the position adopted by other clubs
Is he against it TAM ? I would like to see it adopted in the East if it ever gets redeveloped.
 
I know it's not a question for you, Steve, but can the BST say how they will select members to attend? I can't remember what happened last time, but a random ballot of volunteers seems appropriate.
 
why are we keeping it as clique?

why cant we have a fans forumn where all fans are recongnised as equal and allowed to attend?

These groups no longer represent the majority of the fan base and most are unelected or represent a couple of dozen people at best

Perhaps I should form the Stanah supporters club and get an invite every time!
 
why are we keeping it as clique?

why cant we have a fans forumn where all fans are recongnised as equal and allowed to attend?

These groups no longer represent the majority of the fan base and most are unelected or represent a couple of dozen people at best

Perhaps I should form the Stanah supporters club and get an invite every time!

Nope. You'd get an invite 50% of the time.
 
I understand the need for invites to go to supporters groups but it would be disappointing if this leads to the same people attending each time.
That of course will be down to the groups themselves.
 
All the more reason to join a group with elected representatives, I'd have thought.
How many people do these elected fan groups represent?
Robbie, I guess your in two, BST and BASiL, doubles your chances
How many voting members have the TKs got? MSG? YS? BASiL?
 
Can someone ask Paul Heckinbottom about his plans for delivering the 'Entertaining Expansive Football' we require please👍
 
I attended a meeting with Manny's group yesterday you'll be pleased to hear BRR-He hadnt even heard of BASIL until last night 😁

Good for him. He's got far better things to think about.
 
SLO decides who attends once again. His BST cronies and 2 from other groups. ** joke

I think you need to do some research on Structured Dialogue - what it is, how it is supposed to be conducted and who sets the framework. Then maybe edit that post to remove all the inaccuracies in it. Well, just delete it really.
 
I think you need to do some research on Structured Dialogue - what it is, how it is supposed to be conducted and who sets the framework. Then maybe edit that post to remove all the inaccuracies in it. Well, just delete it really.
It might be wholly incorrect about BST but its how many of the other Trusts function,indeed its how the organisation you represent operates at times BRR.Earlier this month there was a network meeting* in London and once again members / associate groups were ignored,which is undemocratic and simple bullying.

*one at which you were elected I believe.
 
* which you keep mentioning although you know it is irrelevant. Don't let me spoil your fun though.

In the meantime, if people like fy8southstander aren't challenged on this stuff, people might start to believe what they write is true. You wouldn't want that, would you Plumbs?

Oh, and I don't "represent" anybody. Which you also know very well.
 
* which you keep mentioning although you know it is irrelevant. Don't let me spoil your fun though.

In the meantime, if people like fy8southstander aren't challenged on this stuff, people might start to believe what they write is true. You wouldn't want that, would you Plumbs?
Yup I agree with you BRR and I'll make a genuine effort to keep my own grievances with the Trusts off here.

*entirely relevant when you start finger wagging Bazbob.
 
* which you keep mentioning although you know it is irrelevant. Don't let me spoil your fun though.

In the meantime, if people like fy8southstander aren't challenged on this stuff, people might start to believe what they write is true. You wouldn't want that, would you Plumbs?

Oh, and I don't "represent" anybody. Which you also know very well.
So who decides who attends big Lad?
 
Why doesn’t the club simply issue a statement outlining all relevant intentions going forward?
Instead if this orchestrated clique fest...😁
 
Structured Dialogue is an obligation placed upon the club by the EFL, to promote a regular channel of communication between club and fans.

Like everything with the EFL, it has a set of rules that have been agreed with national fans groups that all clubs are expected to follow.

So the club are merely meeting their obligations to the EFL. The Trust are automatically invited because that is the way the rules work. It is not a power trip for Steve Rowland, it is not a sell-serving clique and it is not an attempt by the club to exclude anyone. The EFL monitor how it is done (after a fashion) and expect clubs to comply.
 
Structured Dialogue is an obligation placed upon the club by the EFL, to promote a regular channel of communication between club and fans.

Like everything with the EFL, it has a set of rules that have been agreed with national fans groups that all clubs are expected to follow.

So the club are merely meeting their obligations to the EFL. The Trust are automatically invited because that is the way the rules work. It is not a power trip for Steve Rowland, it is not a sell-serving clique and it is not an attempt by the club to exclude anyone. The EFL monitor how it is done (after a fashion) and expect clubs to comply.
Thanks for clarifying roberto 👍
 
Structured Dialogue is an obligation placed upon the club by the EFL, to promote a regular channel of communication between club and fans.

Like everything with the EFL, it has a set of rules that have been agreed with national fans groups that all clubs are expected to follow.

So the club are merely meeting their obligations to the EFL. The Trust are automatically invited because that is the way the rules work. It is not a power trip for Steve Rowland, it is not a sell-serving clique and it is not an attempt by the club to exclude anyone. The EFL monitor how it is done (after a fashion) and expect clubs to comply.
Absolute rubbish. The EFL have a charter that states that fan engagement should take place,and ONE aspect of that is meeting with the Trusts. If any group or individual fan wants to talk to either the EFL or the club then than have the right do so,and are in NO WAY obliged to go through BST or anyone else.

To suggest that the EFL have rules that BST are sticking to is erroneous and is a clear manipulation of Blackpool fans,and to some extent is the passive bullying we've already experienced from you on the other board.
 
I would like an open fans forum and have it in the sponsors lounge .
Does nobody remember just how dumb those ‘open forums’ used to be? Some idiot stands up and rants for 10 minutes yet asks no questions and puts no specific points that can be adressed whatsoever. The board straight-bats it. Repeat four or five times and the whole thing’s over.

To supplement the ‘structured dialogue’ I’d suggest a Reddit-style ask me anything format: let people put questions online, merge those that overlap, disregard rhetorical rants and then give the directors a week or two to come up with thought-out answers. Do it soon after the season when things aren’t too hectic. We might actually end up learning a thing or two ...
 
Does nobody remember just how dumb those ‘open forums’? Some idiot stands up and rants for 10 minutes yet asks no questions and puts no specific points that can be adressed whatsoever. The board straight-bats it. Repeat four or five times and the whole thing’s over.

To supplement the ‘structured dialogue’ I’d suggest a Reddit-style ask me anything format: let people put questions online, merge those that overlap, disregard rhetorical rants and then give the directors a week or two to come up with thought-out answers. Do it soon after the season when things aren’t too hectic. We might actually end up learning a thing or two ...
I dont remember anyone ranting for 10 minutes ,questions were put to Charlie(FC) and he asked the panel ,quite civilsed actually.😇
 
To suggest that the EFL have rules that BST are sticking to is erroneous and is a clear manipulation of Blackpool fans,and to some extent is the passive bullying we've already experienced from you on the other board.
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Plumbs, all I can say is that I have sat through meetings where the EFL announce the results of their surveys on this and quiz delegates from the clubs about what is happening on the ground. Their clear expectation is that the clubs will do consultation along the guidelines that have been laid down, and they follow up on any suggestion that they aren't.

I will readily agree with you that some clubs do it very differently, and some clubs (who shall remain nameless) have in the past told porkies to the EFL about what they are doing (or not, as the case may be). As far as I am aware, Blackpool under Mr. Sadler are trying to observe the spirit of the policy as closely as they can and hence are sticking to the broad format that the EFL prefers.

I am not sure how explaining to people what the expectations are, and how it usually works in practice is "bullying" anyone. And I didn't suggest that BST were sticking to any rules at all, as the meetings we are talking about are convened by the club and the Trust are one of a number of invited guests. You have completely misread and misrepresented what I actually said.
 
BRR. You have made specific claims about the EFL which are incorrect so I'm sorry but you have to pulled up on that,where its beholden upon you as part of BST to engage truthfully with the clubs fans. Your engagement with other fans on this thread seems to be rather reactionary and inflammatory ,which gives rise to the accusations of passive bullying.

Try playing a straight bat and stop being a clever clogs and you might find people will be more reasonable,where its fair for fans to question the integrity of the representation with the club if they so desire.

The Football Supporters Association and BST do not own the rights on democratic representation.
 
"BRR. You have made specific claims about the EFL which are incorrect so I'm sorry but you have to pulled up on that"

I told you what happened in meetings that I attended. You weren't there.


"where its beholden upon you as part of BST to engage truthfully with the clubs fans. "

I have represented BST at some meetings, but I am just a Member like everyone else. I have explained what SD is supposed to be about and why the EFL think it important. Where I was offering an opinion, I said so.

"Your engagement with other fans on this thread seems to be rather reactionary and inflammatory ,which gives rise to the accusations of passive bullying."

Bollocks. (There, that IS reactionary). One or two posters were suggesting that this was a case of the SLO running a meeting for him and his friends. Nothing could be further from the truth, and you know that as well as I do. Why aren't you calling them out? Being a bit selective?

"Try playing a straight bat and stop being a clever clogs and you might find people will be more reasonable, where its fair for fans to question the integrity of the representation with the club if they so desire."

People can question whatever they like. Equally, I can challenge their views with my own. And I would never wear clogs whilst batting, in case it it inhibited my ability to move my feet (bit of Geoffrey Boycott for you),

"The Football Supporters Association and BST do not own the rights on democratic representation."

I never suggested that they did. And you need to make your mind up - it's not many hours ago you were praising BST for being the benchmark that other Trusts should aspire to. Or had you forgotten?


I'd have a lot more respect for you if you actually challenged all aspects of the process, rather than those which are Trust-related, and which you obviously have a bee in your bonnet about. Which is far more about your experiences with Leeds United than anything else.

Whether you like it or not, at Blackpool the Trust is the ONLY fans group with a democratic mandate, accompanied by published goals and a Constitution. It would be perverse if they were not at these meetings. As for other groups, it is not always possible to even say who they are, let alone who they actually represent. But the club makes an effort to reach out to them, and I would have thought you would commend their efforts, given your general views about minority and affiliate groups.

The trouble with you is that in your anxiety to play the man rather than the ball, you don't stop to think about the absolute cobblers you are coming out with. And that is the inflammatory bit. 😎
 
Bazbob-sorry just got in and its been a funny old last couple of hours.

I'll take your statement
"Structured Dialogue is an obligation placed upon the club by the EFL, to promote a regular channel of communication between club and fans."
That I'm afraid is a load of old nonsense as the charter relates to simply dialogue with fans,but the FSA have hijacked that to their own agenda which generally leaves to the exclusion of others. For you to peddle that on here is wholly misleading indeed Blackpool football club are quite within their rights to say,have a separate meeting with BSA or even set up their own supporters group.

I never said that SD wasnt important to the EFL but what is important is dialogue with fans per se,but people like you have an inverted snobbery against others who dont subscribe to the/a Trust being prioritised.

If its a simple case of a few people on a forum making lazy accusations regarding inclusion of a meeting then you've overreacted,and in all probability made something bigger than it ought to be.That said fans are entitled to enquire-even on here-and someone in your position ought to be more restrained and perhaps a little more sanguine with their responses on here.

Your choice of footwear with regards to run chasing has been noted,where the likes of satw with his tremendous bursts of quality attacking play have left him with the 'Kevin Pietersen AVFTT cricketer of the year' award on many occasions. Our Geoffrey was a ManPoo fan dont forget 🤓

You're wholly wrong on which Blackpool fans group has a democratic mandate etc because BSA have had one for years,and I've no doubt the others have the same although I'm not speaking for anyone.To rather superciliously glaze over the efforts of others has become something of a habit with you,whether its on here,as a moderator or chief tormentor in the POC

*bowls AVFTT's very own Ian Bell middle stump * 😎
 
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Good use of "sanguine" and "per se", and if that is true about BSA I stand corrected. I've never been a Member, so I wouldn't know. Do they have published goals and a Constitution?

Re the FSA : I don't really understand your obsession with them, but it has nothing to do with me.

As for "inverted snobbery", "superciliousness" et al, I've filed it with the rest of the bollocks in my "Leeds United - Miscellaneous" file.

* hears call of "no ball" , takes fresh guard *
 
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