Has the novelty of owning our own club worn off

[17thMay08]

I never anticipated that the cracks would start appearing so soon, iv heard too many Pompey fans moaning about anything & everything to do with club lately, that I'm concerned for the future. I'd be the first to admit that the football we are currently having to watch is painful, but I'm more than confident that we'll not get relegated & we'll be able to build for the future. I'm also happy with what's happening off the pitch, however, I do feel that a lot of fans have lost sight of our previous experiences and where we have come from, I for one do not wish to return to us being the toy for some sugar daddy to play with.

Come Pompey fans, we need to stick together & see this one through

[AlgernonPFC]

I think that there were bound to be dissenters about the way the club is run, even if Bill Gates had bought it and ran it as a philanthropic enterprise spending billions on stadium, players, etc. Put 2 people in a room and they will find things to disagree about. As for the poor performances this year, I personally believe that they were almost inevitable bearing in mind the short amount of time the Trust had before the start of the new season and the constraints put upon the club by finance and Football League rules. Maybe things have gone a little worse than we hoped but the realists amongst us thought that for once the bookies were wildly out when they installed us as favourites for the league. What I have never understood is those critics of the Trust who say we would have been better off without the Trust buying the club, how? Who would have bought us? Why would they have bought us? And what would they have done to the club? I remain intensely optimistic about the future of the cl

[BlueAdder]

I'm just a fan who buys a season ticket, goes to games and supports the team. I don't now, and never did feel like an owner so for me nothing feels any different, I leave the owners to run the club and don't feel like I have, or ever had, any input into the decision making process. So I place my trust in the owners (this hasn't worked too well in the past :D ) and I just hope it works better in the future.
PUP

[lovedeanblue]

I'm just a fan who buys a season ticket, goes to games and supports the team. I don't now, and never did feel like an owner so for me nothing feels any different, I leave the owners to run the club and don't feel like I have, or ever had, any input into the decision making process. So I place my trust in the owners (this hasn't worked too well in the past :D ) and I just hope it works better in the future.
PUP In total agreement as always ;D Some of our owners and managers have been total disasters. I'm really glad we have a club to support, not sure what I'd do every other Saturday if we hadn't. It wouldn't be shopping :blue: I'd miss seeing those I have made acquaintance with over the years and listening to the din coming from the SSU. XD Onwards and upwards I'm sure Bk would say :star:

[bluekite]

Also in agreement with Bladds and Lovedean (apart from being a season ticket holder that is). Nice to be a part owner (great street cred with mates and much opportunity for them to take the pi$$), but no desire for great input.
As for owners, I am struggling to think of any really good ones, and much as it pains me, since the 50s I guess Twitchy was the best manager... apart from Bally, maybe Frank Burrows, I am not sure we have had any decent Bosses. No doubt my memory has deserted me here and I wil be corrected.

[jon6_1999]

Not sure the novelty has worn off, but maybe some have realised that, the trust route is going to be a long hard slog rather than instant success that comes from a rich sugar daddy.

Saying that, if success does come, I think it will be a lot more satisfying to be able to say " we did that".

Success in football really relies on two things. Getting the right man in charge, who controls the recruitment of players, team selection, man management, tactics (tactics is definitely the least important - get the best players, keep them fit, and score more than you concede...however you go about it is their business).

And having the finances to compete with your competition.

Given the numbers of sacked managers, choosing the right man relies on a huge amount of luck. Both seasoned professional boards, and newcomers like our board, will make mistake, and rely on luck...lets hope we have had some this time.

I think the trust or rather the chairman and the board, probably got swept away with em

[nonsuchmike]

Well, I feel as if I do own a piece of PFC, even if it amounts to just two blades of the hallowed turf @ FP.

However, I am happy to let others do the worrying about the nuts and bolts of running the teams and the administration. It will be if/when they get things seriously wrong that I shall raise my voice again.

Because of my other commitments I am not able to go on a regular basis to watch Pompey, and so I have never owned a ST. Therefore those who regular invest their time and money in that way have a special respect and affection in my heart

[Jim]

[quote="jon6_1999"]Not sure the novelty has worn off, but maybe some have realised that, the trust route is going to be a long hard slog rather than instant success that comes from a rich sugar daddy.

Saying that, if success does come, I think it will be a lot more satisfying to be able to say " we did that".

Success in football really relies on two things. Getting the right man in charge, who controls the recruitment of players, team selection, man management, tactics (tactics is definitely the least important - get the best players, keep them fit, and score more than you concede...however you go about it is their business).

And having the finances to compete with your competition.

Given the numbers of sacked managers, choosing the right man relies on a huge amount of luck. Both seasoned professional boards, and newcomers like our board, will make mistake, and rely on luck...lets hope we have had some this time.

I think the trust or rather the chairman

[BileysThere]

I'm quite happy that we don't have a foreign owner whose only interest is to rape the club before selling us to another vulture.

[rfpompey]

Its a good question. I have supported the Trust and still do as I would have a short memory if I forgot about the collections of thieves that came before them.
However, I have 2 worries - 1. The football is so dire that in my 30 years of regular FP attendance I haven't seen a team as poor as this by quite a way... and how many will continue to watch it? 2. Is the Trust management by committee? I am hearing too many rumours that everything needs to be signed of by many before decisions are made...for me that isn't a sign of a successful business it slows down action and the pursuit of success, positivity and progress.

I for there first time feel it is worth a debate that the Trust gets our club in a right and proper state and then find something with A?A? and football nouse to get us where we belong (not an easy job I accept).

I hope the Trust can do it but I have a horrible feeling unless they get leaner and more focused on success it won't happen.

I am of course a just a supporter

[philphillips]

Agree with a lot of what has been said on this thread but RFPompey's post got me off the fence...this seasons football has been awful full stop...against Accrington there was a moment in the first half where it seemed the whole NSL were having a chat and not watching the game...unheard of in my experience of watching Pompey over 40 odd years. The atmosphere is completely flat and although I am lucky to have a ST I'm not sure at this stage whether I will renew next year of not. I cannot remember the football being this bad when I watched Pompey in the 4th Division all those years ago. For me it seemed a lot more exciting back then despite some awful performances? I didn't expect instant success and I fully appreciate the efforts of the Trust (and all those fans who went the extra mile) to save our beloved Club but we really do need a turn around on the pitch before the season ends or I predict some fans (including this one) may just find something else to do on a match day. One final th

[___Whatever___]

I think to some extend it is harsh to blame the trust for anything happening on the pitch, a lot of people wanted Whittingham to stay on and to be honest at the back of last season he started to get results. Whilst people are rightly questioning Barker we still need time on that one but so far its not looking that great. All owners make mistakes with managers but they have certainly backed them in making money available for extra players.

Off the pitch they have done well and things have improved, I would however like to hear more from them on the plans of the stadium short term and long term

[___Whatever___]

Just to add I would also say five years to the Championship is maybe a few seasons to early.

When the debts are cleared in 2016 we should start seeing more progress.

[rfpompey]

am I right in saying that we can't sign players for a fee until the debt is cleared? if you say that is 2016 we will have to spend a further 2 years signing out of contract or free's then the poor football won't be getting better any time soon. lets face it thats the problem with the current lot - no-one else wanted them.

[MattPFC2005]

The novelty hasn't worn off, neither must it be allowed to.

We see with the news of Birmingham's Yeung and today what we would probably face if this club ever fell into outsider hands again. We would at the very least face being a hostage to fortune, at worst a repeat of what has transpired since Deacon in '72.

We are trailblazers, pioneers for a club of this size. A lot of owners want to bail out, the FFP come into effect at the end of this season. Morally and practically there should be no alternative to our type of ownership.We must not allow this club to fall into the lap of chancers/crooks/spivs/scumbags.The Trust has made a better job of running this club in the last eleven months than all the present owners put together in the last forty plus years. This club will be what we make it.

This question [of the thread] is really a scapegoating and code for: 'Haven't we had a dreadful playing season?' Yes, we have. In hindsight it was inevitable. Trust ownership was achieved at alm

[EnfieldBlue]

Some good points on this thread. One thing people do seem to easily overlook is just how quickly things can change on the playing front. Yes it is turgid now, and it could start in the same vein next season. But all it takes is a spark (a new player, fantastic performance etc.) and confidence can changed markedly for the better. A decent run of results is all it takes to be challenging again for promotion and for the feelgood factor to start coming back. Chin up! It could happen to us (next season...).

[rfpompey]

Good points Matt and I agree they have did great work whilst others sat, watched and complained.

My only concern is that we can't be run like a Government body and I see creeping signs that we are. It seems too many people are involved in the decision making.

Also we don't help ourselves - too many fans want to get involved in the minutiae of running the business when they don't have a clue. This won't do us well in the long term as people in the club are being 2nd and 3rd guessed in everything they do and they will eventually take lots of time via the committees that are there to avoid getting hammered each time they try and do something.

For example there was a debate on the new PST web-site where many offered negative views on the costs and rights or not of the decision making - it was laughable if not was a huge danger sign for 'community run' clubs where everyone seems to have a valid opinion even if they are a complete Dins (one Businessman of the year even berated Pompey whi

[scooter62]

Not for me,

Sure I've come away from a Pompey game many times this season wondering why the hell I bother. But I've done that 100's of times before.

After a few hours and a few beers, countless discussions and criticism of the manager, players and officials, I'm starting to get the performance and result out of my system, and am looking forward to the next game, when things will surely get better!!

However, the feelings watching Chanrais and his cronies rip this club to pieces was far worse, and wasn't sorted by a few beers and a chat.

I believe that the current regime are doing things for the right reasons. They will get plenty wrong and no doubt make some big mistakes. Show me an owner from the past who hasn't. That's part and parcel of running a football club.

They should be criticised and questioned when they do make them, I'm sure they would expect no less. But I'm comfortable with things. Not the football at the moment, but that can and will improve.

[PompeyScarf]

Also we don't help ourselves - too many fans want to get involved in the minutiae of running the business when they don't have a clue.

Very true - there some deluded people out there.



(one Businessman of the year even berated Pompey whilst himself not knowing anything on the tender or what was required then suggested his wife could do it for free)

Sounds like the same person who said his wife offered to design the PST website for free.




Sure I've come away from a Pompey game many times this season wondering why the hell I bother. But I've done that 100's of times before.

Agree 100% - some people's expectations for this season have been OTT. Hopes are fine but expectations are something else.


[quote="scooter62"]However, the feelings watching Chanrais and his cronies rip this club to piec