Quote Originally Posted by hmac View Post
I think the distance originally happened for a couple of reasons - firstly that they weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms by what was then seen as fans’ reps. In fact there was open hostility, and I suspect a little nervousness in the Scot Gardiner days as they would have been manipulated into a certain thought process by him.
Secondly it was easy to be friendly and transparent on ‘sunny’ days like getting back to the SPL and staying there, relegating the neighbours etc. Dundee fans aren’t quite so easy to talk to when bottom of the league watching week after week of dross. In that situation they need someone around them to help talk to ‘ordinary’ Dundee fans.
What they actually have is a bunch of people who are not exactly representative of the wider fan base, you see it in the DSA and DFCSS clearly that people have been put off being involved.
The American owners have done all sorts of good things, succeeded early in getting out of the 1st Division (I’m old fashioned), supported managers (despite some dross), funded these moves, I really believe they want a new stadium, aside from the old steps they do spend money on Dens and the playing surface and they still fund annual losses.
They appear to lack a local touch which is sad in a way as JN is a good communicator (albeit I disagree with him sometimes) and Tim Keyes is a really nice guy who wants to help and succeed.
If I were them I’d get hold of a respected football man, someone whose been a Dee, just to help and do the right things. Someone like Jim Duffy, Barry Smith or similar. They could be the fans’ connection, working with supporters bodies to make it better before it’s too late and everyone’s found something else to do on a Saturday.
As an aside a little, how do Kilmac feel on the fact they are a progressive construction company with a stadium named in their favour where the walls are falling over and derelict? Is it perhaps and angle they could help the community restore that area?
Thanks for the points made above. It would be interesting to learn how many supporters are part of the DSA. I think there are less than 200 paid up members of the DFCSS, so as you say it could be that the wider fan base needs something more than these two groups. It's an annual £5 to be a member of DFCSS.