The main reason I believe Mr Pritchard didn’t get the job is because he would have stood up and questioned the absolute nonsense forced upon him by some board members regarding the development squad and the short term loan policy of young players that we are seeing week in week out. Carl probably bought into that more than Pritch would have done. We might as well put Mickey Mouse in as manager if the clubs signings and policy on transfers is directed from above, like a football agent for example :whistle: I feel very sorry for Carl and, looking back, for Scott and Sully to a certain extent too. These are my thoughts before even mentioning the budget.
And before Thatch Tavern and the like pile in and say Mark and others are available “at the bar” to answer questions I am fully aware of that. But to be honest I am extremely close to being past caring, just like many others are that are staying away.
Think that the only way you will get Pritch back is if a Supporters Trust was running the club. How that transition from a limited company would or could take place I am not sure. I have in mind a person who would be ideal for a candidate for chairman. Would we have enough fans to make this happen ? I am afraid it’s the only way I would return to the fold.
Unfortunately Eli we don’t have enough fans to make something like this happen, if we did I would fully support it. So us wittoners are stuck with what we have or nothing at all. Northwich Vis were very fortunate in that they had a big enough fan base (akin to the likes of Chester, Halifax, Hereford etc) to form a break away club. They called it 1874 Northwich and I’ll stick my neck out I admire them in the way they run the club (by its fans for the fans) as it is transparent, honest and tries its best to involve the local community in everything it does. I have always hated Vcs but times in football have changed and as time goes on I feel less and less love to the one I have supported and followed all my life ie WAFC.
[quote=“Paul S” post=62450]The main reason I believe Mr Pritchard didn’t get the job is because he would have stood up and questioned the absolute nonsense forced upon him by some board members regarding the development squad and the short term loan policy of young players that we are seeing week in week out. Carl probably bought into that more than Pritch would have done. We might as well put Mickey Mouse in as manager if the clubs signings and policy on transfers is directed from above, like a football agent for example :whistle: I feel very sorry for Carl and, looking back, for Scott and Sully to a certain extent too. These are my thoughts before even mentioning the budget.
And before Thatch Tavern and the like pile in and say Mark and others are available “at the bar” to answer questions I am fully aware of that. But to be honest I am extremely close to being past caring, just like many others are that are staying away.[/quote]
That my friend is BANG on the money, I had a telephone conversation with Sully when he left the day after and eluded to those exact points (not going into details or naming anyone)
As for the last caring I had the same conversation as we walked off the ground yesterday, we were speechless as we have said everything there is to say about this situation we are in, where do we go from here? The chairman even said in his notes in the programme this season is already over we are stabilising for next season, so what are we doing even bothering for? Sad times
I do not really think we need to become a “supporters owned club” and I am not sure we could from where we are eg a limited company with multiple shareholders ( mostly all fans by the way ) Our club is ran pretty well in many respects, prudent, open and clear baccounts, meets all legal requirements, pays its debts - whether you agree with many board decisions is another matter but they are accountable to the shareholders annually.
2012 Northwich (and others) had to go this way having turned their back on the other green and white club - We do not need to IMO ! Given the unrest and splits in the club over quite a few issues recently can we not get a meeting of say a representative body from the dissatisfied fans, maybe the key volunteer representatives and the club board representatives to thrash out grievances, clear the air and maybe come up with a way of allowing " elected fans to be on the board or attend board meetings ie co-opted on for now and ratified by the shareholders at the AGM ( Maybe not full directorships who have to put up money but should maybe be shareholders etc )
I know in time we will have a fans forum but these can become unwieldy and go off topic too easily In my experience, this maybe just a way of creating a better future for our club. I would be happy to help arrange the meeting and to attempt to bring the necessary parties together but maybe (and I dont care who does it) there are other people better suited to do this but we need to change and for the better and move on. UTA
[quote=“C.J.” post=62468]I do not really think we need to become a “supporters owned club” and I am not sure we could from where we are eg a limited company with multiple shareholders ( mostly all fans by the way ) Our club is ran pretty well in many respects, prudent, open and clear baccounts, meets all legal requirements, pays its debts - whether you agree with many board decisions is another matter but they are accountable to the shareholders annually.
2012 Northwich (and others) had to go this way having turned their back on the other green and white club - We do not need to IMO ! Given the unrest and splits in the club over quite a few issues recently can we not get a meeting of say a representative body from the dissatisfied fans, maybe the key volunteer representatives and the club board representatives to thrash out grievances, clear the air and maybe come up with a way of allowing " elected fans to be on the board or attend board meetings ie co-opted on for now and ratified by the shareholders at the AGM ( Maybe not full directorships who have to put up money but should maybe be shareholders etc )
I know in time we will have a fans forum but these can become unwieldy and go off topic too easily In my experience, this maybe just a way of creating a better future for our club. I would be happy to help arrange the meeting and to attempt to bring the necessary parties together but maybe (and I dont care who does it) there are other people better suited to do this but we need to change and for the better and move on. UTA[/quote]
A supporters owned club is a completely different concept to a club having a supporters trust in place CJ, at least in the initial stages anyway. Whilst many fans may be shareholders I understood that the majority shareholders are families that no longer have much, if any, interest or involvement with the club (stand to be corrected on that).
If you want genuine and sensible feedback of my involvement in setting up (the then) Vics Supporters Trust and what trusts bring to their clubs then ask away. If you ask the questions then you set the agenda and it won’t deteriorate into ordinary banter and point scoring.
Yes I know the difference thanks but I maintain there is not much wrong with what we have, there are no majority shareholders - their are a few larger shareholders but no one can gain control of the club, based on current and recent issues I think it needs change to improve on communication, decision making processes and even more openess around the club and most importantly to try and bring the club together as much as it can to deal with all the issues and drive us forward.
From where we are I think a trust is to far away and I see no way we will leave our club behind a start a new one- we have better processes in place to deal with that - if we need to drive change as shareholders. It wont be easy if anyone even has the appetite for it, but if we do nothing then for gods sake dont moan about the club on here.
[quote=“C.J.” post=62475]
From where we are I think a trust is to far away and I see no way we will leave our club behind a start a new one- we have better processes in place to deal with that - if we need to drive change as shareholders.[/quote]
This comment suggests a view that a Trust is set up to create division and act as a precursor to setting up a new club. Nothing could be further from the truth - Trusts are formed to support and protect the existing club and to give fans (rather than shareholders) the chance to have a voice and, where possible, to exercise some influence over the direction a club takes. Obviously, the Trusts in the news are the ones which have ressurrected failed/failing clubs, but there are very many influential Trusts at stable and successful clubs as well. Just look at Swansea, for example. Have a look at www.supporters-direct.org
We dont need one whatever it is ! and if it is a limited company whatever you say clubs pay lip service to them, they will only bring minor influence and our position needs more than that to be honest. A trust might bring about seperation as they often do and I for one dont want to go near that "1887 Witton Albion " - I think not .sick
We obviously need change at the club because we are deteriorating fast and have been for 2 years or more. After 57 years of supporting the club I’m appalled at where we are now playing wise. Yes we have Vics income and the Net Dec deal, fantastic social club rejuvinated by Noel and Co, with hopefully some good news on the way in the shape of the housing developement. Also illustrated on here elsewhere we have an individual who has tackled the “WHEELS” project and galvanised people to help with this a fantastic success story and effort from a man who I have the greatest admiration for and who I’d be right behind if he was on the board so take a bow Mr JAP. These are all great positives but are kind of put to one side because we are so inept where it actually counts on the football field.
I think very soon we have to make a decision regarding the playing side. It might require some expenditure and a bit of a gamble but the alternative is another relegation and all that entails including going out of business altogether.
I’d love to see prominent people back at the club in a united effort to get the club going again, people like Andy Chadwick, Robbo, Eli Gorton, my old mucker Mr G Edgeley, and all the other prominent fans who are missing or who I have inadvertingly left out.
So my question is what would it take for all these great people to get on board with the club again because the lead has to come from somewhere? Despite there being well meaning people on the board who are genuine and are doing their utmost for the club the decisions being made particularly on the footballing side have been a disaster and we are still not learning from them as evidenced by the recent recruitment fiasco . So do we need to add people into the boardroom and are those people already within the club?
I’m firmly of the belief that we need to be positive and we now need some leadership along these lines whether this is from the present hierarchy with a change in outlook or fresh faces coming in. If something does’nt change I fear for the future of our great club. I have’nt got the answers but we need to tackle the following -:
Morale with in the club - how to get us all united and get missing people back accentuate the positives and work on the negatives mainly the football side.
The football issues do we need to help our manager obviously with support but in practical ways like helping with training encouraging players one to one chats make them feel wanted sell the club, better communication etc etc
Renew and nurture links with Northwich businesses the success stories are THOR, CYGNET, HUT GROUP, CRS, Oakmere Motor group etc etc. I know we might have been here before but we need to move on and try again because other clubs will move in on them if we don’t.
Lets eradicate this " we have no money so we can’t do anything philisophy". Ok we might not be rich but we are solvent and are run properly so lets sell that rather than bleating about having no money all the time.
Lets get our respect back from the local community by showing a united front that would follow on from point number 1 if we can get that right.
Probably talking out of turn as usual and I know I’ll get shot down in flames but I like most people who support the club feel very “down” at the moment and would like to see some change especially to our culture.
Well said mona, what a brilliant post. I just hope someone takes notice and is able to take your proposals forward. I also think that jap would be a very able addition to the board, his enthusiasm for Witton is boundless.
Sometime in the not too distant future we are going to have invest in the playing side or we will be playing in the nwc, and nobody wants that , so please someone step forward and unite this club before it is too late.
One thing that is becoming more and more clear to myself is that we don’t care what happens on the football pitch anymore.
It seems to be all about commercial deals and “sustaining our future” - we’re acting as if once things off the field are taken care off then stuff on the field will be but unfortunately it’s the complete opposite.
I don’t think that’s true. Everyone can see that success on the pitch is vital and wants that to happen
If you talk to the directors and management team you would understand the huge amount of work that’s going into bringing players into the club. Unfortunately its not visible to supporters until the deals are done and can be formally announced - Rob Hopley is a good example of this.
we also have the job of getting players off the wage bill, Chadwick has only just gone, Roberts has yet to go ? and there may be others I guess we do not have unlimited resources unfortunately.