So it appears there's another secret 'supporters' meeting tonight then

So Sambora, which of those groups named above do u fit in with/travel away with? Cos if it's any of them u need to make it known to the reps from those groups that u want to go to the next meeting. It's not secretive at all. It's fairly simple really

 

Same response to you dodworthred

 

Or alternatively you could just both moan like f**k about a meeting that you've no intention of ever attending!

 

I reckon you know I'm not a yes man Sambora..... You want to go come and see me and I'll sort it out. You get free tea and coffee...

 

Hard to say which of those made me laugh more.

 

i didnt say i wanted to go and i didnt say i wanted an invite i said why have they started making them secret

 

I live 350 miles away and didnt get an invite.... can we do a conference skype..

 

Who's my rep because I have a vagina? I am a member of the Supporters Trust and (obviously) the BBS too but didn't know about this meeting.

 

Ok I'll answer that question. They've never been a secret

 

Well I can't speak for the Supporters Trust, or this forum, but I've been to the last few meetings (with Cuz) as representatives of the Courthouse Reds. I have said many times to many people within our group that anyone can go to the meeting and represent our supporters club, and I will gladly let them take my place, as will Cuz if he can't make it or he doesn't want to go.

I just don't get all this secret rubbish - obviously there is a restriction on numbers, but there is roughly 2 reps from each group of supporters, so it's up to people/fans to make it known to someone within their group that they would like to go to the next meeting. It really is as simple as that.

The real truth is that most people can't be arsed to give up their own time on a cold midweek evening to go along to listen to Ben & Co. spouting on, they would rather come on forums like this and

a) moan about it all being secret;
b) pretend that it's an exclusive club that they are not part of; and
c) moan about what has been discussed and what's not been asked/fed back to everybody else.

The same people will have been moaning a few years ago about the fans not being involved/consulted about anything and Don Rowing running the ship totally by himself.

The club really can't win at times. Damned if they do; damned if they don't.

 

Honestly not trying to be funny but I have no idea how people know these things exist, to me it really is a big secret.

 

Ok, when I get the invite to the next one I'll let you know

 

Thanks.

 

I was invited, despite never giving the impression I'd be up for it. I agreed though to attend, but they changed the date at the last minute which ruled me out unfortunately. I was invited again, but rejected the opportunity as I wasn't interested. I only agreed in the first instance out of courtesy, and to then share what was said on here and in the blog. But aye, they rearranged it. After that, I was contacted by Ben who said he'd like to meet me and so I told him I'd be in Redfearn's before games, as per, and we had a decent chat for a bit and I shared what was said on here and in the blog.

I've seen others suggest they really want to attend these things. In giving up my spot I hope it enabled one of these keen folk to make it. But yep, I don't think they invited just 'yes' men etc. I know I'm the opposite of a yes man, and I know others who regularly attend these forums who are as outspoken as I could ever be. I think the forums are a good idea, so long as the results of them are shared with others who weren't invited or couldn't attend.

 

If you mean 'targeted invitations' as per they were sent to the likes of me and Cuz (Courthouse Reds) and our equivalents at the Athersley Reds, Hoyland Reds etc. then yes, they were sent to 'specific individuals' rather than an open invite to a couple of people from those groups. I don't see a problem with that as the whole idea was to engage with associated suporters groups, so why not target their main organisers if it was known who those people were.

i can't comment on 'certain groups' being 'specifically excluded' as I didn't send out the invitations, but my perception from attending the meetings from the start of this venture was very much that some people/groups were genuinely missed/overlooked and as far as I'm aware those people/groups have been invited to subsequent meetings.

I may be nieve but I've not seen any secret agendas for inviting certain people and excluding others and it's not Ben Mansford's fault if some of the reps at the meeting are keeping things quiet and not openly feeding back details of what has been discussed. I'm pretty sure that's exactly what he wants us to do, and to keep bringing to the table the views and consensus of opinions of as many people as possible.

 

I think this is the main problem mate, not that these sessions are happening but the lack of open minutes or info coming out other than a few lines usually by funnyfella makes it seem a bit suspicious. I don't think there's an agenda, I just think the communication from those invited back out to the wider fanbase isn't what it needs to be.

 

Ive said it before and I'll say it again. Whilever the club refuse to do q&a sessions on Twitter, Facebook, or on Barnsley radio, streamed on YouTube etc then there is an agenda. Have the deliberately chosen soft touches who they feel they can manipulate?

 

There's enough people there who aren't soft touches, trust me, nobody 'manipulates' me for a start off