Sounds like many many supporters I’ve encountered over the years. Doesn’t change the basic narrative though that long-time supporters like me feel totally alienated from the club thanks to the current regime.
As an older supporter myself I know exactly what the fuss is about. What it’s not about is a single, albeit disastrous, season.
I suppose my wider point was that we shouldn't dismiss the more positive fans as trying to be 'better fan' material merely for having a more positive outlook. We're all fans at the end of the day.
The bunch I go to home games with numbers 17 ST holders (3 groups of 4, a 3 and a 2). As of the start of this week there were 2 definitely renewing, 6 undecided and 9 definitely not renewing. Following the comms etc this week there are now 2 definitely renewing, 2 undecided but likely not to renew and 13 (inc me now) definitely not renewing. So I've put 0 in the poll but it's really -13 to -15 versus this season. And if the mix of our lot is anything to go by (it may well not be) the club will find that it's predominantly the full price adults that they are going to lose the income from. The 13-15 of us who'll be 'turning our backs' on the team have over 300 seasons of attendance at Oakwell between us, but, yep we're all fair weather moaning lovely people.
Thats unbelievably sad to hear. My expectation is around a 60-65% renewal level, so circa 6k ST's, but whats really sad to see are fans who've been the lifeblood of the club for decades walking away, probably only compounded by the lack of care at the higher levels of the club that the cause is because of them.
I suppose we'll have to wait and see what the renewal level is (if they ever tell us) or work it out from attendance numbers. I wonder if those at the club are aware of what's coming. I saw Khaled reference that we always see a drop off if we are relegated. All the people I know who aren't renewing are people who always did regardless of division. I did a poll on here a while back it was around half planning on not renewing. Appreciate the sample size but I think you could well be right it may even go below 6k.
Exactly. When you read of some of the most level headed posters on here who have decades of committed support behind them saying enough is enough it should set alarm bells ringing. They think there is something seriously unacceptable in the attitude and approach of our current owners. I tend to agree. The club ignore this at their peril.
I'd not considered that the people picking 0 might have previously been in a group of say 6. See above. I do agree what you're saying though about social media.
I renewed after our relegations of 1971/72, 1997/98, 2001/02, 2013/14 & 2017/18. There was much mocking on the BBS when I and others said in the Autumn of 2015, when we were bottom of Division 1, that we'd renew even if relegation to Division 2 was the outcome at the end of that campaign. The very real possibility of relegation this time is NOT what has led me down the particular route I've chosen.
If I'd been alive in 72 I would have renewed aswell! This really is a massive point, so many long term fans who just renewed yearly as a matter of habit have drifted away. I wonder what the numbers are on none attending season ticket holders this season. If someone had told me a few years ago I would just stop going despite having a season ticket I really would have laughed.
I found it quite alarming how El Ahmad waved away the possible drop in season tickets. But then he's consistently waved away serious issues all the time he's been here. Deckchairs and Titanic spring to mind.
On several occasions when I’ve been recently I’d say the real attendance was 7-8000. The Reading game where more ST holders actually showed up showed this very clearly.
The club will likely have the answer at the end of the month, I doubt many people renew after the early bird has ended. Keeping 3 stands (well 2 and half) open may not be palatable again.
However good or bad we've been on the pitch throughout my life I've always looked forward to each and every game until this season. At one difficult time in my life for about eighteen months the thought of going to the next game was literally the only thing that kept me going and at a more recent juncture I received help from one of the fantastic more junior staff at the club. The owner/higher levels now makes me feel like the love of my life has been ripped out of my arms by an unremittingly evil step-father!
Poor Jordan. I've always liked him personally. But if he's injured, it's his fault. If he's returned from injury and re-establishing himself in a struggling side and we lose, it's his fault. If we win and he plays, it has nothing to do with him. The lad can't win in some people's eyes.