BFCST Update on Horsham FA Cup Tie

All three.

 

Well if the response to screwing Watford was to turn off the phone, then for Horsham...

There's still time for us to move the fixture to Horsham. For a Friday or Saturday preferably. Yes it inconveniences our fans, but so would a Friday night with half a stand open.

Do the decent thing BFC, I'm sure a majority of Reds fans would back that.

 

I don't think you are allowed to change venues any more

 

I thought you could still change due to ground issues?
If we tell them the West is half shut, has been for years, and was shut completely for safety reasons not 12 months ago .......... we might be able to play that card.

 

Aye, they could have shifted a kick off time to accommodate both on one day. As I say, I think it's a case of the club going with the flow, without really considering the implications.

 

Chelsea v Wolves.1pm kick off Christmas Eve is worse than our Friday night debacle.

 

Khaled’s still pruning his roses.

 

Club shoukd have grown a pair n told syp ya can shove ya advice right where sun don't shine. Had crowds over 11000 thus season with hardly any coppers there so why change game to Friday night when we be lucky if crowd 4000

 

Can't help thinking that the shadowy SAG have had some involvement in this nonsense, the idea of moving the game to Friday night and only opening half a stand is so ludicrous that they must have come up with some of it.

 

I'm glad that at least BFCST have been able to get a statement out expressing our sympathy with the predicament for Horsham's supporters. At least there's something in the public domain now out there from a BFC-side organisation expressing this.

I'm utterly bemused by the fact that the club itself have abdicated all responsibility for this, in the face of an increasing number of public statements condemning all involved in the process. Not sure who's specifically responsible for PR matters, but you'd imagine it'd be a combination of Khaled and the press officer, at the very least. Logically, they should have been front and centre on this from the outset, but to continue to pretend like none of it is happening is concerning, to say the least. I, and presumably many of our fanbase, give a **** about the public perception of the club and in a position of responsibility I'd have been on the front foot to address the easily predictable fall-out from this.

In the end, it's fallen upon a few volunteer supporters to fill the gap, to the extent that they were able. It's not much, but it's something at least.

 

Thanks Loko. Very disappointing not to hear anything from the club.

Why not play the ladies game on the main pitch on the Saturday, or at midday, prior to the Horsham game. Or if the groundsmen don’t want two games played on the main pitch on the same day, play the ladies game on one of the academy pitches prior to the Horsham game. It would probably have boosted their attendance.

This could well backfire on the ladies team, with resentment towards them because they seemingly took preference over the Cup game, when it was nothing to do with them. The club have ****** this up completely.

We are one of the biggest teams in the first round. You saw how much Horsham celebrated the draw. For them to come and play in a ground like ours in a meaningful match would have been so exciting for their young fans especially. They would probably have brought 1500-2000 fans with them, which is probably more than will be at the ladies game. And if it had been on the Saturday and publicised properly we could have had 8000+ people in the ground. It’s a great Cup tie. Even moving it to Sunday would have allowed their fans to get up and home safely.

We have shown total disrespect to Horsham, by moving the game to Friday and then not responding to Horsham FC when they asked why. It is embarrassing and I’m ashamed to say I’m a fan of the club right now. Should we get through to the third round and get one of the big clubs away from home, let’s hope they don’t treat us in the same way. It’s time for Khaled to go to his new job. He doesn’t want to be here and I can’t imagine many fans want him here either. It’s been one PR disaster after another under his watch.

If I had a spare room I’d be contacting Horsham and telling them I could put people up for the night. They are going to be driving home until the early hours of the morning, which is dangerous. Let’s hope they all get home safely. I wonder whether BFC have considered offering Horsham our share of the gate money, by way of apology, or covering the cost of the supporters coaches, so less drive themselves?

 

Thanks for the reply. I know you didn't say any of the potential conclusions in my post but as there were no conclusions I was wondering what you were actually implying.

I would like to know what prompted the FA to inform SYP that the game would be played on Friday. What discussions took place, with whom, and what was said. As I'm sure you would too.

Looking at the wider picture, I would like better communication from the club. I personally believe it's currently as bad, but more accurately worse, than it's ever been.

I think the board are very good and we'll be successful under their tenure. I could reel off a list a yard long of what they've done for BFC. But many people disagree. If you've put £Millions into the club, more than any other previous owners, got us to the playoffs, and currently have us in third in the league, but a good chunk of the fan base think you're crap, then there's something seriously amiss with your ability to communicate. The wall of silence on this issue and the replica shirt fiasco best exemplifies just how bad things have gotten. It's indefensible.

 

Previously the trust have put out statements expressing disappointment at the lack of information coming from the club on issues under the previous owners. Are we at the point that, with silence on fans being treated **** regarding the kit sales and with silence regarding the Horsham game, that the trust needs to put out a similar statement once again expressing disappointment in the club's attitude to fans?

Has the trust contacted the club regarding fans waiting months for shirts and being met with silence from the club? If so what was the club's response to that?

It's really poor that the only people willing to speak up for fans are volunteer trust members in my opinion. In fact I'm of the belief it should lead to job losses.
The fact that the trust have acted on this issue is something that I think all fans can appreciate and which shows a level of respect for barnsley fans, Horsham fans, and the game of football itself, that others will sadly never display.

 

Could it be that the owners who are putting their money in are good but the man running the club on a day to day basis is awful?

 

i agree. Its sad but not surprising. If no-one turns up the club will blame the fans.