I had a chat with Gordon Shepherd today...

I had a chat with Gordon Shepherd this afternoon - it was the first time I've spoken to him and he seemed like a nice chap. Here's what I remember we talked about:</p><ul>[*]Scoreboard – There’s been mention of the scoreboard in the past – apparently its an obsolete American model and its difficult to source parts for it. The club are looking in to purchasing a new one but will buy the right one for the club not the first one they see. (And end up having to buy yet another one in a couple of years time)[*]PA System – engineers for the PA system were in twice before the game at the weekend. The East Stand PA was tested and WAS working. It was working well enough to wake a local man asleep in his home who was on nights and who went down to the club to make clear his feelings…[*]Disinformation – I get the impression Gordon and Patrick are upset about some of the disinformation/mistruths that gets posted on here and on its predecessor that maybe people take as being gospel. One example given was that Danny Wilson was interviewed/offered the managers job. GS only spoke to Danny briefly at the Bristol City match and that was just a passing conversation about Danny’s wife. He was never interviewed they didn’t meet secretly at Ardsley house etc. I guess the moral is don’t take all the rumours you read on here as fact (as I’m sure most of you don’t!)[*]Ticketing System – this was partially implemented for the start of the season but there is more functionality to come which should help the club/fans. (We didn’t go into detail on this).[*]New IT and phone systems are in the process of being purchased/implemented which will again help improve the way the club operates on a day to day basis.[*]The financial reports will be published soon so you will be able to appreciate the mess that the board have had to deal with. GS was explaining that they now have plans to make sure that the club becomes cash neutral from next year. [*]&quot;Working for free&quot; - GS also didn’t understand the reference that keeps being made to him working for free. I don’t think I’ve understood this constant reference either. Would you prefer someone who isn’t a fan and who is being paid a couple of 100K a year doing the chairman’s role? His success as a business man means that he can use his experience for the clubs benefit. [*]I did suggest that the club might like to answer the questions in the &quot;Issues to be raised by the club&quot; forum. We got side tracked so I'll drop him an email about this tomorrow.[*]On the subject of emails going missing GS mentioned that if you need to email him, it should be via his PA Joanne@barnsleyfc.co.uk If you include your address they will drop the reply in the post as well.
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There have been positive comments posted on here regarding improvements that GS has brought in including the season tickets, new ticketing system, new programme and early days but things are looking better on the pitch too. The magnitude of the problems at the club means that things take time, It's all about prioritising. It can’t all happen at once, GS has only been in charge since the beginning of the year. 8 months isn't really long enough to him or his board. They are only just getting started. I think we need to be helpful and perhaps a bit more positive. Offer a solution rather than moaning? They are making progress and a bit of encouragement wouldn’t do any harm now and again!</p>

 </p><p align="center"><font size="5">Time to get behind the club and the team and move onwards and upwards.</font></p><p align="center"><font size="2">(queue more accusations of TT syndrome )</font>
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Thanks for the info. Why not make this a sticky?

 

Don't know about sticky, it was frozen when I first read this and wanted to thank City Tyke for posting it.ff

 

Good post mate

In my own personal dealings that I have had with Gordon , he has always been very helpful , polite , courteous and extremely friendly . We certainly didn't see eye to eye with regards to the price rises this summer , but I don't agree with The Boss all the time either !! I for one am very happy with him as chairman , even though that appears to put me in the minority on the board . Sorting out the many problems at the club is certainly going to take time , but I'm convinced he'll get there .

 

I don't think you are in the minority...

I just think its a bit like if you get a good service from a business apparently on average you'll tell 3 people about it. If you experience bad service you'll tell 11.</p>

 

Don't know Shepherd. Never spoken to him, never met him.

But he's got to be better than either Dóyle or Ridsdale. Shepherd has done nothing yet to make me question whether he's the right man for the job.

Personally, I don't care whether the pies are filled with dog meat; whether we have a scoreboard that needs changing by hand; whether the programme is produced by a blind four-year old using crépe paper. Win football matches. Get players who are hungry to win; get a manager who can create team spirit. Saturday was a good start. Nothing else matters.

 

good post City Tyke, was the meeting at your request or were you invited into Gordons/BFC's "circle of trust"??

its a difficult one mate, you don't want to fall into the "clubs mouthpiece" trap but at the same time the odd gem of info from them often shuts up the rumour mill and creates a bit of interest.

 

Scoreboard – There’s been mention of the scoreboard in the past – apparently its an obsolete American model and its difficult to source parts for it. The club are looking in to purchasing a new one but will buy the right one for the club not the first one they see. (And end up having to buy yet another one in a couple of years time) LEGENDARY BFC THERE, BUY A SCOREBOARD FROM THE 1ST TRAVELLING SALESMAN WE SEE (REMIND YOU OF DEL BOY SELLING RUSSIAN VIDEO PLAYERS?
PA System – engineers for the PA system were in twice before the game at the weekend. The East Stand PA was tested and WAS working. It was working well enough to wake a local man asleep in his home who was on nights and who went down to the club to make clear his feelings…
Disinformation – I get the impression Gordon and Patrick are upset about some of the disinformation/mistruths that gets posted on here and on its predecessor that maybe people take as being gospel. One example given was that Danny Wilson was interviewed/offered the managers job. GS only spoke to Danny briefly at the Bristol City match and that was just a passing conversation about Danny’s wife. He was never interviewed they didn’t meet secretly at Ardsley house etc. I guess the moral is don’t take all the rumours you read on here as fact (as I’m sure most of you don’t!) LIKE SOME OF OUR SIGNINGS. BIT TOUCHY RE INTERNET SITES - MAYBE THIS IS DUE TO JAY?
Ticketing System – this was partially implemented for the start of the season but there is more functionality to come which should help the club/fans. (We didn’t go into detail on this).
New IT and phone systems are in the process of being purchased/implemented which will again help improve the way the club operates on a day to day basis. GOOD STUFF
The financial reports will be published soon so you will be able to appreciate the mess that the board have had to deal with. GS was explaining that they now have plans to make sure that the club becomes cash neutral from next year. THEN TAKE A BIG DUMP ON RIDSDALE (WHY DINT WE LISTEN TO LEEDS FANS?)
"Working for free" - GS also didn’t understand the reference that keeps being made to him working for free. I don’t think I’ve understood this constant reference either. Would you prefer someone who isn’t a fan and who is being paid a couple of 100K a year doing the chairman’s role? His success as a business man means that he can use his experience for the clubs benefit.
I did suggest that the club might like to answer the questions in the "Issues to be raised by the club" forum. We got side tracked so I'll drop him an email about this tomorrow.
On the subject of emails going missing GS mentioned that if you need to email him, it should be via his PA Joanne@barnsleyfc.co.uk If you include your address they will drop the reply in the post as well. RIDSDALE WAS GOOD AT REPLYING, HOPEFULLY GS WILL BE TOO. POOR JOANNE WILL NO DOUBT GET SOME CRAP FROM SOME IDIOTS

 

All fair enough...

one simple solution is to actually communicate with the fans and acknowledge our petty concerns. That will pacify most people, just to know that we have been listened to.

As for rumours, get used to it. It's part of football and will be long after we have all packed up and gone to the Oakwell in the sky.

And e-mails...all I can say is that in personal experience e-mailing the given address does not work either.

I am quite prepared to go down to Oakwell and look at the IT System and suggest cost effective improvements. I'll do this for free, so no need to get stung by IT Consultants etc, although I appreciate that given Mr Cryne's industry he's likely to know someone who will give a good service. If the club are interested, contact City Tyke and he will give you my e-mail address.

I will not sit here and say that I have been happy with everything that has happened recently eg price hikes. It has all smacked of easy answers to me. But I guess the problems are a lot larger than we know (at the momeent - the books will make interesting reading)

A lot of recent issues could have been avoided with improved communication imho.

The offer is there if the club so wish to take it up. I will also look at the electronic security too, and see if anything can be done there.

 

Just thought I'd phone him and say hello really.

and to let him know how to contact me or the admin team if he needed to. </p>

 

Actually

I did offer my services to the club for free if they needed any IT advice. I think they have a new company they are dealing with though. I'll let you know if I ever get asked though.</p>

 

was he aware of the new site?

 

Okay...

can understand that..but the offer is there if they want it...

 

Yeah

Yeah he's aware of it. He hasn't read or posted on this or the old board for several months. This wasn't down to the TT thing or his argument with Jay either.</p>

 

I hope you made him aware of my polls, I want to see Richie picking his team based on our selections.

 

not the chairman!! us

 

Actually

Andy Ritchie was in the office when I called and GS put his hand of the receiver and said see you tomorrow night Andy at scunny. I'll give you a call tomorrow with Rothreds poll.</p>







(One part of that statement was untrue).</p>

 

did he call him by his formal name andrew?