"THE TRUST MEETING WITH GETHIN JENKINS"

Trust Board meets the New Chief Executive

Members of your Supporters' Trust Board have held a meeting with the new Chief Executive of Cardiff City Football Club to put your questions directly to him. Gethin Jenkins and his team, Julian Jenkins and Wayne Nash, expressed their desire to work with the Trust to improve communication with the fans and the club and we also got some very good news on a number of the issues you raised. Gethin has worked with a trust at his previous job with Newport rugby understands the importance of the club listening to what the fans have to say. He wants us to meet on a regular basis to ensure that your voice is heard within the club. Here are the main points from the meeting.

Fred Keenor statue appeal

The club is fully behind this appeal and has agreed to donate £1 from every ticket sold for our pre season friendly against Deportivo on 31 July to the appeal. With a gate of at least 8,000 expected for this game this is a fantastic gesture by the club and will truly kick start the fund raising appeal. The club has also agreed to organise a dinner at the stadium with proceeds going to statue fund. They will sell the 8" figurines of the statue which we are having made at the club shop and we will also have another bucket collection at a prime home game before Christmas.

Memorial garden

There have been environmental issues associated with completing the memorial garden which was part of the original design for the new stadium. The club hopes to have the necessary environmental certificate soon and the garden should be completed by Armistice weekend this year. The garden will comprise a fenced off green, a patio area with new lighting and benches and will be situated on the right hand side of the stadium as you look towards the main entrance from the retail park. Gethin also wants a war memorial to form part of the garden as so many people associated with the City have died serving their country over the years. We as a Trust have agreed to offer whatever help we can in terms of supplies and labour, so come on, what skills can you offer to help build the garden? Please email us at: members@ccfctrust.org

Environmental enhancement around the stadium

Improving the look of the stadium and its environs was also part of the building plan. A tree planting project will be undertaken to smarten up the area but this of course is a one of a number of competing financial priorities for the club.

Atmosphere and standing at CCS

Wayne Nash expressed his personal view that standing at all seater football stadiums is more of a service issue rather than a safety issue for clubs. Most people do not want to stand for the duration of a match and the Safety Advisory Group (which includes the police and the council) will not allow it. To accommodate fans Cardiff City created a singing section in the Canton stand where the rules would be interpreted liberally. But there is a zero tolerance policy to standing anywhere else in the ground. Wayne and his team will help relocate any season ticket holders who are not happy with people standing around them so that fans sit in the most appropriate areas for them.

Fans buying shares in the club

You asked whether there would be an opportunity for fans to buy new shares in the club. Gethin said that existing shareholders would be given the opportunity first but there were no plans at the moment for a share issue to fans. With a further possible share issue the problem is a legal one in that the last one offered to existing shareholders had an expiry date of 25 May 2010. A further share issue will need to comply with company law and Gethin suggested that this would therefore be a matter for Alan Whiteley to look at as the qualified lawyer on the board (and the person who organised the previous share issue).

Relocating the Family Stand

This matter has been raised more than once so let’s get the club’s thinking clear once and for all. The new stadium offered the club a one-off opportunity to ‘engineer’ out some of the problems associated with Ninian Park. It was not a nice place for visiting fans and there had been problems particularly when away fans were exiting the stadium. Seating the Family Stand next to the away section has improved matters and incidents of poor behaviour at CCS have decreased. If the Family Stand were to be relocated to the Canton then there would be additional costs for policing the fence between the away section and the Family Stand before and after the game. The club says the new layout works extremely well and does not intend to change it.

The club carried out some research among families attending matches in March of this year. Of the 250 families which replied, 98% said they would recommend a friend to visit the stadium. Only three people wanted to move to the other side of the stadium. The club must be praised for the way it has improved facilities for families. The whole area is branded ‘City Kids,’ and it has a Play Station area and Astroturf areas on the concourse so that the kids can be entertained. It has taken on board suggestion from children themselves that they would like child sized crisps and chocs to be sold in the shops rather than the big bags. (Come to think of it, I would like them too under the Ninian!) These efforts by the club have been recognised by the Football League. ‘Mystery’ families judge all the different grounds and this year Cardiff won the ‘Family Club of the Year.’

Meeting the Trust

Gethin said he had a good record at Newport of being open to meeting fans representatives. He understands that the profile and interest in the club here at Cardiff is so much higher but he still wants to hear what we as supporters have to say. We agreed that we would hold a joint meeting with the supporters club and the Chief Executive every other month to discuss any issues you want to raise.

Away ticketing

We related the concerns voiced by some fans as to the way away tickets have been allocated. The club says it must offer tangible benefits to those willing to invest in the club in advance and restated the away ticketing policy: Platinum Ambassadors who have been to X number of away games will get priority. Next come Ambassadors with X number of away games and then away travel club members. Wayne Nash said there had been disagreement within the club over the way the Chelsea allocation had operated and that it was unlikely that way of distributing the tickets would be used again.

Away membership

Trust members who do not live near Cardiff have told us that they feel they are not getting very much for their away membership. Historically this membership was created so that the club could work with police to ensure only law abiding fans got tickets. It was obvious that a football banning order in itself was not going to stop some from attending away matches once or twice a year and making trouble. The money raised from away membership goes directly towards stewarding at away matches. We take between 5 and 7 stewards away as well as an additional safety officer. The away membership guarantees tickets to away matches but the club has agreed to look at what ancillary benefits could be offered to this kind of membership. Similarly, the club will look at what else it can offer Ambassadors for their loyalty. An example of this is the reduced price for the pre season friendly against Deportivo for season ticket holders.

The Club shop

We received some complaints about the club shop and the club recognises that there have been problems. Gethin said the staff do a good job but that the club needs to review operations, look at what stock they get in and then make improvements. There are however problems with delivering kits and the like on time which are sometimes beyond the control of the club shop itself.

Next season’s kit

You asked if the new kit could be redesigned. I guess this one really is matter of personal taste, but the club says it will not be redesigned!

Club help for the Trust

We asked that the club offer some material help to the Trust when it goes out into the community. This could include some promotional material or raffle prizes being made available. We also discussed the possibility of the Trust selling club shop stock on behalf of the club. We agreed that a list of our activities and what we might want from the club be sent to them.

Removal of supporters books from the club shop

You asked us to find out why books written by supporters had been removed from the club shop. The book had actually sold out and the club decided that it did not want to restock this book as it did not feel it appropriate for a club shop.

Well how come I had to pick up 4 sacks of books from there and even the newspapers printed that (LIES FROM GETHIN JENKINS)

Income to the club

We asked the club what the main source of income would be now that the season ticket money for the 2010-2011 season had been spent. Gethin told us that the traditional streams of income, commercial operations and league and TV payments etc. were still available and that we have new investors who are looking at what options are available.

State of the pitch

Trust members have expressed concern at the state of the pitch and asked why we cannot have artificial lights which are rolled on after the final whistle to improve the playing surface. Wayne Nash agreed that the pitch was below average for the football league, that until Christmas the pitch had stood up well but that the terrible winter had taken its toll. When the sun came out the pitch improved dramatically and it is hoped that it will be rejuvenated following the reseeding this summer. They would love to be able to use the artificial lights but they come at a cost and it is a matter of competing priorities at the moment.

New players and Jenkins as a negotiator

You wanted to know if Gethin Jenkins would be directly involved in buying players, particularly from overseas. Gethin had a reputation at Newport for being a shrewd negotiator. He told us that he was now the senior manager responsible for budgets at the City and would therefore have a role in negotiating contracts. His first priority is to bring together a team which stands the test of time. However, he will not be selecting the team! We have already signed one new player and the rebuilding goes on.

All in all I think it was a productive meeting. Many thanks for all your questions. I think we have started to build a relationship with Gethin and his team. One of the last things he told us was that he hopes to build stability at the club and leave us in a stronger position than he found us.

Roll on the new season!

** Just to let you know that members of the Trust’s community group will have a stall at the Grangetown Festival at Grange Gardens off Corporation Road this Saturday afternoon. Come along from one o’clock and help recruit more members to the Trust.

Tim Hartley
C

With the standing issue, surely if we can't go to changing ends etc.. then it would make sense to allow standing in E23 in the Ninian Stand.

I think if you do that then a large number of those who want to stand will be able to do so, either in the Canton or in E23/E24 of the Ninian.

Probably not to many in E23 and E24 who want to sit as well.


What do you all think ?

I thought carl posted on here the other day that we had purchased the lights for the pitch but in that statement it says we ain't? Anyone clear that one up please?

I thought carl posted on here the other day that we had purchased the lights for the pitch but in that statement it says we ain't? Anyone clear that one up please?

TG has put money there for them to be purchased, but the truth be known Jenkins doesnt know what he is doing.

I thought carl posted on here the other day that we had purchased the lights for the pitch but in that statement it says we ain't? Anyone clear that one up please?

TG has put money there for them to be purchased, but the truth be known Jenkins doesnt know what he is doing.

Surely that would be down to the stadium management team to sort ?

You wouldn't see Riddler dirtying his hands with that sort of thing.

I thought carl posted on here the other day that we had purchased the lights for the pitch but in that statement it says we ain't? Anyone clear that one up please?

TG has put money there for them to be purchased, but the truth be known Jenkins doesnt know what he is doing.

Surely that would be down to the stadium management team to sort ?

You wouldn't see Riddler dirtying his hands with that sort of thing.

Removal of supporters books from the club shop

You asked us to find out why books written by supporters had been removed from the club shop. The book had actually sold out and the club decided that it did not want to restock this book as it did not feel it appropriate for a club shop.


I'm not a Shopkeeper myself, but if I were, and a certain line of stock sold out I would make sure that I was on to the suppliers to replenish my stock A.S.A.P. as there must be demand for it to sell out.

Removal of supporters books from the club shop

You asked us to find out why books written by supporters had been removed from the club shop. The book had actually sold out and the club decided that it did not want to restock this book as it did not feel it appropriate for a club shop.


I'm not a Shopkeeper myself, but if I were, and a certain line of stock sold out I would make sure that I was on to the suppliers to replenish my stock A.S.A.P. as there must be demand for it to sell out.

Marc, the problem we now have is MR Jenkins has now started telling Porkies

Removal of supporters books from the club shop


Well How come I Had to pick up 4 SACKS OF BOOKS FROM THEIR

Well....I think it was down to the fact the night before like you told the guy who was running the show he did not know what he was doing and you aksed the other guys who were meant to be running the show to agree with you. That might have had something ot do with it.

I wonder those that were meant to be running the show would now stand up against you? I wonder like.

the pitch thing

lets be honest here ..that needs sorting out pronto

it looked shocking down at pitch level some games

I thought carl posted on here the other day that we had purchased the lights for the pitch but in that statement it says we ain't? Anyone clear that one up please?

TG has put money there for them to be purchased, but the truth be known Jenkins doesnt know what he is doing.

I don`t think its right that TG put some money in specifically for the lighting system.

I spoke to him about the lights at last month`s EGM and he told me direct that how the cash being invested was spent would be largely up to the new local senior management team headed up by Gethin Jenkins and they woould prioritise how far up the list the lights would be.

At last night`s meeting with the Trust , Wayne went into a fair bit of technical detail as to exactly what had gone wrong with the pitch and what had been decided to do with it to prevent it happening next season .The grass has just been reseeded after the Stereophonics concert and he is confident that the new surface (which will take 6 weeks to fully bed in) will prevent a reoccurance of the problem.

For the above reasons , the club has decided that the £300k plus that the lighting system would cost could be better spent elsewhere in the club. Whether or not we agree with that decision (and I am not entirely sure I do myself) I am happy to defer to better technical knowledge of these things than I have myself.

Wayne also explained why the wear pattern on the pitch when it looked crap for a couple of months proved that it was not the egg chasing that had been a big factor in its poor state.

Keith

Removal of supporters books from the club shop


Well How come I Had to pick up 4 SACKS OF BOOKS FROM THEIR

Well....I think it was down to the fact the night before like you told the guy who was running the show he did not know what he was doing and you aksed the other guys who were meant to be running the show to agree with you. That might have had something ot do with it.

I wonder those that were meant to be running the show would now stand up against you? I wonder like.

Ian, Your Spot on

the more i hear about this gethin jenkins guy, the more i feckin hate him!! he's trying to "eggify" us. plain and simple. no standing, ban this book, ban that book etc. whats next...... mingling with the gypo's before a south wales derby game!! f**k em and f**k him! i understand he wants to clean up our image but gwyn and the rams made huge leeways where that was concerned, documented in the great book "the rise and fall of the valley rams" and he went and feckin banned it! uh???

I am sorry but i don't like our new CEO, he really comes across as a know it all. He reckons he gained a reputation of being a hard negotiator at the dragons - Bollox, Paul Turner has done all that and everyone at the club knows that,hence nobody there was heartbroken when he left.
So its up to him how he allocates the available funds and he and his chosen team has decided that ensuring we have a perfect pitch is not a priority. Gethin, we are a footballing side and our players need a good playing surface.
Get the priorities right Gethin, you seem more concerned about stamping your authority on petty issues like items sold in the pathetic shop than helping our players performances.
You seemed quite positive about the shop and said the club has had problems with stock, well the Blues dont seem to have the problems Gethin and have a good range of products to satisfy all tastes and all ages.
I applaud the support that you are NOW giving to the Fred Keenor statue appeal ( been mentioned on here previously).
With regard to the standing issue, why is it that the rugby supporters stand and no action is taken and no threats to ban them.
Is it that the police and the council has said its nice for them to stand or is it that YOU just want to stamp your authority on the footballing side.

I am sorry but i don't like our new CEO, he really comes across as a know it all. He reckons he gained a reputation of being a hard negotiator at the dragons - Bollox, Paul Turner has done all that and everyone at the club knows that,hence nobody there was heartbroken when he left.
So its up to him how he allocates the available funds and he and his chosen team has decided that ensuring we have a perfect pitch is not a priority. Gethin, we are a footballing side and our players need a good playing surface.
Get the priorities right Gethin, you seem more concerned about stamping your authority on petty issues like items sold in the pathetic shop than helping our players performances.
You seemed quite positive about the shop and said the club has had problems with stock, well the Blues dont seem to have the problems Gethin and have a good range of products to satisfy all tastes and all ages.
I applaud the support that you are NOW giving to the Fred Keenor statue appeal ( been mentioned on here previously).
With regard to the standing issue, why is it that the rugby supporters stand and no action is taken and no threats to ban them.
Is it that the police and the council has said its nice for them to stand or is it that YOU just want to stamp your authority on the footballing side.

I should say up front that I am no spokesman for the new CEO or any of his team - they are all big boys and can speak for themselves.

However , I think it is only fair to clarify some of the points you make , based upon what was actually said last night where relevant.

1) The comments about G Jenkins` contribution at the Dragons. I suspect that there are a wide range of opinions as to his effectiveness within their fanbase (as there are on all matters CCFC within ours).But the directors there that I have spoken to certainly rate him very highly.

2)Wayne Nash was the person who explained about the pitch. Yes , he admits that in an ideal world he would love the artificial lighting system. But he also said that he believes that an excellent pitch can still be achieved without them , having learned from last season`s mistakes that were made and having now fully resown the grass.

3)The shop problem appears to have been on the ordering side and with the supply chain - CCFC has a different supplier to Cardiff Blues - as well as with decisions made on the quality and range of stock.The range is being reviewed , and fans can expect a big improvement next season (including a new range of what were described as "pocket money" items suitable for children to buy).

4) The Fred Keenor statue support is great news , which I was unaware of prior to last night`s meeting and will go a long way towards making it actually happen.

5) Standing is a tricky issue which is constantly being monitored by the club to make sure it is not fined (or worse) by the relevant authorities.Can`t see it is a problem , provided standing is limited to the "singing" areas in the Canton Stand where people buying tickets are (or should be) aware that there is a risk their view of the game will be blocked by fans standing in front of them. Don`t see why fans in other parts of the ground should have their view spoilt though - they pay the same admission fee as anyone else.
I agree that the rugby crowds seem to be treated more leniently on this , but then there are nowhere near as many of them as CCFC fans so they block other people`s views far less and they don`t have "singing" areas as such.

Keith

Keith,

Thanks for your viewpoint and I respect your judgement however i must say that I will wait and see what happens later in the season.

As far as Gethin's track record with dragons we have obviously spoken to different sides but as you say that can happen in any club.

Wayne Nash has said that he has spoken to other groundsmen at other clubs that have similar pitches and that he will learn from last seasons mistakes. Gwyn why did he not consult these people before and then we might not have had to endure the terrible pitch last season. I wish I could be as confident as you about the pitch but again we will see.

The shop can only improve as it has been a disgrace and the club has lost vital revenue because of it. The club says its been an ordering problem. They must have forgotten to order Keith because the place has been like Mother Hubbards cupboard. I know the the Riddler has gone but surely he didn't choose the product lines and do the ordering by himself ( perhaps i am wrong). We need retail professionals with flair and vision and PROFIT targets.

I am so pleased about the Fred Keenor appeal and i did mention on here days ago that the club should look at what forest are doing to help the Clough -Taylor statue. Full marks to Gethin on that one!!!

Lastly Keith the standing issue.
I am in my early sixties and can assure you the last thing in the world i want is to stand, however what does concern me is that there is dual standards stewarding at the ground.I went to Blues game and people were standing at the rear of many of the stands and the stewards did nothing. If the stadium has a policy then it should be applied equally, it did appear to me that this was not being applied and that for our games they seem to feed the stewards on testosterone tablets.

Keith I am glad that Gethin is listening to the fans, my worry is that he is just that a good listener but will not change his mind ever. I so hope I am wrong

Clive

Keith,

Thanks for your viewpoint and I respect your judgement however i must say that I will wait and see what happens later in the season.

As far as Gethin's track record with dragons we have obviously spoken to different sides but as you say that can happen in any club.

Wayne Nash has said that he has spoken to other groundsmen at other clubs that have similar pitches and that he will learn from last seasons mistakes. Gwyn why did he not consult these people before and then we might not have had to endure the terrible pitch last season. I wish I could be as confident as you about the pitch but again we will see.

The shop can only improve as it has been a disgrace and the club has lost vital revenue because of it. The club says its been an ordering problem. They must have forgotten to order Keith because the place has been like Mother Hubbards cupboard. I know the the Riddler has gone but surely he didn't choose the product lines and do the ordering by himself ( perhaps i am wrong). We need retail professionals with flair and vision and PROFIT targets.

I am so pleased about the Fred Keenor appeal and i did mention on here days ago that the club should look at what forest are doing to help the Clough -Taylor statue. Full marks to Gethin on that one!!!

Lastly Keith the standing issue.
I am in my early sixties and can assure you the last thing in the world i want is to stand, however what does concern me is that there is dual standards stewarding at the ground.I went to Blues game and people were standing at the rear of many of the stands and the stewards did nothing. If the stadium has a policy then it should be applied equally, it did appear to me that this was not being applied and that for our games they seem to feed the stewards on testosterone tablets.

Keith I am glad that Gethin is listening to the fans, my worry is that he is just that a good listener but will not change his mind ever. I so hope I am wrong

Clive

Clive

Waiting to see what happens has got to be sensible as you say.

At present , the explanations given to the Trust were sensible , even if we don`t agree with them all and for that reason I am willing to give the new regime time to implement their new policies.But they will need to perform to retain the goodwill of the majority of the fanbase that represents a large proportion of the club`s income streams .

They will never please all of the people all of the time (all of the people some of the time would be good at CCFC!) but I hope (and believe at present) that they will do a far better job of it than the last few incumbents going back over the years. If they don`t get it right over time then they should , and will , be rightly criticised.

Keith

I agree with Keith and we should give this regime the chance to ' find their feet ' and then judge them once we are up and running and into the season, I am very glad that the club are talking directly to the fans through our forum and the trust alike.

Whilst on the subject of the trust I have read that my meeting on behalf of this forum somehow undermined the trusts meeting with them and I understand that some people are sceptical of my motives and also questioned how my agenda was exactly the same as the trust.

I had been in dialogue with Gethin Jenkins throughout the week previous to my meeting and when the conversations started I was unaware that the trust had a scheduled meeting with him, Gethin Jenkins invited to me to a meeting at the club and I did not request it but I gladly accepted. Regarding my questions, considering I have been a City for 23 years I think it is quite understandable that I asked questions and raised concerns that the trust also had, I asked questions regarding the family stand cause I sit in there.

So to make everyone aware I will go to more meetings with the club and will continue to bring the news directly to this forum.

I agree with Keith and we should give this regime the chance to ' find their feet ' and then judge them once we are up and running and into the season, I am very glad that the club are talking directly to the fans through our forum and the trust alike.

Whilst on the subject of the trust I have read that my meeting on behalf of this forum somehow undermined the trusts meeting with them and I understand that some people are sceptical of my motives and also questioned how my agenda was exactly the same as the trust.

I had been in dialogue with Gethin Jenkins throughout the week previous to my meeting and when the conversations started I was unaware that the trust had a scheduled meeting with him, Gethin Jenkins invited to me to a meeting at the club and I did not request it but I gladly accepted. Regarding my questions, considering I have been a City for 23 years I think it is quite understandable that I asked questions and raised concerns that the trust also had, I asked questions regarding the family stand cause I sit in there.

So to make everyone aware I will go to more meetings with the club and will continue to bring the news directly to this forum.

Nice one Carl.

I agree with Keith and we should give this regime the chance to ' find their feet ' and then judge them once we are up and running and into the season, I am very glad that the club are talking directly to the fans through our forum and the trust alike.

Whilst on the subject of the trust I have read that my meeting on behalf of this forum somehow undermined the trusts meeting with them and I understand that some people are sceptical of my motives and also questioned how my agenda was exactly the same as the trust.

I had been in dialogue with Gethin Jenkins throughout the week previous to my meeting and when the conversations started I was unaware that the trust had a scheduled meeting with him, Gethin Jenkins invited to me to a meeting at the club and I did not request it but I gladly accepted. Regarding my questions, considering I have been a City for 23 years I think it is quite understandable that I asked questions and raised concerns that the trust also had, I asked questions regarding the family stand cause I sit in there.

So to make everyone aware I will go to more meetings with the club and will continue to bring the news directly to this forum.

Nice one Carl.

Yes and We shall watch them very closely