CCFC FANS PARLIAMENT

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

Just to clarify , there will be a three tier system of fan engagement going forward

Fans Advisory Board - this will be a relatively small group of elected fans (probably 10 or so) made up of elected members from the Trust, the Supporters Club, the Disabled Supporters plus some selected season ticket holders (elected by fans). This group will meet with club senior management on a quarterly basis to discuss strategic high level issues and the club will be obliged to consult with them on major decisions impacting on fans.

Fans Parliament - this will be a meeting twice a year involving a far larger group of fans (maybe a hundred or so) and will be a general question and answer format rather than a decision making format. Club management (probably to include club Chair and manager) will attend to field and answer those questions. This is the one you have been invited to attend. Not all season ticket holders can attend as the numbers make that impracticable so I understand the club did a selection based on random season ticket membership numbers.

SLO meetings - these will be held regularly through the season and will principally deal with supporter travel issues, ticketing etc.

Hope this helps

Keith

Thank you Keith for that explanation, I am somewhat disapointed that the fans parliament seems a little toothless. Whilst respecting that the club is there to be operated by the board and executive management there have been many times where imput from fans could help achieve positive outcomes for the club which we all hold dear.
Over the last few years the club's communications with all parties have left a lot to be desired, I had hoped that this was about to change for the better, I sincerely hope we are on a better pathway in the relationships of all concerned

Many thanks
Gareth

I've been invited to take part.

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

MP whistler lol, I heard the salary’s good plus expenses

£1 a pint, 50p for a pie, priorities

Thank you Keith for that explanation, I am somewhat disapointed that the fans parliament seems a little toothless. Whilst respecting that the club is there to be operated by the board and executive management there have been many times where imput from fans could help achieve positive outcomes for the club which we all hold dear.
Over the last few years the club's communications with all parties have left a lot to be desired, I had hoped that this was about to change for the better, I sincerely hope we are on a better pathway in the relationships of all concerned

Many thanks
Gareth

Hi Gareth,

Keith and I away from the forum get on really well and we both have a lot in common.
But he knows my view , personally I feel the fans parliament is a load of bollox before it starts.

Waste of space.

And I know many many season tickets holders who never received an email.

I also know for a fact the hierarchy will always make it that they don’t get fans who will ask them the type of questions that will upset the apple cart.

Quite a while back they treated Keith with disrespect and Vince when the questions are not to their liking.

Thank you Keith for that explanation, I am somewhat disapointed that the fans parliament seems a little toothless. Whilst respecting that the club is there to be operated by the board and executive management there have been many times where imput from fans could help achieve positive outcomes for the club which we all hold dear.
Over the last few years the club's communications with all parties have left a lot to be desired, I had hoped that this was about to change for the better, I sincerely hope we are on a better pathway in the relationships of all concerned

Many thanks
Gareth

No problem.

The Fans Advisory Board certainly won`t be toothless if properly constituted . The Trust ,Supporters Club and DSA members will have to be elected by their members to sit on it and the members elected by season ticket holders will give as many people as possible a chance to raise important issues.

I can obviously only make a commitment on the part of the Trust but we will certainly always represent the views of our members as fans and remember that we are answerable to them and not the club management i.e we will always value our independence

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

Just to clarify , there will be a three tier system of fan engagement going forward

Fans Advisory Board - this will be a relatively small group of elected fans (probably 10 or so) made up of elected members from the Trust, the Supporters Club, the Disabled Supporters plus some selected season ticket holders (elected by fans). This group will meet with club senior management on a quarterly basis to discuss strategic high level issues and the club will be obliged to consult with them on major decisions impacting on fans.

Fans Parliament - this will be a meeting twice a year involving a far larger group of fans (maybe a hundred or so) and will be a general question and answer format rather than a decision making format. Club management (probably to include club Chair and manager) will attend to field and answer those questions. This is the one you have been invited to attend. Not all season ticket holders can attend as the numbers make that impracticable so I understand the club did a selection based on random season ticket membership numbers.

SLO meetings - these will be held regularly through the season and will principally deal with supporter travel issues, ticketing etc.

Hope this helps

Keith

Thanks Keith, decent information.

Am I right in thinking we were required to set this up by the UK Government?

Also, congratulations on your re-election as chair of the Trust

Thank you Keith for that explanation, I am somewhat disapointed that the fans parliament seems a little toothless. Whilst respecting that the club is there to be operated by the board and executive management there have been many times where imput from fans could help achieve positive outcomes for the club which we all hold dear.
Over the last few years the club's communications with all parties have left a lot to be desired, I had hoped that this was about to change for the better, I sincerely hope we are on a better pathway in the relationships of all concerned

Many thanks
Gareth

Hi Gareth,

Keith and I away from the forum get on really well and we both have a lot in common.
But he knows my view , personally I feel the fans parliament is a load of bollox before it starts.

Waste of space.

And I know many many season tickets holders who never received an email.

I also know for a fact the hierarchy will always make it that they don’t get fans who will ask them the type of questions that will upset the apple cart.

Quite a while back they treated Keith with disrespect and Vince when the questions are not to their liking.

Annis

As I say above in this thread it is not the intention that the Fans Parliament will be a decision making forum but it is far from a waste of space as it will give a large number of season ticket holders the chance twice a year to ask questions of the club senior management up to and including board level.

You told me when we met at the TNS game that you know of several season ticket holders who didn`t receive an invite to apply to attend the Fans Parliament. I know of some in a similar position but have no idea how the invite system used by the club was set up. I have asked the question of how those who have applied to be invited were selected to attend and have been told that this was done by drawing random season ticket holder numbers "out of a ht" as it were.

The "hierarchy" won`t have the power to only select fans who won`t rock the boat in fans meetings as the Fans Advisory Board will have to include (by Government insistence) members of the Supporters Trust and we certainly aren`t afraid to ask awkward questions on behalf of our members. Asking such awkward questions was what caused the club owner and one of his directors to fall out with the Trust some time ago and make false accusations about our status as an organisation. When they were shown the evidence that not only had been continuous full members of the national Football Supporters Association (FSA) like the Supporters Club but also had the extra status of being recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority they were shown to be wrong. We never did get an apology for the false claim but subsequently lines of communication reopened and I have had a number of full and frank conversations with club Chair Mehmet Dalman.

The final version of the White Paper on this will be out before Parliament breaks for their Summer break so I will be able to provide a further update then

Keith

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

Just to clarify , there will be a three tier system of fan engagement going forward

Fans Advisory Board - this will be a relatively small group of elected fans (probably 10 or so) made up of elected members from the Trust, the Supporters Club, the Disabled Supporters plus some selected season ticket holders (elected by fans). This group will meet with club senior management on a quarterly basis to discuss strategic high level issues and the club will be obliged to consult with them on major decisions impacting on fans.

Fans Parliament - this will be a meeting twice a year involving a far larger group of fans (maybe a hundred or so) and will be a general question and answer format rather than a decision making format. Club management (probably to include club Chair and manager) will attend to field and answer those questions. This is the one you have been invited to attend. Not all season ticket holders can attend as the numbers make that impracticable so I understand the club did a selection based on random season ticket membership numbers.

SLO meetings - these will be held regularly through the season and will principally deal with supporter travel issues, ticketing etc.

Hope this helps

Keith

Thanks Keith, decent information.

Am I right in thinking we were required to set this up by the UK Government?

Also, congratulations on your re-election as chair of the Trust

Thanks Ned , but it sometimes feels like commiserations would be more accurate It is the classic case of a purely voluntary position being open to criticism as you can`t please all of the people all of the time no matter how many hours you put into it. However, the only time I have lost my temper over the years is when the club CEO accused me of being "disloyal" for raising a point of criticism of the club board and owner. A little rich when I have been a fan of the club for longer than he has been alive but there you go!

Where I am very fortunate is that I have the support of a brilliant Trust board and Trust Secretary who give me guidance and advice to keep me in order. We have had some new board members recently but are still looking for more so that we can spread the load and do more things for our members and the CCFC community.

Keith

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

Just to clarify , there will be a three tier system of fan engagement going forward

Fans Advisory Board - this will be a relatively small group of elected fans (probably 10 or so) made up of elected members from the Trust, the Supporters Club, the Disabled Supporters plus some selected season ticket holders (elected by fans). This group will meet with club senior management on a quarterly basis to discuss strategic high level issues and the club will be obliged to consult with them on major decisions impacting on fans.

Fans Parliament - this will be a meeting twice a year involving a far larger group of fans (maybe a hundred or so) and will be a general question and answer format rather than a decision making format. Club management (probably to include club Chair and manager) will attend to field and answer those questions. This is the one you have been invited to attend. Not all season ticket holders can attend as the numbers make that impracticable so I understand the club did a selection based on random season ticket membership numbers.

SLO meetings - these will be held regularly through the season and will principally deal with supporter travel issues, ticketing etc.

Hope this helps

Keith

Thanks Keith, decent information.

Am I right in thinking we were required to set this up by the UK Government?

Also, congratulations on your re-election as chair of the Trust

Sorry Ned missed out an answer to one of your questions earlier.

The current White Paper says that clubs must prove that they have adequate and meaningful communication with their fans groups and set expected minimum standards to include meetings with Trusts. The Premier League have enforced their clubs to have Fans Advisory Boards from this coming season and the EFL are expected to follow suit (with more stringent requirements) very soon but might be from the season after when an Independent Regulator is in place. Pressure will be put on clubs to have them in place before the law enforces them to do so.

Keith

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

Just to clarify , there will be a three tier system of fan engagement going forward

Fans Advisory Board - this will be a relatively small group of elected fans (probably 10 or so) made up of elected members from the Trust, the Supporters Club, the Disabled Supporters plus some selected season ticket holders (elected by fans). This group will meet with club senior management on a quarterly basis to discuss strategic high level issues and the club will be obliged to consult with them on major decisions impacting on fans.

Fans Parliament - this will be a meeting twice a year involving a far larger group of fans (maybe a hundred or so) and will be a general question and answer format rather than a decision making format. Club management (probably to include club Chair and manager) will attend to field and answer those questions. This is the one you have been invited to attend. Not all season ticket holders can attend as the numbers make that impracticable so I understand the club did a selection based on random season ticket membership numbers.

SLO meetings - these will be held regularly through the season and will principally deal with supporter travel issues, ticketing etc.

Hope this helps

Keith

Thanks Keith, decent information.

Am I right in thinking we were required to set this up by the UK Government?

Also, congratulations on your re-election as chair of the Trust

Thanks Ned , but it sometimes feels like commiserations would be more accurate It is the classic case of a purely voluntary position being open to criticism as you can`t please all of the people all of the time no matter how many hours you put into it. However, the only time I have lost my temper over the years is when the club CEO accused me of being "disloyal" for raising a point of criticism of the club board and owner. A little rich when I have been a fan of the club for longer than he has been alive but there you go!

Where I am very fortunate is that I have the support of a brilliant Trust board and Trust Secretary who give me guidance and advice to keep me in order. We have had some new board members recently but are still looking for more so that we can spread the load and do more things for our members and the CCFC community.

Keith

Got full respect for you Keith and all those who work with the Trust. We all want the best for the club and the Trust are best positioned to action that. There have been times I've criticised the Trust but never believed you've all not done what is in the club's best interests.

Clearly I wasn't there for the comments made about you but I did hear about them and they were totally uncalled for. Like you say, you've enjoyed the good times with our club but also been through the bad and there have been difficult times for the club. I'm not a member but believe the Trust have handled the bad times well.

Good of you to appreciate the Trust Board, and highlights humility.

Only wish you good for your continuation as chair and no doubt we'll cross paths over the coming season

I assume that everyone who has renewed their season ticket would have had the opportunity to put their name forward for the "Fans Parliament", I did that and I received an email from the club this week to say that I have been successful in my application. So I am not sure how this is going to work and indeed what purpose it will serve. I was wondering who else has had an invitation to join this Group.

If I am to be a member of Fans Parliament then what do my fellow fans want to me to put forward on their behalf.

Just to clarify , there will be a three tier system of fan engagement going forward

Fans Advisory Board - this will be a relatively small group of elected fans (probably 10 or so) made up of elected members from the Trust, the Supporters Club, the Disabled Supporters plus some selected season ticket holders (elected by fans). This group will meet with club senior management on a quarterly basis to discuss strategic high level issues and the club will be obliged to consult with them on major decisions impacting on fans.

Fans Parliament - this will be a meeting twice a year involving a far larger group of fans (maybe a hundred or so) and will be a general question and answer format rather than a decision making format. Club management (probably to include club Chair and manager) will attend to field and answer those questions. This is the one you have been invited to attend. Not all season ticket holders can attend as the numbers make that impracticable so I understand the club did a selection based on random season ticket membership numbers.

SLO meetings - these will be held regularly through the season and will principally deal with supporter travel issues, ticketing etc.

Hope this helps

Keith

Thanks Keith, decent information.

Am I right in thinking we were required to set this up by the UK Government?

Also, congratulations on your re-election as chair of the Trust

Sorry Ned missed out an answer to one of your questions earlier.

The current White Paper says that clubs must prove that they have adequate and meaningful communication with their fans groups and set expected minimum standards to include meetings with Trusts. The Premier League have enforced their clubs to have Fans Advisory Boards from this coming season and the EFL are expected to follow suit (with more stringent requirements) very soon but might be from the season after when an Independent Regulator is in place. Pressure will be put on clubs to have them in place before the law enforces them to do so.

Keith

So the club made the sensible decision to do this before they were almost forced into it

Either way I see all this as a good thing.

But I also hope the independent regulator will eventually go further in getting fans involved.

Having started this thread, I now have an understanding of what a Fan's Parliament is as far as CCFC is concerned. I must say that I am rather disappointed that it appears to be nothing more than talking shop about nothing!

The term Parliament in my eyes means elected people who make collective decisions based on the needs of people who they represent. It appears to me that it is not a parliament in any shape or form. As I stated previously I totally recognize that the Board and executive management have the right to manage the club in all matters, however if they want to promote greater collections with the fans who have the best interests of the club then worth while engagement is needed so that positive outcomes can be achieved.

Having started this thread, I now have an understanding of what a Fan's Parliament is as far as CCFC is concerned. I must say that I am rather disappointed that it appears to be nothing more than talking shop about nothing!

The term Parliament in my eyes means elected people who make collective decisions based on the needs of people who they represent. It appears to me that it is not a parliament in any shape or form. As I stated previously I totally recognize that the Board and executive management have the right to manage the club in all matters, however if they want to promote greater collections with the fans who have the best interests of the club then worth while engagement is needed so that positive outcomes can be achieved.

Not often I do this but will stick up for the club a bit on this.

The whole fans parliament and further engagements are enforced by the UK Government.

We can't judge what the club does after these discussions until it happens.

I had an e-mail from a Ben Jones CCFC re Fans Parliament but it was blank Guess that’s a no then

I also recieved an invite to become a member of this parliament, after reading these posts I'm not sure I'll accept the invite. I wasn't aware of the 3 tier system, whilst I know a lot of people dedicate their time to the club within those groups mentioned who will make up the tier 1 structure, it does sound like " same old same old " people. Our club needs a fresh fan approach, outlook going forward. I do not see this 3 tier structure making any difference.

I also recieved an invite to become a member of this parliament, after reading these posts I'm not sure I'll accept the invite. I wasn't aware of the 3 tier system, whilst I know a lot of people dedicate their time to the club within those groups mentioned who will make up the tier 1 structure, it does sound like " same old same old " people. Our club needs a fresh fan approach, outlook going forward. I do not see this 3 tier structure making any difference.

I would encourage all fans invited to engage.

Although this is as good as been enforced on the club, it will have an impact.

All those invited should embrace it and be honest.