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Statement About Tele Front Page


so72

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The club wish to comment on the article written by Lorraine Tinney on the front page of today’s Greenock Telegraph under the headline: BLIND FURY, Morton deny fans access to special commentary box.

 

 The tone of the article has given the inference that the club has denied access to visually impaired fans as a deliberate act. The Tele Says opinion piece states the club locked out a blind fan. This again besmirches the club by inaccurate comment. Greenock Morton Football Club has never and will never openly exclude anyone who wishes to watch games at Cappielow.

 

The facts of the matter are that in an inspection of the stadium in respect of our Safety Certificate, it was found that persons using the commentary box had changed the locks and the club had no access.  Entry was gained, and it was found that there were several electric heaters plus television and catering equipment in the room. These were not installed or been professionally tested by the club, and were deemed to be a significant fire risk by a professionally qualified person.

 

Given the obvious safety issues that were highlighted during the annual electrical testing by outside contractors , the supply had to be cut to the room or the Safety Certificate was not going to be issued by Inverclyde Council.

 

It is not the club’s objective to deny access to persons using this room, but as a responsible company we must ensure that the health and safety of persons visiting the stadium is paramount.

 

We are currently in the process of assessing upgrades and the future use of the room, including use by the Blind Association. We will ensure we make the best use of this room for our fans and the Inverclyde community as a whole.

 

Last month we received an email from a Mr Stewart, who uses the room, asking for an update. He received a reply and was asked to provide information on use but did not respond. He did though choose to contact local MSP Stuart McMillan and The Greenock Telegraph.

 

Yesterday morning an email was received at the club from Ms Tinney. We responded advising on the safety reasons for this action and advising that we were looking at how best to use this room for the benefit of our fans and the community.

 

Until that process is completed, Mr Robertson who featured in the article, will continue to be welcomed as a guest of the club and we will ensure he views the game in a secure and safe location.

 

In respect of the club’s relationship with The Greenock Telegraph, we have introduced a new process of channelling all interview requests through the football management team. This process is standard at most football clubs but is a change to the previous arrangement where the Telegraph contacted players independently and without consultation with the club.  We will continue to work with The Telegraph to provide exclusive stories of interest to our fans, and we believe this new way of working will enhance the quality and delivery.

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The club wish to comment on the article written by Lorraine Tinney on the front page of today’s Greenock Telegraph under the headline: BLIND FURY, Morton deny fans access to special commentary box.

 

 The tone of the article has given the inference that the club has denied access to visually impaired fans as a deliberate act. The Tele Says opinion piece states the club locked out a blind fan. This again besmirches the club by inaccurate comment. Greenock Morton Football Club has never and will never openly exclude anyone who wishes to watch games at Cappielow.

 

The facts of the matter are that in an inspection of the stadium in respect of our Safety Certificate, it was found that persons using the commentary box had changed the locks and the club had no access.  Entry was gained, and it was found that there were several electric heaters plus television and catering equipment in the room. These were not installed or been professionally tested by the club, and were deemed to be a significant fire risk by a professionally qualified person.

 

Given the obvious safety issues that were highlighted during the annual electrical testing by outside contractors , the supply had to be cut to the room or the Safety Certificate was not going to be issued by Inverclyde Council.

 

It is not the club’s objective to deny access to persons using this room, but as a responsible company we must ensure that the health and safety of persons visiting the stadium is paramount.

 

We are currently in the process of assessing upgrades and the future use of the room, including use by the Blind Association. We will ensure we make the best use of this room for our fans and the Inverclyde community as a whole.

 

Last month we received an email from a Mr Stewart, who uses the room, asking for an update. He received a reply and was asked to provide information on use but did not respond. He did though choose to contact local MSP Stuart McMillan and The Greenock Telegraph.

 

Yesterday morning an email was received at the club from Ms Tinney. We responded advising on the safety reasons for this action and advising that we were looking at how best to use this room for the benefit of our fans and the community.

 

Until that process is completed, Mr Robertson who featured in the article, will continue to be welcomed as a guest of the club and we will ensure he views the game in a secure and safe location.

 

In respect of the club’s relationship with The Greenock Telegraph, we have introduced a new process of channelling all interview requests through the football management team. This process is standard at most football clubs but is a change to the previous arrangement where the Telegraph contacted players independently and without consultation with the club.  We will continue to work with The Telegraph to provide exclusive stories of interest to our fans, and we believe this new way of working will enhance the quality and delivery.

 

Or you could sort your own affairs out and use our own website like every other club in the country!

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Talking about a blind fan 'viewing' the game isn't going to endear the club to anyone

 

Indeed. Maybe just me, and it was maybe misquoted, but the tone of the club's response as quoted in the Tele article didn't make them sound too great; their statement could probably do with being a bit less blunt too, although it's hardly the end of the world.

 

As for the last bit, that's surely how it should always have been. The club website should be the primary source of news and features, not the local paper so hopefully this is a step towards rectifying that although in the context it seems more like a rebuke than anything else.

AWMSC

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Indeed. Maybe just me, and it was maybe misquoted, but the tone of the club's response as quoted in the Tele article didn't make them sound too great; their statement could probably do with being a bit less blunt too, although it's hardly the end of the world.

 

As for the last bit, that's surely how it should always have been. The club website should be the primary source of news and features, not the local paper so hopefully this is a step towards rectifying that although in the context it seems more like a rebuke than anything else.

The whole thing just adds to the evidence of why we need an actual media professional at the club

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The whole thing just adds to the evidence of why we need an actual media professional at the club

 

Not really. It shouldn't take a dedicated professional to stick out a statement out that at least pretends to be a wee bit sympathetic to a fan with disabilities, the slightest bit of common sense would cover it.

AWMSC

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Aside from anything else, the implication that nobody at all from the club has been near the room in question for quite some time isn't a great look either.

 

Surely somebody stuck their head in now and again and would have noticed all the electrical items causing the problems?

AWMSC

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Aside from anything else, the implication that nobody at all from the club has been near the room in question for quite some time isn't a great look either.

 

Surely somebody stuck their head in now and again and would have noticed all the electrical items causing the problems?

 

Was thinking that. It's not like it's some inaccessible attic.

 

Now, with that said...

 

The wording of the statement is ambiguous and unclear - because, as with everything else at Morton, an amateur has written it - so it's not clear whether or not anything was plugged in. But if it's true that there were a bunch of untested TVs and electric heaters plugged in then that is an irresponsible fire risk on the part of whoever did it. You simply can't do that in a wooden stand with limited exits where hundreds of people congregate. Hopefully whoever did this is severely punished.

 

I know it seems a bit over the top to say "someone plugged in a heater and that's terrible" but there is a reason we have these fire safety procedures, and it's that in old wooden structures, probably with old wiring systems, accidents can and do happen.

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Was thinking that. It's not like it's some inaccessible attic.

 

Now, with that said...

 

The wording of the statement is ambiguous and unclear - because, as with everything else at Morton, an amateur has written it - so it's not clear whether or not anything was plugged in. But if it's true that there were a bunch of untested TVs and electric heaters plugged in then that is an irresponsible fire risk on the part of whoever did it. You simply can't do that in a wooden stand with limited exits where hundreds of people congregate. Hopefully whoever did this is severely punished.

 

I know it seems a bit over the top to say "someone plugged in a heater and that's terrible" but there is a reason we have these fire safety procedures, and it's that in old wooden structures, probably with old wiring systems, accidents can and do happen.

The statement is sloppy at best but the reasoning for the action seems fair.

 

Would have been very Morton to have just acted shouting that some cunts are making tea and toast and not buying a pie and bovril.

 

Does look poor that stuff was happening under our noses, and the locks being changed is frankly bizarre.

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The statement is sloppy at best but the reasoning for the action seems fair.

 

Would have been very Morton to have just acted shouting that some cunts are making tea and toast and not buying a pie and bovril.

 

Does look poor that stuff was happening under our noses, and the locks being changed is frankly bizarre.

 

Between that and journalists previously having unfettered access to the players, I'm glad that there is at least a slow move towards making sure that, if something happens at Cappielow, management are aware of it. That is how it should be.

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Between that and journalists previously having unfettered access to the players, I'm glad that there is at least a slow move towards making sure that, if something happens at Cappielow, management are aware of it. That is how it should be.

Lot to do, but definite progress made and areas being looked at the previously weren't.

 

Dave McKinnon spent ages at the QOS game watching the pie stall behind the cowshed. No idea what he was observing but seemed engrossed.

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Lot to do, but definite progress made and areas being looked at the previously weren't.

 

Dave McKinnon spent ages at the QOS game watching the pie stall behind the cowshed. No idea what he was observing but seemed engrossed.

Trying to see who’s putting vinegar on their pies and subsequently reporting them to the police.

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The only shocking thing about this story is that it's taken the club over ten years, since it was first brought to their attention, to address the abuse of this room by the people who used it.

 

A two bar electric fire that had the room roasting hot in the winter. (in a wooden stand)

A kettle so that they could make tea and coffee. (no electrical safeguards in place)

Now also includes the upgrade of a television.

Four people using the room on a regular basis only one of which was blind.

 

Supposedly also doing commentary on hospital radio for IRH which was not true as the feed had been cut off ever since the change of telecoms supplier at the hospital. The new supplier was not willing to pay for the feed.

It was pointed out that there were better technical solutions for commentary but that didn't interest those involved. No attempt was made to re-establish any "link" to IRH. 

 

Bottom line is that this was the only "private" box in Cappielow which was being misused by the people using it and the club should have taken action long ago to put a stop to it.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
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