Commercial Activity

[Tink]

I wonder how long it will be before the GM changes his mind on going cashless and admits that he is totally out of touch with the Inverclyde fan base. An apology would be asking too much. 
 

The pricing of the dinner and it being black tie are two examples that come to mind. I’m sure there are more.

[Toby]

7 minutes ago, Tink said:

I wonder how long it will be before the GM changes his mind on going cashless and admits that he is totally out of touch with the Inverclyde fan base. An apology would be asking too much. 
 

The pricing of the dinner and it being black tie are two examples that come to mind. I’m sure there are more.

Can’t even get a reply to an email off the guy, but then again, I don’t travel on the Gourock Bus, so I dare say any thoughts or contributions I have to make are neither needed nor wanted.

[vikingTON]

2 hours ago, Tink said:

I wonder how long it will be before the GM changes his mind on going cashless and admits that he is totally out of touch with the Inverclyde fan base. An apology would be asking too much. 

Do you have evidence to support that claim?

[TRVMP]

I really don't think a black tie dinner for the 150th anniversary of the club is a problem. If ever an occasion called for a bit of gravitas this is it. Of course it shouldn't be (and hasn't been) the only way for people to celebrate, but the opposition to it has been pretty fucking juvenile.

[Jamie_M]

4 hours ago, Tink said:

going cashless

We weren't 'going cashless'. We were trialling it.

Anyway, for Tuesday at least, the trial reduced to just pie stall being cashless.

Linkage

[TopCat]

Really looking forward to hearing an update at the AGM about how Dale took immediate action on this major issue. If he could also send an email to Raith telling them to go fuck themselves, that would be great.

[Toby]

22 minutes ago, TRVMP said:

I really don't think a black tie dinner for the 150th anniversary of the club is a problem. If ever an occasion called for a bit of gravitas this is it. Of course it shouldn't be (and hasn't been) the only way for people to celebrate, but the opposition to it has been pretty fucking juvenile.

Perhaps if it’s a separate event from a player of the year do, which many of the rank-and-file fans look forward to as their night to get a few beers and some selfies with the players it wouldn’t be an issue.

I can quite understand that some of the folk who would quite happily turn up at a player of the year do would be priced out or feel out of place at an event like that.

As long as that General Manager got some nice pics of himself shaking hands with the Inverclyde business community though, they’ll look smashing on LinkedIn.

EDIT- I didn’t read your post thoroughly enough before replying. Disagree, the event should have been one that could have been enjoyed by all, not to massage the egos of the few.

[vikingTON]

1 hour ago, Toby said:

 

1 hour ago, Toby said:

EDIT- I didn’t read your post thoroughly enough before replying. Disagree, the event should have been one that could have been enjoyed by all, not to massage the egos of the few.

It's not the only event taking place though (perhaps there should have been more, but that's a separate matter). 

[Toby]

21 minutes ago, vikingTON said:

 

It's not the only event taking place though (perhaps there should have been more, but that's a separate matter). 

Unless I’ve got my wires crossed, we’re talking about the player of the year do that end of last season?

Were there other events that your average fan could turn up at, get a few beers down them and meet the players at an affordable price?

As you know, I don’t attend these things, but I don’t remember hearing of any.

[HamCam]

My recollection is the issue was the event was clearly targeting a corporate audience rather than the ordinary fan. Black tie together with the ticket costs put it out of the reach of most fans who should have been the focus of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary. 

[vikingTON]

1 hour ago, Toby said:

Unless I’ve got my wires crossed, we’re talking about the player of the year do that end of last season?

Were there other events that your average fan could turn up at, get a few beers down them and meet the players at an affordable price?

As you know, I don’t attend these things, but I don’t remember hearing of any.

The only information being responded to was pricing for 'a black tie dinner'. I don't think such an event was being held to celebrate our usual, midtable finish, but as you know I attend even fewer of these jollies than yourself. 

If the club decided to punt an utterly bog-standard POTY to fit in a 150th event before the summer break then I wouldn't actually blame them for that. The only group who merit consideration in that scenario are the sponsors for players in that year, who IIRC were not all chuffed about their treatment. 

15 minutes ago, HamCam said:

My recollection is the issue was the event was clearly targeting a corporate audience rather than the ordinary fan. Black tie together with the ticket costs put it out of the reach of most fans who should have been the focus of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary. 

There have been other events planned too though so that's a straw man argument. We've got more than enough evidence of clownshoe performance that we don't need a chopping onions routine for pretty bog-standard, corporate garbage as well.

But enough about our regular 'golf events'. 

[TRVMP]

2 hours ago, Toby said:

Perhaps if it’s a separate event from a player of the year do, which many of the rank-and-file fans look forward to as their night to get a few beers and some selfies with the players it wouldn’t be an issue.

I can quite understand that some of the folk who would quite happily turn up at a player of the year do would be priced out or feel out of place at an event like that.

As long as that General Manager got some nice pics of himself shaking hands with the Inverclyde business community though, they’ll look smashing on LinkedIn.

EDIT- I didn’t read your post thoroughly enough before replying. Disagree, the event should have been one that could have been enjoyed by all, not to massage the egos of the few.

That's a fair point, that the POTY could perhaps have been a different event and more open, like previous ones have been. Plus I think it dampens the 150th a bit to link it with just one squad. It's not the biggest deal to me, admittedly, but my main opinion here is that having one event that's a bit "exclusive" and requires people to dress up is not inappropriate for such a huge milestone in the club's history. If it was every year, yeah, that would be a bit much.

[TRVMP]

30 minutes ago, HamCam said:

My recollection is the issue was the event was clearly targeting a corporate audience rather than the ordinary fan. Black tie together with the ticket costs put it out of the reach of most fans who should have been the focus of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary. 

MCT and Dalrada represent fans and business, respectively. Both of them are required to keep the club afloat, both the fan community and businesses. Fans aren't excluded by the fact that the club obviously wants a few companies to buy tables at an event. There's room for both. And it is, again, the 150th anniversary of one of the world's oldest professional football clubs. Getting dressed up for a literal once-in-a-lifetime event is really not that exclusionary.

[Toby]

45 minutes ago, vikingTON said:

The only information being responded to was pricing for 'a black tie dinner'. I don't think such an event was being held to celebrate our usual, midtable finish, but as you know I attend even fewer of these jollies than yourself. 

If the club decided to punt an utterly bog-standard POTY to fit in a 150th event before the summer break then I wouldn't actually blame them for that. The only group who merit consideration in that scenario are the sponsors for players in that year, who IIRC were not all chuffed about their treatment. 

There have been other events planned too though so that's a straw man argument. We've got more than enough evidence of clownshoe performance that we don't need a chopping onions routine for pretty bog-standard, corporate garbage as well.

But enough about our regular 'golf events'. 

No, as far as I know we were debating last season’s player of the year do becoming a black tie event.

We could go round in circles debating whether or not the player sponsors should be the only ones whose feelings are considered, so no point debating that, but at least the young team were looked after by that General Manager by being handed Queen’s Park tickets while us plebs who aren’t affiliated to buses had to scramble for the scraps with folk who didn’t even have to be Morton fans but could email him and ask for tickets.

Interesting you note the players’ sponsors though- I was asking a pal of mine the other day who sponsored one of last summer’s departing players if the club ever contacted him about continuing his sponsorship of a player, despite the guy he previously sponsored leaving. He emailed the club offering to sponsor someone else and didn’t even get a reply. The club didn’t even have to use their own initiative to take in his coin, but just didn’t bother, and he’s not sponsoring anyone now.

Perhaps I shouldn’t take it too personally that that General Manager has never given me the courtesy of a reply when I’ve emailed him. Straight out of the Scott Gardiner School of Scottish Football Administration.

38 minutes ago, TRVMP said:

That's a fair point, that the POTY could perhaps have been a different event and more open, like previous ones have been. Plus I think it dampens the 150th a bit to link it with just one squad. It's not the biggest deal to me, admittedly, but my main opinion here is that having one event that's a bit "exclusive" and requires people to dress up is not inappropriate for such a huge milestone in the club's history. If it was every year, yeah, that would be a bit much.

Aye, I wouldn’t have objected to say, a black tie event in the lead up to Christmas, but wouldn’t want something like this to interfere with annual events that the club are looking to punt to the guys you normally see in the Cowshed.

[capitanus]

On 10/2/2024 at 5:45 PM, Toby said:

Is anybody actually taken in by this pish?

Yes, you.

 

Next. 

[capitanus]

1 hour ago, vikingTON said:

The only information being responded to was pricing for 'a black tie dinner'. I don't think such an event was being held to celebrate our usual, midtable finish, but as you know I attend even fewer of these jollies than yourself. 

If the club decided to punt an utterly bog-standard POTY to fit in a 150th event before the summer break then I wouldn't actually blame them for that. The only group who merit consideration in that scenario are the sponsors for players in that year, who IIRC were not all chuffed about their treatment. 

There have been other events planned too though so that's a straw man argument. We've got more than enough evidence of clownshoe performance that we don't need a chopping onions routine for pretty bog-standard, corporate garbage as well.

But enough about our regular 'golf events'. 

What are wrong with 'golf events'?

Golf Wankers are exactly that, but they're there for a fleecing and they're always up for it.  So, fleece them.

Golfers and the dreadful patter they come out with always remind me of 'Tarby' and 'Brucey' in this:

 

[Toby]

27 minutes ago, capitanus said:

Yes, you.

 

Next. 

Wasn’t taken in by your five minute boycott of the forum and demands to remove all your posting history because you were in a wee huff though, was I?

Next.

[capitanus]

31 minutes ago, Toby said:

Wasn’t taken in by your five minute boycott of the forum and demands to remove all your posting history because you were in a wee huff though, was I?

Next.

The request is still valid. 

Its been something I discussed with Dean a couple of years back, that I was looking to come off the messageboard at some point.  He seemed okay about it.  When you started banning me for the least wee thing, such as having the temerity to make fun of the General Manager's surname, then I thought that was the right time to move on.  I accepted my ban and served it, then I got another shortly afterwards for apparently bullying Alibi.  Still, its nice to know that I'm wanted and you'd still rather have me around.  I can feel another ban coming on soon. 

My huff is nowhere near as bad as yours for being patched in your application for the Supporter Liaison Officer thing.  I notice you aren't exactly censuring yourself over your comments about him lately.

Thanks for playing, champ.

Edited October 28 by capitanus

[Toby]

8 minutes ago, capitanus said:

The request is still valid. 

Its been something I discussed with Dean a couple of years back, that I was looking to come off the messageboard at some point.  He seemed okay about it.  When you started banning me for the least wee thing, such as having the temerity to make fun of the General Manager's surname, then I thought that was the right time to move on.  I accepted my ban and served it, then I got another shortly afterwards for apparently bullying Alibi.  Still, its nice to know that I'm wanted and you'd still rather have me around.  I can feel another ban coming on soon. 

My huff is nowhere near as bad as yours for being patched in your application for the Supporter Liaison Officer thing.  I notice you aren't exactly censuring yourself over your comments about him lately.

Thanks for playing, champ.

Of course we want to see you on the forum, Paul. That’s why you’re still here, despite your indiscretions.

My huff, however is nothing to do with personal rejection- I applied for that role out of interest to see if he would entertain me, and given that I’ve got folk that aren’t too keen on me in the support and on the board of directors, didn’t expect to be taken on.

However, I didn’t apply for a “job”. I offered my time on a voluntary basis, to help the club. As a paid up member of MCT and a season ticket holder since God was a boy, the least I should have received, the least anyone who offers their time or money should receive, is the courtesy of a reply.

Likewise, the least my Dundee United supporting pal should have received was an apology when I emailed that General Manager on his behalf after he was denied entry to Cappielow. He only got that when I confronted that General Manager face-to-face at the AGM in April, after my email was ignored by him.

My criticisms of him were vocal back then before I decided to back off and try to give him the benefit of the doubt- if anything, the straw that broke the camel’s back with me was his ridiculous handling of the Queen’s Park away tickets. I’m most certainly in a huff about that.

Champ.

[capitanus]

5 minutes ago, Toby said:

Of course we want to see you on the forum, Paul. That’s why you’re still here, despite your indiscretions.

My huff, however is nothing to do with personal rejection- I applied for that role out of interest to see if he would entertain me, and given that I’ve got folk that aren’t too keen on me in the support and on the board of directors, didn’t expect to be taken on.

However, I didn’t apply for a “job”. I offered my time on a voluntary basis, to help the club. As a paid up member of MCT and a season ticket holder since God was a boy, the least I should have received, the least anyone who offers their time or money should receive, is the courtesy of a reply.

Likewise, the least my Dundee United supporting pal should have received was an apology when I emailed that General Manager on his behalf after he was denied entry to Cappielow. He only got that when I confronted that General Manager face-to-face at the AGM in April, after my email was ignored by him.

My criticisms of him were vocal back then before I decided to back off and try to give him the benefit of the doubt- if anything, the straw that broke the camel’s back with me was his ridiculous handling of the Queen’s Park away tickets. I’m most certainly in a huff about that.

Champ.

My 'indiscretions' on here aren't any worse than anything you've done yourself over the years, however I've never censured you, and who would I be to ban you anyway?  Thats the big difference, your hardly likely to 'teach me a lesson' by banning me, are you?  So whats the point?
With regards to coming off the forum, it is something i've thought about for a long time and the next time you're speaking with Dean he will be able to verify it.  That request still stands.  It's no more 'going in a huff' than what several others have done before me - Davie McArthur, David Edwards, TonInDublin, Ghost and a few others - Simply saying i've had countless hours of fun and deciding to call it a day.

With regards to the whole SLO thing, I agree with you 100% that you were treated very poorly there.  The club should have got back to everyone who offered their time to the role, even if to say 'no thanks' or whatever, and it is a very poor show from them that they didn't even offer that small courtesy.  I also think that you would be a natural for the role as you're at every game - home and away - and you know everyone from the club directors, the management, players etc. and the supporters from the pensioners right through to the younger guys in their teens - and you'd also be a good advocate for them too.  Also, things like the Lesser Hampden Ticketing issues - i'd imagine if you had some kind of input it wouldn't have been such a shambles.  Dare I say it, even the previous regime for all their faults managed such things a lot better fashion.

With regards to the MCT and 'Fan Ownership' - seeing the way you've been treated here makes me kind of feel vindicated for not signing up to it.  You're not any better off than myself for being a member despite you paying several hundred pounds into it by now.  Whether or not you're 'liked' by any of the board members or the General Manager should be irrelevant as its as much your club as it is theirs.

Finally,

Your mate from Dundee United, I agree that the way he was treated was disgraceful.  And it was resultant from an ongoing issue - the Female Head Steward - who has probably done similar that we've not heard about over the past few years.  I'd imagine if you were SLO you'd be kept busy by her actions, and you'd be like a dug on mince with it.