Influencing the current ownership to make changes

AkaAkuma

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Can it be done? If protests clearly explain the individual issues fans want to see rectified; whilst asserting pressure through public support or government backing - could the Glazers be encouraged to become better owners?

I get that people have had enough with them, but why not try and change them before pushing for something that's not yet clear or even possible.
 

stw2022

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Yes. As much as I don’t like MUST and 50+1 has as much chance as a Fergie sex change I do sense willingness from them to be more constructive. It’s overdue from all sides.
 

alexthelion

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I think this is what any protests should be aimed at but there doesn't appear to be any leadership, just people randomly going off at different tangents.
 

Gator Nate

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It seems to me, that these are the primary issues:

1) Amount of money taken in dividends by the Glazer family stockholders
2) The lack of investment in the facilities
3) The lack of investment in proper players
4) The lack of reduction and, in fact, increase of debt since the purchase of the club

Now, if they significantly reduced the amount they took out of the club, they could fund the other three, but that's not all that's needed. I don't begrudge them the right to make money off the club - it is a huge business - but they obviously take it to an extreme. And like it or not, any other owner that might replace them WILL be in the same mold.

A proper plan to upgrade the facilities is a must, particularly in light of pretty much any other stadium in the league, but especially in light of the other Big Six clubs.

The club has spent money on players, regardless of what some may say, but I don't think one can argue that much of that has been spent poorly. And it's a complicated issue - four managers since SAF pulling in four different directions. Only Ole has seemed to be willing to move from point A (where he started) to point B (wherever he may want to head) with what he's got, slowly morphing the squad. That's a lesson he says learned at Cardiff (too much too fast) and it's working here. Without a doubt, though, even Ole has to be frustrated with the pace at which we do business. Hopefully, Woodward's exit will be the beginning of improvements in this area, but they do have to get off their gun-shy approach moving forward. Ole has earned that, I think.

They need to reduce the debt. This is basically just a PR move, if you truly understand finances of entities like this, but at least take the stick away from fans that chose to beat them with it. The one real, positive thing it would do is reduce the interest payments, which they could, in turn, churn back into facilities, transfer fees, and, yes, even dividend payments.
 

alexthelion

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It seems to me, that these are the primary issues:

1) Amount of money taken in dividends by the Glazer family stockholders
2) The lack of investment in the facilities
3) The lack of investment in proper players
4) The lack of reduction and, in fact, increase of debt since the purchase of the club

Now, if they significantly reduced the amount they took out of the club, they could fund the other three, but that's not all that's needed. I don't begrudge them the right to make money off the club - it is a huge business - but they obviously take it to an extreme. And like it or not, any other owner that might replace them WILL be in the same mold.

A proper plan to upgrade the facilities is a must, particularly in light of pretty much any other stadium in the league, but especially in light of the other Big Six clubs.

The club has spent money on players, regardless of what some may say, but I don't think one can argue that much of that has been spent poorly. And it's a complicated issue - four managers since SAF pulling in four different directions. Only Ole has seemed to be willing to move from point A (where he started) to point B (wherever he may want to head) with what he's got, slowly morphing the squad. That's a lesson he says learned at Cardiff (too much too fast) and it's working here. Without a doubt, though, even Ole has to be frustrated with the pace at which we do business. Hopefully, Woodward's exit will be the beginning of improvements in this area, but they do have to get off their gun-shy approach moving forward. Ole has earned that, I think.

They need to reduce the debt. This is basically just a PR move, if you truly understand finances of entities like this, but at least take the stick away from fans that chose to beat them with it. The one real, positive thing it would do is reduce the interest payments, which they could, in turn, churn back into facilities, transfer fees, and, yes, even dividend payments.
Only 2) has been a major problem, though.

1) is tiny really, 3) is down to managers/Ed/scouts and 4) isn't a good thing to do at this time.
 

Rolaholic

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Honestly it really only depends on the owners

Chelsea had no protests yet they just announced this


They'll have a supporter presence at all their board meetings now.

Unfortunately I can't ever see the money hungry leeches who couldn't give 2 shites about the fans ever following suite
 

diarm

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I wrote this on Sunday or Monday:

It could also force the Glazers to start making decisions in the best interest of the club.

I would settle for the following commitments:
  • No more dividends taken out until the debt is cleared.
  • A written promise never to engage in talks about another breakaway league.
  • A 5 year plan for development and renovation of the stadium and facilities.
  • A CEO with a football first background to replace Woodward.
  • A written promise never to sell the club to the Saudis (or another such prehistoric and murderous regime).
Those 5 commitments would be enough for me to give the Glazers more time to rebuild their ownership of the club.
Loads of other unhappy supporters have written similar.

That gets ignored by the genius brigade though, because we don't have a powerpoint with a 5 year succession plan to offer every time we express dissatisfaction at their current ownership.

When we say:
I get that people have had enough with them, but why not try and change them before pushing for something that's not yet clear or even possible.
How long do you expect people to wait for them to start engaging on these issues? It's been 16 years - what have they ever done that gives you a glimmer of hope they ever will?
 

Gator Nate

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It could also force the Glazers to start making decisions in the best interest of the club.

I would settle for the following commitments:
  • No more dividends taken out until the debt is cleared.
  • A written promise never to engage in talks about another breakaway league.
  • A 5 year plan for development and renovation of the stadium and facilities.
  • A CEO with a football first background to replace Woodward.
  • A written promise never to sell the club to the Saudis (or another such prehistoric and murderous regime).
Those 5 commitments would be enough for me to give the Glazers more time to rebuild their ownership of the club.
That's a very good list. And frankly, if they did that, a lot of people wouldn't care that the Glazers owned it, because the Glazers would be acting like good owners.

Only 2) has been a major problem, though.

1) is tiny really, 3) is down to managers/Ed/scouts and 4) isn't a good thing to do at this time.
Yeah, and I would venture to say they're getting 3 under control. 1 and 4 both are more PR issues, but they are the biggest PR issues held against them and fairly easy to address.
 

diarm

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Honestly it really only depends on the owners

Chelsea had no protests yet they just announced this


They'll have a supporter presence at all their board meetings now.

Unfortunately I can't ever see the money hungry leeches who couldn't give 2 shites about the fans ever following suite
A supporter presence is a nice gesture, but that's all it is. They're not handing over voting right and they're making the chosen supporters sign an NDA. I get that means the supporters can be involved in sensitive and important discussions, but it also means the supporters can be sat in a corner and ignored with no real recourse.
 

alexthelion

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A supporter presence is a nice gesture, but that's all it is. They're not handing over voting right and they're making the chosen supporters sign an NDA. I get that means the supporters can be involved in sensitive and important discussions, but it also means the supporters can be sat in a corner and ignored with no real recourse.
How they choosing the representative?
 

AkaAkuma

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I wrote this on Sunday or Monday:



Loads of other unhappy supporters have written similar.

That gets ignored by the genius brigade though, because we don't have a powerpoint with a 5 year succession plan to offer every time we express dissatisfaction at their current ownership.

When we say:


How long do you expect people to wait for them to start engaging on these issues? It's been 16 years - what have they ever done that gives you a glimmer of hope they ever will?
Thanks for the list, it's what I was aiming for with this thread and had assumed it had died an early death.

I think the fans can create enough consistent noise to start the ball rolling with redevelopment of OT.

Protestors need to explain clearly what needs to change, one thing at a time, otherwise it just becomes noise and people who can help don't have a clear starting point.

Where do you start with 'Glazers out'? Who can fix that problem?
 

diarm

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Thanks for the list, it's what I was aiming for with this thread and had assumed it had died an early death.

I think the fans can create enough consistent noise to start the ball rolling with redevelopment of OT.

Protestors need to explain clearly what needs to change, one thing at a time, otherwise it just becomes noise and people who can help don't have a clear starting point.

Where do you start with 'Glazers out'? Who can fix that problem?
Only us. And it's only the threat of hurting them financially that has any hope of getting them to take change seriously.
 

Escobar

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The difference to Chelsea is they have an owner who somehow cares (and lives in the same city, too)
 

vidic blood & sand

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Honestly it really only depends on the owners

Chelsea had no protests yet they just announced this


They'll have a supporter presence at all their board meetings now.

Unfortunately I can't ever see the money hungry leeches who couldn't give 2 shites about the fans ever following suite
This would be us at our board meetings :lol: