Notes
from the Focus Group meeting of Monday, 4 February 2008
The main point of interest for the majority of Walsall fans may well be the news on the Scott Dann transfer, but there was plenty more of interest at last night’s Focus Group Meeting, including the points the Trust wanted made about the impact of the transfer on the playing side, whether this was done to pay off short term debts and whether it could have waited until the end of the season. The question of improving gates was also widely discussed.
In
general, the discussions were rewarding, but it was a pity that a certain
element seem to think it’s more important to have a laugh at Roy Whalley’s
expense than try to build bridges with the club.
Roy
Whalley, Director Nigel Bond and Safety Officer Dave Storr represented the
club, with around 40 fans in attendance.
·
The Scott Dann Transfer
Roy
Whalley was adamant that the player was always going to be sold as soon as he
made his transfer request on the Thursday morning. The version released by the
club on Friday was the story of how it happened, although Nigel Bond also
mentioned that the player had changed agents shortly before the move – to the
same one as Michael Ricketts.
The fee
was “undisclosed” on the insistence of Coventry, as Ray Ranson does not want it
to get out what he is prepared to pay for players. However, Nigel Bond did say
press speculation was never far of the mark in the case of both the Scott Dann
and Danny Fox fees and that the Dann fee was a club record, plus add ons.
Roy went
on to say that there will be additions to the squad, as the club is still
committed to a promotion push, as they want to be in the Championship in the
2009/2010 season, when the new TV deal will mean a huge increase in revenue.
Richard
Money is looking (he will be at another game Tuesday) for loan players in the
same situation as Lee Holmes, who will be out of contract in the summer and
could join, if we were to be promoted.
·
The Gates
Probably
more time was spent on this than any other topic. Asps and MMF had taken from
the message board the suggestions made, which included those the Trust wanted
asking, and out several of these to Roy and Nigel Bond. Once Roy has got over
his normal defensiveness, probably learned from bitter experience in the past,
he seemed to be quite receptive to many of them. He said that there is a weekly
“Fans of the Future” meeting within the club, at which these ideas can be
discussed (although he wouldn’t consider a fan’s rep on it). As the
UpTheSaddlers.com thread has been so successful, we will be gathering these
together on a regular basis and sending them in.
The club
is, however, investing in a Customer Relationship Management System, which will
be of great assistance in putting some of these ideas into effect.
Unfortunately, Roy didn’t seem to have a complete grasp yet of the business
changes a CRM could lead to.
One of
the ideas that did seem to provoke a reaction was when a trial of providing
free transport for outlying areas was suggested, something Nigel Bond was very
interested in.
The club
are looking actively at a “Bring a Friend Scheme” for season ticket holders,
something backed by most fans there, as experience shows that many season
ticket holders have empty seats next to them and the fact they can go with
friends would attract (and keep) many more stay away fans.
Several
ideas were also discussed on how to attract more ethnic minority supporters.
·
The Youth Set Up
The
£25,000 donated by the Villa fan has gone on a gym and new equipment for the
Youth Team.
We are
now spending £400,000 a year on Youth Development, some £260,000 of which comes
directly from the club.
It was
pointed out to Roy that Mick Halsall must have done around ten years now and
thoroughly deserves a testimonial. Roy said he would take that back to the
club.