Just a suggestion
Simple Idea:
If we sold 2,000 last year at a certain price then make an offer that if we sell 3,000 they will be 25% cheaper and if we sell 4,000 or more they are half price. Can't lose money that way. I think
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Paul,

are you suggesting that the discount gets refunded? Administrative nightmare, I'd have thought.

We discussed the "Bradford" season ticket deal on the mailing list. I still think it is too late in the year to attempt it - season ticket money will probably be needed in the summer to cover the three months without income.

I like this idea, you could make it that to receive the refund the season ticket holder has to apply for the refund before a certain cut off date. Not everyone will use this offer and that cash will be an added bonus to the club.

The only problem I foresee is actually notifing Ticket holders of the offer, perhaps a mail shot or an anoucement at the first home game, NEP, match program, Email, a mention on Radio Nottingham and on the club website will reach most people intrested in getting a refund

You simply need a cut off period for the numbers of tickets sold to apply. Tickets sold before July 10th appley. Tickets are by direct debit or credit card so payment is not taken out until July 11th.

So how do you pay the wages in May and June?

With all the money the chairman has raised through his successful push for investment in the club.

So instead of any new ideas or incentives to bring fans back to Notts the club after one of our worst seasons in our long history put prices up on season tickets and huge price increases on matchday prices. Please explain this logic. The running of this club is still a complete joke. Absolutely ridiculous. Do we want fans or not ?

With regard to the objects of the Trust, specifically

quote:

iv. to encourage the Club to take proper account of the interests of its supporters and of the community it serves in its decisions;

would someone from the Trust Board, preferably one of the supporter/directors, please explain how they took "proper account of the interests of its supporters" when making the decision to raise ticket prices?

Were the Trust Board consulted before the decision?

Has the tust any idea what the justification is for big price rises when we have had our second worse season in history ? Please explain this to the fans especially those who will now not be going next season. Surely if you are losing customers you try and encourage them to return not push them further away. Inform me of another business that increases prices to increase custom.

If all goes according to plan, we should be announcing a date for the next forum shortly, which will give people a chance to question Club Directors and the Chairman face to face. They should be able to provide you with more detailed answers at that time.

In the meantime (and one of the Directors may be along to clarify any further points when they have a moment spare), the answer in short is that it was a business decision. Season ticket prices have remained the same for five years, matchday prices (with the exception of this seasons Category A games)have also remained consistent. Costs however, haven't, and increased costs have to be met, and the club has to work within its means.

So there was a genuine need for a price increase. The question was then one of how the club could increase prices in a way which inconvenienced or harmed the least number of fans. By structuring the prices as they have, season tickets in the Kop and Haydn Green stand, and tickets for younger supporters, and students are still really quite reasonable - £11 odd a match isn't actually that bad. The higher prices in the JS and the Main stands are unfortunate, but in the case of the JS stand will at least be born in part by the away fans.

The Club Board were well aware of the feelings and opinions of the Trust Board, and fans in general, when they made the decision. Ultimately, however, they have to make their decisions in the best interests of the club (because the duties and responsabilities of Directors are laid down by the law). As it is, , personally, I believe that the Club Board did take proper account of the interest of the supporters and of the local community when they made that decision, as it is surely in the interest of all fans that the club is run in a business like and sustainable manner - even if the decisions that have to be made aren't the most popular.

I know that the Club Board are aware of all the various schemes, suggestions and promotions that have been put forward. It really isn't the case that they've ignored all ideas, and innovations, and gone for a price rise without giving all due consideration to various alternatives. Everybody in the Club wants watching football to be as cheap and accessible as possible, but there are limits to what can be done, and ultimately the Club Board had to make the decision based on all the information and financial predictions available to them. Unfortunately, it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation - people might be happy to pay more money if they thought the end product was going to be better, but you don't get to the end product without setting the prices up front, to get the money in.

Hope that helps to clarify things a little.

Gareth

It was suggested that the budget was set for last year on a predicted gate of 5,500. What does the club expect the average gate to be next season with the new price increases and the poor product on offer throughout last season? I assume a budget has been set with a figure in mind.

Gareth,

thank you for confirming that the Trust Board weren't consulted before the price rises. Do you think you are doing a good job of representing "the interests of the community in the running of the Club?"

Can we have an update on the amount of investment JAH has been able to raise so far ? Is the price increase due to his failure to deliver ?

quote:

Originally posted by Phil Marshall:
Gareth,

thank you for confirming that the Trust Board weren't consulted before the price rises. Do you think you are doing a good job of representing "the interests of the community in the running of the Club?"

Phil,

I think you may have read more into my words than I intended there. If I gave the impression that the Trust Board weren't consulted, I apologise, as it was not my intention.

What I was trying to say is that the decision was made by the Club Board. It was a decison they had to make, both because they're legally responsible for running the Club, and because, when the Trust acquired a majority shareholding we made clear to our members that the Trust Board would not be running the club.

However, in making their decision, I am sure the Directors on the Club Board considered and balanced all the advice that they had been given - this included comments from members of the Trust Board and fans in general - and took into account the needs of supporters and fans (which amongst other things had been commented on by the Trust Board), as well as the financial needs of the club.

With regards to your final question, I'm not sure whether you meant you singular (me) or you plural (the Trust Board), either way, my answer is the same, yes. We may not always get things right but I can honestly say that I believe that Notts County is run in a more open and accountable manner, and takes into account the needs and requirments of all its local communities, to a greater extent now than it has done at any time in modern history. And the driving force behind that new accountability has been the Trust, including its current Board.

Roweyp

So far the Chairman has delivered, amongst other things, the Kop, plans for the return of the Centre of Excellence, a widely applauded choice of manager, and sufficient backing to allow that manager to make a number of successful signings (Rumours of one of which encouraged you to post "If Notts pull this off then I will praise the trust from that day onwards.
" on the Mad messageboard ) I think he has shown he can deliver for the club, and will continue to do so.

Gareth

PS A date for people's diaries, the next forum will be 20th May, 19:30 in the 1862 suite - as ever, I'd urge anybody with questions to do their best to make it so, that you can put them, and receive an answer, in person.

quote:

However, in making their decision, I am sure the Directors on the Club Board considered and balanced all the advice that they had been given - this included comments from members of the Trust Board and fans in general - and took into account the needs of supporters and fans (which amongst other things had been commented on by the Trust Board), as well as the financial needs of the club.

So, the Trust board weren't consulted about the decision. Are any club decisions discussed by the Trust board before they are made?

quote:

With regards to your final question, I'm not sure whether you meant you singular (me) or you plural (the Trust Board), either way, my answer is the same, yes. We may not always get things right but I can honestly say that I believe that Notts County is run in a more open and accountable manner, and takes into account the needs and requirments of all its local communities, to a greater extent now than it has done at any time in modern history. And the driving force behind that new accountability has been the Trust, including its current Board.

When I was on the Trust Board the then Supporter Director (Steve Thompson) would ask for advice/direction from the Truat Board on contentious issues; we didn't make the decisions, but we did, I felt, have a chance to offer our view and, thus, inform those decisions. Steve Thompson's words from December 2003 (as reported here)

quote:

It was asked how much of the club's board meetings activities would be made public. ST said it was the first agreement on meetings, he had made, that started from open point of view. I.e. in board meeting it will be said this is confidential if it is, while normally everything is confidential and then you decide what can be publicised. Obviously to conduct the business properly, some things will be confidential such as players’ salaries, but there is a commitment to openness as PJ said in the Post. However there will be no leaking as this would undermine the board and the Trust’s director.

Does this process still happen? I don't think that the Trust Board should be making every decision, but they should be aware of what is to be decided and be able to inform those decisions. They are the elected representatives of the largest shareholder in the club. Shareholders elect directors to run the club for them.

Also, we occasionally met with Patrick Nelson (the then Chief Exec) to review and discuss the ongoing financial situation at the club? Does anything similar still occur?

I do not share your belief that the club is more open and accountable now than it has been "in modern history." The last statement I remember from the club board about openess and accountability was when Geoff Davey said the club was as open and accountable as any business because they complied with the statutory requirements to submit accounts and other returns to Companies House. That's not good enough for a Trust owned football club.

quote:

I believe that Notts County is run in a more open and accountable manner, and takes into account the needs and requirments of all its local communities

Finally, for now, you might guess from my sig. line that it'll take evidence for me to share your beliefs.

I know I said finally, but this gem has cost me a quid.

Why, if the club is run in an "open and accountable manner" were the Trust members not told that Michael Hammond had resigned from the club board?

quote:

Can we have an update on the amount of investment JAH has been able to raise so far ? Is the price increase due to his failure to deliver ?

Is there any reason why this question was ignored ? It is quite straight forward.

quote:

Originally posted by Roweyp:

quote:

Can we have an update on the amount of investment JAH has been able to raise so far ? Is the price increase due to his failure to deliver ?

Is there any reason why this question was ignored ? It is quite straight forward.

Paul, can you consider that if the Club had just come in to some money that it would say it had at a time when it will be negotiating contracts with players and agents?

There is to be a forum at the club on May 20th you can ask him for an update then.