It appears that Nick Illingsworth has been refused a season ticket

[Gemmel]

My guess from this thread is that some people are confusing Nick Illingsworth for Richard Chorley

[Sour Mash]

Yes. We get told news if and when it happens. The people he annoys are those that somehow want to feel important. Sure there is room for improvement. After all we have literally started again. Overall I am happy. Even more so if he is annoying rent-a-gobs and the who use saints in colusion with ex 657 to blatantly rip fans off.... No wonder the company do not wish his to use the crest etc. He is not responsible with it

 

So not announcing the removal of the installment plan until just before season tickets go on sale?

Revoking the season ticket of a fan who challenged club decisions?

Not announcing pre-season plans until very short-notice?

No announcement regarding the Ted bates trophy?

£3 booking fee for tickets.

 

You class this as good communication with fans? I'd hate to see what you think bad communication is! Can you not at least see there is a bit of a trend there, even if you do think some of what is listed above are good decisions?

 

I think Cortese is doing a very good job in other areas and will most likely make us a success on the pitch, I would certainly not class myself as "anti-Cortese", which makes it even more frustrating that he appears to see match going supports as an irritant, only good for extracting as much cash as possible. That might seem fine to many now that we're looking a decent bet in league One, but that attitude will come back to bite us all sooner or later.

[Micky]

He said as much himself in an interview, but I also know from a couple of people I know inside the club this is the case. No I won't give names, all staff were briefed that anyone who discusses club matters externally will be sacked on the spot.

 

Sacked, what right there and then, on the spot...? Are you sure that he didn't say shot, let's face it the guy is now running our club somewhat toutamount to an Italian Godfather.

 

You appear somewhat excitable about this guy, most corporates include staff confidentiality agreements, which if breached can lead to disciplinary action. Sacking people on the spot, in this day and age is a little harder - honestly, trust me.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Sacked, what right there and then, on the spot...? Are you sure that he didn't say shot, let's face it the guy is now running our club somewhat toutamount to an Italian Godfather.

 

You appear somewhat excitable about this guy, most corporates include staff confidentiality agreements, which if breached can lead to disciplinary action. Sacking people on the spot, in this day and age is a little harder - honestly, trust me.

 

Just to clarify, I am not saying there is anything wrong with making your staff keep shtum, just reasoning as to why I wasn't going to name names, as it would cost jobs.

[Micky]

Just to clarify, I am not saying there is anything wrong with making your staff keep shtum, just reasoning as to why I wasn't going to name names, as it would cost jobs.

 

Even so, you're saying that staff have been threatened with instant dismissal for disclosure of information, or 'talking out of turn' - I find that very difficult to believe. Highly, very highly unlikely in this day and age.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Even so, you're saying that staff have been threatened with instant dismissal for disclosure of information, or 'talking out of turn' - I find that very difficult to believe. Highly, very highly unlikely in this day and age.

 

Being threatened with it and them actually doing that is a completely different thing.

 

I think the point they were making was discussing club affairs is gross misconduct which could ( would ) result in being sacked.

 

Remember someone posted up here that Cortese had told his wife/partner that if she took maternity leave that Cortese had told her she would be sacked. I don't think Cortese has a clue about UK employment law, nor does he care for it much.

[Daren W]

So not announcing the removal of the installment plan until just before season tickets go on sale?

Revoking the season ticket of a fan who challenged club decisions?

Not announcing pre-season plans until very short-notice?

No announcement regarding the Ted bates trophy?

£3 booking fee for tickets.

 

You class this as good communication with fans? I'd hate to see what you think bad communication is! Can you not at least see there is a bit of a trend there, even if you do think some of what is listed above are good decisions?

 

I think Cortese is doing a very good job in other areas and will most likely make us a success on the pitch, I would certainly not class myself as "anti-Cortese", which makes it even more frustrating that he appears to see match going supports as an irritant, only good for extracting as much cash as possible. That might seem fine to many now that we're looking a decent bet in league One, but that attitude will come back to bite us all sooner or later.

 

Spot on really. I'm not anti Cortese in any way shape or form, we owe him a great deal, but that should never stop us from questioning him. People didn't question Lowe until it was too late and if we haven't learned anything from that then we never will.

[Micky]

Being threatened with it and them actually doing that is a completely different thing.

 

I think the point they were making was discussing club affairs is gross misconduct which could ( would ) result in being sacked.

 

Remember someone posted up here that Cortese had told his wife/partner that if she took maternity leave that Cortese had told her she would be sacked. I don't think Cortese has a clue about UK employment law, nor does he care for it much.

 

With all due respect, I personally don't think he ever threatened any of his staff.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Oh, and all the people that have a go at Nick should remember what he and other fans did to get rid of Askham and to expose the dodgy and underhand takeover by Lowe. The old SISA, for all their faults, also helped secure the land for St Mary's.

 

That's why you need fans groups, or people that care about their club more than your average pop-along-to-home-games-and-lap-up-the-official-website type of supporter.

 

Absolutely spot on

[Dave Benson Phillips]

With all due respect, I personally don't think he ever threatened any of his staff.

 

What about the husband that came on here and mentioned that Cortese had told his wife that she needs to come back from maternity leave early or she will be sacked?

[Bucks Saint]

Ignoring complaints - FACT

Ted Bates Trophy removed - FACT

Pay and Display Parking - FACT

Suites Re-named - FACT

Booking Fee - FACT

Matchday Surcharge - FACT

Removal of Installment plan - FACT

No notice of inteded removal of Installment Plan - FACT

Late notice of Season Ticket Sales - FACT

Short window to buy Season Tickets - FACT

Intentionally sitting back and allowing Saints fans to worry/speculate on Pardews future - FACT

Refunding NI's Season ticket - FACT

Petty and Bitter squabbles with Echo - FACT

Doubling the cost of matchday parking - FACT

No information on memberships even though they promise them 'early July' - FACT

 

There is plenty more, lots of little things start to paint a picture and become a bigger issue.

 

Spot on. No management team / chairman / board, even the most popular and forward thinking ones, ever pleases all of the people all of the time. But this list is getting longer, involves many things which are not even cost related and is worrying me. Most people seem to be ignoring this and when the team starts to play, and win, as they will, I imagine even fewer will notice. But that does not make it right

[Micky]

What about the husband that came on here and mentioned that Cortese had told his wife that she needs to come back from maternity leave early or she will be sacked?

 

What....???? I have no idea what you are talking about, but Stu, do you honestly believe that, honestly...? What was the wifes role, what did she do....? Why was she oh so vital to the operation of SFC that she had to come back early...? Sometimes I think that you are more than a little gullible, but then again it could just be that it fits with an agenda - who knows... ? If you want to believe such things - crack on mate.

 

You seem quite content to hear one side of the argument, climb aboard your trusty charger and carry the fight. Problem is - it appears that your happy to do so, so long as it is NC on the receiving end.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

What....???? I have no idea what you are talking about, but Stu, do you honestly believe that, honestly...? What was the wifes role, what did she do....? Why was she oh so vital to the operation of SFC that she had to come back early...? Sometimes I think that you are more than a little gullible, but then again it could just be that it fits with an agenda - who knows... ? If you want to believe such things - crack on mate.

 

You seem quite content to hear one side of the argument, climb aboard your trusty charger and carry the fight. Problem is - it appears that your happy to do so, so long as it is NC on the receiving end.

 

And you seem quite content to hear the other side of the argument.

 

I am just passing on what was posted on here about a month ago. It might be true, it might not, it might be exaggerated. I do know though that staff inside the club are not as happy with Cortese as the Saints Player videos show.

[Micky]

And you seem quite content to hear the other side of the argument.

 

I am just passing on what was posted on here about a month ago. It might be true, it might not, it might be exaggerated. I do know though that staff inside the club are not as happy with Cortese as the Saints Player videos show.

 

Thank you - exactly. As most other things might well be as well.

 

I would love to hear the other side of the argument - that is the crux of the matter - we haven't. You are basing all of your posts on one side of the argument - NI's, which as many others have stated, might well, *be embellished/not contain all the facts/be biased towards one party/be the truth/be lies.

 

FWIW, having never met NI, I hope he gets a ST. But I am not about to come out in support of him based on one side of the story. Likewise I am not about to vilify NC based on pure conjecture, speculation and guess work.

 

*Delete, ignore or champion - whatever your agenda.

[trousers]

Nick Illingsworth is a customer of Southampton Football CLub and as such should expect a certain level of service and communication...exactly the same as everyone else.

 

The fact that it is Nick Illingsworth a self-promoting spokesperson for a so-called fans group and suddenly there are 8 pages of "discussion". These pages are based on a quote from the OP from Nick Illingsworth himself (apparently) which of course will be 100% balanced.

 

The truth of the matter is that we DO NOT know the full story and NC/Southampton Football Club may in actual fact have a very valid reason for returning NIs money for his purchase of a season ticket.

 

Having listened to Nick Illingsworth over the years, from the SISA invlvement to his role now in the Saints Trust, and having met and spoken with the guy, my overall opinion is that he is very political. To me he is the stereo-typical politician, saying whatever he thinks is the right thing to say at that moment in time despite what he may actually think. To me it looked like he left SISA when they became very ineffective and the Trust became (at the time) a more acceptable more centre/right wing body.

 

He clearly is though a very passionate and dedicated "supporter" of Southampton Football CLub. And as any customer does, has the right to express his opinion or complain when he deems it neccessary. What is important here is the method and the manner in which he (or anyone else) does this.

 

We/I certainly do not all the facts as yet and should not pass judgement on either Nick Illingsworth/Nicola Cortese/Southampton Football Club until we do. This said I doubt we will get a detailed reason from "The CLub" and nor should we neccessarily. Their dealings with an individual customer should remain between those two parties. I do not want my business with the club discussed in any medium without my say so, whatever those dealings maybe.

 

Nick Illingsworth however has - in what appears to be "mid-transaction" so to speak" made his complaint/situation public. From his perspective, it appears, that the timeframes involved dealing with his apparent situation are not good enough and therefore he has "gone public". By doing so, and I stress this point, we/I do not know the full story he will have turned his situation into a legal one. As such the club will clearly take a difference stance than if everything had been dealt with in-house.

 

Some people will say that perhaps the club would prefer it all to stay in-house and have a situation like the one that is alledged to have taken place in regard to Nick illingsworth hushed up. Of course they would...every single company in the world would. But it appears that NI did not follow a procedure laid down by the club for complianing and as such cannot neccessarily expect a timely response if any. If indeed NI has followed the clubs procedures as they set then question marks over that procedure are valid and the club should accept them, review them, make adjustments, satisy the customer and move on....in private.

 

By going public, Nick Illingsworth has merely used his personal profile and contacts with local media to get his political message across. This is not the right or fair way of doing things.

 

Has he gone to trading standards? Has he gone to the Football League?

 

What he has done is mix his individual status as a customer with his position as Chairman of The Saints Trust. He has tried to use it in his favour yet when it seems like (and this is only from his side of the story) the club have made a decision because of his position with the trust he doesnt like it.

 

Until the club states publically their viewpoint on the matter we will never know but I know what my instinct is!!!

 

Seems like a very reasonable viewpoint to me

[St Marco]

Spot on Mark Sfc

 

At the end of the day Nick acts like a politician. He uses his name to generate money, Silverspoons,un-official merchandise outside stadium etc etc. He has made money from his position. On away trips people you speak to do not stick up for him like some here do. Maybe that is why the trust has so little support as some generally just don't like this guy? He was all for the Lowe return and said it was for the best of the club. Then when it went wrong again he didn't say a bad thing about it. If i remember right he even spoke to the media to say those people protesting were wrong and we should all "support the club". Then when the numbers grew he did the whole "be a peaceful protest" thing. And that is what grates me. Anytime there is anything Saints related happening he is straight on the phone to Sky,BBC,Echo and 9/10 he doesn't even know what is happening, just an opportunity to be on tv or in the paper. You type in his name to google and your see what i mean. Total nothing stories with nothing remarks.

 

Right now all we have to go on is what he has said. We don't know the facts, we only know one side of the story if indeed it is even a story at all. Until we do have those facts this is just another Cortese bashing thread. One that is about a guy who talks to The Echo all the time. Coincidence? At least The Echo have not been stupid enough to run with the story. Which makes me think there is no truth in it as they would be the first to bash Cortese any chance they get.

[stevegrant]

Nick Illingsworth however has - in what appears to be "mid-transaction" so to speak" made his complaint/situation public.

Not true. Someone else mentioned it either yesterday or Monday, and a whole load of assumptions/allegations were made about the whys and wherefores which Nick felt required clarification before it spiralled out of control.

 

From his perspective, it appears, that the timeframes involved dealing with his apparent situation are not good enough and therefore he has "gone public". By doing so, and I stress this point, we/I do not know the full story he will have turned his situation into a legal one. As such the club will clearly take a difference stance than if everything had been dealt with in-house.

See above, he didn't choose for it to come out. I was told about it while I was away in Switzerland, so it's not a new turn of events, but somebody else mentioned it, others posted various inaccuracies and he felt he had to correct those.

 

Some people will say that perhaps the club would prefer it all to stay in-house and have a situation like the one that is alledged to have taken place in regard to Nick illingsworth hushed up. Of course they would...every single company in the world would. But it appears that NI did not follow a procedure laid down by the club for complianing and as such cannot neccessarily expect a timely response if any. If indeed NI has followed the clubs procedures as they set then question marks over that procedure are valid and the club should accept them, review them, make adjustments, satisy the customer and move on....in private.

What "procedures" are they then? Judging by what Nick's said on what he's done to find out any reasoning behind it, which all seems fairly sensible to me, he's taken the following perfectly logical route: Contact people at the ticket office to see what's going on? Check. Get no response. Contact other people within the club who might have the faintest idea what's going on? Check. Get no response.

 

By going public, Nick Illingsworth has merely used his personal profile and contacts with local media to get his political message across. This is not the right or fair way of doing things.

Nick didn't go public with it.

 

Has he gone to trading standards? Has he gone to the Football League?

Who knows? Certainly not you.

 

What he has done is mix his individual status as a customer with his position as Chairman of The Saints Trust. He has tried to use it in his favour yet when it seems like (and this is only from his side of the story) the club have made a decision because of his position with the trust he doesnt like it.

No he hasn't

 

Until the club states publically their viewpoint on the matter we will never know but I know what my instinct is!!!

To be another sheep because it's the done thing to call into question a long-standing supporter's motives and actions, yet a new kid on the block playing with someone else's money is beyond reproach?

[stevegrant]

On away trips people you speak to do not stick up for him like some here do.

Strange, it seems to me that the majority of "vocal" posters on here don't stick up for him at all. Interestingly, though, nobody seems to ever confront Nick at away games with their concerns. I can't imagine why...

 

He was all for the Lowe return and said it was for the best of the club. Then when it went wrong again he didn't say a bad thing about it.

Lowe's return was doomed from the start, but not because of Lowe.

 

Anytime there is anything Saints related happening he is straight on the phone to Sky,BBC,Echo and 9/10 he doesn't even know what is happening, just an opportunity to be on tv or in the paper.

Do you seriously think HE phones THEM?!

 

Right now all we have to go on is what he has said. We don't know the facts, we only know one side of the story if indeed it is even a story at all. Until we do have those facts this is just another Cortese bashing thread. One that is about a guy who talks to The Echo all the time. Coincidence? At least The Echo have not been stupid enough to run with the story. Which makes me think there is no truth in it as they would be the first to bash Cortese any chance they get.

Probably because Nick wanted to keep it quiet until he'd actually found out what was going on, so the Echo weren't aware of it. Why would he tell them something he's been trying to keep quiet?

[SuperMikey]

I don't really care if Nicky boy has been refused a ST, he deserves to come down a bit from his pedestal.

[St Marco]

Strange, it seems to me that the majority of "vocal" posters on here don't stick up for him at all. Interestingly, though, nobody seems to ever confront Nick at away games with their concerns. I can't imagine why...

 

 

Lowe's return was doomed from the start, but not because of Lowe.

 

 

Do you seriously think HE phones THEM?!

 

 

Probably because Nick wanted to keep it quiet until he'd actually found out what was going on, so the Echo weren't aware of it. Why would he tell them something he's been trying to keep quiet?

 

Yes he phones them. Want to know how i know that? Because i asked Steve Straker if you know who he is?

 

As for the he wanted to keep it quiet thing.....Yeah he kept it real quiet didn't he. So he wanted to keep it quiet but yet told lot's of people? What a load of rubbish.

 

And i dunno, maybe people would tell him if he went to some away games? Think i saw him there twice last year?

 

And it was not doomed to fail because of Lowe returning, it was doomed because of the decisions he made. Plenty of clubs have done ok with limited resources, look at Bournemouth. If we had someone in charge who could get the players playing we would of been alright, whatever happened to that Pearson fella?

 

But you keep supporting him mate

[dune]

Can't see how it could be an admin error. No member of ticket office staff would just randomly refund a season ticket without being told to do so. I'd imagine the process gone through to refund a ticket means the member of staff needs to access the customers details through the database, check the name against it, enter their debit card details and process the transaction. It's pretty difficult to do all of this in error.

 

For someone like Nick who, despite huge disagreements with those involved, has been in close contact with the previous owners and board members of the club going back over 20 years it must be strange to have new owners who seem to hold little regard for the traditional club/fan relationships.

 

Even when we were battling through hard times, Saints have always had a dialogue between the board and fans groups and representatives. OK, the club probably didn't take much of this dialogue on board, but at least it existed.

 

Maybe it's a romanticism, but I like the idea of a club being rooted in it's community. I like it to be open and welcoming, to maintain strong links with the locals and fans groups. Even faceless multinational corporations use focus groups to improve their products to keep their customers happy. From examples I've read on here it seems our new owners are somewhat struggling with their communication with the fans. Whether this is a cultural thing, something they just don't understand having not run football clubs before, or just the way they want to do it, I don't know. Maybe in time this will improve.

 

Having worked for a number of companies from shop floor levels through to head offices, I've always kept customer communication levels high. Honestly, to reply to Nick, or to SRS/DBD's queries and problems shouldn't take longer than a day or two. Even to just fob people off with a thanks but no thanks is surely better than ignoring them.

 

Absolutely. If the club had explained to Nick why he had been banned, and the explanation given justified the ban then fair enough, but by the very fact that the club have completely ignored him suggests to me that they have no valid reason. So is this simply a case of Cortese being vindictive?

[stevegrant]

Yes he phones them. Want to know how i know that? Because i asked Steve Straker if you know who he is?

Don't know a Steve Straker at the Echo, heard of Simon Straker though. Always helps your stories to get the names right.

 

As for the he wanted to keep it quiet thing.....Yeah he kept it real quiet didn't he. So he wanted to keep it quiet but yet told lot's of people? What a load of rubbish.

Why do you think this discussion wasn't taking place two or three weeks ago then, when the ST refund actually happened?

 

And i dunno, maybe people would tell him if he went to some away games? Think i saw him there twice last year?

Can't have been looking very hard then, I missed four away games all season and recall seeing him at the vast majority of them.

 

And it was not doomed to fail because of Lowe returning, it was doomed because of the decisions he made.

By people in charge before him. £6.5m overdraft, anyone? An overdraft that was the direct cause of administration...

 

Plenty of clubs have done ok with limited resources, look at Bournemouth.

Administration twice, don't own their own ground because they sold every single asset in order to get short-term cash injections. Highly likely they'll be in administration again if/when they get relegated. They got promoted because of Eddie Howe working absolute miracles, not because they've run the club well on a tight budget. That club's been run appallingly in the last 20 years.

 

But you keep supporting him mate

Supporting who? You don't seem to quite know what your argument is, whether it's about Lowe or Nick Illingsworth.

 

I'll always support the right of any Saints fan to go to games, whether I know them, like them, agree with them, etc, assuming they've not broken any relevant laws or ground regulations which would block them from going. It appears rather unlikely that Nick has done so in this instance, would you agree?

 

If this is about censorship, which in my personal opinion it seems to be (and the club already has a recent history of this), then it's an absolute disgrace.

[Thedelldays]

imo...these speculative threads are getting out of control...I wonder if any break the Malicious Communications Act 1998

probably not but some of the responses to people are plain wrong..

 

still, nick has not said why he has had his money returned (not banned)...why doesnt he just pop to the stadium and act like a normal fan and not some minor celeb demanding to speak to "all levels of management"

[stevegrant]

still, nick has not said why he has had his money returned (not banned)...why doesnt he just pop to the stadium and act like a normal fan and not some minor celeb demanding to speak to "all levels of management"

Where has he said that he's "demanded" to speak to all levels of management?

 

As far as I can see, he's sent what I assume to be polite emails (and they would have to be if he wants them to take his complaint seriously, which he clearly does) through the various channels he has available to him at the club. I think he posted on the UI forum that he first contacted David Luker, who would be the most logical place to start as he is - in name at least - in charge of the ticket office, and so should know what's going on. If he's not had a response from him, I don't see why it's an issue to escalate it to more senior members of staff if he knows who to contact. I'm sure we'd all do the same in any business if we had contacts to resolve issues as quickly as possible.

[Thedelldays]

Where has he said that he's "demanded" to speak to all levels of management?

 

As far as I can see, he's sent what I assume to be polite emails (and they would have to be if he wants them to take his complaint seriously, which he clearly does) through the various channels he has available to him at the club. I think he posted on the UI forum that he first contacted David Luker, who would be the most logical place to start as he is - in name at least - in charge of the ticket office, and so should know what's going on. If he's not had a response from him, I don't see why it's an issue to escalate it to more senior members of staff if he knows who to contact. I'm sure we'd all do the same in any business if we had contacts to resolve issues as quickly as possible.

 

you are right..the facts are..he has had his money returned....he has sent out emails to personnel at the club to find out why...he still does not know why

 

the rest is pure speculation and somehow being passed off as fact...

[Micky]

imo...these speculative threads are getting out of control...I wonder if any break the Malicious Communications Act 1998

probably not but some of the responses to people are plain wrong..

 

still, nick has not said why he has had his money returned (not banned)...why doesnt he just pop to the stadium and act like a normal fan and not some minor celeb demanding to speak to "all levels of management"

 

I have to say, I share this same view. After some 9 pages of what appears to be mostly speculation, some people even claiming that he has been banned, why doesn't he do just as you say.

 

Surely, a quick trip to the ticket office, explain who he is, what has happened and ask for;

 

a. A ST

 

or

 

b. an explanation as to why his money has been returned.

 

Perhaps i'm not seeing the wood for the trees, but it does appear to be that simple to me. Perhaps TDD and I are just simpletons!

[hugh]

you are right..the facts are..he has had his money returned....he has sent out emails to personnel at the club to find out why...he still does not know why

 

the rest is pure speculation and somehow being passed off as fact...

 

Absolutely spot on TDD. Remember that!

[Thedelldays]

I have to say, I share this same view. After some 9 pages of what appears to be mostly speculation, some people even claiming that he has been banned, why doesn't he do just as you say.

 

Surely, a quick trip to the ticket office, explain who he is, what has happened and ask for;

 

a. A ST

 

or

 

b. an explanation as to why his money has been returned.

 

Perhaps i'm not seeing the wood for the trees, but it does appear to be that simple to me. Perhaps TDD and I are just simpletons!

 

suggesting or even stating cortese will sack someone immediately for talking..and comparing him to a dictator is surely walking on dodgy legal ground..????

as much as low did when he suggested certain people were into beastiality

[dune]

As far as I understand it Nick has been trying to get a response from the club for 4 weeks. If you are I had had our money returned would it not be reasonable to expect some sort of reply in 4 weeks?

[aintforever]

I have to say, I share this same view. After some 9 pages of what appears to be mostly speculation, some people even claiming that he has been banned, why doesn't he do just as you say.

 

Surely, a quick trip to the ticket office, explain who he is, what has happened and ask for;

 

a. A ST

 

or

 

b. an explanation as to why his money has been returned.

 

Perhaps i'm not seeing the wood for the trees, but it does appear to be that simple to me. Perhaps TDD and I are just simpletons!

 

I think we can assume Nick has tried (a) or (b) and has received neither.

[Redbul]

Anyway, I'm getting well beyond where I wanted to be without being in posession of the full facts.

 

Never let that stop you having a good rant on here....!!!!

 

Anyway, 'Management reserve the right to refuse admission' or words to that effect will be liberally daubed in some Ts&Cs of entrance to the ground somewhere, so it's entirely up to the the Club who they let in and who they don't. Seems a bit harsh however, but then I'm not in possession of the full facts myself. Or my wits usually....

[St Marco]

Don't know a Steve Straker at the Echo, heard of Simon Straker though. Always helps your stories to get the names right.

 

 

Why do you think this discussion wasn't taking place two or three weeks ago then, when the ST refund actually happened?

 

 

Can't have been looking very hard then, I missed four away games all season and recall seeing him at the vast majority of them.

 

 

By people in charge before him. £6.5m overdraft, anyone? An overdraft that was the direct cause of administration...

 

 

Administration twice, don't own their own ground because they sold every single asset in order to get short-term cash injections. Highly likely they'll be in administration again if/when they get relegated. They got promoted because of Eddie Howe working absolute miracles, not because they've run the club well on a tight budget. That club's been run appallingly in the last 20 years.

 

 

Supporting who? You don't seem to quite know what your argument is, whether it's about Lowe or Nick Illingsworth.

 

I'll always support the right of any Saints fan to go to games, whether I know them, like them, agree with them, etc, assuming they've not broken any relevant laws or ground regulations which would block them from going. It appears rather unlikely that Nick has done so in this instance, would you agree?

 

If this is about censorship, which in my personal opinion it seems to be (and the club already has a recent history of this), then it's an absolute disgrace.

 

You should become a psychologist Steve as you seem to know what we all really mean

 

I did indeed mean Simon, i knew it began with an S.... But either way that is how he communicates to them, do you deny that then?

 

I won't get into an argument with you about Lowe,Bournemouth or even away games (although i went to all but 3 last year, and missed only 1 the year before that) as it is silly.

 

My opinion is as Mark said we don't know the facts. People who know Nick or his history will know he likes his position. He uses it in various way's, some of those way's for self profit. You can't deny that. As mentioned he is a bit of a wanabe politician. Did he even say he wanted to be on the board? Point being with him it is neither black or white. And i don't think this is any different.

 

He used his position to speak to the media to criticise the club. While not a direct attack on Cortese it was still an attack. If you have an opinion on something is it best to speak to those people direct or through the media? Especially when you know the person your trying to deal with is pretty nasty when it comes to being talked about in the media?

The payment plan option while a pain was not a huge concern for Saints fans. As mentioned ticket sales are up, that was with an increase in price and lack of payment plans. That shows people found way's to get around it. Did it really need the whole media coverage thing? Personally i don't think so.

 

Being banned from getting a ticket is of course excessive. Especially for someone who pay's to get a ticket for as long as he has. In that respect i feel sorry for him. If it is true that Cortese banned him then he deserves an explanation as to why. He is owed that. But until that happens none of us know the real facts. We are just assuming things are as they are. Who knows maybe his credit card rejected his payments or something. If it turns out it was just an error of some kind then a lot of people including Nick will look very silly won't they. Has he tried ringing the admin team to find out why? But if it turns out he was banned for going to media to express his views on the payment options/crest etc.. then sorry but i have no sympathy for him.

 

But as others have mentioned. Once this dies down there will be another one about Cortese, then another one. Once the dye has been cast it is hard to escape that image. A lot of people have now got this image of Cortese as some sort of bad guy, some even comparing to Lowe. As far as i can tell he simply hasen't spoken to the media about anything. Most of what has been said has been total ********. Until we know the facts on this one you can't say anything.

[buctootim]

much as low did when he suggested certain people were into beastiality

 

Wow, the first interesting snippet on this thread! When? what did he say?

[buctootim]

You should become a psychologist Steve as you seem to know what we all really mean

 

I did indeed mean Simon, i knew it began with an S.... But either way that is how he communicates to them, do you deny that then?

 

I won't get into an argument with you about Lowe,Bournemouth or even away games (although i went to all but 3 last year, and missed only 1 the year before that) as it is silly.

 

My opinion is as Mark said we don't know the facts. People who know Nick or his history will know he likes his position. He uses it in various way's, some of those way's for self profit. You can't deny that. As mentioned he is a bit of a wanabe politician. Did he even say he wanted to be on the board? Point being with him it is neither black or white. And i don't think this is any different.

 

He used his position to speak to the media to criticise the club. While not a direct attack on Cortese it was still an attack. If you have an opinion on something is it best to speak to those people direct or through the media? Especially when you know the person your trying to deal with is pretty nasty when it comes to being talked about in the media?

The payment plan option while a pain was not a huge concern for Saints fans. As mentioned ticket sales are up, that was with an increase in price and lack of payment plans. That shows people found way's to get around it. Did it really need the whole media coverage thing? Personally i don't think so.

 

Being banned from getting a ticket is of course excessive. Especially for someone who pay's to get a ticket for as long as he has. In that respect i feel sorry for him. If it is true that Cortese banned him then he deserves an explanation as to why. He is owed that. But until that happens none of us know the real facts. We are just assuming things are as they are. Who knows maybe his credit card rejected his payments or something. If it turns out it was just an error of some kind then a lot of people including Nick will look very silly won't they. Has he tried ringing the admin team to find out why? But if it turns out he was banned for going to media to express his views on the payment options/crest etc.. then sorry but i have no sympathy for him.

 

But as others have mentioned. Once this dies down there will be another one about Cortese, then another one. Once the dye has been cast it is hard to escape that image. A lot of people have now got this image of Cortese as some sort of bad guy, some even comparing to Lowe. As far as i can tell he simply hasen't spoken to the media about anything. Most of what has been said has been total ********. Until we know the facts on this one you can't say anything.

 

bingo.

[Junior Mullet]

I expect there is more to this story than meets the eye. I'm sure the club have seen this thread and yet have declined to comment.

 

It appears that the jury is still very much out on Cortese. Time will tell but I can see some worrying cracks starting to appear.

[kpturner]

I'm sure the club have seen this thread and yet have declined to comment.

Why are you sure of that? I find it very difficult to believe that anyone at the club would look at this den of vipers in an official capacity, much less credit it with any relevance.

[Sour Mash]

 

To be another sheep because it's the done thing to call into question a long-standing supporter's motives and actions, yet a new kid on the block playing with someone else's money is beyond reproach?

 

Can't think of a better way of summing up the majority of posters on this thread, spot on.

[oxfordshire_saint]

From what I can see, it just seems like certain people are jealous of the level of involvement he's had at the club over the years and based on that, are now revelling in the fact that it seems the new regime don't exactly see him as flavour of the month.

 

Let's look at it from a neutral point of view, if what has been alleged is true, it's a very shoddy way of treating a customer, especially a long-standing one.

 

I like Cortese, he's clearly an excellent businessman, but perhaps he needs to either employ or take advice from someone who's worked in PR at a decent club before, because he appears to have a lot to learn on that side.

[dune]

Why are you sure of that? I find it very difficult to believe that anyone at the club would look at this den of vipers in an official capacity, much less credit it with any relevance.

 

Ticket Office aka David Luker regularly visits the forum.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/member.php?2121-Ticket-Office

 

Join Date 27-11-2006 Last Activity Today 12:21 PM Blog Entries 0

[Gemmel]

Why you can’t have an opinion on a particular topic on here, without being labeled into a certain camp, I don’t know, may be it’s just the fallout from previous politics and regimes.

For what it’s worth if Cortese has banned Nick for expressing a particular opinion, then that is just pathetic, sad and dangerous. If there is more to it, then let’s wait and see, but just keep our fingers crossed it is an administrive error.

What I am surprised about it the vitriol shown to another Saints fan and from what I can see, is based on nothing more than the fact he has offered his opinion, publically on all things Saints. The irony isn’t lost on me that many of those people (Wrongly) criticizing this, have 1000’s of posts on a public Saints fans forum……to do what??? (Oh yes…..express THEIR opinions on all things Saints)

Of course we are all grateful to NC and ML and ultimately their success, means our success, so we are all on the same side, but NC is here for the short term (See his notes in JPT program) and came into in the club on the back of a business case, not pure love of the club or some nostalgic notion of hero worshiping (Nothing wrong in that) and presented himself as a custodian of the club defined by a fans charter he has decided to drop and ignore within 12 months.

He is running the club and can do as he pleases and whilst I was disappointed with such things as the removal of the payment plan, given the numbers sold to date and on the basis we match last year’s attendances, it will be a commercial victory for the club (Albeit at the expense of the fans – Success doesn’t come cheap in football) and kudos for Cortese. The same might be said with the spat with the Echo, if Saints get advertising revenue from the official site or pay per click throughs, and he can increase traffic and revenue by locking out the Echo, then (Again will effect some fans) then so be it and more revenue potentially means better players, so kudos to him once again.

So just because people challenge him, doesn’t mean they are against him. I’m certainly not and wish him every success, but not at cost of banning lifelong Saints fans for an opinion and we should all hope that is not the case.

[Gemmel]

Why are you sure of that? I find it very difficult to believe that anyone at the club would look at this den of vipers in an official capacity, much less credit it with any relevance.

 

LOL, are you serious? DO you really believe that ????????????????

 

Probably not worth a comment as it won't change your mind. But you are very very wrong.

[SparkySaint]

I was one of those that felt shafted by the Silverspoons scenario BUT don't think you can compare like for like in this instance. Why should anybody be refused a season ticket in this way ?

 

I don't like all the anti-Cortese messages that seem to be flying around as alot of them seem to be from people with individual agendas BUT each case has to be taken on balance and this one is a bit worrying.

 

Victimisation doesn't always spell innocence

[Dave Benson Phillips]

It's the same old people ranting on here in support of Cortese and will shout down anyone who has a bad word to say about their saviour, without actually looking at the facts.

 

IF it is purely down to an administration error, then it's still absolutely disgraceful customer service on the clubs part and something which needs to be addressed immediately. Like or loathe Nick, I don't think anyone can honestly say he is making up that the club have not contacted him, nor resolved his issue after more than 3 weeks of trying to resolve it. It would just not be in his best interests to make up such a blatant lie. All the people who are saying 'you are speaking to the wrong person/manager' - Southampton FC is not a Blue Chip company FFS, I am pretty sure the management know how to use the 'Fw' facility on their email to direct it to the right place without it getting 'lost in the system'

 

REGARDLESS of the reasons for revoking the season ticket, if this is the case, then the football club have a duty to remain professional and deal with the issue in a professional manner, what they have done IF it wasn't an admin error, is completely petty and childish to not even have the courtesy of contacting Nick to let him know of the reasons, the reasons for revoking his season ticket are irrelevent.

 

So whichever way you look at it, the club is in the wrong and being childish and petty and/or showing a completely disgraceful customer service.

Edited 28 July, 2010 by Dave Benson Phillips

[kpturner]

Ticket Office aka David Luker regularly visits the forum.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/member.php?2121-Ticket-Office

 

Join Date 27-11-2006 Last Activity Today 12:21 PM Blog Entries 0

So what? I still don't think that "the club" (whoever that might be) would credit this forum with any relevance by responding in an official capacity to anything posted on it.

[benjii]

You got enough time on your hands? Honestly not got anything better to do with your time than stick stuff like that up on an internet forum?

 

Can anyone on here honestly tell me they are happy and impressed with the way Cortese treats and communicates with fans?

 

Yep.

 

The only problem I can see is that it would have been nice to have had more warning about the interest-free installment plan (a ridiculously generous and potty perk) being removed.

 

Other than that I have no issue and the positives:

 

implementing a clear strategy for the club at every level whilst recognising that the first team is paramount;

recruiting top people;

allowing the manager time;

 

far outweigh the grumblings of a disgruntled few, many of which grumblings appear to be based on unsubstantiated hearsay.

[Deano6]

Would you like to provide a link to where I have said that? Or are you speaking out of your arse?

 

A link to where you said it in the pub??

 

I think you are spending too much time on the internet.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

A link to where you said it in the pub??

 

I think you are spending too much time on the internet.

 

Speaking out of your arse then. That's all I need to know.

[Guided Missile]

Ticket Office aka David Luker regularly visits the forum.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/member.php?2121-Ticket-Office

 

Join Date 27-11-2006 Last Activity Today 12:21 PM Blog Entries 0

 

Ticket Office has not made any friends yet

[trousers]

Ticket Office aka David Luker regularly visits the forum.

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/member.php?2121-Ticket-Office

 

Join Date 27-11-2006 Last Activity Today 12:21 PM Blog Entries 0

 

As does club spokesman Jordan Sibley (assume it's the same chap?)

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/member.php?5537-Jordan-Sibley

 

Last Activity 22-07-2010 09:30 PM

 

Not that I'm snooping around of course.... :-)

[Gemmel]

So what? I still don't think that "the club" (whoever that might be) would credit this forum with any relevance by responding in an official capacity to anything posted on it.

 

The same (Different guise) forum, that. lowe hired external PR companies to infiltrate, that wilde used to gain support and that Crouch used to discredit the others the same one that jim hone spent his working week on ,.......................and the same one that David Luker used to post updated ticket information (Note he doesnt anymore - do the maths)