The refusal to sell a season ticket at Southampton FC

[dubai_phil]

anyone actually thought that there must have been a reason for the refusal to sell one to him, a breach of terms and conditions perhaps.

 

Yes, But.

 

Yes there could have been a breach of ST T's & C's but that is likely to have been something simple that would have been likely to have elicited a response from the club. (ie they could have released that info to the IFO to "make Nick look petty & childish")

 

The fact that they chose not to could be deemed to be consistent policy of no statements or of something more deep OR the fact that they did NOT want Nick to be made to look petty & childish.

 

Hence why we don't know

 

IMHO

[trousers]

anyone actually thought that there must have been a reason for the refusal to sell one to him, a breach of terms and conditions perhaps.

 

Yes, that has crossed my mind. But, if it's as simple as that (to coin a phrase) then why have the club apparently not told him (in private) what the breach was?

[trousers]

Has anyone got a link to the season ticket terms and conditions of use? Cheers

[georgeweahscousin]

I think it is difficult for fans that didn't go to the Silverspoons event to understand why some fans aren't supporting Mr. Illingsworth in this, so as someone who did attend and felt both ripped off and let down by it I thought I would share it with you....

 

I bought four tickets for the event, when I purchased them, they came with the promise of food, ex players, many bars, entertainment etc. etc.

 

What we got for our money was a total dump of a nightclub, with one tiny bar(serving overpriced cans that took about an hour to get), not enough toilets(everybody urinating outside), the worlds worst DJ (who even ruined it when the fans tried to get an atmosphere going by overpowering them with the wrong words over the mic). There were no ex players and no food. It was a disgrace in all honesty. A total rip off.

 

I aired my grievances on the facebook page and somebody (I don't remember the name of) said he was a friend of Mr. Illingsworth's and gave me his e-mail address and said he would be happy to respond to any complaints. I worded a polite but highly critical e-mail about the event to the said e-mail address. I didn't ask for a refund, just an explanation as to why certain things were promised, that never happened.

 

I received no reply. I have spoken to quite a few Saints fans who all felt the same as me, and all e-mailed the same address. Not one received a reply.

 

Do I believe the club should revoke somebodies ST without giving them a reason? No. But excuse me if I and many others feel little sympathy and don't buy into the whole "victim" persona. His complaining to the media of not being given a reason is hypocritical as far as I am concerned.

 

Don't ask someone else to do something that you aren't prepared to do yourself.

[Viking Warrior]

Who is behind the organisation of the SAINTS CELEBRATE 125 YEARS at the Mayflower Feb 13th 2011 event?

 

Should be some good story's coming out of this event ? I will imagine

[trousers]

Again

 

Anyone here able to tell us all what the hell the saints trust is these days that warrants being used to gain any shred of credibility to any opinion???

 

Why can't people answer this?

 

Is the more pertinent question: "Does NI himself want the Saints Trust to continue or does he too feel that it's run it's natural course?"

[dubai_phil]

I think it is difficult for fans that didn't go to the Silverspoons event to understand why some fans aren't supporting Mr. Illingsworth in this, so as someone who did attend and felt both ripped off and let down by it I thought I would share it with you....

 

I bought four tickets for the event, when I purchased them, they came with the promise of food, ex players, many bars, entertainment etc. etc.

 

What we got for our money was a total dump of a nightclub, with one tiny bar(serving overpriced cans that took about an hour to get), not enough toilets(everybody urinating outside), the worlds worst DJ (who even ruined it when the fans tried to get an atmosphere going by overpowering them with the wrong words over the mic). There were no ex players and no food. It was a disgrace in all honesty. A total rip off.

 

I aired my grievances on the facebook page and somebody (I don't remember the name of) said he was a friend of Mr. Illingsworth's and gave me his e-mail address and said he would be happy to respond to any complaints. I worded a polite but highly critical e-mail about the event to the said e-mail address. I didn't ask for a refund, just an explanation as to why certain things were promised, that never happened.

 

I received no reply. I have spoken to quite a few Saints fans who all felt the same as me, and all e-mailed the same address. Not one received a reply.

 

Do I believe the club should revoke somebodies ST without giving them a reason? No. But excuse me if I and many others feel little sympathy and don't buy into the whole "victim" persona. His complaining to the media of not being given a reason is hypocritical as far as I am concerned.

 

Don't ask someone else to do something that you aren't prepared to do yourself.

 

Ouch.

 

OK game over then. Do unto others as....

 

So a (number more than one) of Saints fans, who do not go to or are in the domain of the media have requested, in writing, a reason why an event that Nick was involved in caused distress (I'm being polite)

 

He did not answer them.

 

OK you can argue he made a public statement about it, but it does not take many seconds to press a "REPLY" button on an email and cut and paste. "I'm sorry, I was let down" and then press send.

 

No answer given.

 

Not going to call Nick the things others have done, but I can start to see where this leads.

 

So I'm staying in the "Maybe the club has a reason for not giving a reason camp"

[JustMike]

does he still attend games via individual match tickets?

[Viking Warrior]

What ever the greivance NI has with the season ticket issue . one thing is for sure he has and continues to divide the saints fans base Directly or indirectly). Interesting comments on the saintslist as well

[brmbrm]

Just a moment. blah blah "petty childish behaviour" relating to the photographer ban blah blah

 

Your post is invalidated because you have not used the IMHO comment.

Err, nor doe syours, sp doea that @invalidtae@ your comment? And where do you go these days to get your comments officially validated?

 

The ban on photographers was an Incorrect decision, blah blah

 

I rest my case

 

My opinion on that issue is that it was a wrong decision, bordering on stupid, blah blah

 

Then don't we agree on this?

 

And what about the comments to the press about Cheltenham/FA Cup ticket prices? Anyone with an iota of grace or respect for the other club wouldn't have made them.

 

 

A big deal? I don't really think so, but it does show the club up in a pretty ****** poor light. And the IFO report independnently says exactly that.

[simo]

10 pages ! Really?

[Frank's cousin]

Ok... am I the only one who is fed up with these issues? - Just when we have things more or less sorted out, the league position looks good, the sqaud is fine, the prospects good, the future bright etc... we keep having these niggly stories appear... from Lawrie, MLT, Benali, now NI.... and fans get pulled in different directions. On the one hand we can perhaps understand some of the reasons for a gripe, but on teh other we see how teh club is placed, recognise the job being done and find it hard to be critical of a regime that is doing the IMPORTANT things right?

 

Is it possible that the reason WHY we are doing well, have a stable club, planning for the league with teh best chance of promotion is because the CLUB is focussed on these things and does not want to distracted by petty gripes and media speculation? The Swiss business culture is one of going about things in a professional and confidential manner - we should all know that this means that they will not be in the media explaining everything every five minutes.

 

Yes, because the club has given no explanation to Nick, we find this wrong - and on teh surface I would agree. BUt has anyone stopped a moment and thought there may be a reason for this? If a reason is given it will be in the public domain within 1 second -could it be that the club wish to avoid highlighting something that Nick did, or that might not show teh club in a great light by association?

 

We have seen that NC does NOT want the club to be in the media every five minutes, they want a measured and controlled release of information so that everyone is focussed on teh job at hand which is promotion - no distractions (or as few as possible) - - sure we are not used to it, and some dont like it, but if it works and gets the job done?

 

Its why I am so ****ed off with teh whole ex-player, personalities griping in public - I woudl have thought everyone would be pleased with teh obvious progress we have made in the last 15 months or so... Yes, NIck on an individual basis gets a raw deal, there must be something he has done for the club not to be happy with him... but maybe we should avoid taking sides because we simply dont know the full story. Personally If I was NIck, I would have tried to keep this OUT of the media and deal with it in private until a resolution was no longer possible - I dont think the continued media presence of these stories helps his case, but I can understand his frustration. Its possible that he is being bumdled in with all the others that have spoken negatively about teh club in public and as we see the club is not going to tolerate this.

 

We all have different views on this. I stated before that good things are good because they stand up to criticism - and so in an ideal world i woudl welcome a more open and communicative approach from the club... BUT, this is football, sport etc and its about doing what is necessary to achieve the success we all desire. If that is achieved through a rigorously focussed and avoidance of media distraction, then should we really be complaining?

 

I suspect that only when we have achieved the aims and ambitions over teh next 4 years will we see maybe a relaxation of this - afterall if we end up in a CL final, it would be hard to avoid a media frenzy;-)

 

Nick, time to close the Trust and go pass the olive branch and keep stum in the media.

[georgeweahscousin]

As much as I think Nick is a c**k. The fans that went to Silverspoons only have themselves to blame. Why would anyone pay to enter a pub when there are loads of pubs in the area which were free and full of saints fans??? It's like the people who pay to go on pub crawls when the pubs are free to go into anyway.

 

Rubbish.

 

We paid for the added extras. i.e. food, ex players etc. etc. Those didn't of course materialise.

[dubai_phil]

Ok... am I the only one who is fed up with these issues? - Just when we have things more or less sorted out, the league position looks good, the sqaud is fine, the prospects good, the future bright etc... we keep having these niggly stories appear... from Lawrie, MLT, Benali, now NI.... and fans get pulled in different directions. On the one hand we can perhaps understand some of the reasons for a gripe, but on teh other we see how teh club is placed, recognise the job being done and find it hard to be critical of a regime that is doing the IMPORTANT things right?

 

Is it possible that the reason WHY we are doing well, have a stable club, planning for the league with teh best chance of promotion is because the CLUB is focussed on these things and does not want to distracted by petty gripes and media speculation? The Swiss business culture is one of going about things in a professional and confidential manner - we should all know that this means that they will not be in the media explaining everything every five minutes.

 

Yes, because the club has given no explanation to Nick, we find this wrong - and on teh surface I would agree. BUt has anyone stopped a moment and thought there may be a reason for this? If a reason is given it will be in the public domain within 1 second -could it be that the club wish to avoid highlighting something that Nick did, or that might not show teh club in a great light by association?

 

We have seen that NC does NOT want the club to be in the media every five minutes, they want a measured and controlled release of information so that everyone is focussed on teh job at hand which is promotion - no distractions (or as few as possible) - - sure we are not used to it, and some dont like it, but if it works and gets the job done?

 

Its why I am so ****ed off with teh whole ex-player, personalities griping in public - I woudl have thought everyone would be pleased with teh obvious progress we have made in the last 15 months or so... Yes, NIck on an individual basis gets a raw deal, there must be something he has done for the club not to be happy with him... but maybe we should avoid taking sides because we simply dont know the full story. Personally If I was NIck, I would have tried to keep this OUT of the media and deal with it in private until a resolution was no longer possible - I dont think the continued media presence of these stories helps his case, but I can understand his frustration. Its possible that he is being bumdled in with all the others that have spoken negatively about teh club in public and as we see the club is not going to tolerate this.

 

We all have different views on this. I stated before that good things are good because they stand up to criticism - and so in an ideal world i woudl welcome a more open and communicative approach from the club... BUT, this is football, sport etc and its about doing what is necessary to achieve the success we all desire. If that is achieved through a rigorously focussed and avoidance of media distraction, then should we really be complaining?

 

I suspect that only when we have achieved the aims and ambitions over teh next 4 years will we see maybe a relaxation of this - afterall if we end up in a CL final, it would be hard to avoid a media frenzy;-)

 

Nick, time to close the Trust and go pass the olive branch and keep stum in the media.

 

Here endeth the lesson.

 

Spot on Frank.

[trousers]

10 pages ! Really?

 

Any chance of a more regular page count update? Say, every 2 or 3 pages? Cheers ;-)

[trousers]

As much as I think Nick is a c**k. The fans that went to Silverspoons only have themselves to blame. Why would anyone pay to enter a pub when there are loads of pubs in the area which were free and full of saints fans??? It's like the people who pay to go on pub crawls when the pubs are free to go into anyway.

 

Because they were buying an entertainment package, not just "a few beers in a pub"?

 

Just a hunch

[Liquidshokk]

Ok... am I the only one who is fed up with these issues? - Just when we have things more or less sorted out, the league position looks good, the sqaud is fine, the prospects good, the future bright etc... we keep having these niggly stories appear... from Lawrie, MLT, Benali, now NI.... and fans get pulled in different directions. On the one hand we can perhaps understand some of the reasons for a gripe, but on teh other we see how teh club is placed, recognise the job being done and find it hard to be critical of a regime that is doing the IMPORTANT things right?

 

Is it possible that the reason WHY we are doing well, have a stable club, planning for the league with teh best chance of promotion is because the CLUB is focussed on these things and does not want to distracted by petty gripes and media speculation? The Swiss business culture is one of going about things in a professional and confidential manner - we should all know that this means that they will not be in the media explaining everything every five minutes.

 

Yes, because the club has given no explanation to Nick, we find this wrong - and on teh surface I would agree. BUt has anyone stopped a moment and thought there may be a reason for this? If a reason is given it will be in the public domain within 1 second -could it be that the club wish to avoid highlighting something that Nick did, or that might not show teh club in a great light by association?

 

We have seen that NC does NOT want the club to be in the media every five minutes, they want a measured and controlled release of information so that everyone is focussed on teh job at hand which is promotion - no distractions (or as few as possible) - - sure we are not used to it, and some dont like it, but if it works and gets the job done?

 

Its why I am so ****ed off with teh whole ex-player, personalities griping in public - I woudl have thought everyone would be pleased with teh obvious progress we have made in the last 15 months or so... Yes, NIck on an individual basis gets a raw deal, there must be something he has done for the club not to be happy with him... but maybe we should avoid taking sides because we simply dont know the full story. Personally If I was NIck, I would have tried to keep this OUT of the media and deal with it in private until a resolution was no longer possible - I dont think the continued media presence of these stories helps his case, but I can understand his frustration. Its possible that he is being bumdled in with all the others that have spoken negatively about teh club in public and as we see the club is not going to tolerate this.

 

We all have different views on this. I stated before that good things are good because they stand up to criticism - and so in an ideal world i woudl welcome a more open and communicative approach from the club... BUT, this is football, sport etc and its about doing what is necessary to achieve the success we all desire. If that is achieved through a rigorously focussed and avoidance of media distraction, then should we really be complaining?

 

I suspect that only when we have achieved the aims and ambitions over teh next 4 years will we see maybe a relaxation of this - afterall if we end up in a CL final, it would be hard to avoid a media frenzy;-)

 

Nick, time to close the Trust and go pass the olive branch and keep stum in the media.

 

Well said that man. Spot on.

[trousers]

Yes' date=' because the club has given no explanation to Nick, we find this wrong - and on teh surface I would agree. BUt [b']has anyone stopped a moment and thought there may be a reason for this?[/b]

 

Yes, there's a few of us that have stopped for several moments to ponder on this. Me, you, Phil and a few others, and as a result we're reserving judgement on the whole debacle. To me, that's the only sensible view to be holding at the moment as no-one (on here) has the full facts.

[OldNick]

As much as I think Nick is a c**k. The fans that went to Silverspoons only have themselves to blame. Why would anyone pay to enter a pub when there are loads of pubs in the area which were free and full of saints fans??? It's like the people who pay to go on pub crawls when the pubs are free to go into anyway.

Being a saints fan I have not been to the new wembley before. my experience of going to big events s that you don't get room to move and not get to the bar. It also was going to give the opporunity to take 2 youngsters who had not been able to get a ticket so they could enjoy the experience and join in. We were going to leave them at this bar in comfort to watch the final on TV and like at the cup final in Cardiff join with the many fans who travelled without tickets to enjoy the occasion.

Apart from the 2 hookers who fell out of the club and NI having to clear up broken glass and beer off the floor before he could let fans in, we were greeted by the dirtiest seediest club I have encountered. It was a shambles including people outside selling more tickets for this place when it was said to be a limited number.

I could forgive NI more if he had said he was duped and had not seen the place, but it turned out he had been there before a cup final.

You may be the cleverest person on here and know that there is easy pubs to go to where you can take young fans, i didn't and thought this was a brilliant idea. I was duped by a fellow fan.

We left and had to find 2 spare tickets off of touts....they werent touts but other fellow saints fans who wanted £50 profits on the tickets. So the cost born were even higher, please forgive me if I have no sympathy for him

[Gingeletiss]

Just a moment. Let's take a step back on this. You make an unrelated (to this thread) statement here - "petty childish behaviour" relating to the photographer ban

 

No it was not.

 

It was decision made for a reason AT THE TIME by "The Football Club".

 

Your post is invalidated because you have not used the IMHO comment.

 

The ban on photographers was an Incorrect decision, BUT the club made it for what THEY (ie NC) thought were valid reasons. HINDSIGHT has shown it to have been a pretty stupid decision to have made and one that I do not fully understand because I don't know WHY it was made.

 

My opinion on that issue is that it was a wrong decision, bordering on stupid, and that the club entered into discussions and changed their decision. BUT they did NOT make a public statement about WHY the decision was made at the time.

 

Again, despite 9 pages of OPINIONS and speculation we have a similar situation. The Club has made a decision for reasons that THEY believe are valid and have decided to continue to be consistent by NOT giving a reason.

 

The club haven't given a detailaed public statement or reason why AP was sacked, they haven't (actually) made a public statement on a great number of decisions that have been debated on here. They didn't give a reason for signing N'Guessan & Forte, for deciding to delay Staplewood or even detail how the Liebherr family will continue to support the club. There are many deep and meaningful and TBH IMHO far more important decisions that haven't been explained.

 

The CLUB believe THEY have a reason for not saying anything. We don't know what it is. The ONLY thing we know from the short history is that the club appear NEVER to explain their decisions.

 

It is tough on Nick, it MAY well be hugely unfair, both sides in the argument are putting forward valid "arguments" but nobody has answered the question and IMHO unless Nick takes the club to court, he will NOT get an answer.

 

But, you know what? One thing here is good news. Tough on one guy in this instance, but at least the Club IS being consistent.

 

Oh, and one other thing we have learnt. About the only way this will be answered - someone is going to have to ask NC to his face at one of those ST Dinner evenings. That seems to be the only way to get detalied answers - off the record and face to face.

 

I like consistency, it makes a change.

 

This!

[Gingeletiss]

I think it is difficult for fans that didn't go to the Silverspoons event to understand why some fans aren't supporting Mr. Illingsworth in this, so as someone who did attend and felt both ripped off and let down by it I thought I would share it with you....

 

I bought four tickets for the event, when I purchased them, they came with the promise of food, ex players, many bars, entertainment etc. etc.

 

What we got for our money was a total dump of a nightclub, with one tiny bar(serving overpriced cans that took about an hour to get), not enough toilets(everybody urinating outside), the worlds worst DJ (who even ruined it when the fans tried to get an atmosphere going by overpowering them with the wrong words over the mic). There were no ex players and no food. It was a disgrace in all honesty. A total rip off.

 

I aired my grievances on the facebook page and somebody (I don't remember the name of) said he was a friend of Mr. Illingsworth's and gave me his e-mail address and said he would be happy to respond to any complaints. I worded a polite but highly critical e-mail about the event to the said e-mail address. I didn't ask for a refund, just an explanation as to why certain things were promised, that never happened.

 

I received no reply. I have spoken to quite a few Saints fans who all felt the same as me, and all e-mailed the same address. Not one received a reply.

 

Do I believe the club should revoke somebodies ST without giving them a reason? No. But excuse me if I and many others feel little sympathy and don't buy into the whole "victim" persona. His complaining to the media of not being given a reason is hypocritical as far as I am concerned.

 

Don't ask someone else to do something that you aren't prepared to do yourself.

 

...and this!

[Gingeletiss]

Ok... am I the only one who is fed up with these issues? - Just when we have things more or less sorted out, the league position looks good, the sqaud is fine, the prospects good, the future bright etc... we keep having these niggly stories appear... from Lawrie, MLT, Benali, now NI.... and fans get pulled in different directions. On the one hand we can perhaps understand some of the reasons for a gripe, but on teh other we see how teh club is placed, recognise the job being done and find it hard to be critical of a regime that is doing the IMPORTANT things right?

 

Is it possible that the reason WHY we are doing well, have a stable club, planning for the league with teh best chance of promotion is because the CLUB is focussed on these things and does not want to distracted by petty gripes and media speculation? The Swiss business culture is one of going about things in a professional and confidential manner - we should all know that this means that they will not be in the media explaining everything every five minutes.

 

Yes, because the club has given no explanation to Nick, we find this wrong - and on teh surface I would agree. BUt has anyone stopped a moment and thought there may be a reason for this? If a reason is given it will be in the public domain within 1 second -could it be that the club wish to avoid highlighting something that Nick did, or that might not show teh club in a great light by association?

 

We have seen that NC does NOT want the club to be in the media every five minutes, they want a measured and controlled release of information so that everyone is focussed on teh job at hand which is promotion - no distractions (or as few as possible) - - sure we are not used to it, and some dont like it, but if it works and gets the job done?

 

Its why I am so ****ed off with teh whole ex-player, personalities griping in public - I woudl have thought everyone would be pleased with teh obvious progress we have made in the last 15 months or so... Yes, NIck on an individual basis gets a raw deal, there must be something he has done for the club not to be happy with him... but maybe we should avoid taking sides because we simply dont know the full story. Personally If I was NIck, I would have tried to keep this OUT of the media and deal with it in private until a resolution was no longer possible - I dont think the continued media presence of these stories helps his case, but I can understand his frustration. Its possible that he is being bumdled in with all the others that have spoken negatively about teh club in public and as we see the club is not going to tolerate this.

 

We all have different views on this. I stated before that good things are good because they stand up to criticism - and so in an ideal world i woudl welcome a more open and communicative approach from the club... BUT, this is football, sport etc and its about doing what is necessary to achieve the success we all desire. If that is achieved through a rigorously focussed and avoidance of media distraction, then should we really be complaining?

 

I suspect that only when we have achieved the aims and ambitions over teh next 4 years will we see maybe a relaxation of this - afterall if we end up in a CL final, it would be hard to avoid a media frenzy;-)

 

Nick, time to close the Trust and go pass the olive branch and keep stum in the media.

 

...and this! Good posts folks imo.

[trousers]

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_news.php?storyid=11227&title=the_ifo_report

[trousers]

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_news.php?storyid=11227&title=the_ifo_report

 

"At this moment in time I do not know why the club chose this course of action, they initially accepted by season ticket payment only to refund it without any reason or notification, I can only assume that it was because of a statement issued in early June by The Saints Trust asking the club to re consider its stance over the season ticket repayment plan and asking for a meeting with Nicola Cortese regarding this matter."

 

Does anyone have a copy of this statement? Perhaps there's some clues in there as to why Cortese has taken the stance he is taking? There again, perhaps there isn't.

[NickG]

great last minute equaliser by Rickie...

[Frank's cousin]

... the old ST installment plan withdrawal... hard on some who needed it, fecked up by those who abused it... With the club saying it woudl be reintroduced when the swipe card system is installed... so the bad guys here are those fans that abuse the system and cancelled the DDs not the club or really Nick, becuase I suspect he was looking at it purely from the point of view of those fans that really needed it not the abusers... but he should have done this in private first, would be my call...

[trousers]

"At this moment in time I do not know why the club chose this course of action, they initially accepted by season ticket payment only to refund it without any reason or notification, I can only assume that it was because of a statement issued in early June by The Saints Trust asking the club to re consider its stance over the season ticket repayment plan and asking for a meeting with Nicola Cortese regarding this matter."

 

Does anyone have a copy of this statement? Perhaps there's some clues in there as to why Cortese has taken the stance he is taking? There again, perhaps there isn't.

 

Perhaps this is the one....?

 

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_news.php?storyid=7796

 

"Supporters Charter Out Of The Window !

Wed 09th Jun 2010 10:09

 

Last year Saints sent us a lovely booklet entitled the Supporters Charter in which Nicola Cortese made a lovely statement and laid down the Club's commitment to us the fans, indeed the headline on the top of the Chairman's speech was "Our Commitment To Meeting Your Expectations"

In his opening statement the Chairman made it clear that "This supporters Charter will be the embodiment of what we stand for and it will target what we deliver year in year out" so it definately wasnt intended as a one season wonder.

 

The first section is Ticketing and there the Club states that "In a continuing effort to strive for wider access to matches, the club will offer:

 

* A payment plan for season tickets to make them cost effective

This charter was widely praised by the Football Authorities and Saints supporters felt that in this Charter, they had a blueprint for the future and honourable men committed to delivering it.

In the red target box on the side of each page, where the Club sets out its targets in order to be able to measure its progress in delivering the Supporters Charter, it says

"Via our supporter engagement policy, we will seek feedback on ticket prices for forthcoming seasons in an attempt to ensure maximum supporter buy in"

Having had contact with the club over the past months representing the Saints Trust, at no time has ticket pricing ever been mentioned, if it had and this had been suggested you can be assured that we would have told the Club the folly of such a move.

So perhaps the reason why there has been so much outcry in the past week is not just because of the removal of the re payment plan, but by the way this announcement has been delivered, its been a little bit like dumping your girlfriend by text, the announcement was put up on the Clubs official website late on a bank holiday Monday evening, and in the nine days since then there hasnt been one comment from the club.

To coin a phrase, when there is a storm the Captain of the ship should be on the bridge and in charge, but where is Nicola Cortese ? it seems at the first sign of trouble he has disapeared.

Up till a week or so ago, Nicola Cortese was one of the most popular men in this City, Saints supporters revered him for the way he had overseen the revamp of the club, now they feel nothing but bewilderment and the longer he stays silent that will soon change to contempt for the way he has treated them, Cortese has often said he considers this Club to be his family, that being the case he seems to have different family values than the rest of us.

Perhaps just as important though is the lack of season ticket renewals in the post, supporters expect these, although with the outcry in the Daily Echo over the past week I would imagine that many season ticket holders do know the situation, there are still those that dont have the internet or are not in the Echo's catchement area and they could be blissfully unaware and waiting to renew.

One gripe was about the short timescale, as i write this article it is nearly 9th June, almost a third of the renewal time has gone and yet from the club a deafening silence.

There is still time for the Club and Nicola Cortese to turn things round, to come out and introduce a payment plan or even extend the time supporters have to renew to the start of August to give them more time to raise the cash.

 

Cynics would say that Cortese is trying to maximise price per ticket, he is relying on the team doing well and that being the case the fans flocking through the gates, could his thinking be that he would prefer to have as many supporters paying £24 a ticket plus booking fees etc than £17 with a season ticket, I sincerely hope not !

 

The supporters now want to see Cortese lead from the front, come out and tell us the reasoning behind the thinking, not hide behind a wall of silence, to do so would suggest that our Chairman has a contempt for the supporters of this Club that matches the way previous Chairmen have treated us and in fact in some ways exceeds it.

 

We had hoped that in the 21st Century football was heading in a better direction than in the past, a direction where supporters are treated like adults and consulted, instead of being treated like dirt, this week has revealed that a lot has changed in the past 11 months, put perhaps not as much as we first thought !."

Edited 4 February, 2011 by trousers

[landford.saint]

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/fb_news.php?storyid=11227&title=the_ifo_report

 

Says absolutely nothing apart from "Look at the IFO report".

 

so unless someone has seen this report we have precisely 1 fact. For some reason NI has had his season ticket application declined.

At this time NI is saying nothing, SFC are saying nothing.

So we have wasted 10 pages on nothing..

 

About the same as 99% of threads on here really.

[Sour Mash]

Just a moment. Let's take a step back on this. You make an unrelated (to this thread) statement here - "petty childish behaviour" relating to the photographer ban

 

No it was not.

 

It was decision made for a reason AT THE TIME by "The Football Club".

 

Your post is invalidated because you have not used the IMHO comment.

 

The ban on photographers was an Incorrect decision, BUT the club made it for what THEY (ie NC) thought were valid reasons. HINDSIGHT has shown it to have been a pretty stupid decision to have made and one that I do not fully understand because I don't know WHY it was made.

 

My opinion on that issue is that it was a wrong decision, bordering on stupid, and that the club entered into discussions and changed their decision. BUT they did NOT make a public statement about WHY the decision was made at the time.

 

Again, despite 9 pages of OPINIONS and speculation we have a similar situation. The Club has made a decision for reasons that THEY believe are valid and have decided to continue to be consistent by NOT giving a reason.

 

The club haven't given a detailaed public statement or reason why AP was sacked, they haven't (actually) made a public statement on a great number of decisions that have been debated on here. They didn't give a reason for signing N'Guessan & Forte, for deciding to delay Staplewood or even detail how the Liebherr family will continue to support the club. There are many deep and meaningful and TBH IMHO far more important decisions that haven't been explained.

 

The CLUB believe THEY have a reason for not saying anything. We don't know what it is. The ONLY thing we know from the short history is that the club appear NEVER to explain their decisions.

 

It is tough on Nick, it MAY well be hugely unfair, both sides in the argument are putting forward valid "arguments" but nobody has answered the question and IMHO unless Nick takes the club to court, he will NOT get an answer.

 

But, you know what? One thing here is good news. Tough on one guy in this instance, but at least the Club IS being consistent.

 

Oh, and one other thing we have learnt. About the only way this will be answered - someone is going to have to ask NC to his face at one of those ST Dinner evenings. That seems to be the only way to get detalied answers - off the record and face to face.

 

I like consistency, it makes a change.

 

Ah you're right, good points well made, we shouldn't care what decisions the club make as they haven't stated the exact reasons behind them. Thanks for clearing that up for us ffs.

[landford.saint]

THE SAINTS TRUST

 

1. Who are they?

2. How many of them are there?

3. What do they do?

 

Because I for one dont know there current status. Historically? yes. but currently?

[Victor]

 

 

Your post is invalidated because you have not used the IMHO comment.

 

 

 

 

You are a complete **** for making such a comment. IMHO

[trousers]

Is this the type of chairman some people would prefer....? http://www.theposh.com/articles/20110202/the-chairmans-q-a-with-foreverposh_2264584_2282955/0,,10427~2282955~1,00.html

[Sour Mash]

That doesn't hold - hell he has form for petty, childish behaviour: photographer ban, statements to the media/SFC web site about FA cup ticket prices (against Cheltenham? Shrewsbury? Can't remember)

 

Exactly. He has been unbelievably petty for a successful, high-level businessmen, exactly the opposite of what you would expect from someone of his background and position.

[Sour Mash]

I'm not too worried about the behaviour of the club - if you stick your head above the parapet expect it to be shot off.

 

That said I very much enjoyed your eloquent disparaging of the said NI and your info only adds weight to the clubs mission to put the goon back in his box

 

BadgerBadger - Can you stick your name and phone number on here and I'll get the Echo to quote you from now on, hopefully that will keep you happy.

[oldsarum]

Says absolutely nothing apart from "Look at the IFO report".

 

so unless someone has seen this report we have precisely 1 fact. For some reason NI has had his season ticket application declined.

At this time NI is saying nothing, SFC are saying nothing.

So we have wasted 10 pages on nothing..

 

About the same as 99% of threads on here really.

 

 

The Report is on post 1 on this thread I suggest you and others read it before making any more comments criticising Nick, many of the comments have been ill informed to say the least

[Sour Mash]

Ok... am I the only one who is fed up with these issues? - Just when we have things more or less sorted out, the league position looks good, the sqaud is fine, the prospects good, the future bright etc... we keep having these niggly stories appear... from Lawrie, MLT, Benali, now NI.... and fans get pulled in different directions. On the one hand we can perhaps understand some of the reasons for a gripe, but on teh other we see how teh club is placed, recognise the job being done and find it hard to be critical of a regime that is doing the IMPORTANT things right?

 

Is it possible that the reason WHY we are doing well, have a stable club, planning for the league with teh best chance of promotion is because the CLUB is focussed on these things and does not want to distracted by petty gripes and media speculation? The Swiss business culture is one of going about things in a professional and confidential manner - we should all know that this means that they will not be in the media explaining everything every five minutes.

 

Yes, because the club has given no explanation to Nick, we find this wrong - and on teh surface I would agree. BUt has anyone stopped a moment and thought there may be a reason for this? If a reason is given it will be in the public domain within 1 second -could it be that the club wish to avoid highlighting something that Nick did, or that might not show teh club in a great light by association?

 

We have seen that NC does NOT want the club to be in the media every five minutes, they want a measured and controlled release of information so that everyone is focussed on teh job at hand which is promotion - no distractions (or as few as possible) - - sure we are not used to it, and some dont like it, but if it works and gets the job done?

 

Its why I am so ****ed off with teh whole ex-player, personalities griping in public - I woudl have thought everyone would be pleased with teh obvious progress we have made in the last 15 months or so... Yes, NIck on an individual basis gets a raw deal, there must be something he has done for the club not to be happy with him... but maybe we should avoid taking sides because we simply dont know the full story. Personally If I was NIck, I would have tried to keep this OUT of the media and deal with it in private until a resolution was no longer possible - I dont think the continued media presence of these stories helps his case, but I can understand his frustration. Its possible that he is being bumdled in with all the others that have spoken negatively about teh club in public and as we see the club is not going to tolerate this.

 

We all have different views on this. I stated before that good things are good because they stand up to criticism - and so in an ideal world i woudl welcome a more open and communicative approach from the club... BUT, this is football, sport etc and its about doing what is necessary to achieve the success we all desire. If that is achieved through a rigorously focussed and avoidance of media distraction, then should we really be complaining?

 

I suspect that only when we have achieved the aims and ambitions over teh next 4 years will we see maybe a relaxation of this - afterall if we end up in a CL final, it would be hard to avoid a media frenzy;-)

 

Nick, time to close the Trust and go pass the olive branch and keep stum in the media.

 

Well no, I don't think we are going about things professionally at all, that's sort of the point, Cortese keeps looking bad time and time again. But sorry, I forget, we're meant to be eternally grateful that we're in a play-off spot in the 3rd division - that should be the absolute minimum that any club's management can achieve with the resources we have, a League One club getting 20k+ every home game.

[Hatch]

The club wouldn't let me buy a ticket for 3 years!

I didn't get a thread to myself.

 

humph. boo hoo.

[Viking Warrior]

The club are dammed if they do or say something or dammed if if they don't do or say anything

 

Graet Post by the way

 

Frank

[VectisSaint]

Can't believe this thread is still going. has anyone actually considered that SFC are not willing to make public the reason for not allowing NI to purchase a season ticket because they feel it would be rather embarrassing for Nick? I have no idea what has happened, but maybe they feel the reason would not be good for Nick in the public domain. I don't see (hear) NI making a huge issue of this publicly, perhaps he really doesn't know why he isn't being sold a ST, but then again maybe it would be disadvantageous to him for the real reason to be made public. No-one other than Nick or Nic know the real reasons yet this forum continues to debate something we have no knowledge of and accuse everybody of things we know nothing about. Quite frankly I couldn't give a flying fig why someone who represents no-one is refused a ST, but is still allowed to attend games, but I do find it annoying that people are prepared to drag the name of SFC through the mud without real knowledge of the facts.

[docker-p]

Well no, I don't think we are going about things professionally at all, that's sort of the point, Cortese keeps looking bad time and time again. But sorry, I forget, we're meant to be eternally grateful that we're in a play-off spot in the 3rd division - that should be the absolute minimum that any club's management can achieve with the resources we have, a League One club getting 20k+ every home game.

Corteses modus oporandi is shockingly bad. He constantly screws up the easy things and then blames 'dark forces'. If he's so bothered by a couple of old players and an even older manager he shouldn't be running a football club.

Everybody was behind him to start with, he's only got himself to blame.

What I think would be best for SFC is for the Liebherr family to take an active interest in the club, get rid of Clotese and get in a CEO with experience of running a football club.

[docker-p]

Can't believe this thread is still going. has anyone actually considered that SFC are not willing to make public the reason for not allowing NI to purchase a season ticket because they feel it would be rather embarrassing for Nick? I have no idea what has happened, but maybe they feel the reason would not be good for Nick in the public domain. I don't see (hear) NI making a huge issue of this publicly, perhaps he really doesn't know why he isn't being sold a ST, but then again maybe it would be disadvantageous to him for the real reason to be made public. No-one other than Nick or Nic know the real reasons yet this forum continues to debate something we have no knowledge of and accuse everybody of things we know nothing about. Quite frankly I couldn't give a flying fig why someone who represents no-one is refused a ST, but is still allowed to attend games, but I do find it annoying that people are prepared to drag the name of SFC through the mud without real knowledge of the facts.

Oh please I think you're trying a little too hard to excuse the club.

[Noodles34]

Okay, lets have some suggestions on why you think NI has been banned; maybe that will help clear this up?

 

I'll go with, once when Nick turned up at the ticket office, NC was there and noticed the colour of Nick's car and didn't like it...

[Wes Tender]

Well no, I don't think we are going about things professionally at all, that's sort of the point, Cortese keeps looking bad time and time again. But sorry, I forget, we're meant to be eternally grateful that we're in a play-off spot in the 3rd division - that should be the absolute minimum that any club's management can achieve with the resources we have, a League One club getting 20k+ every home game.

 

I'm trying to work out whether you're unhappy because NI is your mate, or whether it's because you can't abide NC. Pardon me if I get the impression that you have some agenda here, as your posts suggest that to me. Apologies if I'm mistaken, but you seem to be the proverbial dog with a bone.

 

The most sensible posts on here have concluded that as only one side of the story is in the public domain, then it is futile piling in with all this conjecture as to what the reasons and motives were for the Club refusing to issue a ST to NI.

 

I'd certainly hate to be before a court where some on here were on the jury, as clearly some are prepared to issue the guilty verdict without having heard the case for the defence.

[benjii]

Corteses modus oporandi is shockingly bad. He constantly screws up the easy things and then blames 'dark forces'. If he's so bothered by a couple of old players and an even older manager he shouldn't be running a football club.

Everybody was behind him to start with, he's only got himself to blame.

What I think would be best for SFC is for the Liebherr family to take an active interest in the club, get rid of Clotese and get in a CEO with experience of running a football club.

 

TBF, everyone bar the odd dinlo here and there is still behind him.

[Wes Tender]

Corteses modus oporandi is shockingly bad. He constantly screws up the easy things and then blames 'dark forces'. If he's so bothered by a couple of old players and an even older manager he shouldn't be running a football club.

Everybody was behind him to start with, he's only got himself to blame.

What I think would be best for SFC is for the Liebherr family to take an active interest in the club, get rid of Clotese and get in a CEO with experience of running a football club.

 

And you know for a fact that everybody is not for him now, eh? I could certainly furnish a list of posters on here who seem to have taken against him, but then that would only amount to a couple of dozen. What I think would be best for SFC would be for certain individuals to get behind the club rather than bed-wetting themselves over trivia. If they can't manage that, perhaps they're better off suporting Peterborough, whose renta-quote Chairman is probably more their type, or else a glory team.

[hutch]

I must admit, I find the judgement (or award, or decision, or whatever it is) very confusing.

 

I find it hard to reconcile:

 

"The IFO operates a system of non-binding arbitration."

with

"the adjudication of the IFO is final and there is no right of appeal against IFO findings."

 

and:

 

"The IFO must make clear at the outset that he has received full cooperation from ... Southampton FC."

with

"Despite a rigorous investigation, the IFO has been unable to clarify fully what has been going on."

 

and, more importantly:

 

"the IFO recognises Southampton FC’s legal right to refuse to sell a ticket without having to give an explanation"

with

"The Club ... should now end the restriction and reinstate the complainant as a season ticket holder"

 

but I suppose that's what you get if you ask a history professor, with no experience of running a football club, for his opinion.

[Saint_clark]

Corteses modus oporandi is shockingly bad. He constantly screws up the easy things and then blames 'dark forces'. If he's so bothered by a couple of old players and an even older manager he shouldn't be running a football club.

Everybody was behind him to start with,he's only got himself to blame.

What I think would be best for SFC is for the Liebherr family to take an active interest in the club, get rid of Clotese and get in a CEO with experience of running a football club.

 

Considering he's done all of two interviews since he took over the club, i'm interested to know what your dictionary says for "constantly".

[stevegrant]

What I think would be best for SFC would be for certain individuals to get behind the club rather than bed-wetting themselves over trivia. If they can't manage that, perhaps they're better off suporting Peterborough, whose renta-quote Chairman is probably more their type, or else a glory team.

Yeah, god forbid anyone ever having a bad word to say about anyone or anything relating to SFC.

 

Strangely, I didn't see you "getting behind the club" much in its hour of need...

[Wes Tender]

Yeah, god forbid anyone ever having a bad word to say about anyone or anything relating to SFC.

 

Strangely, I didn't see you "getting behind the club" much in its hour of need...

 

Which was its hour of need? When Lowe returned with Wilde? When the Pinnacle Bid was on the Table? Fialka?

[Sour Mash]

And you know for a fact that everybody is not for him now, eh? I could certainly furnish a list of posters on here who seem to have taken against him, but then that would only amount to a couple of dozen. What I think would be best for SFC would be for certain individuals to get behind the club rather than bed-wetting themselves over trivia. If they can't manage that, perhaps they're better off suporting Peterborough, whose renta-quote Chairman is probably more their type, or else a glory team.

 

I think some of the things Cortese has done are very good and plenty not so good and I will criticise him accordingly. Please explain to me how me doing this has any detrimental effect on Southampton Football Club?