Fans relationship, are the club missing a trick.

[derry]

There is no dispute that Nicola Cortese is autocratic and does things his way. However the club's relationship with the fans is tenuous to say the least. Yes we have an official site but nowadays unless looking for confirmation of some detail or getting tickets it's hardly worth checking it. Cortese is still at war with the Echo so anything there is just speculation. BBC is a bit better but it seems that there isn't much of a relationship there now.

 

There is a large fanbase all looking for information eg how are the injured progressing, but the club works like the secret service. Surely it would make things a lot better if the club's public relations was more relaxed, the ticket office more flexible, non confidential player/club news more available. Be more compatible with the Echo/Solent and generally more customer friendly. I know Cortese won't change but it appears that his approach filters all the way down and generally annoys a lot of people who in the end are the customers. It seems to me supporters are tolerated but not welcomed.

 

I'd be interested to know what others think.

[Saint Without a Halo]

and without him we would be where?

memories are so short sometimes bring back Lowe Wilde and bankruptcy

[notnowcato]

Haha - i think you need to have a read on how the Secret Service used to operate before comparing the club to that organisation.

 

Injury news is kept secret for obvious reasons.

Personally I don't care what the clubs relationship is like with media outlets like The Echo. Some do but those numbers are declining.

 

I don't know what "trick" you are referring too. Minor grumbles, room for improvement no doubt but maybe bigger fish to fry at the moment.

[Give it to Ron]

and without him we would be where?

memories are so short sometimes bring back Lowe Wilde and bankruptcy

 

What the f*** has that got to do with Cortese style...when do we have to stop doffing our cap?

Yes things have been great on the pitch for the last 2 seasons but does that mean we have to suck up everything

that is going on at the club as correct? Its not and as customers surely we have the right to ask when things are not

as we would like?

Lowe did some very good things here(snarl,gnash) Ask Rupert, radio phone ins and fans forums at least put you in touch

until he turned the green army on us.

It will bite Cortese on the ass if he doesn't at least bend a bit towards his customers.

[Mr X]

What the f*** has that got to do with Cortese style...when do we have to stop doffing our cap?

Yes things have been great on the pitch for the last 2 seasons but does that mean we have to suck up everything

that is going on at the club as correct? Its not and as customers surely we have the right to ask when things are not

as we would like?

Lowe did some very good things here(snarl,gnash) Ask Rupert, radio phone ins and fans forums at least put you in touch

until he turned the green army on us.

It will bite Cortese on the ass if he doesn't at least bend a bit towards his customers.

 

Agreed a bit of transparency with the fans wouldn't go a miss. I'm waiting for the fateful vote of confidence in Adkins!

[chocco boxo]

Well said too may people suck up to NC even those who have no need to!

[Alanh]

Best way to compare it is to look at other Prem club operations and see if they do more / different. I can understand the desire to keep injury news confidential. We get two interviews with the manager and a player each match week plus reports on how the junior teams are getting on. I'm not sure how the ticket office can be more flexible - they are just selling a product or dealing with individual issues - beyonf ticket availability and pricing news that's hardly stuff to engage the whole fanbase with.

 

It would be good if Cortese did his radio / TV interviews more regularly and perhaps we could get more info on the community liaison work that the club does, but other than that, as a supporter, I don't feel any less welcome or informaed that I would expect.

[pingwing]

I like professionalism, no real reason just nice to see the club is trying to operate like a professional business instead of a non-league group of mates.

[Mowgli]

There is a good relationship. The business is one of entertainment. The club focuses on putting a good team together to secure back to back promotions. Ticket sales increase. It's not professional to emloy someone to respond to each and every rumour circulating.

[captainchris]

There is no dispute that Nicola Cortese is autocratic and does things his way. However the club's relationship with the fans is tenuous to say the least. Yes we have an official site but nowadays unless looking for confirmation of some detail or getting tickets it's hardly worth checking it. Cortese is still at war with the Echo so anything there is just speculation. BBC is a bit better but it seems that there isn't much of a relationship there now.

 

There is a large fanbase all looking for information eg how are the injured progressing, but the club works like the secret service. Surely it would make things a lot better if the club's public relations was more relaxed, the ticket office more flexible, non confidential player/club news more available. Be more compatible with the Echo/Solent and generally more customer friendly. I know Cortese won't change but it appears that his approach filters all the way down and generally annoys a lot of people who in the end are the customers. It seems to me supporters are tolerated but not welcomed.

 

I'd be interested to know what others think.

 

What a shame that your very sensible post with very valid points made is twisted by some into you being ungrateful for the last two years how bitter some people are! I agree with your post. We get hardly any information from the club these days and yes the club do and are building walls between the fans and themselves. Cortese does need to get a grip on his public relations or shall we say customer relations as they are almost non existent at the moment. If

We know it is his toy and he can do what he likes with it but his bares the name Southampton on it and perhaps a little more respect for the fans and people of SOuthampton would not go amiss. Money is very important and good housekeeping a must however, football is about more than this. Fans wish to feel a part of the club not a fan of a branded company that just opens its doors to punters who are treated as commodities - fed minimal information and not kept informed by their local

paper even of the latest news at the club/company. The club seems so focused on sucking in every income stream to the detriment of encouraging a club/supporter bonding which I feel is being eroded quite quickly. Maybe that is the price wich has to be paid for a rich benefactor, the price of progress - perhaps I am just an old fashioned fan who should get with the times but I have a sneaking suspicion that I am

not alone....

[Saint Without a Halo]

What the f*** has that got to do with Cortese style...when do we have to stop doffing our cap?

Yes things have been great on the pitch for the last 2 seasons but does that mean we have to suck up everything

that is going on at the club as correct? Its not and as customers surely we have the right to ask when things are not

as we would like?

Lowe did some very good things here(snarl,gnash) Ask Rupert, radio phone ins and fans forums at least put you in touch

until he turned the green army on us.

It will bite Cortese on the ass if he doesn't at least bend a bit towards his customers.

 

I like his style! Its good for the club for success and ultimately for supporters. I have been a supporter for over 40 years and the club has never got so much right at once! of course nobodys perfect but on the whole I like what I see!

Ok my personal opinion written in English without the need to resport to swearing!

[Give it to Ron]

I like his style! Its good for the club for success and ultimately for supporters. I have been a supporter for over 40 years and the club has never got so much right at once! of course nobodys perfect but on the whole I like what I see!

Ok my personal opinion written in English without the need to resport to swearing!

 

That is your opinion and of course entitled to that as if we all agreed this board would be dead, however, I totally disagree with "never got so much right" especially its treatment of fans. Parking, ST price rebranding, treatment of programme sellers, Ted Bates trophy, no fans forum, ticket office shambles.

 

See no swearing....this time

[Graffito]

There is no dispute that Nicola Cortese is autocratic and does things his way. However the club's relationship with the fans is tenuous to say the least. Yes we have an official site but nowadays unless looking for confirmation of some detail or getting tickets it's hardly worth checking it. Cortese is still at war with the Echo so anything there is just speculation. BBC is a bit better but it seems that there isn't much of a relationship there now.

 

There is a large fanbase all looking for information eg how are the injured progressing, but the club works like the secret service. Surely it would make things a lot better if the club's public relations was more relaxed, the ticket office more flexible, non confidential player/club news more available. Be more compatible with the Echo/Solent and generally more customer friendly. I know Cortese won't change but it appears that his approach filters all the way down and generally annoys a lot of people who in the end are the customers. It seems to me supporters are tolerated but not welcomed.

 

I'd be interested to know what others think.

 

I agree. The club is missing a trick. Positive PR can only be beneficial to the club and to NC himself, especially when things aren't going so well. He's delivered success up to now which ultimately is what we consider most important but there may come a time when NC needs to help Adkins keep the supporters on side. The kind of loyalty many supporters display, especially those that stump up for season tickets, would be like gold dust to most businesses and would be treated accordingly. Dealing with the media is something NC admitted in an interview with the Echo early doors (obviously) that he was finding difficult. Matters haven't improved since but I think we have to take the rough with the smooth with Cortese.

[Wade Garrett]

I don't mind a chairman who keeps his mouth shut. Never did the likes of Woodford much harm.

 

Contrast that with rent-a-gobs like Dave Whelan.

 

The Daily Echo are their own worst enemy. Really dumbed down now, can't remember the last time I bought it. I hardly even go on their website.

[Graffito]

I don't mind a chairman who keeps his mouth shut. Never did the likes of Woodford much harm.

 

Contrast that with rent-a-gobs like Dave Whelan.

 

The Daily Echo are their own worst enemy. Really dumbed down now, can't remember the last time I bought it. I hardly even go on their website.

 

Unfortunately it's not just the Echo though. It goes much wider than that. As for keeping his mouth shut. Yes in principle. The trouble is there are times to keep your counsel and times when it's necessary to show a bit of leadership and speak out. If you don't, gossip and innuendo fills the void. You need only read this Board recently to see that.

[notnowcato]

"Positive PR" can come when team matters are sorted out and when our recruitment process is getting who we want. You can have all the Positive PR you like when the fundamentals are in place. Positive PR is in fact nonsense, define anything PR and all you are doing is bumping up something that is in fact quite ordinary. Positive PR is fast becoming the stick to beat Cortese with - should you desire. Not me, you can keep all the PR to one side - it's bull dung.

[Wade Garrett]

Unfortunately it's not just the Echo though. It goes much wider than that. As for keeping his mouth shut. Yes in principle. The trouble is there are times to keep your counsel and times when it's necessary to show a bit of leadership and speak out. If you don't, gossip and innuendo fills the void. You need only read this Board recently to see that.

 

He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. His words on here would only get twisted anyway.

[Clifford Nelson]

There is no dispute that Nicola Cortese is autocratic and does things his way. However the club's relationship with the fans is tenuous to say the least. Yes we have an official site but nowadays unless looking for confirmation of some detail or getting tickets it's hardly worth checking it. Cortese is still at war with the Echo so anything there is just speculation. BBC is a bit better but it seems that there isn't much of a relationship there now.

 

There is a large fanbase all looking for information eg how are the injured progressing, but the club works like the secret service. Surely it would make things a lot better if the club's public relations was more relaxed, the ticket office more flexible, non confidential player/club news more available. Be more compatible with the Echo/Solent and generally more customer friendly. I know Cortese won't change but it appears that his approach filters all the way down and generally annoys a lot of people who in the end are the customers. It seems to me supporters are tolerated but not welcomed.

 

I'd be interested to know what others think.

 

You won't be surprised that I agree with every word, Dave. It is a really skilful job to judge the need for openness against that of confidentiality. One of the more iditotic thing over many years is that many club owners feel the need for openness, gives the manager a vote of confidence whilst at the same time neotiating with his replacement. There must be honesty in the relationship instead of the spun statements by PR specialists, otherwise the rumours just keeps on proliferating, but coupled with the rightful cynicism of those paying for the seasonticket and being treated like idiots. If that is the alternative than I'm not sure that the current secret service isn't to prefer. Nevertheless it doesn't feel entirely respectful of the supporters.

[stevegrant]

The Daily Echo are their own worst enemy. Really dumbed down now, can't remember the last time I bought it. I hardly even go on their website.

In which case, how would you know?

[notnowcato]

You won't be surprised that I agree with every word, Dave. It is a really skilful job to judge the need for openness against that of confidentiality. One of the more iditotic thing over many years is that many club owners feel the need for openness, gives the manager a vote of confidence whilst at the same time neotiating with his replacement. There must be honesty in the relationship instead of the spun statements by PR specialists, otherwise the rumours just keeps on proliferating, but coupled with the rightful cynicism of those paying for the seasonticket and being treated like idiots. If that is the alternative than I'm not sure that the current secret service isn't to prefer. Nevertheless it doesn't feel entirely respectful of the supporters.

 

Why does being a paying season ticket holder make a jot of difference? If anything, STH cost the club. I don't get why some STH feel they operate on a different plane and are worthy of different "PR".

 

This is just a Cortese bash thread with little substance to back it with.

[Weston Saint]

Communication is an essential tool in business, both internally and externally. Southampton Football Club are , in my opinion, left wanting in that department both through the media and their own web site.

 

I do not want to see a Chairman or the club having to answer every speculation. They are right to "no comment" much of it. However, they should attempt to build bridges with the local paper. That is a tool that will help encourage more to take an interest in the club, both young and old.

 

They should try to build bridges with many ex players and use them to give positive vibes not the negativity we have seen since Mr Cortese took the helm. I am not talking freebee's although why not a life membership to retired players who have completed at least 100 league games for the club. They could be encouraged to use that membership in an "Ambassador" role for the club.

 

We (The club) do have a past, present and future. It should be proud of its past, it should be mindful of the present and working for the future.

 

There is a balance but, in my opinion, Mr Cortese and his administration team have got the balance wrong and it is likely to have a detrimental effect on the future support of this club and its income streams.

[The9]

if the club's public relations was more relaxed

 

the ticket office more flexible

 

non confidential player/club news more available

 

Be more compatible with the Echo/Solent

 

and generally more customer friendly

 

Firstly, I'm completely in support of improved customer relations by the club - if nothing else because it gives me fewer reasons not to buy the products they're offering me.

 

Addressing each of these in order :

 

I don't care about the club's PR - I want them to consider fans in their decisions and give us what we want to enable them to get as much of our money as possible. I don't need them to spin stories to make themselves look good, and I don't want them commenting on every piece of ridiculous speculation. If they don't comment on anything, that's fine by me.

 

The Ticket Office doesn't need to be more flexible, ticket policies do. Part of the service is distribution - I don't want to know what that costs, I want a single price for my ticket for each game, without any add ons - absorb the (tiny) admin cost into the cost of tickets and every other part of the business. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get tickets, merely fit the right eligibility criteria - which for home matches is "be a Saints fan or want to watch a match".

 

As I've said, I absolutely don't care about the club confirming news about players and as fans you can do your own sleuthing if you want to know more than the reasonable level of interest confirmed by the manager "looking at some players in some areas to improve the squad". That's all I need to know. I don't care about the club's media relations with the Echo or Solent though - provided they are not stopped from being able to report on the matches, that's all I expect. The club has media commitments from being in the Prem, that's all they have to do and I'm fine with that. It does however help the club to appeal to people more widely if they have a mutually beneficial relationship with the media.

 

Generally more customer friendly ? God yes.

 

The usual shopping list : plenty of notice of tickets and prices, a competent booking system with no penalties for using online (by far the cheapest method the club uses), no insistence on having to go to the ground to pick up tickets, if they HAVE to charge for the car park then free validation with a purchase, some kind of competent fan-based kit consultation so we don't end up with no stripes or playing in blue/white/red, availability and convenience of products I'd actually want to buy, reasonable prices for food and drink to the captive audience and a decent method of maximising delivery of those products.

 

What else ? Oh yeah, keep the chairman off the front of the programme (I note he wasn't so belligerent for the first game of this season for our match against Wigan), and if they want to drive more traffic to the OS, employ someone to write interesting, thought-provoking articles about parts of the club that fans don't already know about (and get rid of that awful page break format).

Edited 25 October, 2012 by The9

[Patrick Bateman]

There is no dispute that Nicola Cortese is autocratic and does things his way. However the club's relationship with the fans is tenuous to say the least. Yes we have an official site but nowadays unless looking for confirmation of some detail or getting tickets it's hardly worth checking it. Cortese is still at war with the Echo so anything there is just speculation. BBC is a bit better but it seems that there isn't much of a relationship there now.

 

There is a large fanbase all looking for information eg how are the injured progressing, but the club works like the secret service. Surely it would make things a lot better if the club's public relations was more relaxed, the ticket office more flexible, non confidential player/club news more available. Be more compatible with the Echo/Solent and generally more customer friendly. I know Cortese won't change but it appears that his approach filters all the way down and generally annoys a lot of people who in the end are the customers. It seems to me supporters are tolerated but not welcomed.

 

I'd be interested to know what others think.

 

What relationship? We're not "fans" anymore we're "returning customers" of which he'd like more of in order to improve the balance sheet ...

[notnowcato]

What relationship? We're not "fans" anymore we're "returning customers" of which he'd like more of in order to improve the balance sheet ...

 

He is not unique among football chairman.

[david in sweden]

Agreed a bit of transparency with the fans wouldn't go a miss. I'm waiting for the fateful vote of confidence in Adkins![/QUOTE]

 

 

 

......or better still, hoping it never comes !

[Bucks Saint]

Firstly, I'm completely in support of improved customer relations by the club - if nothing else because it gives me fewer reasons not to buy the products they're offering me.

 

Addressing each of these in order :

 

I don't care about the club's PR - I want them to consider fans in their decisions and give us what we want to enable them to get as much of our money as possible. I don't need them to spin stories to make themselves look good, and I don't want them commenting on every piece of ridiculous speculation. If they don't comment on anything, that's fine by me.

 

The Ticket Office doesn't need to be more flexible, ticket policies do. Part of the service is distribution - I don't want to know what that costs, I want a single price for my ticket for each game, without any add ons - absorb the (tiny) admin cost into the cost of tickets and every other part of the business. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get tickets, merely fit the right eligibility criteria - which for home matches is "be a Saints fan or want to watch a match".

 

As I've said, I absolutely don't care about the club confirming news about players and as fans you can do your own sleuthing if you want to know more than the reasonable level of interest confirmed by the manager "looking at some players in some areas to improve the squad". That's all I need to know. I don't care about the club's media relations with the Echo or Solent though - provided they are not stopped from being able to report on the matches, that's all I expect. The club has media commitments from being in the Prem, that's all they have to do and I'm fine with that. It does however help the club to appeal to people more widely if they have a mutually beneficial relationship with the media.

 

Generally more customer friendly ? God yes.

 

The usual shopping list : plenty of notice of tickets and prices, a competent booking system with no penalties for using online (by far the cheapest method the club uses), no insistence on having to go to the ground to pick up tickets, if they HAVE to charge for the car park then free validation with a purchase, some kind of competent fan-based kit consultation so we don't end up with no stripes or playing in blue/white/red, availability and convenience of products I'd actually want to buy, reasonable prices for food and drink to the captive audience and a decent method of maximising delivery of those products.

 

What else ? Oh yeah, keep the chairman off the front of the programme (I note he wasn't so belligerent for the first game of this season for our match against Wigan), and if they want to drive more traffic to the OS, employ someone to write interesting, thought-provoking articles about parts of the club that fans don't already know about (and get rid of that awful page break format).

 

good post

[stthrobber]

I feel I'm being driven away from the club as a fan. I don't want to be a customer, I want to be a fan, but with the cost of tickets going up, and the ticket surcharge I feel that the current policy is designed to fleece every last shekel from us, and that family club feel has gone.

 

There's nowt wrong with being professional and businesslike but the club has to realise that it is not a global brand, it is a provincial football club with a loyal but limited fan base and they need to investigate ways of encouraging us, not driving us away. Some recent policies, particularly the programme seller issue is nothing short of shameful.

[The Kraken]

The Daily Echo are their own worst enemy. Really dumbed down now, can't remember the last time I bought it. I hardly even go on their website.

 

In which case, how would you know?

 

:lol:

 

I hate the Echo. I don't know what's in it, but by God I hate it.

[*Halo*]

The Club's communication with our fanbase could certainly benefit with some small improvements, I would agree.

 

I do actually like Nicola Cortese's policy of taking a more 'in the background' approach, generally speaking, and shunning the 'limelight'.

 

During our 'Lowe Era', I'm sure (lol, more like 'I know') that I was not alone, in wishing he would just shut the f*ck up, most of the time. I seem to remember that a general consensus here, was that a chairman should be "seen and not heard", for the most part. Lowe seemed to love the media attention though, and it was almost as if he intentionally courted controversy at times.

 

I'm pretty happy to be honest, that we no longer have a chairman who makes a public mockery of our Club, whilst fighting off "Klingon's" and "North London Yobbo's".

 

 

But having said that, I much preferred the earlier days of Markus and Nicola's reign, as far as communication goes.

 

Just having Markus' beaming smile, and little unassuming waves of acknowledgement to the crowd, brought a "feelgood factor" in and of itself. We knew he was a very private man, but his dignity and the 'silent charm' of his very presence, was a form of communication in itself. He really didn't need to say anything at all. Just his very being there with us, was enough.

 

I think Nicola had it right in the beginning. Very minimal public media interaction, 'we never comment on rumours' etc, was a refreshing change, from all that had gone before. But, we did always have his rare, couple of interviews a season in whatever guise they took on, and it was always great to hear his thoughts, in such format.

 

I have always liked Nicola, and very much want to 'still like' him, although in recent times, his "in the background" stance, seems to have become more akin to a public disappearing act. If it were not for seeing him in his seat on a matchday, we'd be forgiven for wondering if he was still here at all.

 

I do not begrudge in the slightest his preference for shunning the 'limelight', and being a very private person like Markus, yet being that he does not 'communicate' at all in the way Markus could, just by simply being here, and the warmth of his presence, it makes him feel 'distant' and 'cold'.

 

We haven't had any form of communication from Nicola in a long time now. No more interviews, and unless they've gone unreported, no more "fans' dinners" either. So in effect, we have this kind of "communication void" which unless it is managed in some way, is leading to a feeling in many of us, of the fans gradually becoming more and more disconnected from our Club.

 

We do not necessarily want to hear our chairman's every thought and whim, along the lines of "rent-a-gob" Whelan at Wigan, or the previously outspoken ways of Simon Jordan at Palace, but it seems we have gone to the other extreme at Saints; which creates a kind of 'information vacuum', which itself indirectly leads to the avalanches of speculation and conjecture we've seen in recent times.

 

In the absence of any form of direct communication from our 'leader' at all now, rumour and controversy tends to fill the void.

 

It would just be nice, just every now and then, to hear what Nicola is thinking, and feeling about our Club, and how we are (or are not) progressing. Making the "relationship" between us as supporters, our Club and our chairman feel a little more 'personal', and like our 'connection' is about more than simply the money we bring through the gates in 'exchange' for a 'product'.

 

We do not simply invest money into a "business" through our support of the "Southampton Brand". We invest our hearts and souls, into the Football Club that we love.

 

"Clubs" are about interaction.

 

Please, just once in a while Saints, it would be nice if you would simply acknowledge our presence by way of a little communication.

[Give it to Ron]

The Club's communication with our fanbase could certainly benefit with some small improvements, I would agree.

 

I do actually like Nicola Cortese's policy of taking a more 'in the background' approach, generally speaking, and shunning the 'limelight'.

 

During our 'Lowe Era', I'm sure (lol, more like 'I know') that I was not alone, in wishing he would just shut the f*ck up, most of the time. I seem to remember that a general consensus here, was that a chairman should be "seen and not heard", for the most part. Lowe seemed to love the media attention though, and it was almost as if he intentionally courted controversy at times.

 

I'm pretty happy to be honest, that we no longer have a chairman who makes a public mockery of our Club, whilst fighting off "Klingon's" and "North London Yobbo's".

 

 

But having said that, I much preferred the earlier days of Markus and Nicola's reign, as far as communication goes.

 

Just having Markus' beaming smile, and little unassuming waves of acknowledgement to the crowd, brought a "feelgood factor" in and of itself. We knew he was a very private man, but his dignity and the 'silent charm' of his very presence, was a form of communication in itself. He really didn't need to say anything at all. Just his very being there with us, was enough.

 

I think Nicola had it right in the beginning. Very minimal public media interaction, 'we never comment on rumours' etc, was a refreshing change, from all that had gone before. But, we did always have his rare, couple of interviews a season in whatever guise they took on, and it was always great to hear his thoughts, in such format.

 

I have always liked Nicola, and very much want to 'still like' him, although in recent times, his "in the background" stance, seems to have become more akin to a public disappearing act. If it were not for seeing him in his seat on a matchday, we'd be forgiven for wondering if he was still here at all.

 

I do not begrudge in the slightest his preference for shunning the 'limelight', and being a very private person like Markus, yet being that he does not 'communicate' at all in the way Markus could, just by simply being here, and the warmth of his presence, it makes him feel 'distant' and 'cold'.

 

We haven't had any form of communication from Nicola in a long time now. No more interviews, and unless they've gone unreported, no more "fans' dinners" either. So in effect, we have this kind of "communication void" which unless it is managed in some way, is leading to a feeling in many of us, of the fans gradually becoming more and more disconnected from our Club.

 

We do not necessarily want to hear our chairman's every thought and whim, along the lines of "rent-a-gob" Whelan at Wigan, or the previously outspoken ways of Simon Jordan at Palace, but it seems we have gone to the other extreme at Saints; which creates a kind of 'information vacuum', which itself indirectly leads to the avalanches of speculation and conjecture we've seen in recent times.

 

In the absence of any form of direct communication from our 'leader' at all now, rumour and controversy tends to fill the void.

 

It would just be nice, just every now and then, to hear what Nicola is thinking, and feeling about our Club, and how we are (or are not) progressing. Making the "relationship" between us as supporters, our Club and our chairman feel a little more 'personal', and like our 'connection' is about more than simply the money we bring through the gates in 'exchange' for a 'product'.

 

We do not simply invest money into a "business" through our support of the "Southampton Brand". We invest our hearts and souls, into the Football Club that we love.

 

"Clubs" are about interaction.

 

Please, just once in a while Saints, it would be nice if you would simply acknowledge our presence by way of a little communication.

 

Top post and puts it far better than I ever could - exactly it for me.

[aintforever]

It's a shame the club can't get this right. Even though we are getting tonked off the field there should still be more of a feel good factor around the place.

 

Doing things like having rows with the local paper, spats with club legends and bad customer service is bound to have a negative effect.

 

Sacking longstanding programme sellers in the name of saving a few pennies, then straight away forking out for a private loo so he can curl one out in peace and quiet shows exactly where the chairman's priorities lie.

[hypochondriac]

It's a shame the club can't get this right. Even though we are getting tonked off the field there should still be more of a feel good factor around the place.

 

Doing things like having rows with the local paper, spats with club legends and bad customer service is bound to have a negative effect.

 

Sacking longstanding programme sellers in the name of saving a few pennies, then straight away forking out for a private loo so he can curl one out in peace and quiet shows exactly where the chairman's priorities lie.

 

Yep. There is certainly a feeling of disharmony for me both on and off the field.

[lordswoodsaints]

There is no dispute that Nicola Cortese is autocratic and does things his way. However the club's relationship with the fans is tenuous to say the least. Yes we have an official site but nowadays unless looking for confirmation of some detail or getting tickets it's hardly worth checking it. Cortese is still at war with the Echo so anything there is just speculation. BBC is a bit better but it seems that there isn't much of a relationship there now.

 

There is a large fanbase all looking for information eg how are the injured progressing, but the club works like the secret service. Surely it would make things a lot better if the club's public relations was more relaxed, the ticket office more flexible, non confidential player/club news more available. Be more compatible with the Echo/Solent and generally more customer friendly. I know Cortese won't change but it appears that his approach filters all the way down and generally annoys a lot of people who in the end are the customers. It seems to me supporters are tolerated but not welcomed.

 

I'd be interested to know what others think.

 

Tbh the club is owned by a private family so they can pretty much do what they like,they don't need the fans,they don't need to tell them anything so if you are not happy with the way it's run then you have a choice.....that's the way I see it.

It really is the downside of being privately owned and I'm happy with it but I can understand why some people wouldn't.

[BadgerBadger]

Some very well thought out and incisive responses which I'm in full agreement - to sum it up 'close but no cigar'.

 

Annoyingly it seems to be the minor not hugely profitable decisions that evoke the most emotive responses and these only erode our feelings of being connected to the club in the name of minimal profits.