No point in any protests

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Although I was as disappointed as the next fan to see NA leave I see no point whatsoever in protesting. NC knows 95% of the fan base is hacked off, but he is doing what he thinks is the right thing for SFC. As he represents the owners he is entitled to do exactly as he pleases and there is nothing you or I can do to stop him. When we were rescued by the Liebherr family in 2009 I was roundly criticised when I pointed out we had forfeited all our rights as supporters. Private ownership is just that and if they paid £12m to own what was once our club then they have every right.

If you spent a lot of money on a house and then the people who used to rent it told you how to decorate it and the bloke round the corner who used to be the gardener for the previous owners started telling you what to plant in the garden you would quickly tell them to "foxtrot oscar".

We all welcomed the Liebherr money without actually realising that although we were being saved we also simultaneously relinquished all control.

 

Protesting or singing songs for Nigel (excuse the XTC plug) ain't going to make a blind bit of difference and a lack of crowd support might cost us a vital 3 points v Everton that I have a feeling we will now need more than ever, come the end of the season.

 

Whether we like it or not we have to take Nicola Cortese's decisions on the chin and move on - there is no choice unless you turn your back on the club you love.

[trousers]

Here here

[The Kraken]

Protesting or singing songs for Nigel (excuse the XTC plug) ain't going to make a blind bit of difference and a lack of crowd support might cost us a vital 3 points v Everton that I have a feeling we will now need more than ever, come the end of the season.

 

The crowd will be 100% behind the team. Probably also behind the new manager.

 

A few "one Nigel Adkins" chants are not going to cause any bother at all. In fact I'd welcome them, as they'd confirm to the footballing world that the fans are largely against the decision. Songs like that aren't going to cause us 3 points. And the fanbase will move on; this is just a chance to show some solidarity with a man that did wonders for the club and in effect to thank him for his service.

[Saint Charlie]

Ultimately this.

[Saint137]

Fair points well made, just slightly surprised to be hearing them from you given your penchant for a protest at work

[Toadhall Saint]

I fully appreciated what you said at the time FF. Its their club and their money I just sit back (no standing or the stewards will be along) and try to enjoy the ride. I do feel however that I have a right to voice my opinions as I'm a paying customer (or a fan to use old parlance). I just know that I'm just ****ing in the wind as far as changing things.

 

I do beleive that NC has the club at heart and wants only the very best as he is custodian of ML's legacy. He just frustrates the life out of me by his lack of overall communication and the way he goes about things at times.

[Snopper]

Here here

 

Where, where?

[Sour Mash]

Although I was as disappointed as the next fan to see NA leave I see no point whatsoever in protesting. NC knows 95% of the fan base is hacked off, but he is doing what he thinks is the right thing for SFC. As he represents the owners he is entitled to do exactly as he pleases and there is nothing you or I can do to stop him. When we were rescued by the Liebherr family in 2009 I was roundly criticised when I pointed out we had forfeited all our rights as supporters. Private ownership is just that and if they paid £12m to own what was once our club then they have every right.

If you spent a lot of money on a house and then the people who used to rent it told you how to decorate it and the bloke round the corner who used to be the gardener for the previous owners started telling you what to plant in the garden you would quickly tell them to "foxtrot oscar".

We all welcomed the Liebherr money without actually realising that although we were being saved we also simultaneously relinquished all control.

 

Protesting or singing songs for Nigel (excuse the XTC plug) ain't going to make a blind bit of difference and a lack of crowd support might cost us a vital 3 points v Everton that I have a feeling we will now need more than ever, come the end of the season.

 

Whether we like it or not we have to take Nicola Cortese's decisions on the chin and move on - there is no choice unless you turn your back on the club you love.

Where has anyone said such songs will make a difference. So what?

[Pedro]

I'd rather hear the words of FF than McMillan, Illingsworth or O'Callaghan. Waving white hankies etc. all seems a bit chidish to me, I wonder how many of these people moaning about the change were the ones urging NC to sack NA a few months again, all appears to be a bit hypercritical to. Nigel done a great job, got well paid, raised his own profile and now the Chairman wants to move on.

[aintforever]

we had forfeited all our rights as supporters. Private ownership is just that and if they paid £12m to own what was once our club then they have every right.

 

Disagree, the football club will always be part of, and belong to the city. The people in charge of the company currently running it will soon be gone once they've made their money.

 

If people want to protest they should IMO.

Edited 19 January, 2013 by aintforever

[Wes Tender]

The crowd will be 100% behind the team. Probably also behind the new manager.

 

A few "one Nigel Adkins" chants are not going to cause any bother at all. In fact I'd welcome them, as they'd confirm to the footballing world that the fans are largely against the decision. Songs like that aren't going to cause us 3 points. And the fanbase will move on; this is just a chance to show some solidarity with a man that did wonders for the club and in effect to thank him for his service.

 

This is where I am. This Monday's match is the perfect opportunity to show our solidarity towards Nigel and get that message across to Cortese and the rest of the football World who watch it. Then we can move on to supporting the team.

[Miltonroader07]

Yeah, much as I hate to see NA go and the way it was done we need to get behind the lads and hope that the new manager has some top contatcs to bring in quickly

[LostBoys]

I will be happy to join a chant for Nigel Adkins but I am not prepared to jeer the club, team or Cortese. If I ever have the chance to meet Mr Cortese face to face I would be delighted to share a few thoughts with him as I was lucky enough to do with Rupert Lowe.

[manji]

Although I was as disappointed as the next fan to see NA leave I see no point whatsoever in protesting. NC knows 95% of the fan base is hacked off, but he is doing what he thinks is the right thing for SFC. As he represents the owners he is entitled to do exactly as he pleases and there is nothing you or I can do to stop him. When we were rescued by the Liebherr family in 2009 I was roundly criticised when I pointed out we had forfeited all our rights as supporters. Private ownership is just that and if they paid £12m to own what was once our club then they have every right.

If you spent a lot of money on a house and then the people who used to rent it told you how to decorate it and the bloke round the corner who used to be the gardener for the previous owners started telling you what to plant in the garden you would quickly tell them to "foxtrot oscar".

We all welcomed the Liebherr money without actually realising that although we were being saved we also simultaneously relinquished all control.

 

Protesting or singing songs for Nigel (excuse the XTC plug) ain't going to make a blind bit of difference and a lack of crowd support might cost us a vital 3 points v Everton that I have a feeling we will now need more than ever, come the end of the season.

 

Whether we like it or not we have to take Nicola Cortese's decisions on the chin and move on - there is no choice unless you turn your back on the club you love.

Superb post.......................................................who was the poster ? OMG ! No seriously well thought out. Southampton FC is bigger than one man.

[View From The Top]

The crowd will be 100% behind the team. Probably also behind the new manager.

 

A few "one Nigel Adkins" chants are not going to cause any bother at all. In fact I'd welcome them, as they'd confirm to the footballing world that the fans are largely against the decision. Songs like that aren't going to cause us 3 points. And the fanbase will move on; this is just a chance to show some solidarity with a man that did wonders for the club and in effect to thank him for his service.

 

This.

[Wes Tender]

If you spent a lot of money on a house and then the people who used to rent it told you how to decorate it and the bloke round the corner who used to be the gardener for the previous owners started telling you what to plant in the garden you would quickly tell them to "foxtrot oscar".

We all welcomed the Liebherr money without actually realising that although we were being saved we also simultaneously relinquished all control.

 

Protesting or singing songs for Nigel (excuse the XTC plug) ain't going to make a blind bit of difference and a lack of crowd support might cost us a vital 3 points v Everton that I have a feeling we will now need more than ever, come the end of the season.

 

Whether we like it or not we have to take Nicola Cortese's decisions on the chin and move on - there is no choice unless you turn your back on the club you love.

 

The analogy of the tenant criticising the new owner's choice of decor after they had bought the house is ridiculous frankly and I would have expected better from you. The difference is that we as fans remain customers of the business, so that did not change when the ownership did, whereas your tenant or the neighbours had no further connection with the new owners.

 

When you say that we relinquished all control when Markus Liebherr took over, we as fans had no control over the club when Lowe and his cohorts were in charge, except for those with shares and only then if they acted in unison.

 

Singing songs for Nigel will register a protest towards Cortese, but should not disturb the players. Whether we beat Everton or not will have a lot more to do with whether Pochinetto drills the team correctly with the match tactics and team selection. The players always have something to prove for a new manager, so I very much doubt that the fans chanting Adkins' name will make any difference; it never unsettled the team when we chanted it before.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Disagree, the football club will always be part of, and belong to the city. The people in charge of the company currently running it will soon be gone once they've made their money.

 

If people want to protest they should IMO.

 

 

But that is the point; the club does not belong to the city anymore it belongs to the Liebherr family. We had our chance, we blew it, we went into administration and then a consequence of being taken over by a private buyer, we lost our independence. You are right no doubt NC will sell one day, but we will only be passed on to another private owner and as such very vulnerable to his (or her) whim. Of course we still hold the right to protest but the gist of my post is no one has to listen any more.

[The Kraken]

But that is the point; the club does not belong to the city anymore it belongs to the Liebherr family. We had our chance, we blew it, we went into administration and then a consequence of being taken over by a private buyer, we lost our independence. You are right no doubt NC will sell one day, but we will only be passed on to another private owner and as such very vulnerable to his (or her) whim. Of course we still hold the right to protest but the gist of my post is no one has to listen any more.

 

When have we ever had "independence"? The PLC was answerable to its shareholders but the owners of the club still had a relatively free reign. If you're referring to "fan ownership" then that would be my worst nightmare; too many egos, and look where being run by a fan last got us; overspending and administration. No thanks.

 

The club may be owned by the Liebherr family, but it will always belong to the city.

[aintforever]

But that is the point; the club does not belong to the city anymore it belongs to the Liebherr family. We had our chance, we blew it, we went into administration and then a consequence of being taken over by a private buyer, we lost our independence. You are right no doubt NC will sell one day, but we will only be passed on to another private owner and as such very vulnerable to his (or her) whim. Of course we still hold the right to protest but the gist of my post is no one has to listen any more.

 

The club has had many different owners before, it's never been owned and run by the people of Southampton. Lowe was answerable to the plc shareholders, not the fans. If it was up to the fans he would never have got through the door.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

The analogy of the tenant criticising the new owner's choice of decor after they had bought the house is ridiculous frankly and I would have expected better from you. The difference is that we as fans remain customers of the business, so that did not change when the ownership did, whereas your tenant or the neighbours had no further connection with the new owners.

 

When you say that we relinquished all control when Markus Liebherr took over, we as fans had no control over the club when Lowe and his cohorts were in charge, except for those with shares and only then if they acted in unison.

 

Singing songs for Nigel will register a protest towards Cortese, but should not disturb the players. Whether we beat Everton or not will have a lot more to do with whether Pochinetto drills the team correctly with the match tactics and team selection. The players always have something to prove for a new manager, so I very much doubt that the fans chanting Adkins' name will make any difference; it never unsettled the team when we chanted it before.

 

 

Well it was a bit tenuous I admit but you know where I am coming from and I wasn't expecting anyone to take me that literally. Sing songs for Nigel by all means, I might even join in, but I have faced the fact it won't make the blind bit of difference. Under Lowe he was very much answerable to shareholders even though without the unlikely support of the big institutions we were never going to overthrow him. However had we all voted with our feet then very quickly the big institutions would be ringing him to see what was what. Therefore he had to keep half an eye on his customers. If not very many turned up on Monday I doubt NC would be particularly worried - no institutions to bend his ear.

[Wopper]

Nigel walks away with half a million quid so I doubt he gives a sh*te

[The Kraken]

Nigel walks away with half a million quid so I doubt he gives a sh*te

 

Given the money he was on, and given his future earning power, I'm sure that's a minor consideration.

[Wes Tender]

When have we ever had "independence"? The PLC was answerable to its shareholders but the owners of the club still had a relatively free reign. If you're referring to "fan ownership" then that would be my worst nightmare; too many egos, and look where being run by a fan last got us; overspending and administration. No thanks.

 

The club may be owned by the Liebherr family, but it will always belong to the city.

 

Exactly. And regarding the owners not having to listen anymore, neither did the previous owners either. But as a general business principle, a company does well to listen to it's customers, or very soon it won't have any. I accept that football is a little different because of fan loyalty to their team often transcends factors that would have normal businesses decline. But still, if the team plays in a style that the fans detest, gets relegated, prices the tickets too high or otherwise p*sses off the fans, then attendance numbers will decline and so will profitability.

 

And as Cortese stated when he came here, the club belongs to us and they are merely custodians.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Although I was as disappointed as the next fan to see NA leave I see no point whatsoever in protesting. NC knows 95% of the fan base is hacked off, but he is doing what he thinks is the right thing for SFC. As he represents the owners he is entitled to do exactly as he pleases and there is nothing you or I can do to stop him. When we were rescued by the Liebherr family in 2009 I was roundly criticised when I pointed out we had forfeited all our rights as supporters. Private ownership is just that and if they paid £12m to own what was once our club then they have every right.

If you spent a lot of money on a house and then the people who used to rent it told you how to decorate it and the bloke round the corner who used to be the gardener for the previous owners started telling you what to plant in the garden you would quickly tell them to "foxtrot oscar".

We all welcomed the Liebherr money without actually realising that although we were being saved we also simultaneously relinquished all control.

 

Protesting or singing songs for Nigel (excuse the XTC plug) ain't going to make a blind bit of difference and a lack of crowd support might cost us a vital 3 points v Everton that I have a feeling we will now need more than ever, come the end of the season.

 

Whether we like it or not we have to take Nicola Cortese's decisions on the chin and move on - there is no choice unless you turn your back on the club you love.

 

 

 

Actuallly I was not 'disappointed', I was angry.

[los_saint]

Here here + 1

[Sour Mash]

Nigel walks away with half a million quid so I doubt he gives a sh*te

I doubt you really believe that.

[pingwing]

It wont make a difference but it will still happen, same as booing Guly, we can debate the tits off the merits of both topics but it's not going to prevent it happening

[buctootim]

Given the money he was on, and given his future earning power, I'm sure that's a minor consideration.

 

Not so sure. He lives in a rented house that cost £380,000 three years ago. Not a dump obviously but not commensurate with someone on huge wages.

[Bucks Saint]

Nonsense. At the very least I am a customer (emotionally I am much more than that of course ) and customers have every right to complain if the entity to which they pay good money does something they thoroughly dislike. Don't tell me how I should feel, thanks

[Frank's cousin]

But that is the point; the club does not belong to the city anymore it belongs to the Liebherr family. We had our chance, we blew it, we went into administration and then a consequence of being taken over by a private buyer, we lost our independence. You are right no doubt NC will sell one day, but we will only be passed on to another private owner and as such very vulnerable to his (or her) whim. Of course we still hold the right to protest but the gist of my post is no one has to listen any more.

 

 

...or if he wants to take the European model to its ultimate, would it not be a great way to raise money by offering say 49% to fans to buy as shares? Thing that is so often forgotten when fans start to criticise 'business' people or 'not football people' who own clubs is they often forget a fundemental thing - if they are really just in it to max out the money they can make, then the club MUST be successful - it has to max its revenue and that that comes through success. So the fans may have no say, but they benefit from that success.

 

I suspect that for Marcus, it was the challenge rather than the money - and for NC it's possibly a combination of the challenge, the money and delivering Marcus' dream. Now we may not think he has a cat in hells chance, we may believe the 'plan' is naive', we may be mocked for even contemplating such a plan, and we may dislike the strategy NC employs to get there.... BUT I Tell you this. I would much rather go along for the ride (subject to us not getting into a financial hole) and give it a punt (even with NCs oft bizzarre strategy) than settle for survival at best each year, another club that should be grateful for its place at the trough and should not dare to raise its head above the drop zone... Yes its sad we see good people like NIgel apparently cast aside, but he will not be destitute or without a job for long and fans are hypocrits in many ways with many quick to call for a sacking when things are not going well - patience we dont have, yet we expect it from the chairman? No give me the the rollercoaster anytime - afterall we want to be the best we can... and be entertained.

Edited 19 January, 2013 by Frank's cousin

[Dellman]

I'm with FF on this one but would only add that in the previous regime (Lowe, Wilde and all that shambolic lot) we didn't have any control over them either, we just longed for them to be gone, so we lost nothing and gained everything in the changeover. I'm shocked by yesterday but the worst thing we could do is a Chelsea style protest

[UpweySaint]

The fans were there before Cortese and we'l be there after him. He owns the busines but the club is much more than that and the club belongs to the fans and the city. Just look at them lot down the road, if Cortese get's bored and walks it'l be us picking up the pieces, nobody else.

[The Kraken]

Not so sure. He lives in a rented house that cost £380,000 three years ago. Not a dump obviously but not commensurate with someone on huge wages.

 

Which is why I mentioned his future earning power. Paid decently with us, and very much a manager in demand right now. He may have lived in a house roughly the same value as mine now, I wouldn't for one second consider myself to have parity with either his current/previous or future wage.

Edited 19 January, 2013 by The Kraken

[Winnersaint]

...or if he wants to take the European model to its ultimate, would it not be a great way to raise money by offering say 49% to fans to buy as shares? Thing that is so often forgotten when fans start to criticise 'business' people or 'not football people' who own clubs is they often forget a fundemental thing - if they are really just in it to max out the money they can make, then the club MUST be successful - it has to max its revenue and that that comes through success. So the fans may have no say, but they benefit from that success.

 

I suspect that for Marcus, it was the challenge rather than the money - and for NC it's possibly a combination of the challenge, the money and delivering Marcus' dream. Now we may not think he has a cat in hells chance, we may believe the 'plan' is naive', we may be mocked for even contemplating such a plan, and we may dislike the strategy NC employs to get there.... BUT I Tell you this. I would much rather go along for the ride (subject to us not getting into a financial hole) and give it a punt (even with NCs oft bizzarre strategy) than settle for survival at best each year, another club that should be grateful for its place at the trough and should not dare to raise its head above the drop zone... Yes its sad we see good people like NIgel apparently cast aside, but he will not be destitute or without a job for long and fans are hypocrits in many ways with many quick to call for a sacking when things are not going well - patience we dont have, yet we expect it from the chairman? No give me the the rollercoaster anytime - afterall we want to be the best we can... and be entertained.

Couldn't agree more

[saintalan]

At what point was the club 'ours' ? The fans of the club or the City have never owned the club in my many (45) years of support, before that I don't know.

 

I guess the answer will be well yes but at least they were nice, those who, eventually, sold shares, took us Public and in to Admin.

 

I am sad Nigel is gone and a Nige chant is great but then its back to business, I support the Saints, manager et al. Past, present & future.

 

COYR

[chocco boxo]

All behind the team I hope, I hate Everton with a passion, Adrian Heath, John Bailey, now they make NC look like a Saint! Saints 3-0 @ 50-1 Bet Victor.

[torsaint]

All correct. Be interesting to see what happens if he takes us down. Will he stay or be sacked?

[suewhistle]

The club has had many different owners before, it's never been owned and run by the people of Southampton. Lowe was answerable to the plc shareholders, not the fans. If it was up to the fans he would never have got through the door.

 

Yeah, but you were always able to buy shares if you were that bothered. I had a few hundred - I looked on it like people on here gamble - knowing that in the longer term it wouldn't make me money, but I had a connection to the club and a right to go to annual meetings.

 

If I were going on Monday I'd would have liked to join in with a chant such as 'Win it for Nigel': to support the team, but making my views very clear...

 

Come to think of it, is that such a bad song?

[UpweySaint]

At what point was the club 'ours' ? The fans of the club or the City have never owned the club in my many (45) years of support, before that I don't know.

 

I guess the answer will be well yes but at least they were nice, those who, eventually, sold shares, took us Public and in to Admin.

 

I am sad Nigel is gone and a Nige chant is great but then its back to business, I support the Saints, manager et al. Past, present & future.

 

COYR

 

Fair point but im not talking about whos names on the deed. But business speaking if we, the fans, all decided that a line had been crossed (obviously this is not everyone line but it is for some people ...) and stopped going to games, buying merchandise, publically supporting the club ... etc the "business" becomes almost valueless. Sponsors, sky etc arent interested in a team without any fans or atmosphere, players dont want to play in front of empty crowds ... a stadium that loses money isnt actually worth that much except as land (though the council are hardly likely to turn it over to housing etc) ... I promise the rant has a point. We the fans retain the power for our club, yes it's much easier for a chairman to wield his power but dont forget we have a voice and can, and should, make our opinions known.

[belgrave]

Not so sure. He lives in a rented house that cost £380,000 three years ago. Not a dump obviously but not commensurate with someone on huge wages.

 

I thought he lived in Compton. Doing well to find a 380k house there...

[Bucks Saint]

Fair point but im not talking about whos names on the deed. But business speaking if we, the fans, all decided that a line had been crossed (obviously this is not everyone line but it is for some people ...) and stopped going to games, buying merchandise, publically supporting the club ... etc the "business" becomes almost valueless. Sponsors, sky etc arent interested in a team without any fans or atmosphere, players dont want to play in front of empty crowds ... a stadium that loses money isnt actually worth that much except as land (though the council are hardly likely to turn it over to housing etc) ... I promise the rant has a point. We the fans retain the power for our club, yes it's much easier for a chairman to wield his power but dont forget we have a voice and can, and should, make our opinions known.

 

This. If NC wants to change the home kit to Pompey Blue, or move us to Belfast, all because he thinks that's best for the owners, would we roll over and say "fair enough, it's your / the owners club, any protest would not make a difference"? Yes changing managers is much more "normal course of business" but to say we have no right to protest or make our feelings known is, well, wrong

[Saint Without a Halo]

Exactly. And regarding the owners not having to listen anymore, neither did the previous owners either. But as a general business principle, a company does well to listen to it's customers, or very soon it won't have any. I accept that football is a little different because of fan loyalty to their team often transcends factors that would have normal businesses decline. But still, if the team plays in a style that the fans detest, gets relegated, prices the tickets too high or otherwise p*sses off the fans, then attendance numbers will decline and so will profitability.

 

And as Cortese stated when he came here, the club belongs to us and they are merely custodians.

 

Fans paying for seats are a minor income stream for clubs in the premiere league and count for even less for those teams in europe! The money comes from worldwide TV, advertising and commercial sales. These in turn increase with success. Cortese has little patience and wants to get there quick. He obviously believed the odds for making this change are in his favour and will accelerate the journey! It is his decision to make and he made it. We might disagree with his decison or agree with it but not like the way he made it! either way we have little to no say in the matter. In a funny sort of Way Nigels success reduced his tenure! there was a five year plan to get us to the premiere and we did it in three thanks largely to Nigel and Cortese's money.

 

I would rather a Chairman who wants to progress than one who who loses his manager by not making the approprite investements to move to the next stage (as per Lowe and Strachan). It seems we may all agree generally with where he wants to take us but are questioning only the how and when as we have sentiments and loyalty and he is driven by business ruthlessness!

Edited 19 January, 2013 by Saint Without a Halo

[UpweySaint]

This. If NC wants to change the home kit to Pompey Blue, or move us to Belfast, all because he thinks that's best for the owners, would we roll over and say "fair enough, it's your / the owners club, any protest would not make a difference"? Yes changing managers is much more "normal course of business" but to say we have no right to protest or make our feelings known is, well, wrong

 

Thanks, nice to know im not alone. I understand some of us are more bothered than others but I wont criticise those who want to keep quiet at the everton game so as not to upset the team and I'd hope they'd respect that others feel differently.

[alpine_saint]

Spot on Dunc, and I took the liberty of pointing out yesterday that you said this back at the time of the takeover.

[Ohio Saint]

Ideally (Which never happens) I'd like to hear some songs on Monday that suggest the team win this game for NA, then the subject be dropped for the future.......It's not like I'll be there anyway though, and the match thread will be a frookin' nightmare of trolldom

[DJ_TOAST]

This. If NC wants to change the home kit to Pompey Blue, or move us to Belfast, all because he thinks that's best for the owners, would we roll over and say "fair enough, it's your / the owners club, any protest would not make a difference"? Yes changing managers is much more "normal course of business" but to say we have no right to protest or make our feelings known is, well, wrong

 

Well said that man.

After Monday yeah we can get on with things, but Monday is about letting feeling be known this sort of behaviour is unacceptable and some of us ain't happy about it. If ya wana do fck all and keep quiet then good for you. Stop with the bo11ox about won't help the players bla bla, the team will still be supported as usual and they will be expecting a few chants for Nigel anyway and will encourage them to win it for him.

 

Protest before or after anyway ? lets see if Cortese turns up ay.

[Sour Mash]

Fans paying for seats are a minor income stream for clubs in the premiere league and count for even less for those teams in europe! The money comes from worldwide TV, advertising and commercial sales. These in turn increase with success. Cortese has little patience and wants to get there quick. He obviously believed the odds for making this change are in his favour and will accelerate the journey! It is his decision to make and he made it. We might disagree with his decison or agree with it but not like the way he made it! either way we have little to no say in the matter. In a funny sort of Way Nigels success reduced his tenure! there was a five year plan to get us to the premiere and we did it in three thanks largely to Nigel and Cortese's money.

 

I would rather a Chairman who wants to progress than one who who loses his manager by not making the approprite investements to move to the next stage (as per Lowe and Strachan). It seems we may all agree generally with where he wants to take us but are questioning only the how and when as we have sentiments and loyalty and he is driven by business ruthlessness!

 

Wrong. The paying fan is still a very significant source of income for clubs. And they bring much more than just money to the game. And Cortese hasn't put any money into the club. But apart from that, crack on.

[Saints4Prem]

I agree with FF however I was spitting feathers yesterday about losing Nigel and it still does not sit right. Football is now ruthless if you want to succeed and NC has taken a big step to what he sees an improvement and only time will tell if he got it right. I cannot see what a protest will do except upset the team and anyone can see what this has done to Chelsea's home form. We need 100% support for the team with no distractions. The others in the bottom haven't done too much damage to us today so 3 points against Everton would be massive. COYR.

[the saint in winchester]

Is that a fact, or just conjecture? Has compensation for loss of office been offered and agreed?

[Goalie66]

But that is the point; the club does not belong to the city anymore it belongs to the Liebherr family. We had our chance, we blew it, we went into administration and then a consequence of being taken over by a private buyer, we lost our independence. You are right no doubt NC will sell one day, but we will only be passed on to another private owner and as such very vulnerable to his (or her) whim. Of course we still hold the right to protest but the gist of my post is no one has to listen any more.

 

Yes you are right.Ironically you started a thread in the Lounge that has watched our near neighbours suffer the excesses of serial private owners and the consequences of their gross mismanagement. In any business it is imporatnt that there are checks and balances. There is none with a dictatator at the helm. History tells us that Dictators invariably become totally paranoid because they are unable to listen.

 

Us fans are in a marriage with no divorce but that should not prevent us venting our frustration as "customers". Even if the Dictator will not listen we all have the right to vent our disgust at the way Adkins was treated.