Just A Number In A Revenue Stream

[ac gull]

This is I fear what all fans are now becoming

The Huddersfield fan's article posted earlier referred to the great club / fan
rapport that was in existence at Withdean - the club pulled off what in hindsight is now looking to be quite a feat of having as all united as one re campaigning together - at the time this just felt normal to me.

I fear this may seem to be abnormal or out of the "comfort zone" so to speak to those who run clubs on a commercial basis / have known no other way of doing things

Now I think this time has sadly passed for such a unique fan / club rapport to exist and is more unlikely to ever be seen again, particularly the more successful the club hopefully becomes on the pitch

Just me thinking this?

 

[cloud]

We are very lucky we don't have shareholders demanding a return, and everything else being a means to them getting their dividends.

It also helps being a town with just one club in, so support is more unified.

 

[Superphil]

This is I fear what all fans are now becoming

The Huddersfield fan's article posted earlier referred to the great club / fan
rapport that was in existence at Withdean - the club pulled off what in hindsight is now looking to be quite a feat of having as all united as one re campaigning together - at the time this just felt normal to me.

I fear this may seem to be abnormal or out of the "comfort zone" so to speak to those who run clubs on a commercial basis / have known no other way of doing things

Now I think this time has sadly passed for such a unique fan / club rapport to exist and is more unlikely to ever be seen again, particularly the more successful the club hopefully becomes on the pitch

Just me thinking this?

It's probably not just you thinking that, however, I think there are plenty who still believe there is still a special relationship between the and and the club at the Albion. For example, after the last game, in the North Stand bar after the game, Martin Perry, Paul Barber and Derek Chapman wandered through and had plenty of time for everyone who chatted with them. Outside the bar several players were posing for photos with fans and signing autographs. Lets keep fingers crossed those at the top in the Albion keep on doing that, stay in touch with us, it makes sense.

 

[BIG GAY AL]

Maybe its just that you dont feel so needed in the sense of the health of the club and not actually about the fan/club relationship

 

[Seagulltonian]

It's probably not just you thinking that, however, I think there are plenty who still believe there is still a special relationship between the and and the club at the Albion. For example, after the last game, in the North Stand bar after the game, Martin Perry, Paul Barber and Derek Chapman wandered through and had plenty of time for everyone who chatted with them. Outside the bar several players were posing for photos with fans and signing autographs. Lets keep fingers crossed those at the top in the Albion keep on doing that, stay in touch with us, it makes sense.

Great post

Likewise, I hope the club stays loyal to the fans, as at the end of the day, the fans have made this club what it is today

 

[ac gull]

after the last game, in the North Stand bar after the game, Martin Perry, Paul Barber and Derek Chapman wandered through and had plenty of time for everyone who chatted with them. Outside the bar several players were posing for photos with fans and signing autographs. Lets keep fingers crossed those at the top in the Albion keep on doing that, stay in touch with us, it makes sense.

That's good to hear, maybe I am wrong!

 

[Triggaaar]

Good thread. We need to do what we can to keep the relationship good, whilst accepting that if we want success on the pitch, that has to come from the club bringing revenue in. NSC is useful, as we have a voice (via the official methods) so we can put our opinion forward on what we like/don't like.

 

[Beach Hut]

After a heroic existence at Withdean we are now a business with a brand at the Amex.

It was always going to be like this but it is the only forward and thank heavens for Tony Bloom doing this for all of us.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

Tony Bloom has been known to catch the odd train and happily talk to fans on the way back from an away match......

I see and understand the OP but for the time we have TB in control things are really ok on that front..

As others have stated,we are very much professional now,and it's been a very long time coming..

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Personally I think the club have attempted to keep that unique relationship. It should be remembered that instead of having circa 8k people turning up each week they now have 25k turning up. If your family grew that quickly I think you'd struggle to keep them all happy. The club need to be professional and commercial otherwise we won't survive - that unfortunately means the relationship between fan and club will alter slightly. That said, while people such as Tony Bloom and Martin Perry are still involved I have every faith they will manage to keep the unique rapport we have between fans and club.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

I think you're right. I remember Mike Bamber trying to put the club on a more commercial basis - it was him that took merchanising away from the supporters club. I think this happens to most clubs that aspire to the premier league, although clubs like Norwich still seem to have kept their feet on the ground. Once we got relegated we sort of went back to our roots.
If we really want premiership football, it is the price we pay. The efforts of the fans keeping the club alive won't be forgotten by the fans but over time I don't expect the club to put much store in them.