RAWA RAWA/Club Meeting Minutes

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Nowt about Rodwell and how we have tried to move him on or why he’s not available for selection is disappointing.

Good news, I think, on the progress of the sale.
 


Nothing on there about takeover that provides anyone with any update

Short actively looking to sell
Due dilligence complete
If no sale Bain will speak to short about investments but short might only be willing to cover costs of relegation (which he won’t be)

So if anything it’s bad news simply because there is a mention of a sale not happening

If something has been said that isn’t on the minuets then someone has to share that
 
Dagzd1973 said:
Thank you for posting. Interesting read.


Watch what you say in this thread, mate. You'll get locked out for disagreeing.
Click to expand...
I support their intentions as they want the best, but it’ll achieve nothing and it’ll disband in a year or so.

Not sure why I’d get locked out for that, in fact, in 16 years of posting on here, I didn’t realise that getting locked out was even a thing.
 
biggie said:
Nothing on there about takeover that provides anyone with any update

Short actively looking to sell
Due dilligence complete
If no sale Bain will speak to short about investments but short might only be willing to cover costs of relegation (which he won’t be)

So if anything it’s bad news simply because there is a mention of a sale not happening

If something has been said that isn’t on the minuets then someone has to share that
Click to expand...


I was thinking the same, nothing in that really explains the reason @Ghandi Floss thinks we came out of the meeting with optimisim concerning a takeover unless something was said off record
 
6inarow said:
I was thinking the same, nothing in that really explains the reason @Ghandi Floss thinks we came out of the meeting with optimisim concerning a takeover unless something was said off record
Click to expand...

Must have been off the record...and if that’s the case has to be said on here simple as that, otherwise your just adding another chain

Club
RAWA






All the way done here - fans not part of RAWA
 
Evening everyone,

I was in attendance as a RAWA rep, which ultimately means representing the view of the fans that have been presented either at the open meeting, via RAWA social media or on here. I thought it might be useful for me to make a few comments about the meeting and I can try to answer some questions... I've discussed this already with @Ghandi Floss who is doing a cracking job of representing the SMB and I'm by no means wanting to step on his toes...

Right, where to start...

Soon as I walked into the room (James Herriot suite) I saw a git big camera crew, later explained to be the Fulwell productions team doing this Netflix documentary. Was suffering from some kind of bug and feeling (and looking) like shite so was delighted to see that lot there! Serious point though, due to the camera crew being there the agenda was stacked towards supporter experience at the start and finance / sale at the end. Bain asked them to leave once we got onto the sale stuff. So anyone reading the minutes and wondering why there seems to be so much on supporter experience at the start, that's why. I didn't at any point feel that anyone was disturbed or intimidated by the camera crew being there.

I don't intend to repeat the minutes but I think there's a few really important points to stress. These are;

  • Martin Bain confirmed that the owner Ellis Short is actively attempting to sell the Club. They have sifted through various interest and two or three credible buyers are in discussion or in a process of due diligence. I pressed Bain on this because I wasn't convinced that we've ever had it categorically stated publically that the club is for sale. It is.
  • The Club agreed in principle to supporter representation on the board.
  • A working party of supporters and Club staff was agreed with the aim of improvements to the match day experience.
  • The Club agreed to consult with supporters on a number of key issues as they arise in the future such as ticket pricing, movement of season card holders, catering and other items that impact on supporter experience.
  • A working group of supporters and Club staff will work together on future merchandise and the strip (with acknowledgment that next season is signed off)
For all the supporter experience, consultation, merchandise discussions, it was like pushing on an open door. There was a wide recognition that it's shite right now and we need to work together to improve things.

Clappers / clackers / crackers :lol: Honestly, it's already been discussed more on here than it was in the room. I think there was a general consensus that we don't really do organised fun / atmosphere! I may have even done an "ewwww" face at the suggestion.

But as I say, there was a general willingness to listen to us and agree to our suggestions. My cynical side was thinking "shit, there's something bad coming 'cos this feels too easy..."

We got on to the future of the club. Clear as day we need a sale and it's business as usual until that happens. Good to hear Bain say its for sale. He says most of his day is now taken up going through due diligence with prospective buyers. He was positive that a sale will go through. It's essential because it was clear that we are ultimately in a state of paralysis without that happening. As the minutes say, Bain does speak to Short but not about day to day, only the sale. Otherwise Bain is completely in control and makes the kind of key decisions that someone like myself would just assume that the owner of the football club would want to be involved in, e.g. Coleman.

I've probably missed plenty out and if something comes to me I'll make a new post. I'll also try to answer questions as and when I can.

Oh aye, as for the minutes. I know it can feel like a lifetime waiting for them but I think 7 days is a pretty good turnaround. As for how accurate they are (has the club demanded changes? as I often see suggested...), I saw the first draft and I can honestly say I can't think of anything that has changed significantly. A minor change here or there for accuracy. You'll make a judgement call on whether you believe me or not.

After the meeting and over the past few days I've had a bit of time to reflect on what we are all (everyone, not just the committee members / co-opted reps) trying to achieve here. Ultimately it's to try to improve communications with the club and to get the bond back between the club and the fans. I share anyone's frustrations at how utterly shite this season has been but I genuinely think we have made progress in this regard. Obviously it's easy for the league position to overshadow that. I think we're on a good footing to go into a relationship with a new set of owners (let it be soon FFS) where we have regular meetings established, we've got in principle approval to have a fan rep on the board, club has agreed to consult on key issues as they arise (ticket prices for example) and we're working with the club to improve match day experience and merchandising. And I get it, what happens on the pitch sets the whole tone for the club and it's contagious, be it good or bad. Hopefully the sale sorts all that out. But I think in the meantime we've collectively started to make some positive changes.

Finally, I should declare that I had a cup of tea when I went in but avoided the tray of pork pies. So I haven't yet been converted into a patsy for the club :D
 
Quite disappointed with the comments on this so far. I'll have my say as the club will undoubtedly be looking in on this thread.

First of all its nice too see Bain not chairing the meeting and for once not taking the piss out of the fans. I'll say something here that needs to be recognised by one and all:

If Sunderland AFC think that they will achieve anything in football without their fans then I can categorically tell them that they will not. The fans have been f***ing shit on for decades and the club owes the fans big time. They should be absolutely bending over backwards to bring their fans closer to them. Absolutely everything that SAFC does should be focussed on the fans. Period. Fact.

We are one of the worst run football clubs in the world, we are also one of the most factionalised and - I have to say this - we as fans ourselves are one of the most pathetically organised sets of fans in world football. I love our fans to bits but we are pathetically organised. We trip over ourselves on here to slag each other off, crawl up the clubs arse for individuals own benefit and this has to stop. Everything that the fans do has to be for the good of SAFC and not themselves.

Its a two way process.

Nice too see Louise Wanlass back at work. I understand that she has been ill recently - like us all!! I'm ill as fuck watching us drag the good name of Sunderland AFC through the shite - again!

I'm fascinated by this apparent willingness for a fan to now be on the board (nice to have it confirmed that we have a board). Proof of the pudding, as they say, will be in the eating. Be interesting too see how that works.

As for the strip - high time that it had 6 stars on it so that when we walk out on to the pitch everyone knows who we once were and what we can be again. Lets not be ashamed to tell everyone that we are the 6 times English League Champions - something that and for example, Manchester City are not.

I'll digest these minutes at leisure but the "clappers" idea is, as stated by one or two previously - an absolutely shite idea. Dont do it SAFC. Spare us the mockery.
 
Steeeeed said:
Evening everyone,

I was in attendance as a RAWA rep, which ultimately means representing the view of the fans that have been presented either at the open meeting, via RAWA social media or on here. I thought it might be useful for me to make a few comments about the meeting and I can try to answer some questions... I've discussed this already with @Ghandi Floss who is doing a cracking job of representing the SMB and I'm by no means wanting to step on his toes...

Right, where to start...

Soon as I walked into the room (James Herriot suite) I saw a git big camera crew, later explained to be the Fulwell productions team doing this Netflix documentary. Was suffering from some kind of bug and feeling (and looking) like shite so was delighted to see that lot there! Serious point though, due to the camera crew being there the agenda was stacked towards supporter experience at the start and finance / sale at the end. Bain asked them to leave once we got onto the sale stuff. So anyone reading the minutes and wondering why there seems to be so much on supporter experience at the start, that's why. I didn't at any point feel that anyone was disturbed or intimidated by the camera crew being there.

I don't intend to repeat the minutes but I think there's a few really important points to stress. These are;

  • Martin Bain confirmed that the owner Ellis Short is actively attempting to sell the Club. They have sifted through various interest and two or three credible buyers are in discussion or in a process of due diligence. I pressed Bain on this because I wasn't convinced that we've ever had it categorically stated publically that the club is for sale. It is.
  • The Club agreed in principle to supporter representation on the board.
  • A working party of supporters and Club staff was agreed with the aim of improvements to the match day experience.
  • The Club agreed to consult with supporters on a number of key issues as they arise in the future such as ticket pricing, movement of season card holders, catering and other items that impact on supporter experience.
  • A working group of supporters and Club staff will work together on future merchandise and the strip (with acknowledgment that next season is signed off)
For all the supporter experience, consultation, merchandise discussions, it was like pushing on an open door. There was a wide recognition that it's shite right now and we need to work together to improve things.

Clappers / clackers / crackers :lol: Honestly, it's already been discussed more on here than it was in the room. I think there was a general consensus that we don't really do organised fun / atmosphere! I may have even done an "ewwww" face at the suggestion.

But as I say, there was a general willingness to listen to us and agree to our suggestions. My cynical side was thinking "shit, there's something bad coming 'cos this feels too easy..."

We got on to the future of the club. Clear as day we need a sale and it's business as usual until that happens. Good to hear Bain say its for sale. He says most of his day is now taken up going through due diligence with prospective buyers. He was positive that a sale will go through. It's essential because it was clear that we are ultimately in a state of paralysis without that happening. As the minutes say, Bain does speak to Short but not about day to day, only the sale. Otherwise Bain is completely in control and makes the kind of key decisions that someone like myself would just assume that the owner of the football club would want to be involved in, e.g. Coleman.

I've probably missed plenty out and if something comes to me I'll make a new post. I'll also try to answer questions as and when I can.

Oh aye, as for the minutes. I know it can feel like a lifetime waiting for them but I think 7 days is a pretty good turnaround. As for how accurate they are (has the club demanded changes? as I often see suggested...), I saw the first draft and I can honestly say I can't think of anything that has changed significantly. A minor change here or there for accuracy. You'll make a judgement call on whether you believe me or not.

After the meeting and over the past few days I've had a bit of time to reflect on what we are all (everyone, not just the committee members / co-opted reps) trying to achieve here. Ultimately it's to try to improve communications with the club and to get the bond back between the club and the fans. I share anyone's frustrations at how utterly shite this season has been but I genuinely think we have made progress in this regard. Obviously it's easy for the league position to overshadow that. I think we're on a good footing to go into a relationship with a new set of owners (let it be soon FFS) where we have regular meetings established, we've got in principle approval to have a fan rep on the board, club has agreed to consult on key issues as they arise (ticket prices for example) and we're working with the club to improve match day experience and merchandising. And I get it, what happens on the pitch sets the whole tone for the club and it's contagious, be it good or bad. Hopefully the sale sorts all that out. But I think in the meantime we've collectively started to make some positive changes.

Finally, I should declare that I had a cup of tea when I went in but avoided the tray of pork pies. So I haven't yet been converted into a patsy for the club :D
Click to expand...

Thanks for summing it up, I don’t trust Bain at all
 
Stormo said:
Nowt about Rodwell and how we have tried to move him on or why he’s not available for selection is disappointing.

Good news, I think, on the progress of the sale.
Click to expand...

I can’t see the club ever talking openly about Rodwell, especially when he is employed by the Club. No other employers would or should, therefore why would Sunderland.
 
It’s all a load of shite man, getting over analysed. Short and Bain piss off and someone with a smidging of football intelligence brought in with slight investment and things will already improve massively. It’s football not rocket science, meetings with a bloke who’s getting paid to asset strip a company isn’t gonna change a clubs fortunes it simply a way of saying he’s doing everything he can to keep us happy when in fact it’s a load of rubbish.
 
Steeeeed said:
Evening everyone,

I was in attendance as a RAWA rep, which ultimately means representing the view of the fans that have been presented either at the open meeting, via RAWA social media or on here. I thought it might be useful for me to make a few comments about the meeting and I can try to answer some questions... I've discussed this already with @Ghandi Floss who is doing a cracking job of representing the SMB and I'm by no means wanting to step on his toes...

Right, where to start...

Soon as I walked into the room (James Herriot suite) I saw a git big camera crew, later explained to be the Fulwell productions team doing this Netflix documentary. Was suffering from some kind of bug and feeling (and looking) like shite so was delighted to see that lot there! Serious point though, due to the camera crew being there the agenda was stacked towards supporter experience at the start and finance / sale at the end. Bain asked them to leave once we got onto the sale stuff. So anyone reading the minutes and wondering why there seems to be so much on supporter experience at the start, that's why. I didn't at any point feel that anyone was disturbed or intimidated by the camera crew being there.

I don't intend to repeat the minutes but I think there's a few really important points to stress. These are;

  • Martin Bain confirmed that the owner Ellis Short is actively attempting to sell the Club. They have sifted through various interest and two or three credible buyers are in discussion or in a process of due diligence. I pressed Bain on this because I wasn't convinced that we've ever had it categorically stated publically that the club is for sale. It is.
  • The Club agreed in principle to supporter representation on the board.
  • A working party of supporters and Club staff was agreed with the aim of improvements to the match day experience.
  • The Club agreed to consult with supporters on a number of key issues as they arise in the future such as ticket pricing, movement of season card holders, catering and other items that impact on supporter experience.
  • A working group of supporters and Club staff will work together on future merchandise and the strip (with acknowledgment that next season is signed off)
For all the supporter experience, consultation, merchandise discussions, it was like pushing on an open door. There was a wide recognition that it's shite right now and we need to work together to improve things.

Clappers / clackers / crackers :lol: Honestly, it's already been discussed more on here than it was in the room. I think there was a general consensus that we don't really do organised fun / atmosphere! I may have even done an "ewwww" face at the suggestion.

But as I say, there was a general willingness to listen to us and agree to our suggestions. My cynical side was thinking "shit, there's something bad coming 'cos this feels too easy..."

We got on to the future of the club. Clear as day we need a sale and it's business as usual until that happens. Good to hear Bain say its for sale. He says most of his day is now taken up going through due diligence with prospective buyers. He was positive that a sale will go through. It's essential because it was clear that we are ultimately in a state of paralysis without that happening. As the minutes say, Bain does speak to Short but not about day to day, only the sale. Otherwise Bain is completely in control and makes the kind of key decisions that someone like myself would just assume that the owner of the football club would want to be involved in, e.g. Coleman.

I've probably missed plenty out and if something comes to me I'll make a new post. I'll also try to answer questions as and when I can.

Oh aye, as for the minutes. I know it can feel like a lifetime waiting for them but I think 7 days is a pretty good turnaround. As for how accurate they are (has the club demanded changes? as I often see suggested...), I saw the first draft and I can honestly say I can't think of anything that has changed significantly. A minor change here or there for accuracy. You'll make a judgement call on whether you believe me or not.

After the meeting and over the past few days I've had a bit of time to reflect on what we are all (everyone, not just the committee members / co-opted reps) trying to achieve here. Ultimately it's to try to improve communications with the club and to get the bond back between the club and the fans. I share anyone's frustrations at how utterly shite this season has been but I genuinely think we have made progress in this regard. Obviously it's easy for the league position to overshadow that. I think we're on a good footing to go into a relationship with a new set of owners (let it be soon FFS) where we have regular meetings established, we've got in principle approval to have a fan rep on the board, club has agreed to consult on key issues as they arise (ticket prices for example) and we're working with the club to improve match day experience and merchandising. And I get it, what happens on the pitch sets the whole tone for the club and it's contagious, be it good or bad. Hopefully the sale sorts all that out. But I think in the meantime we've collectively started to make some positive changes.

Finally, I should declare that I had a cup of tea when I went in but avoided the tray of pork pies. So I haven't yet been converted into a patsy for the club :D
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Appreciate it.
 
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