Thoughts of a BU board member

[northantsbee]

I should perhaps wait until i am entirely sober to post this. If my post is less than elequoent I apologise. Unfortunatley once again i took the decision to go and watch my beloved football team let me down again. I once joked with my father that i would report him to the NSPCC for child abuse, following one particular visit to GP. I wonder if they would take complaints from a 33 year old......... :( :(

This season has been a shambles on and off the pitch. Changes need to be made, not in 3 months, not when another Matthew Benham is found, not when someone thinks it ought to, but NOW.

Mark and Stedders have made their apologies and though i think that they should have been published on other websites (not just the GPG) i echo their sentiments.

Saturday saw me standing outside the Brook Road with my bucket with a very familar feeling inside. That feeling is embarrassment. 5 mins with the team would be all i crave, 1 question is all i would ask. Explain to me how i stand at the end of the game asking supporters for money, with the ability to look them in the eye and tell them that Brentford deserve their support. Its simple I cant. I do it simply because I love our football club and will do all i can to ensure it's survival. i am prepared to put myself in a situation that makes me cringe because I cannot justify asking others to do anything that i would not.

Changes need to be made. The nettle needs to be grasped, the bull grabbed by the horns etc etc. A lot of cliches i agree, but ones that are appropriate. Although i have said it over and over, ALL supporters of Brentford FC must PULL TOGETHER.

There are those that think the BU model is the way to keep our club safe. it is obvious that this is my belief others would like to see us sell out. I have kept my counsel for some time on this particular matter, but for me the time has come to air my views.

I would love to find another Matthew Benham. Investment in my football club would be fantastic, BUT not at the expense of our very existence. I cannot and will not sanction a sell out to an investor that does not have the best interests of Brentford FC at heart. I do not want another Ron Noades. I do not want to be pitched into a nest of vipers that will sell GP from under us without a second thought. Whilst the value of GP outweighs the debt we stand a chance, without control of the ownership of that piece of ground (notwithstanding Martin Langes 'golden share') we leave ourselves open to those who see the opportunity to make a 'quick buck'.

I dont want to see the Bees in League 2 (though i am going to have to). God forbid that we slip further down the league, BUT (and if you havent already decided i am a 'waste of space' you may change your mind now) I would rather support the Bees in the Conference than wonder what the **** i am going to do on a Saturday.

Abuse me all you like, quite frankly i couldnt feel a great deal worse after the continual $h1t that i have watched this season (i missed Chesterfield away and Luton and Northampton away in the cups) it has been far from a pleasure to travel over 10,000 miles again this season, spend a fortune, commit 20+ hours a week to BU, commit to walk 64 miles in May, shake buckets, attend fundraisers, purchase auction items and generally give everything i have to BU/BFC.

Bizarrely (though in a sadistic kind of way) i have enjoyed it, to an extent (its still Brentford after all) and I have met new people, made new friends who are as committed to the cause as the rest of us and who i thank from the bottom of my heart (you know who you are ;) ). At the end of the day, (whilst we may not be in the league i want to watch us in) we are still here and we still live to fight another day.

Up the Bees, and my apologies for a season full of frustration and complete crapness.

As ever those of you who have ideas on what to change and how to move forward are more than welcome to contact me. I cannot promise any resolution, or any action on your thoughts but i will do my best on both counts.

A slightly unsober BU board member, more importantly a very gutted, disappointed and upset Bees fan.

[Stuardo]

I should perhaps wait until i am entirely sober to post this. If my post is less than elequoent I apologise. Unfortunatley once again i took the decision to go and watch my beloved football team let me down again. I once joked with my father that i would report him to the NSPCC for child abuse, following one particular visit to GP. I wonder if they would take complaints from a 33 year old......... :( :(

This season has been a shambles on and off the pitch. Changes need to be made, not in 3 months, not when another Matthew Benham is found, not when someone thinks it ought to, but NOW.

Mark and Stedders have made their apologies and though i think that they should have been published on other websites (not just the GPG) i echo their sentiments.

Saturday saw me standing outside the Brook Road with my bucket with a very familar feeling inside. That feeling is embarrassment. 5 mins with the team would be all i crave, 1 question is all i would ask. Explain to me how i stand at the end of the game asking supporters for money, with the ability to look them in the eye and tell them that Brentford deserve their support. Its simple I cant. I do it simply because I love our football club and will do all i can to ensure it's survival. i am prepared to put myself in a situation that makes me cringe because I cannot justify asking others to do anything that i would not.

Changes need to be made. The nettle needs to be grasped, the bull grabbed by the horns etc etc. A lot of cliches i agree, but ones that are appropriate. Although i have said it over and over, ALL supporters of Brentford FC must PULL TOGETHER.

There are those that think the BU model is the way to keep our club safe. it is obvious that this is my belief others would like to see us sell out. I have kept my counsel for some time on this particular matter, but for me the time has come to air my views.

I would love to find another Matthew Benham. Investment in my football club would be fantastic, BUT not at the expense of our very existence. I cannot and will not sanction a sell out to an investor that does not have the best interests of Brentford FC at heart. I do not want another Ron Noades. I do not want to be pitched into a nest of vipers that will sell GP from under us without a second thought. Whilst the value of GP outweighs the debt we stand a chance, without control of the ownership of that piece of ground (notwithstanding Martin Langes 'golden share') we leave ourselves open to those who see the opportunity to make a 'quick buck'.

I dont want to see the Bees in League 2 (though i am going to have to). God forbid that we slip further down the league, BUT (and if you havent already decided i am a 'waste of space' you may change your mind now) I would rather support the Bees in the Conference than wonder what the **** i am going to do on a Saturday.

Abuse me all you like, quite frankly i couldnt feel a great deal worse after the continual $h1t that i have watched this season (i missed Chesterfield away and Luton and Northampton away in the cups) it has been far from a pleasure to travel over 10,000 miles again this season, spend a fortune, commit 20+ hours a week to BU, commit to walk 64 miles in May, shake buckets, attend fundraisers, purchase auction items and generally give everything i have to BU/BFC.

Bizarrely (though in a sadistic kind of way) i have enjoyed it, to an extent (its still Brentford after all) and I have met new people, made new friends who are as committed to the cause as the rest of us and who i thank from the bottom of my heart (you know who you are ;) ). At the end of the day, (whilst we may not be in the league i want to watch us in) we are still here and we still live to fight another day.

Up the Bees, and my apologies for a season full of frustration and complete crapness.

As ever those of you who have ideas on what to change and how to move forward are more than welcome to contact me. I cannot promise any resolution, or any action on your thoughts but i will do my best on both counts.

A slightly unsober BU board member, more importantly a very gutted, disappointed and upset Bees fan.


that is all you had to say. because it is the only question they can't answer.

we are all in this together. we, the fans. because no-one else cares.

[maddogging]

top post.

The players/dyke/kd should be forced into reading this.

[Greenholme Bee]

In support of you and your hubby and the genuine foot soldiers that die for our club, a cheque for £150 is winging its way to you tonight from myself and Rich on behalf of Thorne in the Side for your walk..

Keep your spirit up girl..

We have ring-fenced some of the money we have made in the last few weeks from the fanzine etc as I wasn't sure whether to plough it into the hole of Bees United yet..

So its more of a thank you for your hard work and your cause that you believe in..

Its not a kings ransom but I hope it makes your night a little easier to take..

Nick and Rich
Thorne in the Side Fanzine

[WarrenBee]

I should perhaps wait until i am entirely sober to post this. If my post is less than elequoent I apologise. Unfortunatley once again i took the decision to go and watch my beloved football team let me down again. I once joked with my father that i would report him to the NSPCC for child abuse, following one particular visit to GP. I wonder if they would take complaints from a 33 year old......... :( :(

This season has been a shambles on and off the pitch. Changes need to be made, not in 3 months, not when another Matthew Benham is found, not when someone thinks it ought to, but NOW.

Mark and Stedders have made their apologies and though i think that they should have been published on other websites (not just the GPG) i echo their sentiments.

Saturday saw me standing outside the Brook Road with my bucket with a very familar feeling inside. That feeling is embarrassment. 5 mins with the team would be all i crave, 1 question is all i would ask. Explain to me how i stand at the end of the game asking supporters for money, with the ability to look them in the eye and tell them that Brentford deserve their support. Its simple I cant. I do it simply because I love our football club and will do all i can to ensure it's survival. i am prepared to put myself in a situation that makes me cringe because I cannot justify asking others to do anything that i would not.

Changes need to be made. The nettle needs to be grasped, the bull grabbed by the horns etc etc. A lot of cliches i agree, but ones that are appropriate. Although i have said it over and over, ALL supporters of Brentford FC must PULL TOGETHER.

There are those that think the BU model is the way to keep our club safe. it is obvious that this is my belief others would like to see us sell out. I have kept my counsel for some time on this particular matter, but for me the time has come to air my views.

I would love to find another Matthew Benham. Investment in my football club would be fantastic, BUT not at the expense of our very existence. I cannot and will not sanction a sell out to an investor that does not have the best interests of Brentford FC at heart. I do not want another Ron Noades. I do not want to be pitched into a nest of vipers that will sell GP from under us without a second thought. Whilst the value of GP outweighs the debt we stand a chance, without control of the ownership of that piece of ground (notwithstanding Martin Langes 'golden share') we leave ourselves open to those who see the opportunity to make a 'quick buck'.

I dont want to see the Bees in League 2 (though i am going to have to). God forbid that we slip further down the league, BUT (and if you havent already decided i am a 'waste of space' you may change your mind now) I would rather support the Bees in the Conference than wonder what the **** i am going to do on a Saturday.

Abuse me all you like, quite frankly i couldnt feel a great deal worse after the continual $h1t that i have watched this season (i missed Chesterfield away and Luton and Northampton away in the cups) it has been far from a pleasure to travel over 10,000 miles again this season, spend a fortune, commit 20+ hours a week to BU, commit to walk 64 miles in May, shake buckets, attend fundraisers, purchase auction items and generally give everything i have to BU/BFC.

Bizarrely (though in a sadistic kind of way) i have enjoyed it, to an extent (its still Brentford after all) and I have met new people, made new friends who are as committed to the cause as the rest of us and who i thank from the bottom of my heart (you know who you are ;) ). At the end of the day, (whilst we may not be in the league i want to watch us in) we are still here and we still live to fight another day.

Up the Bees, and my apologies for a season full of frustration and complete crapness.

As ever those of you who have ideas on what to change and how to move forward are more than welcome to contact me. I cannot promise any resolution, or any action on your thoughts but i will do my best on both counts.

A slightly unsober BU board member, more importantly a very gutted, disappointed and upset Bees fan.

You are a star, don't beat youself up because of the faults of others.

:sorted:

[Salford Bee]

If we had players with the attitude and committment of northantsbee we'd certainly not be in this position.

[rambo]

If the people that make the decisions about running BFC (Dyke, Burgess & Dickens), Players & Coaching staff had this type of view on what is happening on & off the field we would not be in this mess!

I cannot see any of the above people making such a from the heart response to the performance of BFC this year!

Keep up the great work people like you and PG are the real stars at BFC certinally not the players!

If only the fans like Matthew Benham & abee, that have put their hard earned cash could get some changes to the board we might be able to get things moving in the right way for next season!

[abee]

If only the fans like Matthew Benham & abee, that have put their hard earned cash could get some changes to the board we might be able to get things moving in the right way for next season!

Well I'm a long long way from having the same level of financial commitment as Matthew Benham but the money that I believed was going towards giving Brentford FC a "fresh start" (yes that was what we were all told) has turned out to be just pissed down the drain by a hapless and hopeless management abetted by a largely supine board of directors chaired by a media luvvie who has not a clue on providing leadership for and guiding a small business up against it.

I have never met Matthew Benham but he and I both share responsibilities as we have nominees on the board. I have never met Rob Esteva but of course I know David Heath well and I can assure you that he and I share the same views on the key issues. I have posted on another thread that I am beyond rage now........if Fitz goes with Reeves then that's another thick end of £50k down the pipe.

Natasha the first thing that you can do is to to try and ensure that all monies collected from supporters are hypothecated. You saw what was achieved with Fighting Whimper but more than one years standing order contributions will have been simply wasted within the space of five months paying off Rosenior, Mortimer, and Fitz and Reeves if they go and I suspect that they will.

Such a decision would be a start for me........just continually chucking our monies into a "black hole" where the BFC board invariably uses it unwisely or without regard to controlling costs and casually betraying their responsibilities to the fans who contribute is simply appalling and flies in the face of eveything in which I believe.

The second decision Natasha would be for the Bees United board to ignore the "brush offs" that I suspect you receive on a monthly basis when asking any questions about what is actually happening at BFC. For a start I ask that you again read the official website release following the appointment of Fitz and ask yourself whether any Bees fan would reasonably assume that Fitz contract ran to the end of the season. Then direct the same question to the BFC board. Either they didn't have a clue what sort of contracts had been handed out to Fitz and Reeves or they did but not one director said "Hang about.....this misleading statement is simply pushing the envelope too far for me and I want an amendment with an explanation". And for those of you who believe that contracts should be private then I submit that the expiry date of any employees contract is not something that should be guarded jealously. After all we have now heard from three individiduals regarding Fitz contract running to the end of the year..........Jon Gosling, Greg Dyke and now Fitz himself. I have often said on here that I'm afraid that the culture of keeping the facts from the supporters is now so ingrained at BFC that "it's always in the small print". So Natasha hunt down those directors who knew full well that the official site statement was deliberately misleading and ask them why they feel they should not resign as a part of a sweep of the stables.

[Simon C]

While I understand you were a bit pissed (and a bit pissed off) when you wrote this northants this post is missing any ideas on what to do next. Relegation has been coming for a long time now and the fans deserve an explanation, an apology and a plan for what needs to happen now. If this doesn't come from the BFC board then I expect the BU board to finally flex their muscles.

[ChinaBee]

Thanks for the post, we know you do more than your fair share and shouldnt feel guilty
Well done TITS, great jesture
Abee - Although I agree that paying off the two in charge is pssing even more money down the drain, it is still a football club and we need to have someone who can do a job in getting bums on seats by having a reasonably successful team

BU - The main thing you have done wrong this season is keeping us all in the dark while we have had to suffer shite on the pitch. Wake up and realise the only way to get people on your side is to start telling us the truth and keep us informed of good and bad things that may be happening

A nights sleep doesnt make all this any easier, just at Heathrow on way to Moscow.................will start asking around when I get there:wave:

[abee]

Abee - Although I agree that paying off the two in charge is pssing even more money down the drain, it is still a football club and we need to have someone who can do a job in getting bums on seats by having a reasonably successful team



If anything that I have written suggests that I believe that we should keep Fitz and Reeves because of the cost of terminating them then that is not what I intended to convey.

:wave:

[IsleofWight_Bee]

and how many of them stood in elections spouting off about transparency, keeping us informed etc. :nono:

Don't bother answering we already know don't we?

[GlasgowBee]

It is now time for all on the BFC and BU board to search their soul and reach a degree of self-actualisation...how would you answer the following questions...

Do I have the necessary competancies to do the job asked of me as a board member?
Am I doing this for the love of the club?
Am I doing this for financial gain either directly or indirectly?
Am I doing this for personal prestige?

Unless your answers on a polyograph are yes, yes, no and no then please have the grace and dignity to stand down. Being a "man" is as much about knowing your limits and acting on them as it is about how much lies to the left or right....(apologies for the gender based leaning of this analogy)

[Simon C]

How do those questions have any bearing on anything? If anyone on the two Boards had anything but the best intentions what makes you think they'd suddenly get a conscience now? What's needed is action from the BFC Board and cracking down from the BU Board if they don't like the steps that are taken

[GlasgowBee]

Do I have the necessary competancies to do the job asked of me as a board member?
Am I doing this for the love of the club?
Am I doing this for financial gain either directly or indirectly?
Am I doing this for personal prestige?


How do those questions have any bearing on anything? If anyone on the two Boards had anything but the best intentions what makes you think they'd suddenly get a conscience now? What's needed is action from the BFC Board and cracking down from the BU Board if they don't like the steps that are taken

These questions have absolutely no bearing on anything because they are merely a post on a messageboard.

I suppose I was being a bit metaphysical about things, etherially postulating questions I would love (a bit keegan there) the boards to be able to account for and answer to me as a fan.

I further supposed that any notional answer to the questions would indicate the intensity of the action and the direction of the action.

To be a bit abeeesque (wow a three e word!) the Glasgowbee rule no#1 is never ever stop questionnning.

Never give up on a conscience either (however that is not rule no#2)...metatphorically speaking always remind those that slag off the nhs whether they want treated for a heart attack or would they prefer to wait for an alternative to arrive...

...in case some dont get this; when need is created, perspective can change.

[abee]

These questions have absolutely no bearing on anything because they are merely a post on a messageboard.

I suppose I was being a bit metaphysical about things, etherially postulating questions I would love (a bit keegan there) the boards to be able to account for and answer to me as a fan.

I further supposed that any notional answer to the questions would indicate the intensity of the action and the direction of the action.

To be a bit abeeesque (wow a three e word!) the Glasgowbee rule no#1 is never ever stop questionnning.

Never give up on a conscience either (however that is not rule no#2)...metatphorically speaking always remind those that slag off the nhs whether they want treated for a heart attack or would they prefer to wait for an alternative to arrive...

...in case some dont get this; when need is created, perspective can change.

Did you used to work for Proctor & Gamble by any chance....I'm only guessing but I've just had a Vision man........:)

[GlasgowBee]

Did you used to work for Proctor & Gamble by any chance....I'm only guessing but I've just had a Vision man........:)

no...nhs all the way...thats probably even worse

[NorthamptonBee]

This season has been a complete disaster and it is all down to off field management and their bad choices as managers and players. MA didn’t help by taking a week or two to go public whilst people trusted his honour and thought that no news was good news and that he was here to stay. That cost us a few vital weeks in employing the new man and in turn getting players on board. LR was an appointment from hell even though I enjoyed our lucky unbeaten start, deep down we all knew we were in trouble.
I kept reading that finances were tight and all the problems were down to lack of money, money and money on the GPG and that our hands were tied. However I remember reading an article where Cheltenham boss John Ward said that his playing budget of £640k was the same as the one he got them up with and was going to be the lowest in league one but that’s life. I thought at the time that it was his excuse for his relegation season but his team didn’t look half the team we are and for years we have mixed it with the big spenders so playing budget aren’t the be all and end all and never have or will be. Toades is a bad man but this season wasn’t down to him, he fecked us up but the failure of the manager choices who in turn messed up with player recruitment were the real issues. We even had a plan for recruiting an experienced, relegation battling manager with a really big pair of balls and a sheepskin coat with a battle plan for league one survival and after 5 weeks of detailed interviewing we ended up with 2 youth team coaches to choose from! Not BU’s fault but down to a salaried member of the management team and one that we can surely now do without.
We have a massive chance to right things next season as we will be a fairly big fish in that league and should we start positively we will take decent numbers to away games and probably shit all over the projected home attendance budget. We need to get the right manager in and the MD has shown that his way doesn’t work and shouldn’t be let loose again IMO. The top 4 teams in League 2 are the 4 who were relegated MA apart none of them spent any/much money, it really could be us if we do it right.

[GlasgowBee]

abee, we must be the dream ticket...your business acumen and my psychiatric skills...all we need now is a team!

(only kidding, incase anyone thinks I am being serious)

[JTofBFC]

Natasha the first thing that you can do is to to try and ensure that all monies collected from supporters are hypothecated. You saw what was achieved with Fighting Whimper but more than one years standing order contributions will have been simply wasted within the space of five months paying off Rosenior, Mortimer, and Fitz and Reeves if they go and I suspect that they will.

Such a decision would be a start for me........just continually chucking our monies into a "black hole" where the BFC board invariably uses it unwisely or without regard to controlling costs and casually betraying their responsibilities to the fans who contribute is simply appalling and flies in the face of eveything in which I believe.
.

This is an interesting recurring theme. I'm coming round to the point of view that I would rather chuck my tenner a month standing order into something like a hypothecated players fund than just give it to BU which is effectively the same as giving it to BFC.

Bees United needs to service about £40k per annum in interest charges. They have enough stashed away already to cover almost two years of that. Goodness knows what else they need money for now. Presumably to save up for a rainy day so we can pay off the likes of Eddie Rogers or Greg Dyke or abee or others who have lent money to it with long stop maturity dates.

Maybe the hypothecation idea is the best thing, then we can be sure our money doesn't go towards propping up loss making public houses or into a slush fund to repay millionaires.

I suppose the other option is always Lifeline. :fishing: