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Graham Smith

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Everything posted by Graham Smith

  1. Graham Smith
    Wrong. Again. This is exactly what we want. Engagement with the supporters on the issues that the supporters want to be heard upon. A formal way into the Club to get issues heard and addressed. What we don't want (and I assume no one wants) is for this to be a sanitised exercise in putting the naughty fans in a room and let them whinge every three months and be ignored. There's no suggestion it is that but until we see how it works then we'll know. Supporter investment isn't going to go away and if you think the supporters' committee idea is a good one then it isn't a massive leap to see the Board with a supporters' rep on it too. On the financial side with a new or refurbished ground to pay for don't you think it good that the Club get £30m or so injected in? Could be used for the Club in the best way possible - stadium, subsidised ticket prices, new players.
  2. Graham Smith
    No problem. I think we do suffer from time to time with members posting on sites and it looking like they are expressing the view you've mentioned but officially (Committee and any stuff we push out) and as much as we can we make it clear we don't represent anyone as you can clearly see from some of the posters on here (which isn't a pop, just an observation).
  3. Graham Smith
    Nope - only represent our members. Not anyone else. Have never said otherwise. Constantly say this and for instance when the owners met with us they also met with other supporters separately, some who post on here.
  4. Graham Smith
    Nah, we're too busy patting each other on the back telling each other what uber fans we are while listening to the Farm.
  5. Graham Smith
    Item 1 on the next meeting's agenda. It'll go through on the nod.
  6. Graham Smith
    It's the creation of a fan's forum. Presumably their attempt at supporter engagement.
  7. Graham Smith
    A Blue got slashed by Blues about 7pm after the pub reverts to being pretty much a local boozer. Other members of the family were reds who got hit. Someone is going to get killed - the rumours fuelled by the announcements at the ground didn't help the atmosphere and probably contributed to what was seen as tit for tat violence.
  8. Graham Smith
    From Mr Samuel: As a result of a passing reference in the column last Wednesday, the Spirit of Shankly pressure group have been in touch and I am happy to clarify that they possess no designated area at Anfield and had no orchestrated campaign to remove manager Roy Hodgson (although recent developments will no doubt be a happy coincidence for many of their members). I did not suggest otherwise, actually, so this is no skin off my nose. In the interest of goodwill, however, I will go further by volunteering not to mention SOS again, in either positive or negative connotation. I would add that running to lawyers at the merest perceived slight is somewhat counter-productive for an organisation with a message to get across to the widest audience, but it’s your show, guys, so enjoy the silence.
  9. Graham Smith
    Renewals have not changed a great deal in the last threee months and new members are outweighing those not renewing. Obviously the spikes of massive increases aren't there now as they were in the darkest days of last year.
  10. Graham Smith
    Membership is still going up, not down.
  11. Graham Smith
    For the major and most representative of LIverpool supporters' groups to have not made some comment would have been odd and the gentle prod to the owners about continuing their good work in engaging with supporters remains valid.
  12. Graham Smith
    I'm pleased to say that our "gentle" pressure has seen this article removed from their online site. This is not the end of this particular story.
  13. Graham Smith
    We could tell you but then we'd have to kill you.....
  14. Graham Smith
    TP, yes, you have that completely wrong. There's no question of marches or opposition to the new owners if they refuse to consider or back a scheme. The Union has to play its part in putting the Club back together and these guys have done nothing but positives yet (certainly in their public pronouncements) and it would be totally wrong to be holding guns against heads. On the investment point, this is actually a business, not charitable decision. The investment does not have to be one off, it can be continuing year after year. It is "free" money not seeking a return and from a business point of view makes perfect sense. On top of this engaging with your "customers" makes perfect sense and will do nothing but encourage supporters to feel more part of the Club and as a result this can have many commercial benefits too. A polite request has been made asking them if they will support a scheme, from how they have been to date no doubt there will be a polite and substantive response. And if it is negative then no doubt they will explain why.
  15. Graham Smith
    The reality now is that Henry and Werner hold the cards. If they are serious about engaging with the supporters properly then they will manage a Club sponsored scheme that will see SOS-Share Liverpool effectively redundant as an investment vehicle. If however, the Club either ignores the approach to invest then the Union (as the only properly representative group) will ask on behalf of the members why they won't and will continue to agitate to allow some form of representation and investment from supporters. Again SOS-SL (having only a handful of subscribers) and a databse of those that were interested 18 months ago becomes less relevant.
  16. Graham Smith
    Membership of SOS and owning a stake in the Club are two entirely different things. Those that take a share in the Club will elect one of their number to be on the Board, nothing to do with the Union. The representative will represent the investors, not every supporter. In the same way that the Union only represents its members, not all supporters.
  17. Graham Smith
    What's the closest anyone has got? 3?
  18. Graham Smith
    Purslow played a significant part in holding the line against the owners towards the end, there is no doubt about that. Strengthened by RBS getting a backbone he was able to be part of a Board that did not bow to the legal threats made against it and personally against him. That needs to be recognised. Despite trying to represent a view that didn't deify Purslow, but certainly didn't pillory him (and despite the abuse heaped on the Union without any evidence of the famed "campaigns") it looks like he still can't help but try to re-write history: Christian said today: "I came to LFC to lead the Club through a sale process to get the best overall deal including, vitally, the removal of the debt....." He announced himself when he arrived that he was here to secure investment (there was no sale process then remember) and the sale process when it was commenced was ultimately handed primarily to Broughton.
  19. Graham Smith
    The meeting was in Chapel Street with Werner and Henry both there. Pretty informal and very much them listening to our introduction of the Union and its aims and objectives. I suspect the next meeting (hopefully if arranged) will be more important as they will presumably have got their feet under the table and will have some ideas about what they plan to do and how.
  20. Graham Smith
    Everyone of us wore "Bring Rafa Back t shirts". See, it still isn't funny.
  21. Graham Smith
    Can you point me in the direction of this smear campaign because as someone who hasn't missed a Committee meeting in nearly two years these other bastards must have been having snidey ones behind my back planning all of this. Asking genuine and relevant questions publicly of the Chairman and Managing Director was not just right, it was also our duty as that's what our members wanted. There was no smear campaign - I'd ask again where did this mythical campaign take place - what was it? Banners? Marches? Emails? Please be specific. I feel like I've just pulled the shower curtain back and there is Bobby Ewing cos according to you all sorts of stuff has been happening that I have missed.
  22. Graham Smith
    We drafted the release to acknowledge what our members had done first and foremost. However, we also acknoeldged all the other groups who worked hard and the supporters generally. On top of this we welcomed (and thanked) that the Board, who had struggled with having to work for Hicks and Gillett for a time, but did finally come through and look after the Club's interests. We were also keen to see the Club (i.e all of us) get back together and put the divisions of the last few years behind us. Now is the time to get that unity going again. Individuals and groups set up to campaign against something presumably now have to decide what they do now. Congratulate themselves rightly and decide what are their next steps (as the primary enemy has gone), engage with the Union and seek reperesentation through it (clearly unlikely looking at some posts here) or developing themselves in to proper democratic bodies like the Union.
  23. Graham Smith
    So the Union hasn't called anyone a "cunt" then. Thanks for clearing that up. The comment about Purslow and Broughton is spot on - the Club has been sold in the midst of a legal dispute and in a fire sale (with RBS pulling the plug pending it seems). We just have no idea of the desperation relating to the sale or the outcome of the new owners and until we do we can't congratualte anyone. Not churlish or chippy just unfortunately where Purslow and Broughton found themselves through no fault of Broughton to be fair. Same point to be made about the Union too maybe (and other non-Union people on this site)? It banged on and predicted pretty much everything about our tailspin over the last two and a half years, generally well in advance of it happening.
  24. Graham Smith
    Can you name the SOS Committee members just there for the ride - you've identified them clearly presumably. Cheers.
  25. Graham Smith
    Can I be pointed at the "cunt" comments please by the Union (as opposed to individual members posting on sites etc). Cheers.
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