Yellow River
Well-known member
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 3,059
It‘s not that long ago that Sue Trafford and Michael North were worthy nominees for the Oxvox Supporter of the year awards….
I really dont think there is a credible 'other side' to the story... Sue Trafford and Michael North have been selling current, and pre-loved, club merchandise plus programmes ( matchday and collectables) for many years, raising funds for the clubs own Community Trust charity.
I was told very reliably, that the club has stopped them selling items and raising much needed funds for OUFCs own community trust due to some of the merchandise on offer not being compatible with the clubs brand. Which in my opinion is utter bollox - Old/ preloved OUFC shirts , they were Club items, as were other donated items, are old football programmes ( many of them old OUFC programmes) not club items, produced by the cub?
Driving a(another) wedge between supporters and the club this is- when IS the promised Fans Forum
oh wait a moment the same people who've stopped the clubs charity raising funds have stiched up the supporters by watering down FFs and creating another bollox quango
Interesting comment. Are you saying that it could be that OxVox are worried about upsetting the owners due to the new stadium?
While I understand that in a way, it doesn’t mean they should sit back and let the club rip the heart out of the club.
The last time an owner/club hierarchy tried to ‘push around’ the fans we lost the ultras.
Don`t let me say "I told you so"
Hi allDon`t let me say "I told you so" but that was the purpose, water down OxVox then create a "democratic board" where the Club hold 4 votes and the supporters 2. Ergo we don`t need those tricky face to face FF`s we`ve got those filters to voice our thoughts through.
It's tricky to be truly independent when one has one's finger in the stadium pie.
Maybe the Chair of @OxVox would like to clarify that particular/alleged conflict of interest?
Thanks for the update Paul, not sure the tone of the post is really needed considering how quiet OxVox have been over certain matters but it is appreciated all the same.Hi all
I have repeatedly stressed that the easiest way to get an answer from OxVox or myself is to email us. It is almost impossible to monitor everything on here then answer questions here too. I sadly don’t really have the time to go on the Forum much any more. I was however pointed here when someone noticed your post @Essexyellows . I’m at a bit of a loss as to what you are asking for but it seems like a strangely vague insinuation by I think @RyanioBirdio was then repeated by @Manorlounger and hence by rule of social media has become a fact that demands an answer?
I have ‘fingers in lots of pies’? I have business interests that affect my neutrality? The OxVox committee does? We are somehow using our position to champion a new ground, not for all the positive benefits it brings our club, but for personal gain?
Perhaps if you guys get your heads together and decide what is being insinuated then we can answer it? Until that is done I will say this. Neither I, nor to the very best of my knowledge, anyone else on the committee has even the slightest to gain from the stadium project other than knowing it is for the benefit of the club we love. In fact the whole process is an expense in both personal time and money to us and i'm sorry but I won’t sit back and let hard working people on the committee be slandered with idle gossip.
While I am here I will quickly address another couple of points. Just because we do not shout all confrontation from the roof tops and because we are mindful of the stadium project, does not mean we are not challenging the club on a number of issues. We have been speaking to the club about the issue with Micheal and Sue for months now and while we have made some progress, but we intend to do more. We have a meeting with Adam Benson in the coming weeks where that, fans forums and the new supporters board will be discussed. As of yet we have had no communication about it so remain open minded but we would have serious questions as to the need for another group that may have no real power and could be used to lessen the voice of independent supporters groups. As was mentioned in the last update, we will report back in full after the meeting with Adam Benson.
Apologies for the long post, but sometimes these things need to be addressed.
Paul
Whilst saying exactly that at every possible opportunity!
Thanks for the update Paul, not sure the tone of the post is really needed considering how quiet OxVox have been over certain matters but it is appreciated all the same.
You say you have been in talks with the club for months about the situation about Michael and Sue yet no one knows that until now. Could OxVox not have come out and said they were aware of the matter and it was being discussed? That straight away would have damped some of the recent unhappiness amongst the supporters.
You also mention that you don’t have much time to come onto the forum these days, again, that’s fair enough as I am sure you have plenty of other stuff to do. Having said that, as the 1 and only forum for the football club and the amount of discussion there is about all matters of the club, on a daily basis (more so than any other social media platform) it might be wise for someone from OxVox keeping an eye on things because then we don’t get into a situation where things are said, taken out of context, and then run as facts.
Again, appreciate the update but the tone of it is unnecessary considering how quiet and distant the supporters group have been for far too long now.
Irrespective of the broader discussion here, I find the fact that the Chairman of the Supporters' Trust claims that he doesn't read the only fans' message board for Oxford United fans quite astonishing.Hi all
I have repeatedly stressed that the easiest way to get an answer from OxVox or myself is to email us. It is almost impossible to monitor everything on here then answer questions here too. I sadly don’t really have the time to go on the Forum much any more. I was however pointed here when someone noticed your post @Essexyellows . I’m at a bit of a loss as to what you are asking for but it seems like a strangely vague insinuation by I think @RyanioBirdio was then repeated by @Manorlounger and hence by rule of social media has become a fact that demands an answer?
I have ‘fingers in lots of pies’? I have business interests that affect my neutrality? The OxVox committee does? We are somehow using our position to champion a new ground, not for all the positive benefits it brings our club, but for personal gain?
Perhaps if you guys get your heads together and decide what is being insinuated then we can answer it? Until that is done I will say this. Neither I, nor to the very best of my knowledge, anyone else on the committee has even the slightest to gain from the stadium project other than knowing it is for the benefit of the club we love. In fact the whole process is an expense in both personal time and money to us and i'm sorry but I won’t sit back and let hard working people on the committee be slandered with idle gossip.
While I am here I will quickly address another couple of points. Just because we do not shout all confrontation from the roof tops and because we are mindful of the stadium project, does not mean we are not challenging the club on a number of issues. We have been speaking to the club about the issue with Micheal and Sue for months now and while we have made some progress, we intend to do more. We have a meeting with Adam Benson in the coming weeks where that, fans forums and the new supporters board will be discussed. As of yet we have had no communication about it so remain open minded but we would have serious questions as to the need for another group that may have no real power and could be used to lessen the voice of independent supporters groups. As was mentioned in the last update, we will report back in full after the meeting with Adam Benson.
Apologies for the long post, but sometimes these things need to be addressed.
Paul
I tend to agree that OxVox should be aware of feelings expressed on this forum and feel that it was a mistake not to assign someone to monitor and highlight any concerns raised regarding the governance and lack of fan interaction of the club.Thanks for the update Paul, not sure the tone of the post is really needed considering how quiet OxVox have been over certain matters but it is appreciated all the same.
You say you have been in talks with the club for months about the situation about Michael and Sue yet no one knows that until now. Could OxVox not have come out and said they were aware of the matter and it was being discussed? That straight away would have damped some of the recent unhappiness amongst the supporters.
You also mention that you don’t have much time to come onto the forum these days, again, that’s fair enough as I am sure you have plenty of other stuff to do. Having said that, as the 1 and only forum for the football club and the amount of discussion there is about all matters of the club, on a daily basis (more so than any other social media platform) it might be wise for someone from OxVox keeping an eye on things because then we don’t get into a situation where things are said, taken out of context, and then run as facts.
Again, appreciate the update but the tone of it is unnecessary considering how quiet and distant the supporters group have been for far too long now.
Sorry Colin, but I think that's really unfair. Paul didn't say he doesn't read the forum, simply that he didn't read it much any more. It was a plea for fans to contact us directly with questions etc, as many do. You're misrepresenting what he wrote. But more to the point, there are several of us from OxVox on here quite regularly - myself and @Maurice Earp probably being the most obvious.Irrespective of the broader discussion here, I find the fact that the Chairman of the Supporters' Trust claims that he doesn't read the only fans' message board for Oxford United fans quite astonishing.
It is the easiest way to gauge the opinion of many of the people you represent, all in one place, and for that reason should not be ignored, and dismissed, just because you're "busy"
How can you accurately expect to represent those fans, if you ignore one of their main mediums?
The only brand the club is building is one who doesn’t treat loyal fans with basic respect
I don’t think they’re even very good at that.Comes back to the mindset of the club viewing and treating supporters as customers.
Christ on a bike! He's already explained he's extremely busy dealing with all manner of things so how can you expect him to be on here all the time reading the same repetitive moaning from a small group of moaners going over the same ground every day? Just send him(them) an email if you're suitably bothered and then he (they) only have to read it once rather than through different threads on here?Irrespective of the broader discussion here, I find the fact that the Chairman of the Supporters' Trust claims that he doesn't read the only fans' message board for Oxford United fans quite astonishing.
It is the easiest way to gauge the opinion of many of the people you represent, all in one place, and for that reason should not be ignored, and dismissed, just because you're "busy"
How can you accurately expect to represent those fans, if you ignore one of their main mediums?
Very worthy nominees.It‘s not that long ago that Sue Trafford and Michael North were worthy nominees for the Oxvox Supporter of the year awards….
Christ on a bike! I suppose Sue and Michael are easy targets - what's he going to do about the old stuff that appears on ebay?I really dont think there is a credible 'other side' to the story... Sue Trafford and Michael North have been selling current, and pre-loved, club merchandise plus programmes ( matchday and collectables) for many years, raising funds for the clubs own Community Trust charity.
I was told very reliably, that the club has stopped them selling items and raising much needed funds for OUFCs own community trust due to some of the merchandise on offer not being compatible with the clubs brand. Which in my opinion is utter bollox - Old/ preloved OUFC shirts , they were Club items, as were other donated items, are old football programmes ( many of them old OUFC programmes) not club items, produced by the cub?
Driving a(another) wedge between supporters and the club this is- when IS the promised Fans Forum
oh wait a moment the same people who've stopped the clubs charity raising funds have stiched up the supporters by watering down FFs and creating another bollox quango