Aston Villa Supporters Consultation Group Meeting
General Krulak bjöd in alla Supporterklubbar till Aston Villa för att berätta lite om klubbens syn på fanklubbarna. Och även lyssna på fansen har att säga
Steve Trueman var AVSC Swedens man på mötet. Och här är hans redogörelse för mötet.
Hello Everyone !
Two things i must say before i go any further.
1. It was a great pleasure to represent you at this meeting.
2. There were several questions that i was given prior to the meeting by your supporters club chairman. I would have had no problems asking the questions you gave me, but if you read my report you will see that it was not the time to ask questions, and as you will see the from my report, it is the club's intention that you ask the questions yourself.
There were about 20 people in the North Stand Banqueting Suite, Chairman from supporters clubs all over England as well as Stevie from Belgium, when we were requested to introduce ourselves, i must of sounded like some kind of United Nations Ambassador, due to the fact that i was representing Villa Sweden, Danish & German Villians, as well as Chicago Villans.
The General opened the meeting and introduced himself as General "Chuck" Krulak. His next words were what i have wanted to hear for a long time.
Krulak said "I am going to give you a 100% cast iron guarantee that Randy Lerner will do everything in his power, and will not stop until Aston Villa win the European Cup, that is a guarantee".
Krulak continued by informing us of the purpose of the meeting, that is to give supporters a say in how the club is run and to have an input into decisions that affect the club directly. He acknowledged that the club had not consisted with its supporters in the past and that thing were going to change, and quickly.
Krulak said that the supporters of the club were its life-blood, it did not matter who is
playing for the club, and we could buy the best stadium in the world, if the fans are not happy the club would eventually die.
Lee Preece and the General then proceeded to tell us of the aims of the Supporter Consultation Group, and some of the Challenges that have to be addressed in order to achieve the aims. Krulak said that Martin ONeill and Randy Lerner had a great relationship, Randy has no involvement in the running of the team or of team matters, however Randy has insisted that players MUST conduct themselves as representatives of Aston Villa Football Club, and as such must dress smartly (suite & tie) and treat everyone
either connected with the club or not with respect. the days of players and officials of Aston Villa dressed like "ragamuffins" are over.
Martin ONeill likewise has no involvement in the finances of the club the Generals next words were "if Martin ONeill wants to buy any player in the world Randy Lerner will use every recourse at his disposal to get that player, that is a promise"
The General then went on to tell us how he would like supporters to have there "say" in how the club is to be run, and on influencing decisions. He went on to say that he has "joined in" several web sites to gauge opinion and had reveieved thousands of e-mails and letters from supporters with great ideas on how the club could be improved, everything from changing the name of the stand, to what music is played as the players walk out onto the pitch.
Thousands of suggestions from Led Zepplin, to 1812 Overture, and Elvis Presley to Beethoven. These are the sort of things supporters should be telling Randy Lerner, Supporters cannot pick the team, or train the team. Supporters cannot buy or sell players. However Supporters can tell us what music to play, what to name the stand, and they can help buy players by coming to the game and getting behind the team on the field of play. Supporters can tell us what the arrangements
should be for ticket allocation, and entertainment before and at half time.
Russell Jones then explained how the club would like to use a format called "Voice in the Crowd" for supporters to give their views. Any supporter can "take part in voice in the crowd" there will be a like on the Villa Web site and Villa Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and all over the world will be invited to put the web link on their web page in order to access the Voice in the Crowd forum/questions. As an example, if we take the music issue,supporters will be requested to say what music they think the players should walk onto the pitch with. Everyone has a chance to nominate a piece of music. The top 5 requested pieces of music are then chosen to be voted on by supporters and the one with the most votes is the piece of music that is played. The same applies for naming a stand in the ground (i wonder which one)
For the next Supporters Consultation Group Meeting i have been requested to produce to the general 3 questions that you think should be changed/asked of the club, anything from access for overseas supporters for away tickets (London games are easy to get to for Northern European Supporters), or are we going to change the name
of the stadium, or stand(s), or maybe free radio/web commentary for all games (first team, reserves, youth team) please let me know BEFORE THE BOLTON Game and however you choose the 3 questions, give them to your chairman and i will ask them at the next meeting.
If you have any supporters over from your supporters club and they would like to attend then they are more than welcome, however you can only send 1 representative per
supporters club, after 3 meetings a group of 15 will be involved in the group, and the same representative cannot attend two consecutive meetings, the idea is that different supporters attend
I attached a copy of the agenda for the meeting on 29th November as well
as a nasty picture of The General with me holding a Villa Sweden scarf.
Many Thanks
Regards Steve
