King says sorry!

[TrueBlue]

I think 100 people donot total 5500 season ticket holders, who will decide the fate of the decision,its whether they decide enough is enough and the club lose much revenue during the summer months

People are not so starry eyes regarding emails from Chairmen, who is to say it hasnot come from his PA, "THOUGH SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE PART OF THE IN CROWD "and like to crow about it and cannot see they are being used by the PR machine.Im fed up people saying I got a call from RM or he responded to my email, well if that turns them on Im happy for them, personally I think the only one that counts is The Trust who are the eyes and ears for the supporters and they will deal with matters as a group rather than fringe groups that will allways spring up

At the end of the day Scott, an apology has come from the club, regardless whether its intentional or not and from GK or RM, you should let it rest though not forget, because I am the same opinion of you regarding the way the PR is spilled out, though in my case I took it a step further and wouldnot renew my s/ticket after nearly 25 years last year, my mini protest that hurts, but nevertheless one I will keep, until RM shows me more than a shiney stadium with 75 % empty seats.
I still go to games though I hasten to add, donot get involved in the anti RM or RM is god groups, just hope you are not ringed as a troublemaker regarding this though I fully understand your reasons, but at times its better to let go, and regroup for another day

I really hope not - I only do this because I and others only feel they are trying to do what's best for the club

 

[The Big Shrimp]

He obviously reads SZ & what we were saying late last night! I would guess RM had a read & made him write the fudged retraction!!

 

[number11]

Whats the blue voice got to do with it?

Whether you like it or not, you and a few others who have a big issue about this, are by perception linked to the Blue Voice.

My main point though was that given he has now apologised, had his bottom spanked by his boss and made to look foolish, then Im not sure why this is such a big issue and why energies cannot be used for more constructive purposes.

 

[TrueBlue]

Whether you like it or not, you and a few others who have a big issue about this, are by perception linked to the Blue Voice.

My main point though was that given he has now apologised, had his bottom spanked by his boss and made to look foolish, then Im not sure why this is such a big issue and why energies cannot be used for more constructive purposes.

We shall see like I have said before this runs deep not just with me but with others.

 

[Swiss Tony]

Do one king,you know it makes sense.

 

[number11]

We shall see like I have said before this runs deep not just with me but with others.

I can understand that, and your convictions in your views are self evident. However, out of interest, a large amount of votes in the previous poll were given pre blog and apology....would a vote now bring a different response?

 

[canveyshrimper]

As others have said I am fairly certain that Ron Martin is behind this, judging by an email I had today from him.

Again and as others have suggested I think it's time to move on, I am not advocating forgiving or forgetting, just moving on. I've said in other threads that GK won't resign or for that matter be sacked, it's not going to happen so deal with it I am afraid people.

 

[TrueBlue]

As others have said I am fairly certain that Ron Martin is behind this, judging by an email I had today from him.

Again and as others have suggested I think it's time to move on, I am not advocating forgiving or forgetting, just moving on. I've said in other threads that GK won't resign or for that matter be sacked, it's not going to happen so deal with it I am afraid people.

defeatist - bet if he stormed in your house on x-mas day and ****ed over your porn stash you would let him get away with it

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

As others have said I am fairly certain that Ron Martin is behind this, judging by an email I had today from him.

Again and as others have suggested I think it's time to move on, I am not advocating forgiving or forgetting, just moving on. I've said in other threads that GK won't resign or for that matter be sacked, it's not going to happen so deal with it I am afraid people.

Good idea.....the way its going we might end up fighting amongst ourselves :stunned:

 

[canveyshrimper]

defeatist - bet if he stormed in your house on x-mas day and ****ed over your porn stash you would let him get away with it

As you did that last Christmas it's highly unlikely. :nope:

 

[ElstreeBlue]

CLUB STATEMENT: TRUE BLUES
Posted on: Thu 23 Apr 2009

Southend United Chief Executive Geoffrey King has today released a further statement:

My web article on Monday has caused controversy as the statement recorded that SUFC fans were fighting "not only the four Leicester fans but also amongst themselves".

This information was passed to me by the Police who had reviewed the CCTV footage on Monday.I did not personally review the footage trusting the normally very reliable information received.

The CCTV footage on further inspection does not clearly show that SUFC fans were "fighting" amongst themselves but rather scrambling and pushing in order to get to the four Leicester City supporters who, of course, should not - as the Chairman rightly points out - have been in those seats in the first place.

Whatever the position I accept the responsibility for the statement made on Monday as incorrect having been based on information I received which itself has proved to be inaccurate.

We work hard to promote SUFC as a family club, as is evidenced by the award the Club received recently from the Football League, where families can attend a game in the knowledge that they are in a safe environment.This position is paramount and the Chairman and I will not waver to ensure Southend United continues to lead the way in creating a safe and enjoyable football experience.It takes a long time to build that position and reputation about which we are precious.

I apologise if I have upset supporters who genuinely come to SUFC to watch a match and supporter the team.This of course was not intended and I hope supporters know that my mandate is to simply ensure behaviour within the ground does not infringe the enjoyment of others.

Geoffrey King
Chief Executive

An apology, following on from Ron's attempt at making the peace in his blog yesterday. But this apology is not good enough. I've highlighted a few statements above that are concerning:

1 Mr King says his statement was controversial because he suggested the Southend fans were fighting each other rather than the Leicester fans. I'm sorry. That's not right. His statement was controversial because of far more than that. Not least because it was an unfounded attack on Southend fans - ie his customers. And because there was no balance to the statement - no mention of the Leicester fans' transgressions nor an admission of the mistakes made by the club or the police, ie no humility, just a virtual declaration of war on the club's own fans.

So were Southend fans actually fighting Leicester fans - ie does that bit of the original claim remain? That's the implication from the extent of Mr King's apology. I wasn't at that part of the ground so can't comment. Can others closer to events comment?

Certainly, quoting from Ron's blog yesterday: "That said, of course we will not condone violence and as Geoff says, if a situation arises where our fans are to blame then I would not hesitate in banning that person or persons from the Club. Still, that does not appear to be the case here and I would like to put this behind us."

Reading that, it suggests there was no evidence our fans were involved in ANY fighting - not against Leicester fans nor each other. Mr King - what's the position? Do you know something that Ron didn't?

2 Mr King says he didn't review the footage, trusting information he received. I find that the most staggering part. How can he have made such wild accusations at our fans - the lifeblood of the club that (as Ron must surely know based on his blogging PR exercise) is essential to keeping the club making enough money to survive. He came out with such strong accusations against his own customers. I don't know about you, but if I was in Mr King's position and was going to launch a strong public statement against my customers that are so important to my business in these troubled times, I'd have reviewed the evidence very carefully and watched the video a few times first. I find the fact that he didn't a massive error of judgement.

3 So, according to Mr King, the footage showed our fans scrambling to get to the Leicester fans. Now, I believe I'm open-minded. Despite supporting the same club as my fellow fans on this board, I don't necessarily just believe what everyone on here says. However, this statement does not seem consistent with any other report we've heard so far. People on here have said they and others (families, in particular) were scrambling over seats in the other direction from the Leicester fans in a desperate attempt to get away from perceived trouble. Are they the same fans as Mr King saw scrambling and pushing - perhaps in panic because of their fears for their safety caused by the mixed seating and high spirits? It may of course be that there was more than one group of Leicester fans there - a further group of Leicester fans in the West stand away from another group and it may therefore have appeared that the Southend fans were going towards one set but really away from other Leicester fans?

Certainly, again, this seems inconsistent with the statement from Ron's blog quoted above. Either the Southend fans were fighting Leicester fans and they would be banned (as Ron and Mr King have consistently said) or they weren't. Mr King suggests there was evidence showing that on CCTV. Ron suggests there was no evidence. Which is it?

As for the rest of the statement, good PR. But let's see what action happens next time there's a big crowd of away fans who come with a reputation (Leeds, Millwall, etc). Will the club try harder to have segregated seating? Will the club call the police in and put fans' safety first, by paying for security out of some of the extra gate receipts generated by the big crowd? If stewards see trouble, will they be permitted to act as they reasonably see fit, including moving people out of the wrong places or out of the stadium altogether? Will stewards and police try to intervene to stop fans getting on the pitch or towards the other fans?

I don't believe Southend fans are always blameless, and I don't expect the club always to get everything right, but a bit of humility rather than the reaction from the statement earlier in the week or the latest one above that still doesn't go far enough, please.

 

[Pubey]

hasn't this thread been locked yet?!

obviously Geoff King will never please everyone, but at least he's apologised and everyone can move on

 

[Pubey]

(double post)

 

[SportBilly]

Have we not been able to stop duplicate posts yet?

 

[Pubey]

Have we not been able to stop duplicate posts yet?

not when my internet connection is completely up the creek!

 

[TrueBlue]

hasn't this thread been locked yet?!

obviously Geoff King will never please everyone, but at least he's apologised and everyone can move on

Don't like it don't read it bozo

 

[Blues 'n twos]

An apology, following on from Ron's attempt at making the peace in his blog yesterday. But this apology is not good enough. I've highlighted a few statements above that are concerning:

1 Mr King says his statement was controversial because he suggested the Southend fans were fighting each other rather than the Leicester fans. I'm sorry. That's not right. His statement was controversial because of far more than that. Not least because it was an unfounded attack on Southend fans - ie his customers. And because there was no balance to the statement - no mention of the Leicester fans' transgressions nor an admission of the mistakes made by the club or the police, ie no humility, just a virtual declaration of war on the club's own fans.

So were Southend fans actually fighting Leicester fans - ie does that bit of the original claim remain? That's the implication from the extent of Mr King's apology. I wasn't at that part of the ground so can't comment. Can others closer to events comment?

Certainly, quoting from Ron's blog yesterday: "That said, of course we will not condone violence and as Geoff says, if a situation arises where our fans are to blame then I would not hesitate in banning that person or persons from the Club. Still, that does not appear to be the case here and I would like to put this behind us."

Reading that, it suggests there was no evidence our fans were involved in ANY fighting - not against Leicester fans nor each other. Mr King - what's the position? Do you know something that Ron didn't?

2 Mr King says he didn't review the footage, trusting information he received. I find that the most staggering part. How can he have made such wild accusations at our fans - the lifeblood of the club that (as Ron must surely know based on his blogging PR exercise) is essential to keeping the club making enough money to survive. He came out with such strong accusations against his own customers. I don't know about you, but if I was in Mr King's position and was going to launch a strong public statement against my customers that are so important to my business in these troubled times, I'd have reviewed the evidence very carefully and watched the video a few times first. I find the fact that he didn't a massive error of judgement.

3 So, according to Mr King, the footage showed our fans scrambling to get to the Leicester fans. Now, I believe I'm open-minded. Despite supporting the same club as my fellow fans on this board, I don't necessarily just believe what everyone on here says. However, this statement does not seem consistent with any other report we've heard so far. People on here have said they and others (families, in particular) were scrambling over seats in the other direction from the Leicester fans in a desperate attempt to get away from perceived trouble. Are they the same fans as Mr King saw scrambling and pushing - perhaps in panic because of their fears for their safety caused by the mixed seating and high spirits? It may of course be that there was more than one group of Leicester fans there - a further group of Leicester fans in the West stand away from another group and it may therefore have appeared that the Southend fans were going towards one set but really away from other Leicester fans?

Certainly, again, this seems inconsistent with the statement from Ron's blog quoted above. Either the Southend fans were fighting Leicester fans and they would be banned (as Ron and Mr King have consistently said) or they weren't. Mr King suggests there was evidence showing that on CCTV. Ron suggests there was no evidence. Which is it?

As for the rest of the statement, good PR. But let's see what action happens next time there's a big crowd of away fans who come with a reputation (Leeds, Millwall, etc). Will the club try harder to have segregated seating? Will the club call the police in and put fans' safety first, by paying for security out of some of the extra gate receipts generated by the big crowd? If stewards see trouble, will they be permitted to act as they reasonably see fit, including moving people out of the wrong places or out of the stadium altogether? Will stewards and police try to intervene to stop fans getting on the pitch or towards the other fans?

I don't believe Southend fans are always blameless, and I don't expect the club always to get everything right, but a bit of humility rather than the reaction from the statement earlier in the week or the latest one above that still doesn't go far enough, please.

This is the part that I find it very hard to grasp, in my job if I acted in haste and repented at leisure as he has done there would be far reaching consequences! He should have had his facts 100% before he opened his disrespectful mouth in a flagrent attempt to deflect the blame from his own ar**

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Not good enough, he has only apologised for the one line in that statement. The whole statement, in its tone and its content (not least the actual title of it) offended many people, and has been broadcast over all local media, and tarnished the reputation of the clubs fans.

However, despite my previous arguement with Geoff King many many years ago, I am willing to move on, until the next time he **** up and openly treats the fans as complete scum and with his usual contempt.

 

[leeblue]

I can not believe there are going to be any sorts of protests against a man who has been part of the SUFC growth over the last few years, yes he made a mistake which he has now appologised for but for a small group of fans to say they are doing this for the good of the club is ridiculous, I remember protesting against a certain vic jobson when he said he was moving the club to basildon, that is worth protesting about, my dad spitting blood about anton johnson as he stole money from the supporters and almost run the club out of exsistence, these are points worth protest, this is IMO a non event in the extreme and as I mentioned above a small group of people thinking that they are protesting for 'the good of the club' should really look at the bigger picture, under martin/king the club has doubled average attendance, enjoyed back to back promotions, three trips to the millenium, raised the profile of the club to previously unknown levels, I believe the club has made running profits in recent seasons and whether you like him or not king has been part of all that, chill out and concentrate on cheering on the players(which the boys in that part of the west always do brilliantly btw) why create negativity when we could all draw a line under it and look forward to next season and possible glory

 

[cockles is back]

Time to get off the guys back fellas, he's made his apology and like the rest of us he is only human.....we all make mistakes. A protest is out of order IMO.

thats not really the point though is it, surely he should be apologiesing for letting away fans have accsess to home stands and the way he has condemed southend supporters no on 'alleged' '3rd hand news' blokes a 9 carrott **** end of