New owners quick start guide

[TJC]

With hopefully the new beginnings for the club under new ownership, I thought it might be a great idea to capture a quick start guide from a fans prospective. I'm sure there will be some differing views, but interesting to see where we differ. I'll kick off:

• We are the Shrimpers, not The Blues
• Despite what Daggers fans think, they are not a local derby. They tend to treat it as a cup final, where we see it as just another game
  
• Don't underestimate the legend status that Maher and Collymore have at the club - tread carefully here!
• We currently have the best management team we have seen in years in Maher, Bentley & Currie (and Still)
• We did have a very productive youth set-up and on the brink of collapse. This needs to be re-invigorated as it was a source of playing staff and revenue. Its in tatters and reputational damage is immense of the last few years
• Don't take any advice from Harry Redknap under any circumstances!
• Don't employ Phil Brown again
• Allow a Shrimpers Trust member on the board
• Open communication with the fans will get us firmly onside and together we can make great things happen again
• The staff at the club are truely amazing and have been through hell over the last few years. Please look after them.
• Look at some of our kits from the 90s compared to now. So dull. Bring back the unique identity (personally love early 90s blue and yellow but suspect I'm in a minority here)
• This club works like clockwork when the fans are engaged with and involved.
• Some fans would love the North bank back as a home end - maybe something could be done for our remaining time at the Hall?
• Can we have better beers on tap in the West?
• Merch is very lacking over the last 10 years or so.
• Please let us re-enter the west stand bar from behind the stand. What was that all about?
• Oh yeah, we also love Adam Barrett and Freddy Eastwood, if you should ever have an opportunity to work with them.
• If anyone asks who put the ball in the Bury net? the answer is Ian Benjamin

Sure there are many more points and also disagreement with the above?

 

[Che's Left Foot]

• We demand onions.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

With hopefully the new beginnings for the club under new ownership, I thought it might be a great idea to capture a quick start guide from a fans prospective. I'm sure there will be some differing views, but interesting to see where we differ. I'll kick off:

• We are the Shrimpers, not The Blues
• Despite what Daggers fans think, they are not a local derby. They tend to treat it as a cup final, where we see it as just another game
  
• Don't underestimate the legend status that Maher and Collymore have at the club - tread carefully here!
• We currently have the best management team we have seen in years in Maher, Bentley & Currie (and Still)
• We did have a very productive youth set-up and on the brink of collapse. This needs to be re-invigorated as it was a source of playing staff and revenue. Its in tatters and reputational damage is immense of the last few years
• Don't take any advice from Harry Redknap under any circumstances!
• Don't employ Phil Brown again
• Allow a Shrimpers Trust member on the board
• Open communication with the fans will get us firmly onside and together we can make great things happen again
• The staff at the club are truely amazing and have been through hell over the last few years. Please look after them.
• Look at some of our kits from the 90s compared to now. So dull. Bring back the unique identity (personally love early 90s blue and yellow but suspect I'm in a minority here)
• This club works like clockwork when the fans are engaged with and involved.
• Some fans would love the North bank back as a home end - maybe something could be done for our remaining time at the Hall?
• Can we have better beers on tap in the West?
• Merch is very lacking over the last 10 years or so.
• Please let us re-enter the west stand bar from behind the stand. What was that all about?
• Oh yeah, we also love Adam Barrett and Freddy Eastwood, if you should ever have an opportunity to work with them.
• If anyone asks who put the ball in the Bury net? the answer is Ian Benjamin

Sure there are many more points and also disagreement with the above?

Good summary I think the main issue you missed is the state of the loos

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Get some good access and seat spots for disabled, mobility challenged supporters. It is too hard for my 85yr old in laws now to get into East Stand, or park anyclose to West..

 

[Tampa Blue]

Bring back the BlueBells!!

 

[gatecrasher]

Just pay the players and get us back in the football league that will ding dang do for me

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

With hopefully the new beginnings for the club under new ownership, I thought it might be a great idea to capture a quick start guide from a fans prospective. I'm sure there will be some differing views, but interesting to see where we differ. I'll kick off:

• We are the Shrimpers, not The Blues

We are both Shrimpers and Blues.

Any connection to W*** H** invariably ends in tears (see Harry Redknapp, Alvin Martin, Kevin Bond, Peter Storrie, Jeroen Boere, Elliot Lee, Stephen Hendrie etc) and should be avoided.

A key focus should be the Shrimpers Trust. It’s important we connect with both our past (see the amazing work SUEPA do) and the future (the Junior Blues, where more backing is needed for the great work they do).

There are a lot of people who want the club to succeed. You need to tap into that.

 

[BriggBlue]

Just on the academy, I agree on reinstating it as a community asset but have realistic expectations on the players ability.

 

[WestyReturns]

Pay staff and bills on time and treat people with respect especially your customers....a simple one for any business who doesn't want to fail.

 

[Medway Blue]

Bring back the BlueBells!!

**** that, I want the Pulse Cheerleaders back.

And Elvis J. Eel whilst we're at it.

 

[Target man]

Can we have an alternative version just in case it all falls through and we end up with Ron for say another 5 years. What can newbies expect? Just to prepare them for years of more misery .....

 

[Swiss Tony]

• We demand onions.

Caramelised.

 

[Shrimper1985]

Caramelised.

Dreamer

 

[fredheim_holm]

• We're aware that you may not have full control of the new stadium designs, but if you're able to revisit the designs at all then please look again at either the original 21k plan that has permission granted, or see if you can redesign the planned fourth stand in the 16k plans. Having flats built into a stadium is not a classy look.
• Please keep Tom Lawrence on board as CEO, he's an experienced operator and has likely done a hell of a job keeping the club from going bust, plus he's a Southend fan.
• The majority of fans don't expect us to become the next Man City, all we want is a club that's well run and does it's best to fulfil the potential we have. We'd much rather that than do what Ron often did, which is overspend on players who are over the hill gambling the future of the club on a regular basis.
• The current management team (Kev, Currie & Bentley) are golden, and the footballing department (Stan & Still) are as good as anyone can expect at this level, we know you'll want to put your stamp on the club but try to work with the assets we have in place already where possible.
• More transparency would be great, though I'm aware that full transparency isn't possible or doable. A rumoured documentary would help with that, but any improvement on how Ron has operated will be appreciated.
• Most of us aren't big fans of the club up the road (West Ham), we're fine with Ray Winstone coming in as a partner to boost the profile of the club, but please avoid pitching us as a cockney B-team.
• As soon as you can, let us know what you're about and the vision you have for the club. Be careful not to overpromise, fans just want to know we're in safe hands and that there's something to look forwards to.
• We've had quite an interesting relationship with PG Site Services. They've been supportive of the club and fans, above and beyond contractual obligations, but have also seemed poorly run and don't seem to be a main shirt sponsor to match the ambition we'd have under your ownership. If possible without it being financially unwise, it would probably make sense to get a new main sponsor in.

 

[Strykr]

Prem in 5 years or your out.

 

[Fred]

• We're aware that you may not have full control of the new stadium designs, but if you're able to revisit the designs at all then please look again at either the original 21k plan that has permission granted, or see if you can redesign the planned fourth stand in the 16k plans. Having flats built into a stadium is not a classy look.
• Please keep Tom Lawrence on board as CEO, he's an experienced operator and has likely done a hell of a job keeping the club from going bust, plus he's a Southend fan.
• The majority of fans don't expect us to become the next Man City, all we want is a club that's well run and does it's best to fulfil the potential we have. We'd much rather that than do what Ron often did, which is overspend on players who are over the hill gambling the future of the club on a regular basis.
• The current management team (Kev, Currie & Bentley) plus football side are golden, and the footballing department (Stan & Still) are as good as anyone can expect at this level, we know you'll want to put your stamp on the club but try to work with the assets we have in place already where possible.
• More transparency would be great, though I'm aware that full transparency isn't possible or doable. A rumoured documentary would help with that, but any improvement on how Ron has operated will be appreciated.
• Most of us aren't big fans of the club up the road (West Ham), we're fine with Ray Winstone coming in as a partner to boost the profile of the club, but please avoid pitching us as a cockney B-team.
• As soon as you can, let us know what you're about and the vision you have for the club. Be careful not to overpromise, fans just want to know we're in safe hands and that there's something to look forwards to.
• We've had quite an interesting relationship with PG Site Services. They've been supportive of the club and fans, above and beyond contractual obligations, but have also seemed poorly run and don't seem to be a main shirt sponsor to match the ambition we'd have under your ownership. If possible without it being financially unwise, it would probably make sense to get a new main sponsor in.

Fully agree with this and perhaps install a state of the art customer service and ticketing system.

 

[Pak Power]

Also you have to sign Ray Parlour

 

[tommy tucker]

The main thing is the new owners cant make promises they cant keep .As the wrexham take over it took two years to get the right blend of players .Plus they thew a hell of a lt of money on players .So as it is said good things grow from little acorns .Things may go well but it will take time .

 

[Avl1983]

With hopefully the new beginnings for the club under new ownership, I thought it might be a great idea to capture a quick start guide from a fans prospective. I'm sure there will be some differing views, but interesting to see where we differ. I'll kick off:

• We are the Shrimpers, not The Blues
• Despite what Daggers fans think, they are not a local derby. They tend to treat it as a cup final, where we see it as just another game
  
• Don't underestimate the legend status that Maher and Collymore have at the club - tread carefully here!
• We currently have the best management team we have seen in years in Maher, Bentley & Currie (and Still)
• We did have a very productive youth set-up and on the brink of collapse. This needs to be re-invigorated as it was a source of playing staff and revenue. Its in tatters and reputational damage is immense of the last few years
• Don't take any advice from Harry Redknap under any circumstances!
• Don't employ Phil Brown again
• Allow a Shrimpers Trust member on the board
• Open communication with the fans will get us firmly onside and together we can make great things happen again
• The staff at the club are truely amazing and have been through hell over the last few years. Please look after them.
• Look at some of our kits from the 90s compared to now. So dull. Bring back the unique identity (personally love early 90s blue and yellow but suspect I'm in a minority here)
• This club works like clockwork when the fans are engaged with and involved.
• Some fans would love the North bank back as a home end - maybe something could be done for our remaining time at the Hall?
• Can we have better beers on tap in the West?
• Merch is very lacking over the last 10 years or so.
• Please let us re-enter the west stand bar from behind the stand. What was that all about?
• Oh yeah, we also love Adam Barrett and Freddy Eastwood, if you should ever have an opportunity to work with them.
• If anyone asks who put the ball in the Bury net? the answer is Ian Benjamin

Sure there are many more points and also disagreement with the above?

As far as the trust member on the board goes I think it would be a good idea to have the chairman of the trust on the board. If that position changes hands that person automatically is replaced on the board. The trust chairman is chosen by the fans after all and if people aren’t happy they can always sign up to the trust and vote to have their say, would give fans a chance of selecting a board member ultimately.

 

[bazzashrimper]

It’s been hard work getting those bog mushrooms to grow, so please leave them