Phoenix Ownership - Rob says FTFFA (Part 1)

They couldnt last that long....

Gareth is just the hand that rocks the cradle...but what difference does it make

So we suffer little children !!

That joke isn`t funny anymore ??

So basically, in the last 3 seasons, the average crowd goes up by 1-3K.  Guess the playoff games influence that quite a bit. What about monthly average for each of the seasons, or excluding the playoffs?

Today's Gareth Morgan story  reflects the worst kind of club ownership. It shows the worst kind of judgement, and you have to wonder if Gareth Morgan doesn't just like being controversial so he gets his face in the paper.

These sorts of discussions are entirely legitimate, between a manager and the owners. But not between the owners and the press.

I have a horrible feeling this is Morgan's way of trying to get some publicity for the upcoming games, but it makes us look like a three ring circus, not a professional team.

Tony Pignata is a mate, so this is going to sound like a bit of fellatio, but we really do miss his leadership right now. Look at Sydney...not a word was said in the press, they just acted calmly behind the scenes to change the coach. 

If that's what WelNix want to do, then do it, but who is going to want to come and work for an ownership group who hangs you out in the press before they get rid of you.

Totally agree with you.

And not just about the fellatio bit :)

Who is coaching Barcelona at the moment? 

Ryan Nelsen.

Hmm but remember they played the whole ADP out in public, as well as their 'worldwide' search for a coach which revealed their assistant was the best option.

Ryan 1 - 0 2ndB

Sounds like a dour game.

You're right on Tony P being appointed after Crook. For some reason I thought it was before.

Clearly Morgans role is to make strategic media releases to try and get bums on seats

More just a mere cosmetic addition to the ship.

Talking about bums on seats. From last night:

Perth Glory 3 (Dodd 45, 48, Smeltz 75)
Newcastle Jets 0
Crowd: 6967 @ nib Stadium

Central Coast Mariners 2 (Bojic 49, 69)
Melbourne Heart 0
Crowd: 6921 @ Bluetongue Stadium

No news really. We had the third biggest crowd of the round last week, didn't stop anyone from angsting.

Especially when you consider the relevant populations of each city too. Then also compare it to worse crowds in other sports in wellington. 

They could at least say they appreciate the support of those who do turn up, and challenge us to bring a friend etc. but as every day passes, I feel more and more alienated by the club. On reflection, this actually is starting to translate to me being less vocal at games etc - a fact that may also apply to the fever in general. 

For me it's becoming less 'our' club to be proud of in our city of wellington, and more 'their' club. It feels a lot deeper than that and I can't quite put it perfectly into words, but its something along those lines. 

To be honest, right now I am less terrified by anything Welnix is proposing than by the stream of selfish, self-entitled crap being spewed forth here by supposed supporters of the Wellington Phoenix. In particular, some of the so-called 'YF Exec' who - reading between the lines - sound like "we used to be cosy with the Phoenix ownership and now we're not, so fudge them".

No doubt Welnix are guilty of some horrible PR this week, but all this talk of people not going to games and not renewing season tickets is suicidal. Honestly, are we trying to fast-track the demise of our club? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

People round here need to start getting a whole lot more positive and constructive. Because if YF abandon ship then this ship is gonna sink. Fact.

And don't worry, I still have a few choice words for Welnix, but there's no way I'm going to do something as stupid and self-destructive as threaten to not buy my season ticket.

Bullshark why should we be positive and constructive and throw out big huggie feelies to Welnix.If they are silly enough to get involved thinking just because they were succesfull in the business they can then turn that into a profitable  sports club in a short space of time.They really are in LALA. land.

Maybe there would be some love shown if it appeared there had beeen a genuine attempt to market games instead of the half arsed attempts being done at the moment.Bloody hell the guys and gals who do the Fever Friday thing probably create as much or more interest than anything that they do.And im sorry but i for one am sick and tired of hearing about games being taken away.

Do wonder what that will do for recruitment of players,come and play for us and you get to play most of your season away.

Right wing Gareth has an ego and likes a good blog, I am sure he dives into this forum once in a while. In all seriousness perhaps he should take clemenger (sounds like a toilet company) of the task for one game and give the marketing to the fever. I am sure we would put them to shame and crack 10k

Term

I understand what you are saying in a lot of respects you are right. We really can't self destruct and blow the club up. Without YF, there would be a rather large hole that simply would not be filled. You also said you have a few choice words to add, so please, share them.

I guess its a bit of kidology really so follow me if you will

For so long, YF has had an 'inactive' involvement with the club with Tony P being on here, the Retro Ricki, the scholarship and as I mentioned the other day re:Marco and the canning of the scholarship. It think when you have such a sense of engagement with the club to the point that you basically find them the star of the league (right now) you come to take that engagement or 'ownership' for granted. I understand reading on here that the YF exec have pulled money from their own pockets for this club in terms of supporter related events. No one asked them to, they just did it themselves (whats a server and internet cost to run a forum?) Its fair to say that YF and the club have been very intertwined for a long time. No one asked YF to, its just progressed that way rightly or wrongly.

Now the club have had a horrible week from a PR point no doubt and its making people question what it is about the club that kept them engaged when that engagement has been taken away. No more scholarship (I can't say I agree but its their toy), an owner speaking up about how the team must play (and again, find me where that happens anywhere in the world). If you've bought into this and as a fan, you feel that sense of engagement or 'ownership' then how would you react. If I give a kid a toy for an hour and then take it away while they are still playing with it, whats the kid going to do? Lets be real, when you are whinging about crowds and moving games away from Wellington ('we bought the club because its all about Wellington') you ditch the scholarship and then cross over into the coaches role, its hardly a charm offensive that says to people 'get on board and follow us'  - in fact quite the opposite.

As stated by others, the club wanted the Sunday afternoon 'family friendly' time for home games but then aim all their marketing around the Fever zone.... So again, if you remove that engagement and the reason to come for the solid, loyal fan base, yet market to that particular section for the ground when the target time zone is 'families' .... what the...? As mentioned above, they wont come on here and read the comments nor really care what the majority of us think, yet they want us to come to the games and market the game around the Fever zone, want to play 'total football' but don't want to bring in the players that con do it tomorrow. Someone really has not thought this through at all before they opened their mouth OR acted.

The fact of the matter is they are not experienced at running a football club and they should really be keeping their noses out of the jobs that others are paid to do coach, marketing etc... Gareth is not the most eloquent man to be talking (more like Farmer Joe) so even more reason for him to stay silent. Again I respect that this is his club and he is entitled to run it as he sees fit but I wonder if he has really sat back and thought this one through. He is meant to be a smart guy from what I gather but this week, he is leaving a strong impression that he is anything but.

When you read the above, and think about the costs to go, kids, food, travel, time... its far easier to say 'fudge it, I already pay for Sky' and stay home. ESPECIALLY when its universally accepted its not a flash product on the pitch right now.

You might call it self destruction and ludicrous speak but there is a danger that if they run to the well once too often and call fire when its just smouldering, they might find that next time the well will be empty and it will keep blazing away.