Fan Advisory Board confirmed

[Liam AAS]

Seems like they've gone for an extension of cosu in terms of recruiting people with specific skillsets.

Not what i expected but im sure they are all good people.

And not a lot of diversity

 

[Sherif H]

And not a lot of diversity

I did put my name forward, but didn't mention I was a mixed-race vegan with an immigrant mother - maybe that would have sealed the deal!

 

[Target man]

I could be wrong, and I hope I don't offend anyone, but none of them sound particularly young? No one in their teens or 20's apply?

Edit - Ah I've now read complete article - there's gonna be a separate youth advisory board. So maybe that's why the main FAB board is perhaps older than a cross section of the fan base

How do you know none of them are identifying as a teen??

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Bunch of YES people!!


Bet they have done plenty of brown nosing!!

I’m sorry that you were rejected.

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United have confirmed the six supporters appointed onto their newly-formed Fan Advisory Board (FAB).

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[Cricko]

And not a lot of diversity

He is far to busy with his Vlogs.

 

[Sherif H]

In all seriousness, for the most part, there is some decent experience in that group, but it appears very lop sided in terms of age group and background (mostly financial / compliance) - knowing there are already some very good people advising the Club from this perspective, some more diversity in experience would have been favourable.
Whilst there might be a youth board on the way, that doesn't detract from the fact that there is very little representation from say 18 - 50....

 

[Tommy2holes]

I got to the final stage as well, again like @Napster did not get past the final hurdle

Did you not throw in a "steak meal"

 

[North Banker]

I'm mindful to not contribute public scrutiny of these individuals, who are merely volunteers and whose job is to scrutinise rather than be scrutinised. That can be saved for the people who actually own the club.

But I do agree with others that the selection criteria seems to have been interesting and not entirely what I had assumed. These all seem to be people who have found their way into prominent positions in business or the world of football in some form. Their CVs seem similar to those of COSU, which perhaps explains why COSU liked them.

If the purpose of this board is to be an extension of COSU, essentially some likeminded people who have spare time to chip in to running the club (particularly in listening to and liaising with fans) without themselves having a financial stake, then that's fair enough and I imagine it'll work well. But if it is conceived as a genuinely representative body of Southend fans, this doesn't seem to be it. I'm not exactly kept up at night worrying about whether reasonably wealthy businessmen are suitably catered for in modern football, instead I worry about whether working class fans are being priced out, I worry about making sure everyone (particularly new supporters and the next generation) feel able and willing to join us on the terraces so we can grow the club, and I worry about clubs losing sight of their values in the hands of money-grabbing owners.

If it were going to be a representative board of Shrimpers it would need to have have a diverse mix of backgrounds because that's the only way you get a genuine range of perspectives and can represent how the whole fanbase is feeling. And yes that does mean hearing from women, and from disabled people, heaven knows it even means hearing from vegans, because at the end of the day I want their bums on our crappy plastic seats!

If I were a cynic I would suggest that this is controlled opposition, and a very smart political move, but I'm not inclined to be a cynic with COSU - they've earned our trust. But all sides should be careful to remember that this is a selected board, not a representative (and certainly not a democratic!) one, so we can't just sit back and let them represent us, we'll need to keep maintaining our own scrutiny and channels of communication.

 

[TrueBlue]

I'm mindful to not contribute public scrutiny of these individuals, who are merely volunteers and whose job is to scrutinise rather than be scrutinised. That can be saved for the people who actually own the club.

But I do agree with others that the selection criteria seems to have been interesting and not entirely what I had assumed. These all seem to be people who have found their way into prominent positions in business or the world of football in some form. Their CVs seem similar to those of COSU, which perhaps explains why COSU liked them.

If the purpose of this board is to be an extension of COSU, essentially some likeminded people who have spare time to chip in to running the club (particularly in listening to and liaising with fans) without themselves having a financial stake, then that's fair enough and I imagine it'll work well. But if it is conceived as a genuinely representative body of Southend fans, this doesn't seem to be it. I'm not exactly kept up at night worrying about whether reasonably wealthy businessmen are suitably catered for in modern football, instead I worry about whether working class fans are being priced out, I worry about making sure everyone (particularly new supporters and the next generation) feel able and willing to join us on the terraces so we can grow the club, and I worry about clubs losing sight of their values in the hands of money-grabbing owners.

If it were going to be a representative board of Shrimpers it would need to have have a diverse mix of backgrounds because that's the only way you get a genuine range of perspectives and can represent how the whole fanbase is feeling. And yes that does mean hearing from women, and from disabled people, heaven knows it even means hearing from vegans, because at the end of the day I want their bums on our crappy plastic seats!

If I were a cynic I would suggest that this is controlled opposition, and a very smart political move, but I'm not inclined to be a cynic with COSU - they've earned our trust. But all sides should be careful to remember that this is a selected board, not a representative (and certainly not a democratic!) one, so we can't just sit back and let them represent us, we'll need to keep maintaining our own scrutiny and channels of communication.

Yeah to me I thought it was a FAN advisory board not a CORPORATE advisory board.
I’m not saying these people are not fans I would never insulate that but does seem that it’s a group of industry professionals rather than a mixture of backgrounds.
I was in truth gutted not to get in, I’m known to many and I thought that was a good thing in terms of engagement.
I know the positions are for 2 years and I will apply again, I’m proud I got down to the final 15 so that’s something I can take from it.

I have lost elections before and it’s never easy when you campaign for months and this feels like that, but you get up and you keep going.

I also want to wish all that did succeed all the very best and look forward to getting to know some of them which I’m sure are all great people and passionate blues fans which at the end of the day is the most important thing.

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Can’t speak for those that got in (other than Michelle who I know and she’s not yes person)

I’m certainly not, proved that enough times, and maybe in my detriment to this process

Never heard you say no to a pint before though

 

[Cricko]

I thought Michelle was already on The Trust board? If so with another Trust Board member in the people running the board it makes it two from that avenue.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Don't buy the diversity ticket (am I allowed to say that nowadays?) for the sake of ticking that box. That is a pathway to failure

Sat on too many trustee boards in the past where someone saw themselves as representing a particular group and failed to realise that they were there to look after everyone, Those folk generally proved to be hopeless

Go for the best people for the job - if they prove to be that they will represent everyone. Simples

 

[Sherif H]

Don't buy the diversity ticket (am I allowed to say that nowadays?) for the sake of ticking that box. That is a pathway to failure

Sat on too many trustee boards in the past where someone saw themselves as representing a particular group and failed to realise that they were there to look after everyone, Those folk generally proved to be hopeless

Go for the best people for the job - if they prove to be that they will represent everyone. Simples

I think most of us are referring more to diversity of experience as opposed to the modern day 'DEI' definition of diversity.

 

[thenobster]

whats their profile names on here?

 

[Cricko]

whats their profile names on here?

Data protection etc.

 

[Tinks]

I have to agree with some of the comments and totally regarding the diversity. It is quite top heavy with males too.
Personally, I would have liked to have seen “normal” Joe or Joanne on the board who works in the local factory/ shop worker/carer etc who alongside are a supporter.

However, let’s give these guys a chance and see what comes of it and as they say the proof will be in the pudding.

I am assuming that minutes will be published for all to see etc and that it will be an open board to share with all the supporters

 

[dusterman]

Data protection etc.

I’m going to have that on my gravestone.

 

[Dave Smiths Love Child]

Give them a chance before any criticism please
Phil Bigwood is weirdly my porn film star name

 

[Mick]

Yeah to me I thought it was a FAN advisory board not a CORPORATE advisory board.
I’m not saying these people are not fans I would never insulate that but does seem that it’s a group of industry professionals rather than a mixture of backgrounds.
I was in truth gutted not to get in, I’m known to many and I thought that was a good thing in terms of engagement.
I know the positions are for 2 years and I will apply again, I’m proud I got down to the final 15 so that’s something I can take from it.

I have lost elections before and it’s never easy when you campaign for months and this feels like that, but you get up and you keep going.

I also want to wish all that did succeed all the very best and look forward to getting to know some of them which I’m sure are all great people and passionate blues fans which at the end of the day is the most important thing.

Surprisingly, as far as I can tell, none is amongst our 1,500+ shareholders.