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Reply | Incoming ..... another club teaser
at 11:36 31 May 2025
We struggled to keep him on the pitch. There's a reason why players like Jay Bird are loaned out to non league clubs. Unless you can consistently put players on the pitch it doesn't matter how good they are. We can't afford to carry injured players, its wasting the budget and diminishes our clout. A consistently fit Jay Bird is a EFL1 player. [Post edited 31 May 11:39]
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Reply | Incoming ..... another club teaser
at 10:55 31 May 2025
Listening to his interview he sounds as though he's quite versatile, has pace and can play several positions. He also has experience of playing in this league and the one year contract is sensible. We need a solid squad next season and i have a feeling this fella could be a useful signing. Competition for places can't be underestimated. It's great to see new players arriving at the club but if we're serious about progressing we need to hold onto our best players and thats my major concern over the next couple of months. [Post edited 31 May 10:58]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 12:35 28 May 2025
The vote has been done and dusted though. That in itself shows the contempt that Trust members are held in. Its been general knowledge that a discussion was needed in respect of the Trust Director. |
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 12:19 28 May 2025
There are only a few discerning voices on the forum and the ones that were contacted and bothered to vote did so overwhelmingly in favour of having a Trust Director. What would be the purpose of calling a EGM? It appears to.me that the majority of members are not really interested what happens if they can't be bothered to vote. A few will be disillusioned with the Trust but you get natural wastage in all memberships and clubs. The ones who drift away are replaced with new members. George Brigham stepping down was the catalyst for me and really weakened the Trust. The formation of the CAB provides another vehicle for fans to support the club away from the pitch and that's a option i now prefer. [Post edited 28 May 12:25]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 06:38 28 May 2025
No, that's not what I'm suggesting with my post. The Trust members should be absolutely consulted, especially on this particular topic. Its too late now though by the looks of it. As i pointed out, i don't feel as though they represent or value me as a member of the Trust and this vote is a typical example. There are other examples also. The world isn't always full of fluffy white clouds, sometimes difficult questions need asking and people of influence need holding to account, even if that means upsetting individuals. I feel as though not upsetting individuals or rocking the boat has been prioritised over what the core function of the Trust actually is, representing its members. Ask a difficult question and its put in the 'too hard to do' tray, for fear of upsetting somebody in the boardroom. Its damaged the Trust and confidence has been lost. The Trust Director role in my opinion not only compromises the individual fulfilling that role but also the Trust itself. Just my opinion, the Trust members are down the pecking order because of the arrangement. Others obviously feel differently if you take any notice of the vote. What I'm seeing more of now is persons of influence mingling with the fans in the bars before the games, thats great because you can actually approach people like Andy Duff and the Directors, even Cameron Ogden and personally ask them a question or discuss something face to face. That's how it should be, no need to submit questions for vetting etc, its a ridiculous concept that. We all want the same thing for the club and face to face dialogue with members of staff and those in the Boardroom should be encouraged. This is why i think the CAB is a great idea, its more inclusive and direct dialogue from fans will be welcomed. [Post edited 28 May 8:19]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 06:03 28 May 2025
I didn't get a email. It sounds like the majority have opened the email and were undecided, needed more information/ clarity. Less that half of those who opened the email decided to vote, which seems very odd. As I said, my focus is now on the CAB and supporting their ideas going forward.I think thats a great concept and the way forward when it comes to inclusivity and engagement from a fans perspective. The fact Jamie Willoughby is involved is also a big plus, he brings people together and communicates. I'm not falling out with people on the Trust and might still attend the odd fund raiser. It's not for me anymore and as a fan i don't feel represented or valued. [Post edited 28 May 7:16]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 10:35 26 May 2025
I haven't received any correspondence from the Trust for a long time, it suddenly stopped for some reason, never mind. A CAB forum was mentioned a couple of days ago as a possible idea going forward, i think that would very beneficial not only to the fans but also the club. [Post edited 26 May 10:37]
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Reply | Japanese Ska band
at 02:20 26 May 2025
That explains it then🙂. I had a Japanese student sitting next to me at the Southend game, he was studying in Manchester. I dropped him off at the train station after the game after he promised to start a Japanese branch of the Dale Supporters club. He actually supported Arsenal and goes to watch them but said the Southend game and the atmosphere was the best he had ever experienced. A lovely lad, i gave him my Dale scarf. [Post edited 26 May 8:26]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 10:37 25 May 2025
I would like to think the club's progressed since those days BDB. SG is operating under different circumstances than he was then. The actions of a desperate man, doing desperate things to save the club? I would like to think so. I'm past all of that now and moved on, i don't think the Ogden family will be reliant on a fan in the boardroom to keep a eye on their club. They have enough of their own people around to do that now. I do understand your sentiments though but with the formation of the CAB i don't think it's a necessity anymore. There are some very good people involved in that . How much weight does the Trust shareholding carry these days anyway? [Post edited 25 May 10:47]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 06:43 25 May 2025
Dale Trust, CAB , Dale 1907. Is there are a reason why these three separate entities couldn't merge and all work together under one umbrella? As you say Unity is strength. I remember a ex Trust Chairman mentioning to me during the MH saga that at the conclusion the Trust needs completely revamping to ready itself for the future. That hasn't happened. The landscape of football has changed. The changes at our club have been very evident over the last few years. They say 'make hay while the sun shines' now seems like a ideal time for everybody to come together and thrash out some ideas and implement a collective plan to protect the football club for decades to come. Merging just those three different bodies produces a small army and a very strong think tank. It might take the rest of the year to set out the structure and implement the changes but everybody singing off the same hymn sheet, endorsed by the Ogden family would be well worth it.
I was reading the convoluted rules that somebody has put in place in order to be a Trust Director on the Board, thats a insult to the bread and butter fans that make up the Trust membership, fantastic fans and Trust members who haven't even been consulted. I thought we'd progressed since that sort of thing went on but some people obviously haven't. A closed shop with no consultation with members, who is responsible for implementing that? Is it individuals on the Trust board? I would like to think that it isn't the current Trust Director, or even worse somebody from within the Boardroom. A lack of education deliberately used as a barrier to prevent the majority of fans from applying for the position, disgusting really. I think they call that discrimination! It goes against all what the Ogden family stand up for. Inclusivity should be the buzz word, if somebody with a disability or a young person wants to be a Trust Director and they can add value then they should be helped, encouraged and welcomed. Value comes in different forms, communication with the body you are representing ( the fans) is more important than having the ability to disect financial reports, or a degree in business studies. There's enough brains in the Boardroom to do that and send a copy to the Trust board to be perused at leisure. That's the sort of job spec i would have liked to have seen for the Trust Director before it was hijacked by persons unknown and turned into a unachievable goal for the majority of the fan base..on purpose. Is that how we really want the new era to begin? Is that what the Ogdens want? Those responsible should hang their heads in shame and apologise but they won't.
I'd like to see young fans invited into the Boardroom, let them put their names forward and let them mingle around the club on a weekly basis, sixth form and college students who might be involved in business studies or sport . The club could reach out to local colleges and schools and send out invites. Make them feel important, let them have a pre match meal with the Directors and interact. Those are the type of fans that we need to involve. Turn the fan in the boardroom into a educational experience, instead of a closed shop. Show them how the club works, the various departments etc. In fact you could extend that outside the Boardroom and invite students down from Myerscough College, they do a course in sport pitch maintenance, that could prove beneficial to both parties and also provide sponsorship. There is also scope to invite media students down to the club, catering students, retail and hospitality etc...loads of opportunities to tie in with education facilities.
You could also educate some of our youth who do daft things on matchdays instead of banning them from the ground, give them the opportunity to attend at the club on matchdays, show them the CCTV Control Room, explain the financial consequences to the club in respect of throwing flares on the pitch, entering the pitch, obscene chants etc. Let them meet the Police football liason officer and sit in at the pre match steward and safety briefing. That's educating the youth rather than lazily banning them from attending games. Give them the opportunity to choose education on a two strikes and you're out agreement. Hopefully they will pass on the knowledge gained to their mates.
Why not do that, concentrate on the youth and drop the Trust Director in the Boardroom idea, there's no need for it anymore. Especially somebody who has been secretly sourced and hand picked by a few individuals who have no right to do that in the first place..that's not how a Supporters Trust should be operating. We don't want individuals doing things like that anymore, we've had enough of it now. [Post edited 25 May 11:48]
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Reply | Dale Released List Confirmed
at 16:14 24 May 2025
I think Hogan is better than EEL, but neither of them are good enough if we want to take the next step. Squad members would be OK. We've had some poor central defenders recently and Sassi was probably the worst. If we were dependent on EEL, some fans seem to rate him, then Hogan proved a more than capable replacement during his absence from the team. To the extent that EEL wasn't missed. Hogan was a decent signing. The Southend game spoke volumes in respect of how we deal with high balls into our penalty area, we were diabolical all night and the marking was non existent.
At this level we tend to dominate the ball against most opponents, that in turn acts as a defensive ploy and limits entry's into our penalty area. It's reflected in our defensive record which was good. When we come up against the best teams though and possession is shared our defensive frailties are exposed. How many games did we win against the top six Clubs home and away? By my reckoning it was just one win in thirteen games and that speaks volumes, a shocking statistics really. When it came to the key games we simply weren't good enough and we were also mentally weak , I include the manager in that. He'll try to disguise those statistics by mentioning clout and budgets but it doesn't wash and it points to a lack of belief in the big games. The manager is responsible for that and even mentions reasons to fail before a ball has been kicked. It's not normal for managers to do that. [Post edited 24 May 17:21]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 10:35 24 May 2025
Some good points there. It would be difficult to believe that any fan would be reluctant to renew their season card having just witnessed this season. We all know that it could have been so much better but to finish fourth in the league is still a good achievement. If the budget is increased, which I'm sure was part of the three year plan, there's no reason for not expecting to finish in a play off place again. It's unrealistic to ever expect to win the league outright and I think finishing in the top three is still a bit unfair. We're going to get out of this league via the play offs and they are a lottery. The more times we compete in them the more chance we have of promotion. |
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Reply | Dale Released List Confirmed
at 09:15 24 May 2025
The defensive recruitment also has to include a experienced goalkeeper, one with some height and presence who specialises in keeping the ball out of the net. The goalkeeping situation has been farcical and should have been sorted out during last Summers recruitment. It's the most important position on the pitch and we have been reliant on blooding young kids for other clubs. |
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 08:33 24 May 2025
Can the members not demand a meeting if one is not forthcoming. The Trust representatives are in place to represent the members, thats their core function...or have i got that wrong? |
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Reply | Dale Released List Confirmed
at 08:22 24 May 2025
Ferguson has been given two years of time and has only started a handful of matches. How much longer does McNulty give him? He obviously doesn't fancy him, thats been evident for a long time. I prefer Hogans experience but if we are to get back to the EFL i think we need better than him and EEL who are both well past their best. The goals we have recently conceded against Spennymoor and Southend should tell McNulty that. I would forget about signing Hogan and put the finances into bringing in a younger but experienced replacement. I dont rate Ferguson, i don't trust him with the ball at his feet and i think he's unaware of what's going on around him when I've watched him play, not switched on enough. I know others see it differently. He was well liked at Yeovil, he'll probably end up going there. [Post edited 24 May 8:28]
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Reply | 25/26 Squad
at 09:54 23 May 2025
The body language from all the players at most set pieces, frre kicks and throw ins is to straight away look to go backwards to retain posession. There are many instances of it in every game we play. A slow methodical, controlled build up. |
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 16:01 22 May 2025
Yes a strong Trust and a strong CAB would be great. The Trust is full of very good people i just feel as though the members are sometimes not prioritised and decisions are made without consultation. It's been operating without a Chairman for months. I wasn't aware of how the Trust Director would be selected and what criteria they would have to meet. Who was responsible for writing it up? Is it designed to be a closed shop and somebody who will be sourced and decided upon by the Trust Committe? Thats how it reads to me. As a fan base/ Trust member, why weren't members consulted and asked for their input? The Trust Committe are in place to represent the fans and communicate with them, not make important decisions and just pass them off. As I posted previously, the Trust Director position hasn't worked i don't think and since the Ogdens became involved and with the formation of CAB i don't think it's needed anymore. [Post edited 22 May 16:11]
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Reply | Election of new Trust main board director
at 13:30 22 May 2025
Agree in respect of a well run trust. Most fans aren't members of the Trust and thats always been the case. It has no bearing on their value when it comes to supporting the club, we are all as valuable as each other including you and me. |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 1988 | | Comment Votes: | 0 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 1988 |
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