Nairney

At 1-0 up, those Queens Park goals were frustrating to lose… however, purely from an “entertainment” point of view coming back, in the way we did, was much more thrilling than grinding out a 1-0 win. Absolutely buzzing at full time!

I had a wee moan about mascot packages being charged for, a few days ago… the club have just posted on Facebook that they’ve had a generous gesture, from a fan, who has bought and donated two mascot packages. What an awesome thing to do!

That’s a really fair point. I feel like a right moan even bringing it up to be honest! I’m sure they’ve looked at the pros and cons of charging and the price they’ve set - it’s just something I personally would prefer was free. I didn’t realise there was already a charge for it in recent years.

That’s true. My daughter was a mascot a few years ago and I don’t think she got any complimentary tickets. It wouldn’t have been much use, for us, though as we had season tickets anyway.

Has anyone had a chance to have a read of this yet? I just saw a link shared, by the club on Facebook - Really great to see something like this put together. I’ve no idea how our prices compare with other clubs, but it all looks pretty clear and professional. However, I’m really surprised we’re going down the route of charging of charging for mascots. Some of the top Premier league clubs in England do this for free. The club are totally right to try and maximise all possible commercial revenues but this feels very opposed to the spirit of offering under 12s free tickets, to boost the fan base. A voluntary donation to the community foundation would have been a better option in my opinion.

That was me. The comparison was only based of my early impression of Lang. I thought he might have potential to develop into a similar kind of commanding player to Campbell. He didn’t.

Maybe a case of “what might have been” if there had been another season (as was probably planned) of a Berra-Lang partnership? A better defensive record and higher league finish for us? Less pressure on Lang and better self discipline? Lang signing a contract extension? Lang still leaving and securing a decent move down south or a mid-table Premier League side here? It is what it is though.

Lang started out as a bit of a favourite of mine - reminded me a bit of one of, one of my all time favourite players, Mark Campbell. Feel pretty indifferent about him leaving though. After the came back from injury, he was a bit too fond of a rash challenge - too risky when our squad was down to the bare bones.

Sounded, to me, more like he was hedging his bets with some generic managerial chat. He has to see if he likes the sound of them during an interview; they have to choose him over four other candidates; then they have to make him an offer and then both clubs agree terms. I really don’t think he’ll have made any definite decisions, either way, until they’re quite far into that process… unless they already are of course!

Well, I’m definitely in the minority here… Saw the post on social media, thought “I’m reasonably happy Liam Dick has re-signed for us” and then came on here to see what everyone else thought. I had to go back and look at the post again to see what you were all on about! I get it (now I’ve re-read it), I’m not offended by it but neither am I rolling on the floor laughing about it - obviously too subtle, for me, if I didn’t even notice it in the first place! It’s gathered some good figures for selling future sponsorship space and conveyed some club news. Feels like it’s achieved it’s purpose as well as generating a lot of (mostly) cheery chatter about a signing that a lot of people might not have been too excited about. I hate close season. “Dick extension” is shaping up to be the new Gary Glen.

Can’t say that I’m overly filled with confidence, about this buyout, after reading more about their football connections. However, I’m also quite concerned about where we’re left if things fall through (as they often seem to for Rovers) and a sale doesn’t go through… if Sim sees himself as having one foot out the door or an exit strategy in place, and it doesn’t come to fruition, what happens next?

If Sim has been talking to this group for six weeks, what was the purpose of the public appeal for investment? Was it a way of giving fans a heads up that he was looking to sell up / open the door to foreign investors, after saying previously he’d prefer not to do that? Or was it a negotiating tactic / threat if things were stalling? Perhaps, like a lot of things at Raith Rovers, it was just a chaotic ramble with little sense behind it?

Just wondered if anyone had any more info on this?

Gullan was a huge loss for us. He looked a real threat early on and might even have had a goal in him today. Easton also looked good but seemed to fade out in the second half - not sure if that was because Gullan had gone off or if Inverness snuffed him out. Feels like we’re carrying too many other players who are just there to make up the numbers. Doing just enough to look like a professional footballer, without contributing much.

Based on the very little information we have, maybe Karen’s actual role is more similar to a Business Development Manager. Having the title of CEO, within a football club, implies that you’re responsible for the day to day running and management of the club, with some negotiating and financial responsibilities. Giving her a title that doesn’t match her brief isn’t helpful. No wonder we’re left scratching our heads and being dumbfounded over what she does / doesn’t do!

Don’t forget, the club listened when they “got it wrong” and appointed a new board member who is an HR expert…

Seems like either a) The Rovers board / Sim decided that results from January onwards didn’t warrant a new deal and they wouldn’t be offering one. Which some would argue is a fair decision. However, if they failed to communicate that to McGlynn, players and fans, in a timely manner, then they are incompetent idiots who shouldn’t be running a bath never mind a football club. or b) The Rovers board / Sim decided that they’d be happy to offer McGlynn a new deal. Which some would argue is a fair decision. However, if they took the attitude that he’s a Rovers man and should be eternally grateful, for whatever they eventually deign to offer him, then they are incompetent idiots who shouldn’t be running a bath never mind a football club

Up until now, my anger of the signing mainly fell on MacDonald, Morgan and Sinton. Casting aside any moral or football case, it was a PR disaster (especially in the manner the club chose to handle it) and harmful for fan and community relations. I felt angry that these guys, custodians of our club, didn’t have the ability to judge what was sensible vs what wasn’t. I kind of understood McGlynn’s position - he’s too focused on football and was maybe blinded by the fact he knew Goodwillie personally. I kind of understood Sim’s position - he’s older, lives abroad in a country that has a different culture to ours and he probably misunderstood how easily you can bluster some negative press out. I felt the other three were too blinded by the excitement of potential promotion (hob nobbing in Premier League boardrooms) and lost sight of what was important - being engaged with the fans and wider community. I felt angry that they didn’t listen to Clark and Mill, who were clearly more tuned into the wider picture. I suppose I see now why else they voted the way they did and why we’re unlikely to see any real change.

Yes, unfortunately it doesn’t say much for the new chairman’s position that Sim has decided to jump in and do this interview. I’d also have welcomed an interview with Macdonald and an opportunity to hear what his ideas for moving forward are. This just makes him look like a puppet. I’m maybe doing him a dis-service here but that’s certainly the impression (rightly or wrongly) Sim is creating for him.

I think the fact the he managed to give this interview shows the level of influence anyone at the club has… Either someone has said “listen things have settled down, from a PR perspective this is a bad idea. Let’s focus on positive stories and rebuilding” and he’s ignored them, thinking he knows best. Or he’s surrounded by people who are too scared, or too beholden to him, to voice an opinion. I can totally understand that he feels hurt and angry after the backlash. He’s put a lot of time and money into the club on and off the field. Lashing out in the media, after things had quietened down and after the “we got it wrong” statement, was completely the wrong move to make. His threats aren’t just about punishing those who disagreed with him, they were about punishing everyone.

Here’s the bit I’m struggling to understand the most… After Goodwillie signed, lots of fans still continued to attend games or perhaps missed a few then returned. Some still won’t be back, but looking at attendances they must be in the low hundreds or less. Whatever anyone’s personal opinion on the signing, and the subsequent fall out, lots of fans were still attending games as normal. How would closing the club have been fair to them? Punishing the fans who were still visibly and publicly backing the team when they needed it most? I stayed away from Feb - April, if Sim wanted to use his Courier interview to have a strop about fans staying away (which I suppose he did, by saying there are 41 other clubs) that’s maybe ill advised and petty. However, he chose to announce he had considered hurting the ones who had still been going to games and showing their support? Incredible.

I hope so…. But he does say in the article that those (involved in decision making) are “my people”. Obviously there are a few different ways to take that comment.

I went back to my first game, since the implosion, last Saturday. I also submitted an application for the new fans forum. Still felt very unhappy about the same out of touch hangers-on remaining part of our board and scunnered with the football on show… however, I was hopeful that the season was nearly over and soon we might see positive change on and off the park next season. Now? F*cking hell!

Can you explain why you feel it should fall to her to attempt to fix the issues that led to her walking away? She’s made it very clear what she felt the issues were. These issues were caused by the actions of people employed by the club and 4 of the board members. It’s unclear to me why she should need to be responsible for saying what should be done to fix things. That kind of change / action can only come from within the club.

This is exactly why I can’t face going back to a game yet. Goodwillie might well be away from the club but the toxicity of this whole fiasco still leaves a nasty effect behind - whatever side of the fence your opinion falls on. Folk making banners to support him won’t have a clue what feelings they’re potentially stirring up in those round about them. They’ll think it’s a laugh or they’ll think they’re being edgy and a dangerous few might even think they’re making a moral stand. That’s the sort of attitude we can all put on ignore on social media or forums but in real life it’s not like that. With everything else happening in the country / world right now, it can sometimes feel like we’re living in a powder keg. This is not something we need to experience whilst we sit amongst our fellow supporters, and escape for a bit, on a Saturday afternoon. Creating clarity on the way forward needs to be the clubs priority right now. I appreciate there will be a lot going on behind the scenes at the moment, plus a hugely reduced number of people helping out. However, in order for more people to come back and support the club, both financially and vocally, we need answers and we need a clear direction out of this mess.