Baxters Wynd

Very harsh. Been proved by objective means by several posters on here that GD was never a supporter. I’ve put up with the ups and downs for over 50 years.

David Goodwillie for player/manager. That means I can slag him off from day one rather than waiting 18 months

I don’t know a single one of the people either previously or of those coming in. The discussion seems to have settled on the ‘Wicked witch of the North’ (Deans) who along with a couple of others showed contempt for the support. I simply suggest we should concentrate on the stewardship of the club. I have no reason to doubt that Bateman has been a fantastic servant to the club. However, is it not a display of contempt of the support to simply bring someone onto the board with absolutely no explanation? It is not a good start to have people talking about democracy and transparency and then behaving in this way. Further, there was earlier confirmation that a poster on here was using information about the future squad organisation because “I was only passing on what a patron told me”. For a patron to be breaching confidential discussion in that way is grossly unprofessional. in terms of representation lets take an example. Would you find it acceptable if I were a member of political party A and rocked up saying that I wanted to be a member of party B and that I want to stand for the council on that basis? You will probably tell me that Falkirk Council has such members and noone has a problem with it. I have previously confirmed that I accept, if folk are putting money into a football club, its perfectly understandable that they want to have a significant say in the decision making. That has always been the case in the past. I look forward to the changes the new board will make but some of the initial signals imply what I feel is poor judgement and might simply mean a changing of the guard. I will make no further comment on this aspect. I would much rather be picking a name for the new manager. Inevitably in approx 18 months I will post that I ‘never wanted him. Get him to………

Surely it should be a given that anyone seeking to lead an organisation can demonstrate that they are honest, diligent and hardworking? People are elected to a board on the basis that they will then demonstrate a series of qualities including competency and professionalism. Both Bateman and Wright were part of the group which have poorly led the club through the last 15months. Folk like Deans are to be labelled as ‘villains who should never darken our doors” whilst these two are now good guys. Colborn is also now a good guy because he apologised for insulting the fans at the Q&A. He should have been apologising for the quality of his performance whilst a board member. And Wright? He actually chairs the AGM. Of course, they all have something in common. If I were to be elected as an independent FSS rep to the board I would be asking for an explanation for the basis of Batemans appointment. Where is the democratic process there? Would I ask that question if I were an FSS rep who also happened to be a Patron? Are the credentials he possesses really only at the level of being pals with White and Thomson as mentioned in another post? Integrity is another very important attribute. These people need to demonstrate that they possess that quality. your post smacks of a person who, being a member of a political party, has just won the election. You believe that everything will now be fantastic. Do I need to point out the obvious analogy? Croneyism, as we should all be aware, creates an extraordinary debilitating effect on any organisation. Lets all hope that is not an accusation that can be levelled at the 6 Patrons on the board. I do take my hat off to your personal decision making. I wish I had the sense to avoid sitting in a ground where the view of Grangemouth docks was preferable to what was taking place on the pitch. Onwards and upwards, COYB

Appreciate the offer but I genuinely don’t know anything about governance so it wouldn’t be a good use of your time. On the other hand I don’t know anything about managing a football team and that appears to have been no bar at FFC. Perhaps you could advise where my application for the job should be sent. Also, would I be applying for the job as manager, coach or cone spreader?

Thanks for the info. I have no doubts that the supporters group and the Patrons have the very best intentions. As I put in my original post I don’t want to be discussing governance. I’m not qualified. We each of us has to look at the situation and form a view. I only put the post up to share my view because my wife was making it clear that she was tiring of my chuntering. I understand the desire to produce a united front and that “we are all in it together”. I don’t think we are all in it together. Gary Deans is now a pantomime villain whilst two others who sat with him on the board appear to be being absolved of all blame. The board as a whole should take the blame for their poor leadership. I do not agree that being a Patron or an FSS member goes both ways. The Patrons have each put in 10K. To be an FSS member costs a tenner. Either the FSS is a separate and distinct group or it isn’t. If it becomes clear that you are happy for Patrons to stand for election then I will not join the FSS. However you are on entirely safe ground. Whoever leads the club can only improve on the shambles that has taken place over the last several decades. Sitting in a cul-de-sac of a ground that the club will never own being about the most galling. I do hope that you are successful and can only apologise for forming a faction…….of one

No reason at all. There is a huge difference of a Patron being a FSS member and that person then being elected by the FSS to the board. I think that most people would recognise the potential for there to be a conflict of interest.

I would simply have hoped that the society would have clear articles of association. These would include a stipulation that someone who is a Patron and can be elected to the board by that group cannot stand for election by the supporters association. obviously, you are entitled to post whatever you want in relation to the team. Personally, I don’t think posts which circulate rumours based on people claiming they are in the know are very helpful.

As a supporter my desire is to escape league one, via promotion. Thats it. It would be good to do it with some style but I would take it by any means. The team performance gets poorer as each week passes. The manager (coach) didn't know how to fix it and had to go. The Director of Football has failed in his primary role, to identify players who can perform individually and collectively at level which guarantees promotion. So he also has to go. In my opinion we should not attempt to replace this post. The current board have failed in their primary responsibility relating to the football side of the club. For that reason It seems obvious that they should all go. We were also asked for patience with promises of great things to come. So where is the vision, the strategic plan etc. As far as the players go, as at 23 November, Shadwell Dog was able to post "the plan I hear is to..........". The plan being to bring in several players at a higher salary level and for the rest of the squad to be part time. So jettison the current squad and start from scratch. Again. If you are a member of the squad I wonder how it would affect your outlook to know that by the summer, latest, you will be looking for a new club. Now, of course, this could just be a rumour. The new board need to put a stop to this type of leak, whether accurate or not. Though note the date of the post. The current board met with the Patrons group of over 20 on 21 November with each reported as investing 10K or more. As supporters I think we have to accept that those investing significant sums of money have a right to lead the club and impose their view of what must be done. Rationally, anyone investing a sum of money is going to want to have their view listened to. In August last year three directors were appointed. Colborn, McFarlane and Wright. It followed a "rigorous independent selection process" and this was led by the former FFC Chief Executive Ronnie Bateman. So Colborn resigns. He is also is one of the 20 Patrons. McFarlane and the very silent Wright are still in situ. Wright is a Patron. There is an announcement that Jamieson and Gourlay (both Patrons) will join the board having been elected by the group of 20. Additionally, Serafini and White are to join the board on an interim basis. They do so having been selected (not elected) by the committee of Falkirk Supporters Society. Serafini and White are both Patrons. A fifth new board member is also announced. This is Bateman.......... who is a Patron. Of course he is also the guy who led the process to appoint three directors to a board that have led the club disastrously over the last 15 months. Who elected/selected/parachuted Bateman on to the board? So the new board will, at its outset, have six of the 20 Patrons on the board. This is the board who will elect the Chairman. The new board and Chairman will have been installed by around 30 people. "Balanced ownership and democratic governance are key" - Kenny Jamieson. Really. We can all of us understand that the Patrons including Colborn, having invested their money, will want to participate in guiding the club forward. We can also understand, that with limited time available, the supporters society committee should select two candidates on an interim basis. However, even on an interim basis it seems bizarre that these should both be Patrons. Rather more concerning is that Back Post Misses (who is a Patron) stated here that not only is it fine for Patrons to be members of the society but, in future, perfectly acceptable that they could be elected to the board as society reps. This is ludicrous. The Supporters Society should be electing two reps who are entirely independent of the Patrons group. Sheerin has gone. Holt should be next. Deans is going but all others on the current board should also go. The committee of supporters society should demonstrate we can have some faith in them by organising an election of their 120ish members to supply two independent reps on the board. I didn't want to get involved in a discussion about governance. I just want my team to get promoted. However, what appears to be going on is clearly not a case of us all pulling together. It seems more of a case of 20 pushing. Fine, as long as there isn't a load of nonsense about the club being led differently to previously.