Braes_Bairn

Inverness use Ticketmaster who we binned for a “much improved” unheard of Total Tickets platform. Crazy that in 2023 we can’t provide an online sale. Just another way to chase away potential fans. Should be making it as easy as possible for people to get tickets.

First the positives - John McGlynn spoke very well. Open with his answers, explained team selections etc and what is needed to take us to a double promotion. However ‘the way forward’ was very concerning. Essentially to plug the £400k gap need to get up to about 3,000 FSS members which with the best will in the world is never going to happen - that would be every season ticket holder and more. The response to the Boards last plea for help was described as lukewarm so fail to understand how it will be any different this time. As an alternative they plan to launch a Forever Falkirk scheme allowing you to make a monthly donation to the club for nothing in return (ie no shares for you or FSS) apart from offering you chance to pay season ticket monthly. Struggling to see who will sign up to this. Fan ownership all sounds great but I just can’t see it as a financially viable option. No real plan for if signups fail to materialise.

Exactly my point. I’m sure a share save scheme where supporters actually get shares in their own name would be popular.

Personally I think the FSS model is all wrong, why would I sign up to pay £10 a month when I get nothing in return? I’d be much more likely to sign up to a share shave scheme where you actually get shares in your name.

What a poor statement from Kenny Jamieson, yet again. Did he not learn any lessons from last time? Last time attack the fans this time criticise the opposition. Sour grapes and a lot of waffle. Still a big financial black hole. Of course income is 85% of last season. Season tickets, sponsorship and hospitality are all sold at the start of the season. No details on what the funding package will be - suggests this is not in place. Presumably the accounts still haven’t been signed off and this is the reason we are having to delay the AGM. I can’t remember the last time the AGM wasn’t before Christmas? The Board have been in power for almost a year now but still none of them have actually been formally appointed by shareholders.

Quite concerning that we’ve still not heard a date for the AGM or received the accounts. If the AGM is to happen on the rumoured December date you’d think we’ve have heard by now?

Not a criticism of the podcast - but realistically how many people will listen to it? Why have the board not come out via email or the club website to apologise for their statement? We shouldn’t need to listen to an unofficial podcast to hear an apology or explanation for that email.

While the idea of fan ownership is nice this is exactly the problem I saw coming and asked at the time of FSS launching. Who writes the cheques when you have cash flow problems? With all due respect to the patrons, most of whom paid £10k last season, how many have the ability to keep making that level of payment every year? How many have the ability to write a cheque for £100k? There’s a much smaller pool of people with those resources. You had the MSG who for all their faults had the resources but the current Board members criticised them for years so why would they bail us out now? You had the Rawlings who had the resources but again they were chased away by the same individuals. In my opinion fan ownership is not the answer. Most fans are not interested in the behind the scenes of the club, they just want to watch a winning side on a Saturday. The club should be owned by shareholders with the resources to help the club in tough times. Obviously due diligence needs done but any large investment should be welcomed.

Does read like a last throw of the dice. In what world did they think the insulting tone of that email would encourage more people to sign up? In a cost of living crisis, trying to shame people into signing up is not the way to succeed. Fans have already stepped up in buying season tickets and pay at the gate. Interesting to also read that the £400k loss is based on increasing income by 45% so it will likely be much much worse in reality. There’s hardly been a big influx of sponsors and advertisers and hospitality is much quieter than previous years so I can’t see how they are going to manage their income targets. The FAQs state that borrowing the money will be the option if fans don’t buy them. Who is going to lend us money in the current climate? Will be interesting to see the Going Concern statement in the accounts which should be due in the next few weeks. Pains me to say it but wouldn’t be surprised to see administration by Christmas based on the content of that email.

Shocking email. Imagine the reaction from the current regime if Gary Deans had sent that?

Since the latest FSS newsletter revealed the budget gap has risen from £300k to £400k how are we going to fill this gap? Yes the performances on the park are much more encouraging the last few weeks but it is a big concern how we are going to fill this black hole with very little in the bank. Previously we had board members with the bank balance to be able to provide a soft loan, where is this money going to come from now?

It’s now over a month since the last discussions about the website and very little has changed. Yet again we still can’t get basics right: - Airdrie result the last to be updated - Dundee match not on fixtures - Still no match reports Why can’t we get the basics right as a club? What exactly does our Chief Executive do to justify his role as he certainly isn’t ensuring high standards across everything the club does?

By my count that’s the third director to resign since the new board came in. So much for stability.

First match I’ve been to this season and god that was poor. Absolutely nothing going forward. On that showing we won’t even be close to making the play offs this season. Shows how far we have fallen as a club that some are considering the positives in that performance.

Wouldn’t be my choice of sponsor. Can’t imagine they are paying much but I suppose we must be desperate for any income.