Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on September 26, 2024, 07:54:31 PM

Title: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 26, 2024, 07:54:31 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: astonvilla82 on September 26, 2024, 07:57:31 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.
No surprise there Dave
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Somniloquism on September 26, 2024, 07:58:45 PM
No surprise really. I expect it is another reason for Preece to leave as well, especially with those latest rumours of the minutes being ....erm..... tempered more for the club.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: AV82EC on September 26, 2024, 08:02:17 PM
I'm always loathe to shut down communication lines with anyone if there's a problem, but I get a real sense that the club are in total denial at the moment about the fans disquiet on a range of matters. If Dave has reached the end of his tether then it seems there's little point in continuing.   
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Gareth on September 26, 2024, 08:02:42 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.

Good decision Dave…there is nothing to be gained from it, the day consultation became advisory the purpose went. 
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: SaddVillan on September 26, 2024, 08:16:14 PM
The rumbling of discontent with the off field shenanigans is just growing.

Is anybody listening?

Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Pat Mustard on September 26, 2024, 08:17:02 PM
I know these things are often difficult when there are different factions involved, but is there any way of getting the various fan groups who have resigned from the FAB to draw up some kind of joint statement? The press were already aware of the problems occurring between club and fans after the ticket price and Arsenal debacles - something needs to draw attention to just how bad relations between the club and fans have got. The fact there are thousands of empty seats now at games despite the on-field success just shows Villa are getting things seriously wrong currently.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: VillaTim on September 26, 2024, 08:19:26 PM
I know these things are often difficult when there are different factions involved, but is there any way of getting the various fan groups who have resigned from the FAB to draw up some kind of joint statement? The press were already aware of the problems occurring between club and fans after the ticket price and Arsenal debacles - something needs to draw attention to just how bad relations between the club and fans have got. The fact there are thousands of empty seats now at games despite the on-field success just shows Villa are getting things seriously wrong currently.
good idea
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: pauliewalnuts on September 26, 2024, 08:22:13 PM
The club aren't arsed in the slightest about feedback coming from the fans. That nonsense about the toilets problem having been escalated to the owners was a great example, make it sound like it was a result of fan feedback rather than what it really was - loads of people posting videos and photos of disgusting toilets on twitter and tagging Heck in.

Fuck them, I trust Heck and his acolyte Hatton about as far as I can throw them.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: charleeco7 on September 26, 2024, 08:25:25 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.

Out of interest what was the straw that broke the camels back?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 26, 2024, 08:26:40 PM
I'm always loathe to shut down communication lines with anyone if there's a problem, but I get a real sense that the club are in total denial at the moment about the fans disquiet on a range of matters. If Dave has reached the end of his tether then it seems there's little point in continuing.   

You're absolutely right. They believe everything's fine and a few minor problems at the match are someone else's fault.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Toronto Villa on September 26, 2024, 08:30:31 PM
This is really disappointing. How is there such a divide between Emery who never misses an opportunity to thank the fans and make us feel a part of the success and the board who off the pitch don't seem to view things at all the same way. It almost makes me think Emery is working extra hard on what he says because of the other non football related stuff impacting supporters.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: olaftab on September 26, 2024, 08:33:51 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.

Good decision Dave…there is nothing to be gained from it, the day consultation became advisory the purpose went. 
Club are only interested in compliance and they want fan reps to be compliant. It’s ineffective and there is no point in giving credence to a shambolic process.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: pauliewalnuts on September 26, 2024, 08:41:43 PM
The only reason they do it at all is because the Premier League rules mean they have to.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 26, 2024, 08:43:39 PM
The only reason they do it at all is because the Premier League rules mean they have to.

Indeed.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan82 on September 26, 2024, 08:43:58 PM
Unai Emery is absolutely critical to all aspects of this club. He is basically holding the club together. What are the Board playing at
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: ChicagoLion on September 26, 2024, 08:49:31 PM
It’s a great shame that things have come to this. I do not believe that the owners are fully aware of the situation.
It is not in their long term interests to trash the relationship between the club and its supporters.

Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on September 26, 2024, 08:56:18 PM
Nassef was at Wycombe the other night to experience great facilities.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Risso on September 26, 2024, 09:35:37 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.

Well done, it’s an absolute farce. Thank you for your efforts in the past.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Chip Butty 111 on September 26, 2024, 09:46:04 PM
What a state of affairs. People who are Villa through and through turning their back on the club this week, due to the shambolic way that fans are being treated. This is going to get ugly in a season when we should be really enjoying the ride Unai is taking us on. And we know who the problem is.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villa in Denmark on September 26, 2024, 09:48:47 PM
What a state of affairs. People who are Villa through and through turning their back on the club this week, due to the shambolic way that fans are being treated. This is going to get ugly in a season when we should be really enjoying the ride Unai is taking us on. And we know who the problem is.

I'm not so sure we do.  I know it's ananthema to criticise them, but I worry that he's only doing our owners' bidding.  When you think about how hands on Nas in particular is how could it be otherwise?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan82 on September 26, 2024, 09:57:40 PM
What a state of affairs. People who are Villa through and through turning their back on the club this week, due to the shambolic way that fans are being treated. This is going to get ugly in a season when we should be really enjoying the ride Unai is taking us on. And we know who the problem is.

I'm not so sure we do.  I know it's ananthema to criticise them, but I worry that he's only doing our owners' bidding.  When you think about how hands on Nas in particular is how could it be otherwise?

He might be doing the owners bidding in terms of targets but he has massively cocked up the comms side of things, the relationship with the fans, the feel good factor, the positive momentum etc. If you accept he is doing the owners' bidding then presumably Purslow was too yet the approach (while not perfect) was very different and there was generally a feel-good factor about us being in safe hands ?

And it takes a really special level of incompetence to create this much disquiet at a club enjoying its best football in a generation.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Gareth on September 26, 2024, 10:02:12 PM
What a state of affairs. People who are Villa through and through turning their back on the club this week, due to the shambolic way that fans are being treated. This is going to get ugly in a season when we should be really enjoying the ride Unai is taking us on. And we know who the problem is.

I'm not so sure we do.  I know it's ananthema to criticise them, but I worry that he's only doing our owners' bidding.  When you think about how hands on Nas in particular is how could it be otherwise?

He might be doing the owners bidding in terms of targets but he has massively cocked up the comms side of things, the relationship with the fans, the feel good factor, the positive momentum etc. If you accept he is doing the owners' bidding then presumably Purslow was too yet the approach (while not perfect) was very different and there was generally a feel-good factor about us being in safe hands ?

And it takes a really special level of incompetence to create this much disquiet at a club enjoying its best football in a generation.

Without wishing to turn a 3rd thread to be all about that scruffy, incoherent imbecile I fully agree with this
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: edgysatsuma89 on September 26, 2024, 10:03:51 PM
I think you lasted a lot longer than a lot of us would have. I completely understand and respect the decision.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Chip Butty 111 on September 26, 2024, 10:08:34 PM
The general vibe of the club has nosedived alarmingly since he started with the badge fiasco. It's been one thing after another, and now people are turning their back on the club. NSWE were never questioned in any way before Purslow left. How things have got to this is in a Champions League season is crazy.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Exeter 77 on September 26, 2024, 10:13:34 PM
It's a sad day when someone as experienced at dealing with the club as Dave on behalf of us feels it just isn't worth it anymore but I the way things have gone on that front in the last year or so I can completely understand why.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: adrenachrome on September 26, 2024, 10:25:54 PM
Sad that it has come to this, but withdrawal from this charade is the correct and principled decision.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: DeKuip on September 26, 2024, 11:44:47 PM
If we’re not allowed our voice through fan representatives, forcing people like Dave to come to the conclusion it’s a waste of time, then we have to make our complaints heard and seen on a matchday. The next two home games are high profile for the club and so are ideal for some kind of fan backlash, particularly Bayern.
Time for the bedsheets to get another airing and that Champions League anthem needs drowning out too. I’ll have a go at hacking into the LED flashing ad computer, if I can manage to get my phone to let me into the ground.
Back Unai and the team - but let’s let those in the directors box know how we feel.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Drummond on September 26, 2024, 11:59:03 PM
Dave is it because you can't be arsed with them/it any more or because you don't want H&V to be part of it any more?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 26, 2024, 11:59:32 PM
Dave is it because you can't be arsed with them/it any more or because you don't want H&V to be part of it any more?

Both.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Drummond on September 27, 2024, 12:02:39 AM
Fair enough. I'd have offered if it was the former not the latter.

Not because I'm arrogant enough to think I'd have made a difference, but just to go and try. And I'd have enjoyed the battle.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: basavfc on September 27, 2024, 12:30:22 AM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.

And the truth will out !
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Percy McCarthy on September 27, 2024, 01:22:10 AM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.

Well done, it’s an absolute farce. Thank you for your efforts in the past.

My thoughts exactly.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Rory on September 27, 2024, 01:34:48 AM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.

Well done, it’s an absolute farce. Thank you for your efforts in the past.

My thoughts exactly.

Same, thanks Dave. You've been a voice for the fans, and clearly certain people within the club aren't too arsed about us anymore. I don't blame you.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan For Life on September 27, 2024, 06:28:41 AM
Thanks for everything that you did with the FAB Dave. It’s a sad day when, during our 150th year the club have turned their back on their core supporters.

It’s not that long ago when we were languishing in a lower division and still many of us backed the club by turning up week in week out to see a poor team. Now that things have improved far beyond what we thought we could achieve we have been marginalised to the extent that I suspect that traditional fans are an annoyance to them and they wish we’d go away.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: algy on September 27, 2024, 07:20:31 AM
A sad, but understandable, turn of events.


Thanks Dave, appreciate your efforts in the past  & principled stand now
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: London Villan on September 27, 2024, 07:22:27 AM
Can you disclose any details from the meeting if the club can’t/won’t?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: claret+blue ed on September 27, 2024, 07:26:19 AM
Thanks for all the time and effort you have put into the FAB meetings, it certainly is a sad state of affairs when the club alienate people like yourself who only has the best interest of the club and fans at heart
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: sid1964 on September 27, 2024, 07:28:36 AM
Unai Emery is absolutely critical to all aspects of this club. He is basically holding the club together. What are the Board playing at

There are only 2 members on the Board of Directors for our Football club, these are the owners - so are you saying that you want the owners out of our football club?

I agree the off field issues do need sorting and I am sure that there are alot of employees of the club working hard trying to sort out these issues, but surely we do not want Nas or Wes out of our club?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: ChicagoLion on September 27, 2024, 07:29:33 AM
Dave are you considering writing a resignation letter to the owners explaining your position?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan82 on September 27, 2024, 07:38:55 AM
Unai Emery is absolutely critical to all aspects of this club. He is basically holding the club together. What are the Board playing at

There are only 2 members on the Board of Directors for our Football club, these are the owners - so are you saying that you want the owners out of our football club?

I agree the off field issues do need sorting and I am sure that there are alot of employees of the club working hard trying to sort out these issues, but surely we do not want Nas or Wes out of our club?

It was late, I was half asleep.

Chris Heck has been let run amok over the past year and I wish somebody would stop him

Edit. Heck has been my focus but I am increasingly turning my gaze at whomever he reports into.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Nev on September 27, 2024, 07:42:16 AM
Dave's decision is exactly what they want. One less voice of opposition to what they are doing off the field.

We're all slowly getting the message, but one day we will suddenly become of value again, from a footballing perspective not too soon I hope but likely to coincide with a change of Manager, many will have moved on and will say no thanks.

It continues to be a great shame and once again proves that community, love, respect, a sense of togetherness, camaraderie and generations of devotion are of no value whatsoever in society where the unquenchable thirst for capital is concerned.

Is it really all worth it?

Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 27, 2024, 07:57:52 AM
Dave are you considering writing a resignation letter to the owners explaining your position?


Is there any point?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Gareth on September 27, 2024, 08:02:05 AM
Dave is it because you can't be arsed with them/it any more or because you don't want H&V to be part of it any more?

Both.

Do you get the feeling that other members of the FAB would make a similar principled decision or is the group full of individuals who no matter what 💩 is trawled out by the club will attend because they feel ‘privileged’?

It probably needs the entire group to resign en masse with a proper, well structured statement listing the grievances….although I still sense whilst we are winning on the pitch some will make all the excuses in the world for disgusting management techniques.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 27, 2024, 08:13:42 AM
I can't comment on individual members.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Clampy on September 27, 2024, 08:32:55 AM
It's a shame it's come to this and it will be interesting to see if any other groups follow suit. Like others have said, thanks Dave for all your valuable time and efforts.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Des Little on September 27, 2024, 08:41:39 AM
It's a shame it's come to this and it will be interesting to see if any other groups follow suit. Like others have said, thanks Dave for all your valuable time and efforts.

Agreed, the others need to the same now and it needs to be shared with the media. Heck and Hatton are the root cause of all our off field turmoil, and they need bringing to account.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dicedlam on September 27, 2024, 09:31:03 AM
It is a sorry state of affairs when you have a representative of an Aston Villa website give up on communications with the club and only through sheer frustration.
I do feel that you should formally resign from the board, if only to show that a main Aston Villa forum no longer wishes to be part of it under its present guise. Whether any notice will be taken from it is another matter, but walking away without voicing our concerns on all matters related to why you have come to this decision will be lost.

Don't just walk away from it Dave. Let them have both barrels.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Risso on September 27, 2024, 09:43:56 AM
It is a sorry state of affairs when you have a representative of an Aston Villa website give up on communications with the club and only through sheer frustration.
I do feel that you should formally resign from the board, if only to show that a main Aston Villa forum no longer wishes to be part of it under its present guise. Whether any notice will be taken from it is another matter, but walking away without voicing our concerns on all matters related to why you have come to this decision will be lost.

Don't just walk away from it Dave. Let them have both barrels.

I think Dave's right, there's no point. Jon Fear did a big "open letter" rant when he left the FAB, and I doubt they even saw it, or if they, weren't the slightest bit bothered.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: exigo on September 27, 2024, 09:59:16 AM
Another sad day in the off-field shambles that is being masked by Emery's genius on it.
Listening to Mick Dale's Claret & Blue podcast earlier, reminded me that it's people like him, Lee Preece and fan reps like Dave that are the last bastions of 'our' club.
Thanks for sticking it out this long Dave. I'm not here to tell you what to do with your time, but I would say an open letter will have an effect. My letter to Lee has now been seen by nearly 200,000 people, and I had Radio WM wanting to do an interview. It's less about the club (and particularly the likes of Heck) hearing your frustration, but giving the local press and national fan representation more ammunition can only be a good thing if you have the time.

The Athletic are also very hot on what's going on, with articles like this: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5744104/2024/09/16/aston-villa-ticket-issues/
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: London Villan on September 27, 2024, 10:24:00 AM
The media would be all over this too, as it builds on the story of the shambles of the start of the season off the pitch. But I can understand the reluctance to waste any more time on them.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Des Little on September 27, 2024, 10:26:52 AM
Unfortunately, I think we’ll just have to wait this whole situation out. These price hikes and ridiculous GA+ offerings are unsustainable in the long term, and sadly there’s a good chance our brilliant form will take a downturn and the whole picture changes. Please don’t mistake me for someone who wants this to happen, far from it, but I’m pretty sure that it will - but at what emotional cost to the fanbase? I’m not going to to any ECL games, because being a ST holder for 40 years and a regular away for many years I cannot bring myself to sacrifice my principles to pay what Heck is charging, I just can’t.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: edgysatsuma89 on September 27, 2024, 11:52:09 AM
The only way this will really go wrong is if we turn to shit on the pitch, otherwise protests and the like just won't happen. It would be the same at pretty much any British club.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Stinkin_Thinkin on September 27, 2024, 12:04:05 PM

I'm not so sure we do.  I know it's ananthema to criticise them, but I worry that he's only doing our owners' bidding.  When you think about how hands on Nas in particular is how could it be otherwise?

It's 100% from the owners, it's just Heck isn't as smooth as Christian. As soon as we got back in the prem the grab started...by stealth. On Purslow's watch my seat went from zone 6 to zone 2 overnight. They got lucky with Emery and decided to go full throttle.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Brend'Watkins on September 27, 2024, 12:04:20 PM
The media would be all over this too, as it builds on the story of the shambles of the start of the season off the pitch. But I can understand the reluctance to waste any more time on them.

I admire H&Vs stance on this.  I would also suggest that those from the other Villa sites do the same. 
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: amfy on September 27, 2024, 12:25:15 PM
I am also in total agreement with this stance.

We used to be able to keep st report back what had been discussed but then they started managing the minutes and they bore no relation to any discussion that had taken place.

People are going to the FAB and asking questions and challenging decisions and it never shows up in the minutes.

Everyone who attends is pretty much being made to look a tw@t as it looks, to the wider fan base, like they’ve just sat there and lapped everything up.

No one should be letting the Board make fools of them just so the Board can pretend to be listening. I hope more follow suit. I know MOMs is also right at the end of his tether & boycotting Champions League at the moment.  The Trust need to have a serious think about what to do too.

The latest I’m seeing now is that no one is replying to the disabled fans about whether they have parking for Bayern. The lack of care is a total piss take!
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Pat Mustard on September 27, 2024, 12:30:28 PM
Some kind of press statement now about the FAB would be really timely.  The club has been ignoring too many warnings from FAB and other groups, and getting something in now ahead of the Bolgna game will bring a real focus.

Barry Glendinning wrote that piece last week about fans not doing anything constructive to stop ourselves being exploited.  When there are thousands of empty seats for a CL game in a few weeks time (which there will be - having bought tickets via memberships for the last 5 years I have never seen as much availability as there is for that game by a considerable distance) then we can see that without any organised fan protest there is already a huge impact.  Get a message out there now and it can't be ignored by the club.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: BC Villain on September 27, 2024, 12:37:16 PM
It’s a great shame that things have come to this. I do not believe that the owners are fully aware of the situation.
It is not in their long term interests to trash the relationship between the club and its supporters.

Then again they can't possibly have no idea at all.  Surely they must have regular meetings with Heck and the other senior management
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Sexual Ealing on September 27, 2024, 12:40:51 PM
I think surprise that a couple of billionaires might be c*nts is a bit, well, surprising.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on September 27, 2024, 12:41:53 PM
Bill Gates is all right.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Simon Page on September 27, 2024, 12:42:32 PM
Someone's been vaccinated and chem trailed I see.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: LeeB on September 27, 2024, 12:44:31 PM
Bill Gates is all right.

Lol.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on September 27, 2024, 12:48:09 PM
Randy was okay.  (For a while).
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: ROBBO on September 27, 2024, 01:09:18 PM
Advisory booards are just that, there is nothing democratic about a business it's all about the money. It really is a pity because the long suffering supporter has to put up with sub standard facilities. The only way that the owners would pay attention is if people stayed away for a few weeks and that is not going to happen.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Brazilian Villain on September 27, 2024, 01:18:04 PM
Dave are you considering writing a resignation letter to the owners explaining your position?

Is there any point?

You could always use the 'Flin5tone Statement' as a template to give it maximum flounce.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: London Villan on September 27, 2024, 02:39:01 PM
The club would no doubt ignore it, but I bet the media would be interested - one of the club's most high-profile fan voices/representatives has decided to leave the only two-way communication mechanism between supporters and fans.

This comes on the back of the disabled parking issues, safety issues, pricing and now falling attendances.

I appreciate Dave that you could probably do without the bother and hassle of all of this though. It's a massive shame, after all the effort you have put in over the years, to offer balance and fair representation of the fans - as well as communicating the club's viewpoint, that the situation has forced you to do this.

Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: eamonn on September 27, 2024, 02:47:36 PM
Where is Flin5tone? He'd have the energy and rage required of a FAB member.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Sexual Ealing on September 27, 2024, 02:49:03 PM
He's still here.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: pauliewalnuts on September 27, 2024, 03:49:46 PM
It’s a great shame that things have come to this. I do not believe that the owners are fully aware of the situation.
It is not in their long term interests to trash the relationship between the club and its supporters.

Then again they can't possibly have no idea at all.  Surely they must have regular meetings with Heck and the other senior management

They pay Heck and Hatton to do this work.

They're not going to appoint expensive, experienced people and then micro-manage them, and a few fans online getting annoyed about stuff like this is not the stuff of Sawiris or Edens. They pay other people to do it.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: algy on September 27, 2024, 05:49:26 PM
The club would no doubt ignore it, but I bet the media would be interested - one of the club's most high-profile fan voices/representatives has decided to leave the only two-way communication mechanism between supporters and fans.

This comes on the back of the disabled parking issues, safety issues, pricing and now falling attendances.

I appreciate Dave that you could probably do without the bother and hassle of all of this though. It's a massive shame, after all the effort you have put in over the years, to offer balance and fair representation of the fans - as well as communicating the club's viewpoint, that the situation has forced you to do this.
I think there’s much to be said about this.

I get the impression bringing things up in the FAB meetings is pointless. Given there’s a bit of a media spotlight on Villa with the ticket prices, and pages to fill with preview stuff for the Bayern game, I’d say now is absolutely the time for a long-standing member of the FAB, who’s now resigned, to kick up a bit of a stink about things. Get the face of Villa’s “legacy” supporters in the newspaper spotlight whilst the opportunity is there.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on September 27, 2024, 06:20:14 PM
It’s a great shame that things have come to this. I do not believe that the owners are fully aware of the situation.
It is not in their long term interests to trash the relationship between the club and its supporters.

Then again they can't possibly have no idea at all.  Surely they must have regular meetings with Heck and the other senior management

They pay Heck and Hatton to do this work.

They're not going to appoint expensive, experienced people and then micro-manage them, and a few fans online getting annoyed about stuff like this is not the stuff of Sawiris or Edens. They pay other people to do it.

Agreed. I doubt very much either of the owners are aware of the chaos going on behind the scenes. If I was either Heck or Hatton I'd be looking to update my CV, it's only a matter of time before Sawiris asks Heck why the Villa fans are calling him a wanker. It's another aspect of English football culture he's failed to understand. Will it effect the team? Will it fuck.

Like others, let me take this opportunity to thank Dave and all the others from this parish who have turned up to represent us at the FABs. Much respect and appreciation.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Brazilian Villain on September 27, 2024, 06:34:44 PM
Where is Flin5tone? He'd have the energy and rage required of a FAB member.

His historical interests have moved on from the Stone Age to the late reign of Henny VIII. Still not keen on using an 'S' though.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: frank on September 27, 2024, 06:35:18 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.
Sorry it's come to this, Dave but I fully understand your position. Very many thanks for all you've done to represent us over the years.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: pauliewalnuts on September 27, 2024, 06:54:33 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.
Sorry it's come to this, Dave but I fully understand your position. Very many thanks for all you've done to represent us over the years.

Chris Heck will be sad to see the departure of the only person to have profited more from Villa fans than he has.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on September 27, 2024, 07:05:45 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.
Sorry it's come to this, Dave but I fully understand your position. Very many thanks for all you've done to represent us over the years.

Chris Heck will be sad to see the departure of the only person to have profited more from Villa fans than he has.

Can't argue with that.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Nunkin1965 on September 27, 2024, 07:46:07 PM
Thats a real shame and signifies a new low for me.
I go along with others and offer thanks and appreciation for the work youve put in Dave.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: ChicagoLion on September 27, 2024, 08:03:08 PM
Dave are you considering writing a resignation letter to the owners explaining your position?


Is there any point?
You are probably in a better position to judge this the I am.
I have written to them without reply, your name would vary more weight but I have no idea as to whether they give a damn.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Richard E on September 27, 2024, 08:30:29 PM
As of now H&V are no longer represented on the FAB. It serves no purpose and frankly I've got better things to do with my time.
Sorry it's come to this, Dave but I fully understand your position. Very many thanks for all you've done to represent us over the years.

Chris Heck will be sad to see the departure of the only person to have profited more from Villa fans than he has.

‘Hold my beer’ - Herbert Douglas Ellis
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: VillaTim on September 27, 2024, 08:49:09 PM
Thats a real shame and signifies a new low for me.
I go along with others and offer thanks and appreciation for the work youve put in Dave.
Sentiments echoed. It's sad. The cynic in me says this is exactly what they want though, the fans to back off , not be heard or considered and it's a sad state of affairs . Everything that's going on off pitch shows they don't care about the fans other than how much money they can bleed from you .
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: ChicagoLion on September 27, 2024, 09:13:10 PM
Thats a real shame and signifies a new low for me.
I go along with others and offer thanks and appreciation for the work youve put in Dave.
Sentiments echoed. It's sad. The cynic in me says this is exactly what they want though, the fans to back off , not be heard or considered and it's a sad state of affairs . Everything that's going on off pitch shows they don't care about the fans other than how much money they can bleed from you .
I cling to the hope that the owners are not fully aware of the negativity that Heck is creating. I might be naive but I do know that what Heck is doing is not in the owners long term interest.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Witton Warrior on September 27, 2024, 11:44:48 PM
There is a reason people become billionaires - it is not by giving a pig's fart about the feelings of others.
Our success is based on a deal with the devil.
I just despair
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Brend'Watkins on September 28, 2024, 12:21:39 AM
Thats a real shame and signifies a new low for me.
I go along with others and offer thanks and appreciation for the work youve put in Dave.
Sentiments echoed. It's sad. The cynic in me says this is exactly what they want though, the fans to back off , not be heard or considered and it's a sad state of affairs . Everything that's going on off pitch shows they don't care about the fans other than how much money they can bleed from you .
I cling to the hope that the owners are not fully aware of the negativity that Heck is creating. I might be naive but I do know that what Heck is doing is not in the owners long term interest.
This whole episode has made me think more than ever about the motives of our owners. The more I do I conclude that the plan is to establish the club as a regular CL participant and then sell or one buys the other out.  Naz seems to be the one more attached to the club, so if that’s the way it goes I’d like it to be him. Edens, I think he strikes me as one more aligned with the current pricing strategy. I have nothing to back any of this up with, it’s just my feeling.

Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Percy McCarthy on September 28, 2024, 12:39:00 AM
Unai Emery is absolutely critical to all aspects of this club. He is basically holding the club together. What are the Board playing at

There are only 2 members on the Board of Directors for our Football club, these are the owners - so are you saying that you want the owners out of our football club?

I agree the off field issues do need sorting and I am sure that there are alot of employees of the club working hard trying to sort out these issues, but surely we do not want Nas or Wes out of our club?

There are about 6 or 7. I think I’ve mentioned this before - not sure if it was you who said it was 2.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: jon collett on October 22, 2024, 03:23:28 PM
Minutes are out but don't seem to reveal v much:

https://myoldmansaid.com/aston-villa-fan-advisory-board-notes-champions-league-pricing-opening-home-game-fan-frustrations-and-more/
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dave.woodhall on October 22, 2024, 03:37:03 PM
Is it any wonder I gave it up?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Nev on October 22, 2024, 03:44:52 PM
I gave up reading that......
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: jon collett on October 22, 2024, 03:55:01 PM
Is it any wonder I gave it up?

None at all. Credit to you!

The minutes seem contradictory on whether prices would increase for Champiosn League Knockout stage.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Chip Butty 111 on October 22, 2024, 04:03:26 PM
A masterpiece of bluff and obfuscation...deary me...
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Border villan on October 22, 2024, 04:04:04 PM
When I opened the minutes I was overcome by an overwhelming smell of bullshit.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Demitri_C on October 22, 2024, 08:17:48 PM
Unfortunately that piece just smells of politicians answers. The disabled one for example. Complete disgrace
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on October 22, 2024, 08:31:41 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Demitri_C on October 22, 2024, 08:38:43 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!

Only 800 seats
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on October 22, 2024, 09:11:22 PM
Yes they said that but also still parroting the north stand extension
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan82 on October 22, 2024, 09:18:01 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!

Only 800 seats

Heck must have just decided to divide our planned expansion by 10. Basically the opposite of his approach to pricing.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Demitri_C on October 22, 2024, 09:21:40 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!

Only 800 seats

Heck must have just decided to divide our planned expansion by 10. Basically the opposite of his approach to pricing.

They make me laugh when they say they need as much revenue as possible and all other clubs have bigger stadiums. Remind us who scrapped our stadium expansion?
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan82 on October 22, 2024, 09:23:20 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!

Only 800 seats

Heck must have just decided to divide our planned expansion by 10. Basically the opposite of his approach to pricing.

They make me laugh when they say they need as much revenue as possible and all other clubs have bigger stadiums. Remind us who scrapped our stadium expansion?

Pricing tonight looking really idiotic now too with all the cheap seats becomign available. Utter clown in charge!
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Somniloquism on October 24, 2024, 12:43:51 PM
The new legislation for the independent regulator is up before the Lords today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9vn8r2zwyno

Quote
The government says the regulator will also have the power to "compel clubs to democratically select the fan representatives the club must engage with" and demand "effective engagement" with supporters on changes to ticket prices.

It comes as fan groups from across the Premier League plan protests over the cost of tickets as part of the the #StopExploitingLoyalty campaign led by the Football Supporters' Association (FSA). According to the FSA, 19 of the top-flight clubs raised prices last season.

In a statement, FSA chief executive Kevin Miles said the association "wholeheartedly backs" the regulator's creation.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: andyh on October 24, 2024, 12:50:27 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!

Only 800 seats

Heck must have just decided to divide our planned expansion by 10. Basically the opposite of his approach to pricing.

They make me laugh when they say they need as much revenue as possible and all other clubs have bigger stadiums. Remind us who scrapped our stadium expansion?

Pricing tonight looking really idiotic now too with all the cheap seats becomign available. Utter clown in charge!
did cheap seats REALLY become available and useable, or is it an urban myth ? 
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Beard82 on October 24, 2024, 12:58:43 PM
Yes I saw some online - about 150 - though the prices kept changing - some were 39 
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: itbrvilla on October 24, 2024, 01:02:12 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!

Only 800 seats

Heck must have just decided to divide our planned expansion by 10. Basically the opposite of his approach to pricing.

They make me laugh when they say they need as much revenue as possible and all other clubs have bigger stadiums. Remind us who scrapped our stadium expansion?

Pricing tonight looking really idiotic now too with all the cheap seats becomign available. Utter clown in charge!
did cheap seats REALLY become available and useable, or is it an urban myth ? 
Yes they did.  Bloke next in the Holte to me bought one about 2 hours before the game. Other reports on here of similar.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: The Edge on October 24, 2024, 01:13:51 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!

Only 800 seats

Heck must have just decided to divide our planned expansion by 10. Basically the opposite of his approach to pricing.

They make me laugh when they say they need as much revenue as possible and all other clubs have bigger stadiums. Remind us who scrapped our stadium expansion?

Pricing tonight looking really idiotic now too with all the cheap seats becomign available. Utter clown in charge!
did cheap seats REALLY become available and useable, or is it an urban myth ? 
Yes they did.  Bloke next in the Holte to me bought one about 2 hours before the game. Other reports on here of similar.
Definitely happened and will keep on happening now someone's come up with the idea. Basically you go on the app and it's a simple buy or sell transaction because you can forward your ticket once only so all it does is link buyers and sellers. I don't know if the app makes any money but there was tickets on sale for 40 quid on Tuesday.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: FatSam on October 24, 2024, 03:22:43 PM
The meaning evil are still reporting that we are going ahead with the North Stand extension!
Can anyone link to this article? I can't find it.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: waynejames on October 24, 2024, 09:58:37 PM
I saw tickets (limited amount) on sale for as low as 33 quid on Tuesday afternoon. I imagine there would have been some kind of transaction fee on top of each ticket sale.
Bit of a piss take if you ask me, the initial asking price of 94 dabs kept me away from this one. Bayern and either or of Juve Celtic are my two games to attend this season at the over inflated admission price.
Something has to give here Villa, please listen to your supporters.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: pauliewalnuts on October 24, 2024, 10:41:47 PM
It’s a shame these hideous fucking lizards are managing to cast a shadow over good times.

That line about hoping not to increase prices for later CL games is absolutely dripping with contempt and double speak.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on October 24, 2024, 11:02:56 PM
Did you hear the line from Heck that we're all "anti-American"?

The man talks through his arse. I'm just surprised he's not doing yoga so he can give himself a BJ. He's on borrowed time.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Des Little on October 24, 2024, 11:32:11 PM
‘We’re not all anti American…we just don’t like you, Chris’

Black font on an orange background.

Make it happen
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan82 on October 24, 2024, 11:37:29 PM
Did you hear the line from Heck that we're all "anti-American"?

The man talks through his arse. I'm just surprised he's not doing yoga so he can give himself a BJ. He's on borrowed time.

When did he say this? I must have missed it.

Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: jon collett on October 25, 2024, 11:27:49 AM
He's made a few patronising comments recently.

The narrative of which is he is the financial expert doing the right thing and his critics are small minded obsessives with empty lives.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Villan82 on October 25, 2024, 12:02:59 PM
He's made a few patronising comments recently.

The narrative of which is he is the financial expert doing the right thing and his critics are small minded obsessives with empty lives.

We might be small minded obsessives but we were here long before he came and will be here long after he leaves and if he wants us to part with our money buying up the 'product' and merch he needs to shift to hit his targets then he would do well to keep us onside and stop the high handed approach.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: jon collett on October 25, 2024, 12:06:44 PM
He's made a few patronising comments recently.

The narrative of which is he is the financial expert doing the right thing and his critics are small minded obsessives with empty lives.

We might be small minded obsessives but we were here long before he came and will be here long after he leaves and if he wants us to part with our money buying up the 'product' and merch he needs to shift to hit his targets then he would do well to keep us onside and stop the high handed approach.

Agree but I think his audience is other practitioners in his industry and he wants to explain away the adverse publicity him and Villa have got recently. Unfortunately he’s never going to care what Villa supporters think.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dekko on October 25, 2024, 12:07:14 PM
He's made a few patronising comments recently.

The narrative of which is he is the financial expert doing the right thing and his critics are small minded obsessives with empty lives.

Original version of this post i was asking for a link to the anti-american comment but I've found this, which I assume the poster was referring to:

https://www.crossingbroad.com/2024/07/this-isnt-wrexham-a-q-a-with-former-sixers-president-chris-heck-now-running-business-operations-for-the-premier-leagues-aston-villa.html

Quote
There’s only one thing that matters. It’s European football, and that’s it. That’s what matters. It really is part of their life, their lifestyle, it’s family, it’s generational. Everyone takes it really personally, and I respect that, and you have to be very careful with that. But I also want to win. If your compass is the right compass of ‘win” by also being respectful and doing things (the right way). I was reading something (recently), and I’ve been pretty good about getting off of social media. But I was getting destroyed for something that was wildly successful, just getting destroyed. But it’s 20 or 30 people killing you. So that’s kind of the game, the deal. The anti-American thing, it’s real. It’s real. And in many ways I get it. If you look at the way the (United States national team) has played this summer, you’re kind of like, ‘really? you’re the expert?‘ (laughing) But what I’ve been saying to everybody is that I’m not claiming to be the expert on the sporting side. I’m an expert on the business side. And I’m not apologizing for that. I do believe I surround myself with really good people. And I do believe that I will deliver results, and I do believe that they’ll be happy in the end. Change is tough. Change is hard.

I don't think its fair to say that he's calling fans 'small minded obsessives with no lives' hes just making the point that football is EXTREMELY important to people here.  And I think the anti-american comment is fair too - quite a lot of people in english football have a natural aversion to americans getting involved in the sport - sometimes with good reason!

The far more concerning thing with the quote for me is that I actually think he understands us and supporter culture better than we might think, its just that where it comes into conflict with his objectives he doesnt care.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dalians umbrella on October 25, 2024, 12:14:23 PM
He's made a few patronising comments recently.

The narrative of which is he is the financial expert doing the right thing and his critics are small minded obsessives with empty lives.

Got a link?

I'm starting to see a number of 'quotes' from the guy (like the anti-american one earlier) and often they turn out to be either things he's never said, or someone taking what hes actually said, then reading between the lines (and reading between those lines as well).

He definitely said the anti-american thing -  I saw him say it here

https://www.youtube.com/live/2Ox5fSxGfpg?si=lF2qjRdCfLKSQl44&t=4258 (https://www.youtube.com/live/2Ox5fSxGfpg?si=lF2qjRdCfLKSQl44&t=4258)
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: jon collett on October 25, 2024, 12:24:29 PM
Yep as I said what he says literally is designed to create a narrative around the business expert and the unfair critics.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Sexual Ealing on October 25, 2024, 12:29:13 PM
I think he's confusing us being anti-Chris Heck with being anti-American. Some of the worst people I've ever known have been American and we got on fine.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: Gareth on October 25, 2024, 12:39:06 PM
https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fan-groups-stage-stopexploitingloyalty-protests/

Don’t know if it will achieve anything but seems like a lot of recurring messages from lots of fanbases.  Needs unity though…and definitely needs some more of the FAB to follow Dave’s principles and show it up for what it is
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: dalians umbrella on October 25, 2024, 12:40:16 PM
https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fan-groups-stage-stopexploitingloyalty-protests/

I find Sing Fong's prices to be very reasonable. I think this is out of order.
Title: Re: Fans Advisory Board
Post by: markeeeebeeee2005 on October 25, 2024, 12:43:50 PM
How do our prices compare with Liverpool, Man U and Newcastle.

These are probably the closest to us in terms of geography and performance even if the first two are much bigger brands.
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