Post by Macmoish on Jan 24, 2013 10:56:28 GMT
Want to store them somewhere
blogs.metro.co.uk/author/mikeqpr/
Mike/QPR Report
Metro.co.uk
QPR: Club-fan communications at Loftus Road
10:12 am Thursday 24 January 2013
‘What we’ve got here is failure to communicate’ – The Warden in Cool Hand Luke.
A couple of weeks from now, (February 7th), Queen’s Park Rangers will be holding it’s fan forum – the club’s first in almost six years. This 2,000+ day ‘streak’ since the last QPR fan forum is something that some have long bemoaned. To put into some context, when QPR last held a fan forum, Gianni Paladini was Club Chairman, John Gregory was QPR Manager, and Marcus Bignot was Club Captain. (And Tony Blair and George Bush were leading their respective countries.)
Fan forums are obviously not a panacea for club-fan communication. But they are an integral and important component of a such communication.
It’s been some ten managers since QPR’s last fan forum. It is to be fervently hoped that it won’t be another ten managers before the next one.
Over the decades, the manner in which the club communicates with fans has radically changed – as of course, have fan expectations about what they are ‘entitled’ to know. This of course includes QPR fans from across the globe who have also become involved. Once, fans were afforded just the notes in the club programme, plus what they read in the newspapers and maybe the supporters club. (There were of course even in the pre-internet age, ‘in the know’ (ITK) fans who would spread gossip and disseminate rumours – some of them were even true!)
Information nowadays is transmitted through a plethora of avenues. Obviously clubs pay lip service to wanting communication with their fans. But communication remains overwhelmingly in one direction, in which carefully-screened information is disseminated to fans – and to the extent possible, bad news is completely ignored. Regrettably, the regular meetings between fan groups and the club have virtually ceased.
There is certainly not a ‘we’re all in this together’ feeling with an open and honest ’give and take’ between club and fans. I would argue that is to the club detriment. Given that most fans’ primary concern is the welfare of the club; and many fans have long institutional memories, the club loses out by not listening.
Different Chairman have acted differently. Chairman Briatore seemed to despise fans and basically ignored or disparaged them. Chairman Paladini had his ‘clique’ through whom he seemed to disseminate information. Chairman Power was that rarity – a fan become Chairman. Currently QPR have a Chairman who tweets in real time about QPR matters (although generally refraining from answering serious queries.) Anyway 140 characters and brief meetings with fans in the pubs, while better than nothing, is certainly not a serious avenue for answering questions..
Ultimately there may be an unbridgeable chasm between supporters of a club and a player, coach, employee or owner of a club. From a fan perspective, a club belongs to the fans. The owners are merely temporary trustees of a sacred trust. Players, managers and administrative staff are only temporary employees – who arrive and depart and spout platitudes about the club, while achieving some modicum of success or failure.
It’s been some ten managers since QPR’s last fan forum. It is to be fervently hoped that it won’t be another ten managers before the next one.
blogs.metro.co.uk/sport/qpr-club-fan-communications-loftus-road/
All 4 Blog Mike/QPR Posts
QPR: Club-fan communications at Loftus Road
QPR Report
Thursday 24 January
There is a chasm which ultimately can never be bridged between a supporter of a club. And a player, coach, employee or owner of a club. Different interests. It’s been some ten managers since QPR’ last fan forum.
A coming home (of sorts) – QPR visit West Ham
QPR Report
Thursday 17 January
It’s been a pretty good week for QPR – both on the field and off the field: A draw at home to Tottenham. Another away win for QPR in the Cup. And moves on the transfer front.
Next up for QPR: Tottenham Hostpur at Loftus Road – it’s time for justice
QPR Report
Thursday 10 January
In 1908, QPR finished top of the Southern League. Tottenham Hostspur finished Eighth. Yet it was Spurs who were elected to Division 2 and QPR were forced to play the next year, back in the Southern League.
QPR January transfer window rumours 2013
QPR Report
Friday 4 January
QPR fans are experiencing the deeply-depressing feeling of suffering from what is really a self-inflicted wound.
blogs.metro.co.uk/author/mikeqpr/
blogs.metro.co.uk/author/mikeqpr/
Mike/QPR Report
Metro.co.uk
QPR: Club-fan communications at Loftus Road
10:12 am Thursday 24 January 2013
‘What we’ve got here is failure to communicate’ – The Warden in Cool Hand Luke.
A couple of weeks from now, (February 7th), Queen’s Park Rangers will be holding it’s fan forum – the club’s first in almost six years. This 2,000+ day ‘streak’ since the last QPR fan forum is something that some have long bemoaned. To put into some context, when QPR last held a fan forum, Gianni Paladini was Club Chairman, John Gregory was QPR Manager, and Marcus Bignot was Club Captain. (And Tony Blair and George Bush were leading their respective countries.)
Fan forums are obviously not a panacea for club-fan communication. But they are an integral and important component of a such communication.
It’s been some ten managers since QPR’s last fan forum. It is to be fervently hoped that it won’t be another ten managers before the next one.
Over the decades, the manner in which the club communicates with fans has radically changed – as of course, have fan expectations about what they are ‘entitled’ to know. This of course includes QPR fans from across the globe who have also become involved. Once, fans were afforded just the notes in the club programme, plus what they read in the newspapers and maybe the supporters club. (There were of course even in the pre-internet age, ‘in the know’ (ITK) fans who would spread gossip and disseminate rumours – some of them were even true!)
Information nowadays is transmitted through a plethora of avenues. Obviously clubs pay lip service to wanting communication with their fans. But communication remains overwhelmingly in one direction, in which carefully-screened information is disseminated to fans – and to the extent possible, bad news is completely ignored. Regrettably, the regular meetings between fan groups and the club have virtually ceased.
There is certainly not a ‘we’re all in this together’ feeling with an open and honest ’give and take’ between club and fans. I would argue that is to the club detriment. Given that most fans’ primary concern is the welfare of the club; and many fans have long institutional memories, the club loses out by not listening.
Different Chairman have acted differently. Chairman Briatore seemed to despise fans and basically ignored or disparaged them. Chairman Paladini had his ‘clique’ through whom he seemed to disseminate information. Chairman Power was that rarity – a fan become Chairman. Currently QPR have a Chairman who tweets in real time about QPR matters (although generally refraining from answering serious queries.) Anyway 140 characters and brief meetings with fans in the pubs, while better than nothing, is certainly not a serious avenue for answering questions..
Ultimately there may be an unbridgeable chasm between supporters of a club and a player, coach, employee or owner of a club. From a fan perspective, a club belongs to the fans. The owners are merely temporary trustees of a sacred trust. Players, managers and administrative staff are only temporary employees – who arrive and depart and spout platitudes about the club, while achieving some modicum of success or failure.
It’s been some ten managers since QPR’s last fan forum. It is to be fervently hoped that it won’t be another ten managers before the next one.
blogs.metro.co.uk/sport/qpr-club-fan-communications-loftus-road/
All 4 Blog Mike/QPR Posts
QPR: Club-fan communications at Loftus Road
QPR Report
Thursday 24 January
There is a chasm which ultimately can never be bridged between a supporter of a club. And a player, coach, employee or owner of a club. Different interests. It’s been some ten managers since QPR’ last fan forum.
A coming home (of sorts) – QPR visit West Ham
QPR Report
Thursday 17 January
It’s been a pretty good week for QPR – both on the field and off the field: A draw at home to Tottenham. Another away win for QPR in the Cup. And moves on the transfer front.
Next up for QPR: Tottenham Hostpur at Loftus Road – it’s time for justice
QPR Report
Thursday 10 January
In 1908, QPR finished top of the Southern League. Tottenham Hostspur finished Eighth. Yet it was Spurs who were elected to Division 2 and QPR were forced to play the next year, back in the Southern League.
QPR January transfer window rumours 2013
QPR Report
Friday 4 January
QPR fans are experiencing the deeply-depressing feeling of suffering from what is really a self-inflicted wound.
blogs.metro.co.uk/author/mikeqpr/