An open letter from Ehab...

[Trumpton Tiger.]

The Allams have 'lost' over recent years maybe 10,000 supporters, some of those I accept may have left anyway once the Premier days came to end. Back of a *** packet calculation suggests that's probably costing the club somewhere around £4-5m a season in revenue.That's a big difference when the club is now significantly more dependent upon gate income to both sustain a decent team, never mind mounting a promotion challenge without the injection of further shareholder funds which the Allams have already stated they won't do.

That's one hell of an achievement, and one completely of the owners own making! Against such a backdrop, it's probable until they are gone a fair number of those supporters will never turn up at home matches.

Ehab with his open letter I applaud him for attempting to build bridges, but without a change in investment strategy, more consultation, correction of still outstanding issues, it's too little too late I fear for the vast majority of those no longer attending. If the Allams are still here in 10 years (heaven forbid) I still don't feel they have any chance of repairing their relationship with the supporters fully. Once you've lost somebody's trust, it's bloody difficult to get it back!

I wish Terry and his new team all the best for this season, the fact Nige became the last manager/head coach to walk says it all really about the state of affairs also off the pitch!

Assem and Ehab, do us all a favour, including yourselves, do whatever you have to do get the selling price of the club down to c£25m, walk away and let new custodians of what primarily is a community asset take it forward with a fresh start. It's the only way the club has any chance of getting most of those 10,000 back 'overnight'

The 10,000 'supporters' they 'lost' were the 10,000 they had jumped on the bandwagon which started with Pearson and gained momentum with the move to the new stadium. They were attracted back because the team were winning on the field and left as soon as we weren't.
The ideal scenario would have to have kept those extra 10,000 supporters and attracted another 10,000 to go with them which would only have been achieved if we had the infrastructure to maintain it, which we don't.
The Allams for all their failings did attempt to rectify this with their talks with the council about developing the stadium and surrounding area so we could grow as a club. Pearson had also held similar talks with the council over the development of the area and he too hit a brick wall and eventually sold up.
Its all water under the bridge now because the opportunity was lost and will probably never raise its head again but the facts remain we are what we are whilst we play from a shared council owned stadium with a capacity touching 25k.
Until someone can add some value to the club with bricks and mortar and separate income streams we will be in this position for ever, no matter who the owners are because folks, there are no fairy godmothers out there with bottomless pits of money to pour into a club like ours without expecting a return on it.
The present owners and the present council had it all within their grasp to really push this club and city forward and between them they fluffed it massively.
Having said that we are probably a mid table Championship club ( hopefully) who have an outside chance of making the Play Off's and on the gates we will be attracting this season that is quite some achievement. We are also in danger of going the other way, two defeats in a week is enough to put that fear into a club at this early stage of the season.
Anyhow, first home game of the season and I intend to enjoy it whilst I can.
We are what we are.

 

[Edelman]

The 10,000 'supporters' they 'lost' were the 10,000 they had jumped on the bandwagon which started with Pearson and gained momentum with the move to the new stadium. They were attracted back because the team were winning on the field and left as soon as we weren't.
The ideal scenario would have to have kept those extra 10,000 supporters and attracted another 10,000 to go with them which would only have been achieved if we had the infrastructure to maintain it, which we don't.
The Allams for all their failings did attempt to rectify this with their talks with the council about developing the stadium and surrounding area so we could grow as a club. Pearson had also held similar talks with the council over the development of the area and he too hit a brick wall and eventually sold up.
Its all water under the bridge now because the opportunity was lost and will probably never raise its head again but the facts remain we are what we are whilst we play from a shared council owned stadium with a capacity touching 25k.
Until someone can add some value to the club with bricks and mortar and separate income streams we will be in this position for ever, no matter who the owners are because folks, there are no fairy godmothers out there with bottomless pits of money to pour into a club like ours without expecting a return on it.
The present owners and the present council had it all within their grasp to really push this club and city forward and between them they fluffed it massively.
Having said that we are probably a mid table Championship club ( hopefully) who have an outside chance of making the Play Off's and on the gates we will be attracting this season that is quite some achievement. We are also in danger of going the other way, two defeats in a week is enough to put that fear into a club at this early stage of the season.
Anyhow, first home game of the season and I intend to enjoy it whilst I can.
We are what we are.

There is easily enough quality in that squad to finish top 10

 

[Ron Burguvdy]

While I realise the Allams haven't apologised for their series of awful decisions, and of course people are free to do what they like and continue to stay away, I do just find it sad that there isn't much evidence of any change of heart from people on here. The Allams have, admittedly due to the pressure imposed on them, gone back on many of their worst decisions, and do seem to be trying to rebuild bridges - I almost don't care what their motives are for doing this. It seems to be that by continuing to boycott, people are in danger of hurting the team and a promising new manager, as well as depriving themselves of doing the thing they love on a Saturday afternoon.
Would also just add that all over the world, reconciliation has depended on laying down grudges. If can be done in Northern Ireland and South Africa, seems sad it can't be done over something as ultimately trivial as football. I realise this seems to be a minority view.

Reconciliation in the examples you give involve power sharing or some variant of democracy - this is all on the Allan's terms and conditions veiled as some softening, like a customer service apology were you are told, "we are sorry if you believe your feelings were hurt" ...

 

[highpeak tiger]

The Allams have, admittedly due to the pressure imposed on them, gone back on many of their worst decisions,

So, just when the pressure starts to tell, we let them off the hook?
Errr, no thanks

 

[Barchullona]

While I realise the Allams haven't apologised for their series of awful decisions, and of course people are free to do what they like and continue to stay away, I do just find it sad that there isn't much evidence of any change of heart from people on here. The Allams have, admittedly due to the pressure imposed on them, gone back on many of their worst decisions, and do seem to be trying to rebuild bridges - I almost don't care what their motives are for doing this. It seems to be that by continuing to boycott, people are in danger of hurting the team and a promising new manager, as well as depriving themselves of doing the thing they love on a Saturday afternoon.
Would also just add that all over the world, reconciliation has depended on laying down grudges. If can be done in Northern Ireland and South Africa, seems sad it can't be done over something as ultimately trivial as football. I realise this seems to be a minority view.

No doubt in the unlikely event of us returning to the PL with them in charge bridges will be demolished and once again the supporters will be once again irrelevant and a set of ****s. The fact is that the fans remained irrelevant to them and they didn’t care less about a half empty stadium and consequent lack of atmosphere until the money dried up. No bridges built until then.What they did with the money given to help away fans in the PL showed the contempt and disregard they held their own fans in.

 

[originallambrettaman]

The 10,000 'supporters' they 'lost' were the 10,000 they had jumped on the bandwagon which started with Pearson and gained momentum with the move to the new stadium. They were attracted back because the team were winning on the field and left as soon as we weren't.
The ideal scenario would have to have kept those extra 10,000 supporters and attracted another 10,000 to go with them which would only have been achieved if we had the infrastructure to maintain it, which we don't.
The Allams for all their failings did attempt to rectify this with their talks with the council about developing the stadium and surrounding area so we could grow as a club. Pearson had also held similar talks with the council over the development of the area and he too hit a brick wall and eventually sold up.
Its all water under the bridge now because the opportunity was lost and will probably never raise its head again but the facts remain we are what we are whilst we play from a shared council owned stadium with a capacity touching 25k.
Until someone can add some value to the club with bricks and mortar and separate income streams we will be in this position for ever, no matter who the owners are because folks, there are no fairy godmothers out there with bottomless pits of money to pour into a club like ours without expecting a return on it.
The present owners and the present council had it all within their grasp to really push this club and city forward and between them they fluffed it massively.
Having said that we are probably a mid table Championship club ( hopefully) who have an outside chance of making the Play Off's and on the gates we will be attracting this season that is quite some achievement. We are also in danger of going the other way, two defeats in a week is enough to put that fear into a club at this early stage of the season.
Anyhow, first home game of the season and I intend to enjoy it whilst I can.
We are what we are.

They wanted a free stadium for a private property development and have been sulking and ****ing everyone off in a petulant strop ever since they didn’t get it.

You can attempt to rewrite history, but I’m afraid it won’t wash with anyone who’s been paying attention for the past five years.

 

[Chazz Rheinhold]

They wanted a free stadium for a private property development and have been sulking and ****ing everyone off in a petulant strop ever since they didn’t get it.

You can attempt to rewrite history, but I’m afraid it won’t wash with anyone who’s been paying attention for the past five years.

What did Adam want it for?

 

[originallambrettaman]

What did Adam want it for?

Adam never tried to take over the stadium, he wanted to build a hotel and casino, which is an option that was available to the Allams (they even drew up plans for it).

 

[Chazz Rheinhold]

Adam never tried to take over the stadium, he wanted to build a hotel and casino, which is an option that was available to the Allams (they even drew up plans for it).

Adam was blocked and stopped in everything he tried to get moving. He was just a bloody good diplomat.
The Allams obviously believed the line they got from the council and took it hook line and sinker! And threw their toys out when they realised they’d been suckered

 

[Barchullona]

They wanted a free stadium for a private property development and have been sulking and ****ing everyone off in a petulant strop ever since they didn’t get it.

You can attempt to rewrite history, but I’m afraid it won’t wash with anyone who’s been paying attention for the past five years.

Doesn’t alter what he said about the 10,000 fans. Football may be popular in Hull regarding people playing it and watching it in pubs but it isn’t a football city in the way sone cities are in the connection of the people there to the club.

 

[rovertiger]

Since this daft twat wrote his letter i've had two arguements with people who have tried to change my opinion over this issue. I soon told them to go **** themselves and take the Allam roses out of their eyes.
They're starting to panic now because they know they'll have to use their own money to run the Club and this snivelling letter is supposed to mend fences. I've reached the age this year (June) where I can get concessions but even that isn't tempting me to return and watch the games. I just can't bring myself after all they've said and done to give them my money. I will be back but only when these two ****s are gone from our beloved Club.
So Allams please go as soon as possible for the fans sake and if thats too polite for you then please **** off and then **** off some more.

 

[Edelman]

No doubt in the unlikely event of us returning to the PL with them in charge bridges will be demolished and once again the supporters will be once again irrelevant and a set of ****s. The fact is that the fans remained irrelevant to them and they didn’t care less about a half empty stadium and consequent lack of atmosphere until the money dried up. No bridges built until then.What they did with the money given to help away fans in the PL showed the contempt and disregard they held their own fans in.

 

[originallambrettaman]

Adam was blocked and stopped in everything he tried to get moving. He was just a bloody good diplomat.
The Allams obviously believed the line they got from the council and took it hook line and sinker! And threw their toys out when they realised they’d been suckered

They weren’t suckered, Assem’s just deluded.

 

[Noggin The Nog]

How many today? Less than 10k? 9 and a half at a push!

 

[originallambrettaman]

How many today? Less than 10k? 9 and a half at a push!

It’ll be more than that, it’s about the same number of members as last season and I’m not sure it includes corporate members.

 

[originallambrettaman]

Doesn’t alter what he said about the 10,000 fans. Football may be popular in Hull regarding people playing it and watching it in pubs but it isn’t a football city in the way sone cities are in the connection of the people there to the club.

I suspect, that like me, you know a great many City fans who've supported the club for decades, but aren't currently attending games. I think they'd probably dispute the claim that they're all 'bandwagon jumpers'.

Obviously, we'll get bigger attendances in the Premier League and we'll even have season ticket holders who are there to watch the opposition more than us, but our owners have played a major part in halving our attendances, whatever Billy Bollocks claims.

 

[Asterix]

Every post has "the Allams", note plural. This is number one son trying to repair the damage papa caused. Even the whiff of a PR company coauthoring said missive. And the strong suspicion not signed off by the old man, for whatever reason.

 

[dennisboothstash]

They weren’t suckered, Assem’s just deluded.

This^
They were never promised anything or fed a line at all
They just didn’t get immediately told they couldn’t do it (because no one would have been in a position to say that due to Local Authority legal governance) so assumed that meant that they definitely would get it
They only hear what they want to hear and believe what they want to believe

 

[City Man]

Every post has "the Allams", note plural. This is number one son trying to repair the damage papa caused. Even the whiff of a PR company coauthoring said missive. And the strong suspicion not signed off by the old man, for whatever reason.

Do you have any proof of this?

 

[NYC tiger]

'Aside from Liam cooper, which academy player is in a regular lineup? Serious question btw'.

I answered the question you posed, I'm not sure why you think the answer was funny, it was just the answer.

Fair enough. I think I asked a more specific question in my minds eye, which was “which players are in a regular lineup for a good level of football”, which is a different question of course and hence the humour response.