It'd be good if we could use the name and the head, but it's not the end of the world if we can't. It just needs a bit more imagination. The battle is about what's best for Hull City, not a crusade against the Allams. It could be another opportunity. If we create a badge that's similar but just different enough, it could generate a winable battle for the name of our club. But it should be more of a positive fans experience campaign that takes the Allams out of the equation. If they put measures in place to block it, it's another opportunity to overcome it and somehow spin it to a positive for fans. How a out fans designing a new club badge and using OURS, as was proposed a bit back?
You can apply for a trade mark to be revoked if it hasn't been used for over five years, but as the club is still called Hull City, you wouldn't have a prayer of actually getting it revoked. Using on anything that was amber and black would be considered passing off anyway. It would be a brave man who went and stuck a load of cash into Hull City branded merchandise, one call from the club to Trading Standards and it would all be gone.
Then don't brand it Hull City. Fans can create our own brand and bypass the Allams. They may own the bricks and mortar, but the soul is not for sale. The current campaign effectively lumps fans in with the bid. We are above and way beyond that.
It's a nice idea, but I'm not sure how it's possible to reclaim the name when you're not actually able to use the name, particularly when the club already don't use it.
Other people seem able to grasp it. The fans are more than just the name, and there are ways around having to use 'their' designs anyway. It just needs an open discussion and positive thinking. The negativity is sucking the life out of fans as well as the club.
Something different needs to be tried in place of the current strategy. In my view it needs positive support, rather than negative obstruction.
These are good ideas, so why not do them? If you want the Trust's involvement, then put it to us properly. Let us know what you're doing and what bits you want help with and I'm sure we'll be able to help. If you want communication, we're contactable by various different media, and we're interested to hear any proposals of this nature. Sorry, we don't have time to individually canvas every City fan on a regular basis to ask for ideas. I suspect though that really you have no interest in this, and really just want to take this opportunity to list some the things the Trust should automatically have done on everyone's behalf but haven't. We're all volunteers remember.
I've just put the ideas to you. Unless you're saying you can only read it if it's via some official channel. To be honest, part of the reason I kept out of it, is the negative reaction anything other than the party line gets form one or two who seem to think they know best. As is often the case, your suspicions are wrong, and your words reveal your attitude towards communicating with fans. Unity is strength. We should be looking to create a positive fan experience, not seeing everything as a challenge for supremacy.
DMDs crusade against the Supporters Trust is really, really tiresome and buggers up more threads than Patty does. Dutch - seriously - you say you're putting ideas forward but you're just uttering vague buzzy statements about "positivity" and talking about launching an alternative City brand (not a bad idea btw) without any tangible suggestions as to how to do that. Those aren't ideas that anyone can discuss because there's nothing in them. I think OLM's assertions about copyright and trading standards are worth more than a shrug of the shoulders and a dismissal, btw. I think the idea of having clothing, kit, whatever it may be with Hull City (AFC) on it is great - but you have to be realistic and there isn't a cat in hell's chance of pulling it off. That said, if you have an actual idea, a thing that can be done to get around that, then let's have it! Muttering about "positivity" is all good and well but you haven't suggested anything that anyone can actually DO. This isn't meant to be another sodding argument. Ideas are great. But tell us them, instead of just portentously suggesting you might have one but not actually revealing what it is. Additionally, your gripe that the Supporters Trust doesn't communicate with people really just sounds like you don't think they communicate with YOU. Is there any wonder?
I looked at getting involved, but disagree with the approach of some involved. And before you ask, no, I'm not going into detail as it's not constructive. I see nothing wrong in people on forums such as this posting opinions and having them discussed. There is a problem with the matchday experience. There are possible ways fans can work towards changing that. I'm not sure why some see that as a problem, rather than a clear opportunity to help each other and show what fans can do in the process. It can occur at the same time as a united fans group, with other clubs that are having issues, pushing Sky and the prem by pointing out the detrimental impact it has on the PL brand.
I expected you popping up with something like that. You usually do. So in amongst that, you seem to support the principle, you think some bits I raised are okay. It's not a case of one person laying out a stand alone business plan, it's about many people contributing and ideas being suggested with a more positive view. You seem to suggest a positive attitude is a negative, which is simply bizarre. How would you see the ideas getting progressed and what else do you think could be added?
