If the fans have decided that Fletcher has to go and that he won't be tolerated anymore by the paying customers, aka "fans", then the fans need to maintain that decision come what may. Football fans are renowned for being fickle and results driven but if their opinions are to be taken seriously then a consistent voice and viewpoint is required. A few weeks ago when defeat after defeat was taking place and an imminent place in the drop zone was on the cards, PASOTI was united in utter condemnation of Carl Fletcher. To a man, almost every PASOTI-poster was calling for his head. This started to take a tangible and visible effect on the board who were pressured from all angles to be seen to be doing something about the problem. Inevitably, there followed a mini false dawn whereby a handful of reasonable results, a draw and the odd ok performance took place. Sadly, predictably, the mood and stance on PASOTI changed instantly in response to the false dawn and the pressure on Fletcher was released in full like a steam loco venting its boiler and dumping its firebox! Now, just a couple of weeks later, we're back in the same predicament as further inevitable poor results have put us back knocking on the door of the non-league drop again. PASOTI is now trying desparately to re-stoke the fire and increase the boiler pressure back on Fletcher but having fully released all steam and fire, they've now reset the gauge back to zero and it will take some time to build up sufficient force again. What I'm trying to say is stop changing your goddam minds!! If you really want rid of Fletcher, if you really think he is the root of all the problems, if you really think he is not the one to take the club forwards then you have to stick by that stance regardless of any minor improvement in results. Fickleness and constant rounds of releasing the pressure just plays right into the hands of the reluctant and indecisive board.
The slacking off of the pressure was immediately apparent on PASOTI. From literally months of nothing but "Fletcher out" type posts, as soon as a couple of reasonable results were in the bag then all talk of "Fletcher out" evaporated like superheated steam. There suddenly started appearing light hearted threads, celebratory threads, talk of how we can now push on etc. This fickleness must stop. Fans have more power than they realise. If the fans are angry and piling on the pressure then the media pick up on this and start applying pressure of their own in order to get stories to sell to the fans. Media pressure can't be ignored by the board and so they are forced to act in some way. As soon the pressure is released then demand drops and so the media go back to churning out standard match reports and useless information articles only. Management at football clubs have to deal with and answer to the media. The media are driven by what the consumers are seeking and saying. If there's no pressure from us, then there's no pressure from the media and that lets James Brent and Carl Fletcher off the hook.
The problem with PASOTI is that their leadership I feel is too near the powers that be at PAFC. The rank and file members are easily pulled into line by comments that they are undermining the manager and players and are not good supporters. Most of the more militant internet fans had to move on, hence the birth of ATD........and the personal squabbles that then arose.....all this causing a dilution of solidarity. Of course the majority of fans do not even dabble on the internet and have no idea who the main players are in opposition to the present situation at Home Park. That is where the Fans Trust have a voice,unfortunately since the early days of 1500 members many have not renewed their membership, and it has also met opposition and been undermined by the setting up of the PASB which is a tool set up by James Brent. So it is the old divide and seperate problem of splitting the opposition into smaller powerless groupings. At least a majority of the main posters on 606 have not wavered in their opinion of Carl Fletchers management skills.......but we of course are hardly known beyond the touch of our on and off switches. Green on Screen have not recognized our existence and were not polite enough to answer an inquiry why not. So it is a bit like spitting in the wind for small divided groupings.
All it takes is one voice Plymborn and this site might be small in numbers but apart from Notdistant and Mexijan the rest are united in the "Fletcher Out Camp". The voices who arnt on the internet have already voiced their opinions by many staying away from Home Park, Brent is neither blind nor deaf so my opinion of him that he was an astute business man is clearly wrong !
Fletcher is a cheap option for Brent and Brent does cheap. That is about the size of it. You have to ask yourself what Brent's true motive is in obtaining the club. Even notdistant knows that it wasn't for the football and was all about the outside interests. I think in his case the fans can call for whatever they want as long as it won't cost anything. Replacing the manager would cost and I seriously do not think that Brent will do this come hell or high water. I hope I'm wrong in both counts but I fear I'm not. Pasoti is controlled to a certain extent. By the wrong people who have self interest in their own positions. They love feeding off the scraps from the top table as they see it and will continue to control what is put out on pasoti and therefore what Brent reads. It suits them both. The voices though were heard at the ground last match and if the results continue I have a feeling they will get louder and louder with more seats empty. Brent knows. It's whether he gives a flying one or not that matters. His true colours will be revealed in a short time when he will be unable to disguise his true interests any longer. Either he will show he cares or that he doesn't. If it becomes clear it is the second one then there will be civil war.
But what was the clubs famous statement before the season started....." we will be aiming for promotion this season".....
FFS Sensible it's me that's been telling you over & over again exactly why Brent bought the club - for the property deals. We don't have to wonder at all what his motives were. I'm not apologising for him, I'm just pointing out the obvious, namely that he doesn't give a tinker's for the football and anyone who thinks he's suddenly going to chuck large sums of money into it at any time are delusional. If the fans walk, then he can say he made at clear at the outset that he'd only buy the club if nobody else wanted it and that he did his best to bring the fans into the running of the club but that the support just isn't there. This isn't some cunning plan on his part: as a professional businessman, he genuinely thinks football clubs should be run with discipline and fan involvement but the fans seem to be several steps behind in their thinking. But no skin off his nose either way, he can certainly justify the price he paid by reference to the property deals alone so the club is expendable. What he's tried to do will stand up perfectly well in the council chamber even if it fails so he won't suffer any significant loss of face if it goes belly up due to antediluvian attitudes amongst the fans. We are on our own here........ Now personally I think this is a good thing. I'd rather have that than some pornographer or snooker player with a passing interest in the publicity gained from owning a football club since that's likely to lead to a short burst of success followed by a very hard crash. But then, that's academic as there weren't even any pornographers who wanted PAFC were there? I don't think he sticks with Fletcher because he's cheap. I think he sticks with him because he genuinely thinks he has someone who can do a decent job within the confines of the financial disciplines which will [WILL] apply [COME WHAT MAY]. He's committed to that for the foreseeable future by the decision to appoint a D of F. You can agree or disagree with that and shout "Fletcher Out" to your heart's content but it isn't going to change and the chanting & booing will distract the players. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.
Brent does not care about Pafc only his own pocket.. He is in it for the deals as we all know. but he once said he wanted to get the club back to the championship.. Bollocks1 he took the club on so as to get in with the other clowns on the council.. lining their own pockets. No different than the toad or gardener really... same breed. Fans will not pay to watch the crap, its clear that most want Fletcher gone.
As I've said elsewhere Sensible, you're deluding yourself if you think that. Fletcher seems to have cracked under the pressure and become a loose cannon by complaining about the budget. This is an extension of the plan [which I agree with] not a reversal of it.
I'm being "positive" notdistant not deluded. There is a difference if only just. It's my New Year resolution which as you know with resolutions generally doesn't last past the end of the first week.
Brent is only in this to line his pockets, he does not give a toss. sameas Toad and gardener a greedy twat
Well, in a spirit of positivity, I'll offer you a small straw to clutch at. I think Brent does want to prosper. Nobody likes to be associated with failure for a start.... much less if your business reputation depends on avoiding it. But that's on his own terms, it's not going to extend to rash spending. Unfortunately I doubt enough fans will support a programme of slow but sustainable growth. As evidence I put forward the morons who booed the substitution of Feeney for Harvey against Wycombe. It transpires Harvey had a thigh injury but hey, let's not let the facts interfere with a good Fletcher bashing session.
I do agree that Brent wants things to prosper....even if it is on his terms only......and fans need to grasp that fact.
Not many are giving Fletcher a bashing on this site compared to the other sites with the foul abuse. we have all had our say and wished him well in the future. Not been abusive to him. I admit i wanted him out the last few months but we all gave him a chance but it went on to long for us and him i feel.. Now we move on and awai t the next stage in the re building of the club, its now up to Brent to get the right person and that will hope fully get better results and get more people through the gates.. easy really ... lol
You do get the feeling that James Brent is a good employer.....and not into knee-jerk responses with his staff.......unfortunately football is only into winning games and he probably let Fletcher go on too long........that's the problem when you get to friendly with your emplyees.....sad but fact.
Yes good in one respect .. but not good for anyone long term if things are not going well. Keep you distance from employees. Its tough..
