The answer to this is simple and has already been given. At this moment in time the whole issue of the advertising is being reviewed. The plan is to reduce the amount of space given up to it. This may free up space for banners the size of the "In Bruce We Trust". Dialogue is taking place with the SMC stadium team and the club to look at further ways to have banners and flags in the stadium.
If we supply a banner for the SMC to display it has to be fire inspected, it has to be stored and it has to be rehung for each match. If we want a large banner to be passed over the crowd, the SMC will need to inspect it and they will either allow forum members to control it with the stewards or it will be stewards who do the lot. Forum members would need to be available for any briefing that the SMC will require and possibly will need to be supervised. The rules are that flags and banners bigger than 6x4 are not allowed to be brought in, Although I am sure that bigger banners do get carried in they are likely not to be in place very long.
DMD has suggested that for the legends series of flags we stick to 6x4 for the time being. This will enable a shorter lead time between design, manufacture and display as it does not involve the SMC.
THE WORDING ON THE BANNER HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ANY CONVERSATION WITH THE CLUB OR THE SMC! THE USE OF HULL CITY HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED. ONLY ONE CONDITION HAS BEEN SET AND THAT IS THAT THE CLUB APPROVES THE WORDING AND IMAGE PRIOR TO IT BEING DISPLAYED BY THE SMC.
The club will not allow images or wording that could be offensive to anyone on any banner, large or small, bring a flag into the stadium that has swearing on it and it will not last long for instance for instance.
It is obvious that any banner that is designed to unite supporters in the support of the team and manager, cannot be used by either the club or protesters as being sympathetic to one side or another. But the use of Hull City is not barred by anyone and as far as I know would not be barred by the club. If we have banners that include Hull City or Hull, will the be approved, I do not think that there will be a problem, but it would depend on the context. Equally if we use Tigers on the banners would that seem to be supportive of the name change?
There is not contrivance, just supporters wanting to support the team and manager. Making this whole issue about being pro or anti is simply wrong.
Just a couple of points:
1. I have read the comments of Dutch were he says all advertising is being reviewed. Other than that I have seen nothing that gives anything positive about when, where or how banners will be hung - if I have missed it please supply a link.
2. I agree there will be various conditions on supplying large banners (in excess of 6x4), as you seem to be in the know, perhaps you could enlighten us all to the full detail, as, with the exception of the fire control, the ones you have mentioned have been discussed already; although I am particularly interested in your points about 'manning' the operation on match day., , it sounds like quite an undertaking over a season.
3. You really did not need to shout your capitalised paragraph as the message comes across loud and clear without shouting; but thank you for confirming that there is no agreement that Hull City AFC will be allowed - but I am surprised you say it has not even been discussed as I could have sworn I had been told it had been. To be fair, if the club approve the wording then I think the point I have made has some merit - don't you?
4. So no one really knows whether or not a banner with Hull City AFC on it would be allowed? I would have thought that the whole marketing drive and name-change initiative, coupled with his recently announced re-application, might give folk, who are questioning me, some pause for thought. Maybe not.
5. My simple argument - forget the circular bullshit - is that (if you are not pro-name-change or a fence-sitter) not including the historic name of the club, on banners of players who played under that name, can be seen as sympathetic to the name-change initiative - I understand fully that you, Happy Tiger, Chazz and others don't care. The club's name continues to be under threat and I believe that it should be protected in everyway possible, not weakened by a banner appeal that is of excellent intent, but poorly timed. The 'In Bruce We Trust' banner was, I thought, meant to be a one off in support of Bruce when he seemed to be under the cosh of injuries; the Steptoe banner only resulted because excess funds were burning a hole.
6. This is the statement that I believe is at the basis of the whole naivety of this approach:
"
It is obvious that any banner that is designed to unite supporters in the support of the team and manager, cannot be used by either the club or protesters as being sympathetic to one side or another".
Why is it so bloody obvious to you? In principle I would agree, but since when has Assem Allam been a man who comes across as principled in matters relating to the club, it's name and the supporters (hooligans) who wish to keep it? Equally, could it be seen that if we design a banner with the clear name 'Hull City AFC' on it, that we would be considered provocative and reverting to our hooligan roots?
Believe me, I would love for this excellent banner initiative to be able to progress and flourish, I would support it as I did the Bruce banner, but I believe there are too many other factors that require sorting before it will be possible.