I see the subject of this thread has been announced. Personally I have two thoughts on this. The first is that it is a nice touch given that this man did do so much to lets say assist in the saving of the Club and it is fitting to show him that people and the club are appreciative. The second is that this may also be a clever touch by James Brent bringing onboard the PASOTI favourite. Very astute PR if nothing else and it gives him a direct link to the terraces. Given his record I think it is good for the supporters also to have a man in the boardroom even if he probably won't have much in the way of clout. He will be privvy to a lot of what is happening and from what I've seen and read he is not afraid to put a point of view across. Good move all around in my opinion. Anyone think differently and if so why?
I think it's a good move also sensible, hopefully gone for good are the long dark days of when we the fans were treated like mushrooms, kept in the dark at all costs and treated with contempt. A new era perhaps?
Good move, but he will have to be careful what he posts on Pratoti if there is anything spoken about in the boardroom that is confidental.
I thought Webb had resigned from the Fans Trust? So who does he represent other than himself? I'd have been much happier if Brent had approached the Trust, in which we could all participate if we wanted, and asked it to nominate a fan representative. That way, there's always accountability at least to those fans that can be bothered to get involved for what the representative says & does. That person could have been Webb from inside the Trust but he chose to cut his ties with the Trust at a very convenient time i.e. not much more than a week before he suddenly steps into the club president role. Equally, Webb presumably won't report back to anyone at the fan's end of things. In all, fan representation must be a good thing but in my opinion this is badly executed and looks a bit like a stitch up.
It is certainly an alternative view notdistant and sounds full of intrigue you old suspicious you. You must agree that Webb is surely a fan first and foremost and would not be party to anything adverse to the club given the shift he put in. You seem to be suggesting he has sold out to the boardroom and was aware of the offer before he resigned or indeed his resignation was a passport to the appointment.
Apparently he had to be cajoled into accepting the position, think the next to be offered a position of some sort will be the Green Taverners !
Aren't the comments you make regarding Webb exactly what we all said about Stapleton 11 years or so ago.
I'm absolutely certain he knew before he resigned from the Trust, especially given the mutually fawning statements made by Brent & Webb just after the deal was done. That's the way the world works. "I hope Chris will continue to play a leadership role in the club," Brent added. Webb told BBC South West about his dealings with James Brent. "I have made it clear from the start that I have no desire to join the Argyle board but would love to talk to James about a future role at the club but I'm sure he has go more pressing matters at hand." Yes Chris we believe you, a career in union politics would have steered you well away from pre-arranged deals behind closed doors, wouldn't it? However, that's not the main point and maybe I shouldn't have diluted my comments by referring to it. The main point is that if Brent really wants to listen and talk to the fans, he should do it through someone who's representative of and accountable to the fans as a group i.e. through someone nominated democratically by the Trust. That could have been Webb and I'd have had no objection if that was the case. But instead Webb mysteriously chose to leave the Trust just when there might have been a chance of something that significant & revolutionary happening. Of course, it would have been awkward for Brent because it would have meant some degree of openness with Trust. Now we merely have Webb as a revered figurehead, accountable to no one. What's the point of that?
I'm not aware that Chris Webb has resigned from the trust.........I assumed that he had stepped down from leading the trust. I wouldn't for one moment expect Chris to be looking for rewards for all the work that he had put in since becoming the Trusts Leader. Being Club President is no more than an honorary position and Chris at first refused it.........but was talked into taking it on behalf of the Trust........ in acknowledgement of their work in saving the club from extinction. I think we should read no more than that into the Honour.............remember Chris as a union official is not a bosses man and would not accept it.......if strings were attached...........I do feel that he was a breath of fresh air at a moment when there was not too much of it around............and stepped down the moment the battle was won.
Agree with you on that Plymborn, seems his own (Union) man. Being so, perhaps he can get a couple of Left Wingers into the club!
My point entirely Plymborn, why step down when a single battle is won? It looks as if that may have been no more than a skirmish with the more significant part of the war still to be fought i.e. to avoid falling out of the League [personally I don't fancy our chances] and making sure rash financial policies aren't deployed ever again. This isn't about Webb as such, a chance has been missed to establish a permanent, effective and transparent link to the fans. Instead of that, we have some sort of honorary post which is going to achieve what precisely?
Webb stepped down as Plymborn has said. The reason behind it was that he wanted to concentrate full time on his role in the workers union he represents. The role was offered to him by Brent and after numerous communications from his old partners in the trust he took it. Brent has yet to set up the new board so I imagine the trust/GT's will be allocated a spot for a representative anyway. Webb being president is good PR (better than the Japanese chap...did he do anything for the club?) for the local community and as a loyal fan he will be a excellent ambassador for the club.
I think rash financial policies can be left to the capable control of James Brent...........his track record looks OK to an amatuer like myself..............that is more your area to judge notdistantgreen. His livelihood must come first at some time.......which requires a lot of travel through the West Country and South Wales. The survival of PAFC was paramount.......and Chris Webb saw that as an important agenda for his ability to home in on a single cause.........once that had been accomplished the driving force behind him was obviously satisfied..............there are others within the Trust that will watch how things go from here.......who are capable to do that............Chris Webb hasn't gone away, he is still around and I'm sure capable to put in his sixpennyworth when asked to. I would have been confident that Chris would've been the right man to have in my corner if I had ever been in a work dispute situation.
So, having done all he could for the club via the Trust and wanting to devote 100% of his time to his Union duties, the first thing Webb does after leaving part-time activities in the Trust is take up a part-time role within the club? Really? I'm very glad you've led the sort of idyllic life which enables you to believe that sort of saccharine stuff Plymborn.
I must say that I didn't see any agenda other than the saving of the club from Webb previously. Yes I think there was a lot of happy slapping of backs on PASOTI and grovelling type responses to his postings from the masses but still the only aim was the club. I never saw his involvement as a means to getting such an appointment as this. I see it as a good PR move by Brent and I could see he would have an agenda but I cannot see somebody like Webb selling his soul for a title. I also think he is a figure head that the masses can relate to being one of them and is a way of having a go between boardroom and terraces. Reference the post above from greens-are-good, I didn't take part in any forums 11 years ago or talk Argyle with numerous others so I have no idea what was being said about Stapleton at that time or how it relates to this subject. As far as I know Stapleton was looking to take over the club as a whole at that time whereas Webb is merely being given an honourary roll and title. I can't see where this is remotely similar unless you can tell me what I'm missing.
After such a dodgy year for PAFC........... I can understand that some people will think that there is an ulterior motive behind everything that is done........that I find is a very sad situation. There has to be a time when trust has got to start........nothing saccharine about my view notdistantgreen.......it is just a hope and a desire to move on and have faith in something or someone that can build bridges and cement foundations to build something worthwhile on. The dreaded Peter Ridsdale, not liked by many people is another case in question. What we hear about his past track record should scare the pants off us,but I try to judge him on what he has done for PAFC..........I see more positives than negatives so far, and until he does something that hurts PAFC then I shall be thankful for the plusses. He certainly doesn't try to curry favour,thats for sure.............the sacking of Peter Reid would not make him any new friends thats for sure...........but it was long over due in my eyes. The promoting of Fletcher and Larrieu from the ranks I found difficult to go along with but.............beggers can't be choosers, the money isn't there to employ someone with a good track record.......so it's cross fingers time...........and hope we have some good re-enforcements to bolster the playing staff.........and a Cup run would do no ill to our cause.........hopefully rubbing off on our league form and helping to pay some of that debt off........could be exciting times ahead.....it's about time.
I'll direct you to this thread Plymborn: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/94852-Roll-of-honour in which an admittedly small sample of fans seemed to agree it would be wrong for any individual or small cadre to be lionised for their efforts to save the club. It seems to me that's exactly what's happened to Webb. However, I don't have a particular issue with Webb [apart from being a full time trade union official from and old style Marxist union at our expense]. If he'd been appointed ex officio as Chairman of the Trust, all well and good. The point I'm making is that this ISN'T proper fan participation and a chance has been missed for that to happen.
