Ehab Speaks

[dennisboothstash]

The first part discusses the very real problem of fan displeasure having a negative effect on any sale opportunity. No one can deny this factor is important and worthy of more consideration. They want the sale, we want the sale, a way of making that happen is the responsibility of both sides - but both should have boundaries.

Perhaps the message can swing from 'Allams Out' to 'New Owners In'.

Perhaps embracing change to a foreign manager can be used to demonstrate a welcome to a foreign owner.

'Allam Out' has been the call and I think he has got the message; it's not the Allams we have to convince. There is an opportunity for change and it should be considered.

Regarding transfers he is as clear as he should be. Players who want away will go - at the right price. I can't see anything wrong with that.

He says there are more to come in, but to an agreed budget. I can't see anything wrong with that, either.

This is the most honest and revealing interview for a very long time, and certainly one that didn't attack the supporters, but simply said it as it is. Whether or not he accepts any blame is immaterial, what is important is that another opportunity isn't missed.

I can...and do
I don't think it (protests having a negative affect) is true

Not to say that I don't think that it's beneficial for everyone to try and encourage the sale, I just don't believe that protests negatively affect the sale. If anything I think they help because a new owner would know that they would be heralded as a better owner without even trying

 

[Kempton]

Liar!

 

[Dr.Stanley O'Google, HCFC]

Liar!

 

[GCTiger]

“I had a meeting after one game attended by people interested in buying the club and the first question was: ‘What is the problem with the fans? Do they not like foreign owners?’

Thank goodness those alleged suitors didn't succeed ! Didn't do their homework did they Ehab ?
Are these incompetents born liars ? Do they think the rest of the world outside their coccooned realism are so unaware of the issues ?
Bloody amazing.

What was his response when they asked that question though? Did he lie to them as well marking the entire match day attendance as xenophobic or did he fall on his sword (unlikely)? What a salesman! I bet the old man is so proud!

 

[dennisboothstash]

What was his response when they asked that question though? Did he lie to them as well marking the entire match day attendance as xenophobic or did he fall on his sword (unlikely)? What a salesman! I bet the old man is so proud!

Notably he didn't say the question was from a prospective buyer...

 

[dennisboothstash]

I think there is an olive branch in there.

I don't think there is an olive branch, he says it's no point speaking to supporters
However I do think it opens the door for the Trust to explain openly exactly how they would listen to him to put that ball firmly back in his court (I'm not sure he's ever met the Trust to decide whether anyone would listen has he though?)

 

[Cortez91]

I don't think there is an olive branch, he says it's no point speaking to supporters
However I do think it opens the door for the Trust to explain openly exactly how they would listen to him to put that ball firmly back in his court (I'm not sure he's ever met the Trust to decide whether anyone would listen has he though?)

He doesn't listen - many of his now ex-employees will tell you that

 

[dennisboothstash]

He doesn't listen - many of his now ex-employees will tell you that

I realise that
I'm not expecting he would, merely saying he should be called out on the suggestion that's it's actually the fans that won't listen

 

[FILEYseadog]

All Ehabs own doing.
The blame is his own not the fans .

Stupid Name Change

Insane no concesssions for kids and pensioners

Thats just for a start.

 

[Party Hull!]

I think the Allams refusal to engage with fans is one of the things that has strained the relationship most. He says he won't engage because the fans won't listen, but that's the problem - we will! It ultimately depends on what he says and does though, and for a long time the little scraps we've had to go off have not been positive. Every time there's a little utterance we all scramble to see what it is, it just ends up being the usual stuff unfortunately.

So to translate, if the fans were willing to accept everything we said & did without question, then we'd engage them all the time.

Life doesn't work like that.

Also disagree on the protests being counter-productive to a sale. They show how much we want one.

You can't spend 5 or so years jabbing at the fans with passive/aggressive Hull Tigers nonsense in the stadium, alongside the concession removal, alongside the **** badge replacements, alongside the die when they want malarkey, alongside the appropriation of Council properties, alongside the cowardly forcing out of a legend club manager, and alongside whatever else they've done as well that I can't remember before I rush off to work, and then turn around with a seemingly straight face and say "but they won't listen". I find it quite verminous in fact. But he knows that.

 

[John Ex Aberdeen now E.R.]

I don't think there is an olive branch, he says it's no point speaking to supporters
However I do think it opens the door for the Trust to explain openly exactly how they would listen to him to put that ball firmly back in his court (I'm not sure he's ever met the Trust to decide whether anyone would listen has he though?)

I agree IMO there is no olive branch in there, just a chance to partly blame the fans for the non sale, to try and deflect any criticism that he basically has **** up any sale.

It surprised me that the Journo didn't ask the question, have you tried to communicate with the fans groups, because just to say there is no point in speaking to people who do not want to listen, surely he needed to be asked have you tried?

 

[Happy Tiger]

I think if the Trust could get Geoff in a room with him it would potentially be beneficial to everyone.

Try it with PLT and Ehabs point about discussion with fans bring pointless would be vindicated.

Needs a clear head and a willingness to work together.

 

[Amin Arrears]

Asked about the flack from fans in the stands, Allam, whose family no longer attend matches, said: “I have got used to it. We are not going to change it. We don’t respond or react because we know it won’t have any positive effect. “If you thought people wanted to listen, you may look to engage. Some people listen to understand but others listen just to respond or react, meaning anything said is then falling on deaf ears. I don’t see any point in trying to engage with people who I don’t really think want to listen or understand.”

It may be hypocritical, it may be a situation engineered by their hand backing the fans into a corner, but that is the truth.

 

[Kempton]

To Ehabs mind disagreeing constitutes not listening. He simply won't accept any idea that isn't his own. Personally I don't see any point in discussion.

 

[Fez]

I can't say I am surprised or particularly critical of any of the response, so far. Anyone who has followed this sorry topic over the years would know that holding the Allams wholly to blame for this situation has always been my position.

What has changed, with circumstances, is what should be done about it, as I don't believe they are wholly responsible for bringing about the change necessary to move forward, which can only be the sale of the club and it's gubbings. (Of course they have the final say).

I think, when he spoke about being a local lad, he was accepting that the problems were between him (along with his father) as a businessman, and the fans and not down to nationality; he won't admit to error as he probably doesn't see his error - if he does then pride is a big obstacle for him.

I will definitely argue against the points made that the demonstrations and organised oppostion have no detrimental effect on any potential sale.

There are two aspects to our support - as seen by outsiders - firstly, it is organised in being vocally and demonstrably against the 'foriegn Egyptian' owners (Allam makes it very clear they make a mistake, but convincing them is a hard thing in a sales negotiation).

Secondly, this vocal, aggressive support is not big yet it is growing as the overall support shrinks ; jaundiced apathy does not sell well, whatever its cause. Buyers will look to other options, as we all know it isn't a Hobson's Choice.

Times change, a sale is the new imperitive for everyone and the man closest to failed sales has given a believable reason for some element of failure to close; we know how we got here, but we need to change tack to get away from here.

 

[Trumpton Tiger.]

The empty seats and poor attendances would have more of a bearing on any potential purchase IMO. I doubt very much if any potential buyers especially if they are not resident in this country have a clue about the protests and the boycott. The empty seats at Wembley for the Championship Play-Off were seen all over the world and no-one gives a toss why they are empty, just that they were and it made us look like a very small club with a small fan base.

 

[Barchullona]

I think it depends on which part of the quote you highlight. I think he'll speak to us if we indicate we are prepared to listen to what he has to say.

He will speak to people who will listen to him and then agree wholeheartedly with whatever he wants to do more like. Anyone who might not agree are persona non grata.

 

[Barchullona]

“I had a meeting after one game attended by people interested in buying the club and the first question was: ‘What is the problem with the fans? Do they not like foreign owners?’

Thank goodness those alleged suitors didn't succeed ! Didn't do their homework did they Ehab ?
Are these incompetents born liars ? Do they think the rest of the world outside their coccooned realism are so unaware of the issues ?
Bloody amazing.

But that isn't the case. We have British owners and a lot of fans would like foreign owners. Or some other British owners. Just some other owners...

 

[Chilton's Hundreds]

“I had a meeting after one game attended by people interested in buying the club and the first question was: ‘What is the problem with the fans? Do they not like foreign owners?’

Thank goodness those alleged suitors didn't succeed ! Didn't do their homework did they Ehab ?
Are these incompetents born liars ? Do they think the rest of the world outside their coccooned realism are so unaware of the issues ?
Bloody amazing.

And how did Ehab explain his non-attendance to these potential buyers ?

Did he simply say he was too busy playing polo to entertain them or did he give the real reason ?

 

[originallambrettaman]

Not only has Ehab never engaged with the fans, but he's deliberately gone out of his way to piss them off.

The Trust have been calling for a meeting with him ever since the organisation was formed, I'm sure they'll be as happy to have it now as they've always been.

Trying to blame the fans for the club not selling is pathetic, two of the four main consortia who bid contacted the Trust to let them know that if they took over they'd want to engage and get the fans back onside and one of the others is AP's mob, who'll obviously know what's going on.