Hi guys, I am a student writing a dissertation on Football Clubs and their Identities. One of my chapters is about the role the fans play in forming their clubs identity. Based on the news today, I was wondering whether you could write on here what you think the fans' takeover signifies for Portsmouth FC Congratulations on the takeover, and all the best Kind regards Charlie Oakley
As many/little as you want haha. Just trying to get a view from your eyes and try to understand how much it means to you
Utter relief/elation/happiness/hope for the future/excitement awaiting next season to commence - albeit in League 2/belief we at last have a future/delight we have finally rid ourselves of our last foreign owner/Sheer delight......
OK - for what it's worth............. I see a conflict between 'the business model' which is how a club is run by its owners and the 'fan-base' who want to see both success on the pitch and a feel that they are 'part of' something we love. What Pompey supporters have been saying to the owners of the previous decades is that they are the latest in a long line of 'custodians' of a community based club with a history to be protected and to be there for the benefit of future generations. The owners on the other hand are in it for business purposes - they want to make a profit, it is after all, the sole reason for being a business owner. I noticed that by 2009 when word was that things were going wrong businesswise, the fans had started taking on the role of custodian and coming into conflict with the owners by demanding answers, checking the credentials of potential owners and contacting the FA and FL with their findings. Your question is what you think the fans' takeover signifies for Portsmouth FC - for me the answer is that the "supporters, custodians and business owners" are now all one and as such there may not be a sugar-daddy type owner to pour in loads of cash, nor will there be an owner who will take money out. All monies raised will be invested back into the club. The board of directors will be accountable to the shareholding supporters who will demand that the club is managed in a transparent manner.
Thank you very much for both your responses! 3rd Eye one last question - Do you feel the new owners will maintain the identity of Portsmouth FC? (As in, as fans do you feel they will represent the club and do it justice)
The short answer is Yes. We call ourselves the Pompey 'Family' (as i'm sure do the fans of many clubs) because we all share a passion and want to see the club continue on for many generations to come. The owners are many, a high number of individuals have purchased a whole share at £1,000 but many more others who can't afford £1k have joined syndicates to purchase shares. Many others have donated what they can. That's one hell of a lot of owners. There are also some who are opposed to fan ownership (reasons unknown) and are adamant that Chanrai would have been the best owner, so they are probably going to walk away from the club. These people have been around the club for many decades and have never given up on it, no matter what. They know what is expected of them, they also know they will be held to account for any and all of their actions by the shareholders - the members of the board of directors will be voted in or voted out at AGMs and that will be based on their performance and how they represented the club and its owners. A Chief Exec has been appointed who will deal with the day-to-day running of the club and everything associated with it. I have confidence in them to do right by the club.
