Bicester Yellow
Well-known member
- Joined
- 3 Sep 2021
- Messages
- 2,671
Adam Benson should be nowhere near our club. That’s what I have taken away from today
I have to say I was disappointed. In my view they can consider themselves fortunate not to have received more difficult questions (they didn’t get round to mine).I wasn't hugely impressed - although the bloke on the left (Jon?) seemed to know what he was on about re the stadium.
The financials were above my pay grade, but I remain unsure who is going to stump up this money - and why. The 'OUFC will always have the right to play at the stadium' line didn't gives me much of a warm feeling - if there has to be some amount of repayment of the farking huge debt, then are we going to end up giving up a huge proportions of our incomings to do so? Will be just be swapping one millstone for another?
However, I thought the first 'stadium' part of the forum was a bit more convincing than the second. The concentration seemed to be more about 'activating' new supporters than taking care of the ones they already have. Colin's question rattled them! There were some encouraging signs that they were aware of the discontent - but let's see if that translates into actual actions.
I suppose they've done their meeting with the hoi-polloi and it will be a year before we get to see them again in a similar setting.
FWIW I wasn't bothered about Adam Benson not applauding the gent who raised money for the trust. I think it would've come across very disingenuous if he did.
Likewise.FWIW I wasn't bothered about Adam Benson not applauding the gent who raised money for the trust. I think it would've come across very disingenuous if he did.
Was sceptical about value of a fans forum but that was quite interesting and illuminating. Williams and Benson = dreadful, vacuous, defensive BS. Ferguson seems alright and with a feel for things. Stadium expert was brilliant.
On your last point, I’ve questioned why they would do this and I’m still not sure what they are getting out of this.Exactly what I thought.
Stadium guy & Grant F came across very well.
Still bugs me a lot that Grant F isn’t around the club a lot more as think he’d put his foot down on the bullshit Tim W & Adam B spout.
I still question why the shareholders are prepared to spend £5-6 million a season & fund a £150 million pound stadium?
Like why?
They kept on bypassing @Manorlounger with the questions and I thought he wouldn’t get his chance but as GF what a good question he asked.well done @OxVox and @OUSP -my only criticism being there wasn't enough time allotted so all questions could be asked ( I have more than a few that went unasked )
hopefully those on the top table realise after an attendance of 200 ish in person and an additional 300ish 'watching' ( and participating) online too , that there is a real need for better communication , and regular live fans forums
Yeah I hadn't thought about it either but pleasantly satisfied by the response, makes sense, although I'm no acoustics engineer so what do I knowFound it very interesting about the away end (south stand) roof is closer to the back of the stand but the roof slopes upwards whereas the other end hotel end the roof is higher but slopes downwards. Hadn't noticed that on the plans but if so I haven't got a problem of the home end being the other end to the away end.
But they never answered his questionFWIW I wasn't bothered about Adam Benson not applauding the gent who raised money for the trust. I think it would've come across very disingenuous if he did.
Two things I learned from the FF
1) How the funding debt for the new stadium will be serviced going forward
2) Why safe standing sections are positioned to the sides and not behind the goal
Was impressed by the two guys on the ends - they seemed to know their stuff even though I have no idea who they are. Grant gave a steady performance, nothing spectacular but spoke with an air of authority. Tim, well I can see why he has the job - quite upbeat in delivering his message without passing on anymore information than he has to. Good at turning questions around - would probably have a good career in politics if his love of football wains. Benson - didn't take to him, looked disinterested but did wake up at the end when there was something relevant to his job being discussed.
Yet Timmy bangs on about how important communication is and how important the fans are and without us the club is nothing.I was there, it was a decent turnout, around 200 I’d guess.
A few random thoughts.
Easily the best person on the ‘panel’ was the guy from Newcastle who was well briefed on the stadium.
The Bristolian chap on the right, just wanted to tell us how wonderful everyone at the club was and how hard they all worked. That felt very staged.
Ferguson didn’t really add much to what he’d already said to Oxvox and his interview on the Dub, so in that sense his work was already done before tonight.
Williams, for someone who talks an awful lot about communication, as a CEO he’s not actually very good at it. I got bored by his constant plugging of the fans council or what ever it’s called. He got very tetchy with Colin, which wasn’t a good look, poorly handled for a CEO. Too much corporate speak for my liking.
Benson looked very sullen when Michael North was applauded. I’m not at all surprised Chris Williams decided it was time to move on.
Oxford United feels less and less like a family club and more and more like a corporate machine. If you lose or alienate long standing supporters you lose your soul. Perhaps that is when apathy and disengagement starts to creep in.
Last but not least, the huge amount of debt if and when the stadium gets built is eye watering. I find it difficult to see how the club will be able to service that amount of debt and prosper. The board didn’t do enough tonight to reassure me on that front.
ps a big thanks to OxVox for organising the event.
Prior to the forum, Benson was thought of as toxic around the club.
Tonight, he simply reinforced that opinion.