Manorlounger
Well-known member
- Joined
- 6 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 8,700
Having posted on another thread and now on here, I would have expected you to have read a bit more and gained a better insight into the panel and it's concept.I’ve said it on a previous thread about the tone of some of the people, who are planning to be on this supporters panel, being on the side of aggressive when replying to people who have concerns about this all working.
It seems that is still the case.
I actually think asking about the confidentiality of minutes and time frames are valid questions. Surely if the panel is not going to be in place until 2022/23 season it would make sense to drum up plenty of interest for people to think about running for election rather than just having a few people ask to be elected and they are then automatically elected by default.
There are various things surrounding the confidentiality, the rules regarding only positivity when talking about the club on social media and the fact this panel was thought up by the club shows that @Paul Cannell is probably right in thinking it is just a mouth piece for the club.
I don't know where you get this time frame question? 2022/2023? We are looking for candidates now. the election process is due to close on 4th October 2021 - next month, just 3 weeks away. The process is quite clear and a read of the relevant documents will clarify the whole deal. There is plenty of time for supporters to fill in a simple form, find two other supporters to nominate and second and submit.
As for drumming up interest, Radox and the Oxmail will be getting involved, there will be articles on the website and in the match day programmes.
The subject of confidentiality has been discussed ad infinitum. The documentation again makes clear how this will be handled and how the panel wants to avoid, as much as possible, even having anything remaining confidential.
Surely it makes sense to caution representatives against making adverse comments about the panel and/or the club? That's not stopping criticism, that's making it clear that representatives should uphold a standard. That is not, as has been suggested, making an argument for or against policies, toilet cleaning, or anything else. It is setting standards of behaviour. Any committee, anywhere does the same.
And, when it comes to your opening statement about a perceived aggressive tone of some of the people planning on being on the panel, who are you referring to? I have made no secret of my intention but who else is there?
Is it aggressive to respond to misinformation? To put the right information out. Perhaps you would have preferred that there had been no mention at all on here? Or perhaps continued with the speculation?
And to malign those who have given up so much time already as being no more than a mouth piece of the club is unjustified. In fact I would go so far as to say that it shows a contempt for your own club in believing that OUFC would need such a thing.
The Supporters' Panel is an opportunity, a chance to focus on issues raised by supporters, the day to day issues that can get overlooked. Supporters who are undertaking to make themselves visible to their fellow supporters in order to communicate. To hold constructive dialogue with the club. To do what is already being done at many other clubs alongside the other supporter organisations, not in competition but in co-operation.
Very sadly, the rather critical standpoint of some will deter many from volunteering their time to represent other supporters, they will have concerns about how they will be treated by other supporters.