Quite simply it does not represent value for money, and I wanted a change.
I had been an Associate Director for five years, and enjoyed a lot of what that entailed. For instance, as we had overseas ownership, it meant that the owners very rarely went to away games. Each club has to provide, free of charge, 12 Boardroom tickets to its visitors, so these were not being taken up, meaning that the ADs were able to use them. If we hadn't, then there would have been several instances where OUFC would have had absolutely nobody representing the club in the away Boardroom! One season I went to every single away game this way, and it's really good fun, as you get to meet all sorts of interesting football people, get a VIP parking space, and generally treated extremely well (there is a bit of rivalry among most clubs about whose hospitality is best, so they try to outdo each other).
The normal cost for this when I started was £2,500+VAT and I had a management consultancy company at that time that I was able to charge it through, so I got the VAT back. Last season it went up to £3,000+VAT, meaning I was paying £3,600 which I didn't feel was value for money, but I bit the bullet and gave them the benefit of the doubt, as certain promises as to improving the level of service at home games (which has the "Kassam factor" to it!!!) were made. These improvements did not come to pass, and I felt somewhat taken for granted.
This close season I knew there would be changes as Tim Williams had come in and it seemed as though he very much wanted it to be "his" Boardroom. The changes involved changing the title to "Patron" which I think is a stupid title, and reminds me of a pub car park where there is often a sign saying "Patrons Only"! Putting up the price further to £3,250+VAT, which is a total of £3,900 and removing several of the benefits that previously existed. For instance, it no longer includes cup games, the system whereby you could credit your ticket if you couldn't make a game has been removed, and last but not least it now only includes one away game, and that is at the invitation of Tim Williams.
For someone like me, who's done countless hours of unpaid work for the club, on the stadium mostly, and never asked for anything in return, it felt like a massive slap in the face. I don't want or expect special treatment, just to be treated with respect, and I don't feel that has happened. I'm very much a man of principle and I won't be taken advantage of by people who've been at the club for five minutes, and then sit smiling in the same room as them, so it was an easy decision for me to vote with my feet. I've bought a seat in the front row of SSU Premium, about ten seats along from where I used to sit, for £310 (as a pensioner) and I can wear what I like (I hated wearing a suit to football) and all I'm missing is a Firoz Kassam chicken dinner and a parking space.
There were 26 Associate Directors and there are now 12 Patrons, so it's a master stroke from the club!
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