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I understand that you may feel it is difficult to attend games often due to cost and that is completely understandable but to say you will not support the club anymore is surprising. St.Johnstone are a tremendously well run club with obvious flaws in marketing and attracting/involving fans which they are admirably trying to address. Steve Brown is not alone in absolutely needing to cut budgets in order to keep the club in a good financial state. Would you rather he kept throwing money at the team and we pay for it years down the road like Hearts, Rangers, Gretna and Livi? Football is too expensive but that is not something unique to St.Johnstone. Prices around Scotland are very similar to what we see in Perth and at least we have got to watch an exciting team battling to qualify for european football for the last two seasons. Imagine being an Aberdeen fan and watching that dross for the past few years knowing that you are paying out a lot more in wages than the likes of Saints. I have seen three home European games in Perth in my life, Vasa, Monaco and Es-Es and all have been absolutely tremendous occasions. To add a couple of pound on top of the regular entrance fee to try and get some cash into the club is hardly trying to rob fans. Bournemouth are charging fans £60 for a pre-season game against Real Madrid, now that is robbing fans. Yes it would have been wonderful to slash prices for the game but this game will get a good crowd anyway and for once Saints are marketing it well with posters and billboards so charging a very small premium compared to a normal SPL game is surely not such a bad thing? You complain about the club charter price without knowing how much it has cost the club. Saints are subsidising fans to go at that price and there is no rule to say you must go with the club charter to get to Norway. I have my own flights and hotel and even when I add in beer money I will be significantly less than they charter price (I hope ). Saints may have got money for Lomas and Brittain but they have to use that money to run the club and fund new players in order to manage the tight budget. I am happy with the signings made thus far and do not expect Saints to be challenging for third every season. What has happened the last two years has been truly wonderful but a club the size of ours, with such a small support cannot expect to pay enough to always be challenging for Europe. Saints may well be relegated in the next few years but I will never turn my back on the club and will always support them. If my financial circumstances change then I will attend less games but I will always support the club. Steve Brown is running the club in such a way that I will always have a club to support and it is a shame if he alone is blamed for the pricing structure of Scottish football and fans desert the club while blaming him.

Packing my bag now. This wouldn't be an issue, but have you ever tried to fit a 20ft by 10ft flag into a Ryanair approved cabin bag! Nightmare!

Where would one buy stamps? The Highland Saints would like to send Mr Brittain and all at County a postcard...

Saint need fans, but also need money. There is a genuine balance to be struck. Personally, I think 24 quid is a bit steep but if we are still in the tie, folk will pay to see us with a genuine chance of a massive upset. I have bought my season ticket and feel aggrieved that I will have to pay 15quid to go. But I will, because its what I do. And I will take my kids, because its what we all do. We SUPPORT SAINTS. TOGETHER. Some folk just fancy a rant and an excuse not to go. P.S. I send this message from Norway. This is my summer holiday. Supporting the team I love, the team my wife loves, and the team my sons love. Its what we do, its who we are

As far as the charter flight is concerned, it's all about supply and demand. The perfect price for the club to offer in a business sense would be one where the number of seats on the plane would equal the number of supporters who could afford to take them. Given how quickly these seats went, this is not the case and the price could have been raised even higher, to an equilibrium price where demand = supply. The club did not do this, as they did not want to price fans out. What Steve Brown has done here in actual fact, is scrap what his business brain was telling him and offer seats at a price less than he should have, therefore not giving the club the best deal possible and favouring the support from the fans wishing to travel. (for the second time in a row). All this talk of Steve Brown pricing people out of the charter flight is complete and utter bollocks. The people who expect Mr Brown to lay on a seat on a plane at a knocked-down price and ignore the financial implications for the club are the main problem! A real world example: How much do you think Celtic would charge supporters to fly on their own chartered flight to Norway alongside the players, staff and executives? This flight was a huge business opportunity for saints but Brown sacrificed business for fans.

Last season the club loses money by subsidising the away trip, because it was likely to be a once in a lifetime thing. Now people expect it every year because the club continues to succeed. £24 for a he game is in line with other clubs in Scotland. How is that Saints' fault? It's the gormless idiots at the SPFPLPFL that are to blame, over many years. Pensioners are complaining that kids get in free. After all, it's their right to come to the football cheap, hurl abuse at our players and management, buy no pies or bovril, and leave halfway through the second half, without being bothered by noisy kids. The club is THEIRS and no newcomers are allowed to interrupt THEM. Who cares about the future of the club, they won't be there! Support the club or don't, don't fecking drag everyone else down by whining about not being served world class football free of charge on a silver fecking spoon.

I personally don't see the problem with the club raising the cost of admission for one game. I mean it's only £1 more for Main Stand fans and £2 for East Stand fans, if it's too much for you then try not buying a pie and bovril, or skip the match programme, or park outside the ground and don't pay the parking fee. At the end of the day it's only for one game and they're hardly asking you to break the bank. The cost of Scottish football, and football in general to fans has always and probably always will be a problem for me. We all know that admission prices are the way they are because the club have to pay these ridiculous wages to the players. I've always been a supporter of bringing in a salary cap to Scottish football, although bringing it in to cover the entire game would be much better. Until clubs and the authorities realise that fans can't afford these prices, then the costs will rise, players will be sold, clubs debts will continue to rise and we'll see more and more clubs enter administration or worse. I'm aware we may and probably would lose out on players playing in our country because of the offer of higher wages elsewhere but that's already the case, there will always be someone willing to pay more in a bigger league. If you ask me, the MLS have it setup perfectly and look how their game is flourishing.

Indeed.. Steve MacLean was an uninspiring signing of the Fallon mould yet had a great season

Max. As you no longer support the club, why would any of this concern you? I think you do still support the club.

Whats wrong with Barrosa St, Get as many fans as possibile in see the saints Memrabilia bus upto and back from the club, chance for the club to make some money

Season ticket holders who garentee the club money every year never get rewarded and now they are people are moaning about it!!

Edinburgh flag going, assuming we can fit it in Ryanair's pishy hand luggage allowance.

If someone is in Trondheim already on tuesday, there's a bar called 'Raus' got 50% on cocktails. Somone asked about the prizes at Brukbar further up her, about the same here to, but you should know that football shirts is not allowed here. Some Crusaderfans which was here last week fell in love with a bar area called 'solsiden' (5 min walk from Three Lions) But here's the beer even more expensive. (But one bar at 'Solsiden' called 'Barmuda' got Cava for 150 Norwegian kroner) Shitty weather in Trondheim now, so i'll doubt you'll enjoy 'solsiden' so much. - and yeah, most of the singing Rosenborg-fans will just suddenly appear on the stadium (Own pub up on our stand). easiest way to get thumbs up in Trondheim is just to say ''I HATE MOLDE!'' A short film about our city: If you have time to do som sights i would really recommend that you visit our cathedral Nidarosdomen. (i'm going out for beers on wednesday so if i'll meet you i'll probably give you an offer to be guided around on thursday if anyone is interested) Welcome to Trondheim

I think we have a real problem with our marketing.( I have, and will continue to raise this issue at every meeting I attend whether the club like it or not, and push for solutions to be found). I think that our PR at times could be much better but that said, it's 100 times better than it was . The OS is much more informative these days as is the use of the St.Johnstone Facebook page and the club Twitter feed. I have just spent half an hour plus posting the details of our FFG meeting on here so as fans ARE informed. You should read it. I also spent 2 hours of my own time at the meeting. Some of us are at least trying to be part of the solution rather than just moaning about the perceived problems..

a thread moaning about european prices??????????/ ive been watching saints for 24 years and only witnessed 3 euro games at mcd. these games are fecking priceless!

Tonight we had our first FFG meeting for a while. Below are BRIEF details of what went on. There were 8 people in attendance plus three from the club. They were Roddy, Beve and the Chairman. 1. Hall of Fame dinner. Date confirmed as Saturday 5th Oct. Time to be confirmed. The venue is Perth Concert Hall and the numbers are limited to 300 ( of which the club will have 50) The cost for this event will be £49 per person. It will be for over 16's only. On prospective inductees, it was decided that an independent group would be set up to sort through possible candidates. It was hoped that the fans would , through WAP, FB, Twitter and possibly at the ground , be asked for their input into the process of selection. The number of inductees was discussed again and it is hoped that 3 or 4 could be honoured at this event. More details to follow at a later date. 2. Season Ticket Sales update So far the club have sold 1450 ST's ( this is up on the same time last year but still 81 short of last years final total) The group discussed this and it was hoped that by the start of the season we would have surpassed last years total. It was suggested that there might hopefully be a run of sales at the end of july. All agreed that whilst the numbers we positive, more work needed to be done to promote further sales. The club are looking into a point of sale in the St.Johns shopping Centre over the couple of weekends prior to the seasons start on 3rd August. Whilst discussing this, the subject of a student gate for home games was raised and I am delighted to confirm that St.Johnstone WILL have a student gate for the coming season both for home fans ( East stand) and away fans. The cost of the student concession is likely to be £10. strict rules will cover this and entry will only be allowed on production of a VALID student matriculation card. Personally I am delighted with this as it is something I have been championing since the FFG started. 3. Europa League Q2 home leg -Marketing a brief discussion took place about what if anything we could do both in terms of marketing the match and also having a prematch fans-zone ( similar to last years very successful shindig at the sportsters/muirton suite) Sadly the sportsters is now shut and without anywhere else suitable in the city centre with a large outdoor area, it was suggested that the club use the Astro at Mcd. With the long term weather forecast looking very good an outdoor event would be great. Suggestions of a couple of bars on the pitch plus music and foodstalls were mooted. This may prove to difficult to achieve though given the very short run up we have to next weeks game plus the fact that permission has to be sought and granted by Police Scotland for such an event to be allowed. It is anticipated that no more than 100 rosenbourg fans will make the trip but it would be great if we could capture the same atmosphere pre match as we did last year. It was decided that the club would contact Police Scotland and take it from there. The Chairman stated he was not overly optimistic it would be allowed. The Muirton suite will definitely be open and possibly another of the suites depending on hospitality numbers.. On the marketing front, the club have produced some top quality posters ( of which I have about a dozen should anyone want one, and if you want a pile of them please contact Roddy at the club ASAP) which we will be trying to get in as many shops and workplaces as possible. all assistance in getting these posters out would be appreciated. It was also suggested that perhaps the club could contact radio tay and off perhaps 5 pairs of tickets as competition prizes next week to help raise awareness of the game... The club will look into this idea and try and get something sorted if they can. Other than that, the usual social media sites will carry the message to the masses and it would be hoped that all users of these sites shared and invited as many of their friends to the game as possible. 4.Future FFG meetings It was decided to have a more ridgid schedule for FFG meetings rather than the ad hock way meetings have been arranged in the past. Rather than Mondays, Wednesdays were decided upon and it was hoped that meetings would be fortnightly. The possibilty of expanding the group was also discussed and all agreed that this would be a good idea. How we will go about this will be discussed at the next meeting. 5.Any Other Business (A) Date for the 4th and final quiz in the Muirton suite was agreed (subject to room availability) as Fri 30th august. Once this has been confirmed, we will advertise it in the usual ways. (B)A request was made by the Barrosa Saints for Alistair Stevenson to attend there next meeting to discuss where best the monies they have raised can be used for Youth developement.. © Open day. There will not be an open day this season due to various logistical and time difficulties but it was decided that there would be one at the start of next season and this would be planned well in advance to avoid the problems encountered this year recurring. (D) Club merchandising was briefly discussed and it was suggested that as well as the club shop at MCDiarmid, it would be a good idea to have a full time presence in the city centre. Whilst a seperate club shop is out of the question, a dedicated section of an existing retailer ( Campus Sports) was suggested. The club agreed to take steps to look into this. (E) Away Top date of going on sale.. It was noted with disappointment that the away top, launched earlier this year was still not available. All agreed that the great momentum created at the time was now in grave danger of being completely lost. The Chairman explained part of the problem was that the suppliers really don't care about us as we are small fish to them. They had promised a delivery date but this had now passed. It was hoped that the top would be on sale soon but sadly there are no guarantees.. On that note , the meeting ended. Ghostie.

I was waiting until the end of July to buy my season ticket, but because the price was going to be so much cheaper to get in next Thursday if you had one, I went and bought mine earlier. I was always going to buy one and Saints were always going to get my money, but this incentive forced me to do it a bit earlier and I'm grateful that I will save myself £9 next week.

And.......in my eyes the Saints fans presently on the way to Norway are the best in the world !

Bag packed! Up at 3am tomorrow. No doubt see many of you on flight from Aberdeen to Bergen.

? So they should wait until first leg is over before deciding prices for the game. Then if tie is over, they should make it cheaper and if we are in the game, they should make it cheaper? Ticket prices were announced so season ticket purchasers knew how much they would have to pay before they bought season ticket. Also so they could get billboards and posters made in advance. People have criticised the club for marketing in the past so they are trying to do something about it. If prices were not on billboards or posters then people would complain. Do you still really think Steve brown is to blame for pricing you out of football or are you just pissed off that unfortunately you can't afford the trip to Norway and/or a season ticket and wanted a rant? Football prices piss me off no end as well but it is not a problem uniquely with Saints or Steve Brown. Saints can't really afford to lose fans but they also can't subsidise charter flights more than they already have or reduce entrance prices significantly without losing money. I hope one day soon the entrance prices drop and Scottish football is in a better state but in the meantime I'll keep supporting Saints.

Not necessarily. when something interesting and new comes on the market, many retailers will do a special offer/promotion on it to get more sales.

Iain Lee, John Budden, Lee Hardy and Alan Mahood.

I think it is the threat of being taken to The Barossa Club that has made them wary

One thing I feel we missed out on is the fact he was greatful of the opportunity given by Saints and wanted to stay here. Wanted to commit to another contract. Didnt want to move in the hope of more money elsewhere! So im disappointed in that regard but ur people are right with the inconsistency etc. Saints could of maybe sat down with him and said well we cannot afford ur wage. But we can offer u reduced wage of xxx if u want to stay?

On our way. At Broxden waiting for 1345 to Aberdeen. Best bit is, its free all the way to the Airport . C O Y S

I would also suggest to Mr Vine that a "proper" football club SHOULD be a club that lives within its means and does not have shiteloads of debt.

Thanks for the update. In regards to the Hall of Fame dinner, it would be good if there was a public sale of tickets. The Geoff Brown dinner was very good, however barring a small number, the majority of people in attendance were "business types". It is good that club are considering having a base in the St Johns Centre for elling season tickets. I feel the club should have a permanent base there. You mentioned in another thread that supporters should support their club regardless, however them days are over. There is so much more out there for people to spend there money on these days and although Saints have improved their efforts in the past two years, there is so much more that could be done. I would like to see Saints having a real prescence in Perth on a Saturday morning, when we have a home game. They could have some of teenagers who sell the programmes handing out leaflets throughout the city centre. Have them on Mill St, at the entrances/exits to Kinnoull and Canal St Multi Storey Car Parks, at the top and bottom ends of the High Street. The leaflets would just need to be basic and detail who we are playing and the admission prices. Have Saints spoke to Stagecoach etc to see if they can offer season ticket holders a discount on travel to McDiarmid on a Saturday? Most German and English clubs have a system in place like this for fans, It would be a real incentive for fans living in rural Perthshire if they were able to get reduced travel to the home games. Finally, why have the club not set up a facility to sell tickets online? In this day and age, most people mainily use debit or credit cards and if a facilitly was in place that fans were able to purchase their ticket for the game online and pick it up before the game, it may see some extra sales.

Personally I don't give a monkeys how much the official charter is costing fans, who in the main can well afford it otherwise would be making other arrangements, but what I do have a grievance with is why are the club subsidising the deal by £250 per head? Do not know the numbers but for just 20 fans that would be £5000 out of the club coffers which they certainly can not afford, can they? By next Thursdays's home game we will still be slap bang in the middle of the holiday season with many regulars missing and I honestly think Saints have overpriced the game at £24 and totally agree with HSF's point above.

Very disappointing end here for Vine. No need for acting out in the press.

Lets address these issues then... Stewarding. There was a big problem with stewarding two seasons ago. This came to a head at the start of last season and the problem was brought to the clubs full attention. we had a meeting with both the police and the stewarding company G4S. After this meeting there was a distinct change ( granted one game we had a solo steward going native but as soon as that happened it was dealt with.) IMHO the stewarding problem has been sorted. Website.. Certainly not the best but pathetic?? I disagree. Much much better than it was an hopefully it will be getting upgraded this season. Certainly that's the clubs plan... Ross's Vids.. They are great and most of the credit goes to him but the club played and continue to play a big part in these. No presence in the city centre.. see thread on tonights meeting for that one please... Half time entertainment?? what do you want?? most folk go for a pie, a piss, a gander at the tellys for latest scores, a chat with mates or a fag at half time. should we have dancing girls?? How many other clubs have half time entertainment?? it's the fitba we are at not the superbowl. The whole basis for your post is wrong as well.. Fitba is nothing like the restaurant trade.. I have worked in the restaurant trade for 30 years and you are comparing apples and eggs.. What actual SERVICES are you looking for mate?? I go to the fitba to watch my team. ( hopefully win) At half time we discuss the first half and our hopes for the second half.. You are losing me here ....

take them to the barossa street club and some profit may indirectly end up with saints youth development.take them to the 208 and saints more than likely gain fuque all.

I am on the charter. Just a working bloke who has not had the opportunity to travel abroad on our previous adventures. Yes I could have done it cheaper, dossed about in airports overnight but I am willing to pay a bit extra for the door to door service and the craic on the plane home when we have got a result in Trondheim. The important thing is that Saints fans are there to support the team at a cost that they individually find acceptable.

There were other options than the chartered flight which would have meant a cheaper option. But even that itself is expensive I agree. Supporting the club does not mean you have to attend every single game though. You attend when you can and it is feasible. Steve Brown isn't trying to price fans out of football, he's trying to keep a club afloat during a recession.

See all you crazy kids tomorrow or the next day cys

I'm leaving holiday house in Whitby, N Yorks tomorrow: bus to Scarborough - train to York - train to Kings Cross - tube to Heathrow - flight to Oslo - overnight at Gardermoen - 8am flight to Trondheim. Then reverse on Friday. Trains, planes and buses - but after Vaasa, Monaco and Eskisehir, there was no way I was missing Trindheim! COYS! Jim

PS For what it worth i agree with Soupy and hate shit holes like the Foundry and Sandeman Killed the wee pubs

Said it before station hotel beer garden,also enough area for kids to run about and even a wee kick o boot ,,,,,thoughts

Seems like a decent dude. Could be a good base as long as theirs no to much engerlund nonsense on the walls!!

Aberdeen, 40 mins in Copenhagen/ Trondheim for me... same the way back. See you all there!

I think your band should just do cover songs but change the words i.e. I don't like Mondays -changed to - I don't like Dundee . You might not make it big but you could sell a few albums and do a few player of the year bashes and would likely get yer hole of the muirton ladies !

Excellent thanks Ross, how long did the operation to get Tommy's tongue out of his cheek take?

Needs to be one saying: Dear Terry Butcher, Its a real blessing to be here!

Anybody taking there flags across ?

Airport Express Coach marked "Flybussen" leaves from the city square at 03:05. Then you're at the Airport 03:52.

Vine's beard is ridiculous He's just a poor mans Cillian Sheridan

Message from Dougie who runs 3 lions pub. Trondheim. Hi Saints supporters, Norway calling!! I`m Dougie the Landlord of Three Lions Pub Trondheim and just wanted to convey a hearty welcome to everyone whos coming for the match against Rosenborg on ThursdayJ You are all very welcome, the pub is a home from home Brit pub, with all the British footy news, the Open (Thursday), Cricket, racing and much more… We are one of the most well-known sports pubs in Norway and have had lots of away teams thru the years, from the heady highs of the Champs League a few years ago with Chelsea, Madrid, Milan etc I have already been in touch with some saints fans and will give all supporters a discount on beer and foodJ All we ask is; come and enjoy and respect our great pub and have a fantastic time. Rosenborg are a good club and have really nice footy fansJ Hope to catch up with you this week! Cheers Dougie P.S. Any queries, questions anything, just mail me and I will try and help!

I am, arriving about 10am thursday, asked for early check in for freshen up, but not heard back yet

The capital asset sounds good

And why is letting kids in free any different to bunging kids over the turnstiles, other than being legal and avoiding health and safety problems/fines?

The quote box thing round quoted posts is something I'm working on. Not really sure what the issue is. Might have to change the template of the site to get it to work properly.