Templar Saint Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 The next fans forum open meeting will be held on Monday 3rd February 2025 at 7pm within the Centenary Suite at McDiarmid Park. We are delighted that our media team and fellow Saints supporters Matt Gallagher and Aidan Smith have agreed to be our guest speakers. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like a question submitted on your behalf please email your question to sjfcfansforum@gmail.com We will do our best to accommodate your request. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gekko Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 I don't want to go back on my old rant from a month or two ago, but will this be available to those of us who are unable to attend in person? Talking of which, I notice that none of the 10th anniversary celebration has been released. The ex-pats getting ignored again. pezza70, Graeme S, lindz105 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Templar Saint Posted January 19 Author Report Share Posted January 19 22 minutes ago, Gekko said: I don't want to go back on my old rant from a month or two ago, but will this be available to those of us who are unable to attend in person? Talking of which, I notice that none of the 10th anniversary celebration has been released. The ex-pats getting ignored again. No - attendance in persomn required or read minutes when published. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gekko Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 28 minutes ago, Templar Saint said: No - attendance in persomn required or read minutes when published. Thanks for the reply, but I'll be honest, I find this poor. We're being punished because we don't live in Perth anymore. It doesn't make us any less of a supporter. There is absolutely no reason why this can't be live streamed on Saints TV, which after all, we pay for, or at the very least recorded and put online afterwards. Shoddy work from the media team, and it all has a "secret society" feel about it. SaintJet, The Kinross Saint, blueheaven and 4 others 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueheaven Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 49 minutes ago, Templar Saint said: No - attendance in persomn required or read minutes when published. Rather than just bluntly saying 'yes' or 'no', would it not be better to give some sort of explanation of why this is so that fans can understand the reasoning? It was mentioned in the last meeting that the club had no issue with this happening, but I know there were also some concerns expressed that if it was streamed online there might be a lower turnout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Templar Saint Posted January 19 Author Report Share Posted January 19 Regarding streaming of meetings there are various items to be taken into considerations regarding quality of video, sound, time involved, cost, permission from those attending and also effect on attendance to name a few. To make comments like shoddy from media team and has a secret society feel to it is totally disrespectful to those on the fans forum steering group who have for two years set up open meetings for fans to attend and also published quite comprehensive minutes of said meetings. The Media Team are employed by the Club not by the Fans Forum which is a separate entity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gekko Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 8 minutes ago, Templar Saint said: Regarding streaming of meetings there are various items to be taken into considerations regarding quality of video, sound, time involved, cost, permission from those attending and also effect on attendance to name a few. To make comments like shoddy from media team and has a secret society feel to it is totally disrespectful to those on the fans forum steering group who have for two years set up open meetings for fans to attend and also published quite comprehensive minutes of said meetings. The Media Team are employed by the Club not by the Fans Forum which is a separate entity. I totally appreciate the work of both the media team and the fans forum, and I will never disrespect anybody on any post on here, but you need to be called out when you deserve it. Because we don't live in the immediate vicinity, we're being treated like second class citizens. This needs to be sorted, and all I'm hearing is weak excuses. SaintJet, Graeme S, crieffsaintandy and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme S Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Hmm, if the club have agreed it can be streamed, the decision has been made by the committee? Just wondering how this sits with the family friendly and disability inclusivity aims of the club. Whilst I'm an old fart, I have a disability which would make it uncomfortable (not impossible) for me to attend, as such, live stream/replay would be my preferred choice. Youngsters also may not be able to attend due to school next day etc etc. Surely replaying it the following day for example, wouldn't affect attendance overly? (as per the football rules about not telivising matches at 3pm on Saturdays but allowing highlights/full game to be played outside these hours). Just thinking out loud 🤷♀️ Aitchy, Gekko and blueheaven 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crieffsaintandy Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 (edited) This is where the club let themselves down, a top flight club and they can't have this online for out of town support in this day and age. Hopefully new board sort this out moving forward, as probably half the support that live outside Perth and a lot outside Perhshire. Edited January 19 by crieffsaintandy Gekko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme S Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 (edited) And when times are tough, as they are now, we should be encouraging ALL fans to get involved by any and all means possible. Edited January 19 by Graeme S Gekko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gekko Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Graeme has brought up a very good point about disability. Not everybody can make it to these events, for reasons both physically and mentally, even if they are local, through no fault of their own. The fans forum should represent ALL fans. Again, my total respect to everybody who's chosen to be on a fans forum. You give up your time for no financial reward and I doff my hat for that. But you did chose to do so, so please represent all of us. Getting basic notes afterwards is a poor substitute for actually experiencing the event. For what it's worth, we don't need a Hollywood production. Just a decent camera, on a stand with a big round light behind it. A clip on mic, or literally an old fashioned microphone passed to each speaker as they talk. The whole set up would cost no more than a couple of hundred quid. They already have the equipment anyway, we get the interviews at the end of each match. As for approval, if you're worried about the back of your head being on camera to a very small amount of St. Johnstone supporters who will watch the video, what is your concern? Unless you're a Mexican drug lord on the run, I'm sure you'll be fine. There is absolutely no excuse for the club not to do this. Anyway, that's me. You know my position on this, and the anniversary type events that we always miss out on. But to finish this point, I am St. Johnstone to the core. That's me, and my entire family. The fact that my life choices and career means that I don't live in Perth anymore has no bearing on that fact. Just off the top of my head, Pezza in Australia, John.W in Canada, SaintDunc in Leeds, The Real Saints in London, Cleveland Saint in the USA and many, many more. We're all 100% St. Johnstone and we deserve to be included in these events. Please make it happen. pezza70, Saintdunc, blueheaven and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kinross Saint Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 (edited) 3 hours ago, Templar Saint said: Regarding streaming of meetings there are various items to be taken into considerations regarding quality of video, sound, time involved, cost, permission from those attending and also effect on attendance to name a few. To make comments like shoddy from media team and has a secret society feel to it is totally disrespectful to those on the fans forum steering group who have for two years set up open meetings for fans to attend and also published quite comprehensive minutes of said meetings. The Media Team are employed by the Club not by the Fans Forum which is a separate entity. Alternatively putting these excuses out as genuine is disrespectful to the St Johnstone fans. Absolute nonsense to suggest a Premiership club can’t stream due to sound and video. Also, I once worked with the media team as a volunteer, so if they’re actually now employed and being paid, that excuse is even more pathetic. There would be absolutely no effect on attendance or a need for permissions as the camera would face those on stage. Edited January 19 by The Kinross Saint Graeme S, blueheaven and Gekko 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme S Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 (edited) Should we not be embracing technology and it's ability to connect people? There is an available medium which has the ability to connect Saints fans all over the world and include them in body of Saints fans - surely that can only be a good thing? If not, we may as well go back to the days of smoky, Oak panelled boardrooms, board members being addressed as "Mr" and demanding a certain reverence. We're all in this together folks, if we choose to exclude groups because of their ability to be in a certain place at a specific time, that DIVIDES us, and makes us weaker as a group with a common purpose - to support and better our team - St Johnstone. Edited January 19 by Graeme S Gekko 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy rhodes fancy watch Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, crieffsaintandy said: This is where the club let themselves down, a top flight club and they can't have this online for out of town support in this day and age. Hopefully new board sort this out moving forward, as probably half the support that live outside Perth and a lot outside Perhshire. And ALL of the investors live outwith Perth, wouldn't they like to have a wee Swatch at this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aitchy Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 I note on the fans forum website the following: AIMS To maintain a positive and constructive dialogue between the club and fans. To develop a better understanding of issues that affect supporters. An Opportunity for the club to discuss new ideas. END GOALS Ensure that all supporters feel valued in their loyalty to the club. To provide the supporters, as far as reasonably possible, with the facilities and conditions that they deserve from St Johnstone Football Club. If the forum is truly committed to meeting their own stated aims and end goals, then I would ask that you explore all options available in terms of being able to stream the meetings for fans unable to attend. I appreciate that the fans forum is a separate entity to the club and therefore it’s not just a case of the clubs media employees being able to record the meetings, but surely there are other options available. Have you considered posting on social media to see if any supporters have the skills and equipment to facilitate streaming the meetings? How about approaching Perth College, they may have some students keen to get some experience. I dont see the need to record all of the people in the building, perhaps just those chairing the meeting and the guest speakers. This would hopefully alleviate your concerns about permissions of those attending. I personally can’t see streaming the meetings having a negative impact on attendances. If anything, it will mean that more people from a wider range of backgrounds can participate which will allow you to meet the aims of the forum. blueheaven and Graeme S 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 I started the St Johnstone Disabled Supporters Association ten years ago and am on the Fans’ Forum committee because of that. I’m not there for me, I’m there to serve and to help others if I can. I don’t live in London, the US, Australia or the North Pole. I live much nearer, in Stirling, Scotland. I can tell you that when it comes to St Johnstone I can feel equally excluded as some of our overseas/far away fans often do. If you’re not in Perth you’re not likely to meet anyone socially. I don’t drink alcohol and have never frequented pubs in Perth. At matches I can be surrounded by five hundred people, look around and not know anyone. There’s probably still a large number of fans living in Perth who know each other, some of whom may have met players or the new owners in the town. That can help people feel a part of things. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not complaining, this is just how it is. It’s not likely to change. I do see the point about streaming meetings. Can be done and perhaps ought to be. It may yet happen, I don’t know, but not for February’s meeting. It’s a fair point you have raised. Accessibility for everyone. I’ll mention it to my comrades. crieffsaintandy and pezza70 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sane_tee Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Having never been to one of these forums, I'm wondering if they're open to all, no ticket required, no risk of not getting in because of the huge crowds of supporters going...? I think I'm just being nosey, but I'm interested to see what goes on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crieffsaintandy Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 58 minutes ago, andy rhodes fancy watch said: And ALL of the investors live outwith Perth, wouldn't they like to have a wee Swatch at this? Yep get an insight from support what their thoughts are, rather than just the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomGuy Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Did they not admit that some of things discussed are stuff they dont want anyone outside of St Johnstone (the club and supporters) knowing, and either live streaming the whole event or replaying the whole event would dramatically increasing the "leaks" about such things? They can control that with the minutes being released. It maybe feels "secret society"-ish, but maybe it has to be that way? You'd 100% get opposition fans/journalists paying to view the whole thing to hunt for things. Probably ideally you get a replay of the event with things being edited out if needed. R.B.B:- Adz and PerthSaint01 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kinross Saint Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 (edited) 7 minutes ago, RandomGuy said: Did they not admit that some of things discussed are stuff they dont want anyone outside of St Johnstone (the club and supporters) knowing, and either live streaming the whole event or replaying the whole event would dramatically increasing the "leaks" about such things? They can control that with the minutes being released. It maybe feels "secret society"-ish, but maybe it has to be that way? You'd 100% get opposition fans/journalists paying to view the whole thing to hunt for things. Probably ideally you get a replay of the event with things being edited out if needed. I’m sorry but that’s just an excuse. If the club had a crumb of professionalism the employees would know what can and can’t be said in a public domain. Everything gets said on forums anyway. If anyone at the club thinks it’s sensible to discuss sensitive items at these meetings without it being shared beyond that’s just naive. Edited January 19 by The Kinross Saint Graeme S 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerthSaint01 Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 5 minutes ago, RandomGuy said: Did they not admit that some of things discussed are stuff they dont want anyone outside of St Johnstone (the club and supporters) knowing, and either live streaming the whole event or replaying the whole event would dramatically increasing the "leaks" about such things? They can control that with the minutes being released. It maybe feels "secret society"-ish, but maybe it has to be that way? You'd 100% get opposition fans/journalists paying to view the whole thing to hunt for things. Probably ideally you get a replay of the event with things being edited out if needed. I think this is one of the key points. Thinking back to the Falkirk one that was live streamed 2/3 years back that went viral for some of the stuff discussed and points made. Options would either be behind a paywall (Saints TV) or edited highlights I’d imagine. R.B.B:- Adz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerthSaint01 Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 2 minutes ago, The Kinross Saint said: I’m sorry but that’s just an excuse. If the club had a crumb of professionalism the employees would know what can and can’t be said in a public domain. Everything gets said on forums anyway. No, but discussing certain things within a contained audience is very different to an online viral clip for example of Fran Smith discussing a certain ex manager making certain decisions or whatever… R.B.B:- Adz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme S Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 (edited) If what's being suggested above is that there have beenl unguarded comments being made by guest speakers, then, as said, if the speakers are employed by the club, one would think they'd be professional and adult enough to know where the line is. It does, however, raise the question, if there have been instances of unguarded comments being made and NOT being included in the written minutes - then we are back in the oak panelled boardroom filled with cigar smoke and it's an example of Saints fans who can't attend these meetings being excluded from "the truth". It's fairly obvious though, that Mr X who was at the meeting, will pm Mr Y who wasn't, and tell him that Saints representative A thought that Craig "av goat a nippel ring you know" Levein was an absolute tweaker who can't tell left from right. So it gets out. Is it not better to have an accurate version of events being given to fans rather than "he said, she said, whispers" being interpreted in a myriad of different ways? Listening to Uncle Stan on The Spoony Chop podcast was a breath of fresh air - truth, whilst remaining very professional, but, at the same time he could allude to certain things which gave fans an insight into the way the club was/had been run. It was actually more interesting listening to what he DIDN'T say or who he didn't name/refer to. Surely that podcast was more sensitive than anything that goes on behind the oak panelled walls of "The Fans Forum"? Come on, it's not rocket science is it? Edited January 19 by Graeme S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pezza70 Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 During Covid the club I’m a season ticket holder down here held their annual AGM on line via zoom and questions were asked in the chat area and they answered them on the microphone, now not every question was answered but least it was an option for all of us not being allowed to attend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerthSaint01 Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 30 minutes ago, Graeme S said: If what's being suggested above is that there have beenl unguarded comments being made by guest speakers, then, as said, if the speakers are employed by the club, one would think they'd be professional and adult enough to know where the line is. It does, however, raise the question, if there have been instances of unguarded comments being made and NOT being included in the written minutes - then we are back in the oak panelled boardroom filled with cigar smoke and it's an example of Saints fans who can't attend these meetings being excluded from "the truth". It's fairly obvious though, that Mr X who was at the meeting, will pm Mr Y who wasn't, and tell him that Saints representative A thought that Craig "av goat a nippel ring you know" Levein was an absolute tweaker who can't tell left from right. So it gets out. Is it not better to have an accurate version of events being given to fans rather than "he said, she said, whispers" being interpreted in a myriad of different ways? Listening to Uncle Stan on The Spoony Chop podcast was a breath of fresh air - truth, whilst remaining very professional, but, at the same time he could allude to certain things which gave fans an insight into the way the club was/had been run. It was actually more interesting listening to what he DIDN'T say or who he didn't name/refer to. Surely that podcast was more sensitive than anything that goes on behind the oak panelled walls of "The Fans Forum"? Come on, it's not rocket science is it? I’m not sure it’s unprofessionalism or unguarded comments to discuss in depth going ons at the club. I would just imagine there’s certain aspects of conversations and answers that they wouldn’t want on the official record. Another main example I can think of would be comments around the Old Firm, the league and Police Scotland… it wouldn’t be particularly helpful to the club to have certain things that have been said in these forums to provide insight into ticketing and stewarding decisions recorded live and available on the internet to be shared and seen by millions of people that could damage future relationships and income. It’s certainly not a return to the “oak panelled board room filled with cigar smoke” you suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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