Clubs poor PR

[BensGrandad]

IMO the PR of the club leaves a lot to be desired especially when you consider that DK made his wealth in advertising.

When he took over he said that they would be open with the supporters and tell them what was happening.

What is the up to date situation on the extra 2000 seats?

If and when are Blackwell and Rodgers expected to resume training?

Following on when are they expected or hoped to be in contention for the first team?

 

[Tooting Gull]

I think the PR solution to the extra seats problem would be to fix up a photo shoot with local lass Jordan in H block on a non-match-day wearing a leopardskin bikini, saying: "It's all about quantity, not quality - give Brighton more seats." That should make the Daily Star.

 

[Lammy]

I'm not so bothered by the PR but more by the shame that is our merchandising dept!

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

I'm not so bothered by the PR but more by the shame that is our merchandising dept!

Not in the run-up to Cardiff

The much criticised merchandising dept pulled out all the stops and the club shop was fully stocked with loads of different gear for the trip to the Millennium Stadium

 

[BensGrandad]

Not in the run-up to Cardiff

The much criticised merchandising dept pulled out all the stops and the club shop was fully stocked with loads of different gear for the trip to the Millennium Stadium

And still got a lot to sell off cheap.

My major concern is that there is speculation about the 2000 extra seats but nobody will tell us what is either happening or the problems or if these problems can be or will be overcome.

2000 seats bring in approx £40,000 per game i.e £20,000 per week 60% can be spent on wages for players as per league rules. which equates to about £12,000 per week 2 or 3 better players!!!

 

[Storer68]

Ooh I think that is a bit unfair

You ask DK a question and you do at least get an answer - may not be one you like, but I've never known him be anything less than open and straight with fans.

As to seats - perhaps there just is NO news

As to players - that's the Manager's and Physio's decision whether they want to tell us anything. The only time i want to heara chairman talking baout players is about bringing in new ones

 

[Biscuit]

And still got a lot to sell off cheap.

My major concern is that there is speculation about the 2000 extra seats but nobody will tell us what is either happening or the problems or if these problems can be or will be overcome.

2000 seats bring in approx £40,000 per game i.e £20,000 per week 60% can be spent on wages for players as per league rules. which equates to about £12,000 per week 2 or 3 better players!!!

I may be wrong but I see it like this.

We have been given the go ahead to increase the capacity to 9,000. However, without another park and ride scheme we cannot impliment it. We have to prove/get permission to use/ another pnp site. Once that is sorted we can wack up the extra seats.

 

[MidlandSeagull69]

as far as i know the 2000 extra seats were granted to us but the reason they are not in is because there is nowhere for an extra park and ride which was part of the deal as the club couldn't find anywhere for another park and ride the extra seats have been binned

 

[BensGrandad]

I may be wrong but I see it like this.

We have been given the go ahead to increase the capacity to 9,000. However, without another park and ride scheme we cannot impliment it. We have to prove/get permission to use/ another pnp site. Once that is sorted we can wack up the extra seats.

Agreed but has anything moved forward since then to bring in the extra seats. Have we found another site? Have we applied for permission to use it? What is the latest that they can tell us?

Regards the players a simple they are expected to start training in November or whenever and are hoped to be in contention for a place around Christmas /Easter or whenever.

 

[rool]

I have never been impressed with DK's PR to be honest. I always felt that this is due to there being such a high demand for withdean seats that they didn't have to do anything anyway. This attitude will have to change when bums need to be put on seats in Falmer.

I find it mostly annoying that when things are going well you can't keep him off the radio or television but he virtually disappears when things aren't going well and questions need to be answered.

I don't know what his exact words were when he took over but I wonder if everyone thinks that he has kept his word that the club will always be open and honest?.

 

[Icy Gull]

as far as i know the 2000 extra seats were granted to us but the reason they are not in is because there is nowhere for an extra park and ride which was part of the deal as the club couldn't find anywhere for another park and ride the extra seats have been binned

At the risk of being repetitive, I still haven't heard a decent or logical reason why Sussex University car park cannot be used. After all it's going to take some of the parking for Falmer isn't it?

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

I agree with you BG, the additional seats appear to be a non-issue at the moment. There was much trumpeting in the Argus and the programme about how permission had been won for additional seating, where they would be located etc. Then it well went silent, never to be discussed again. I thought we had won a big battle by getting ASDA to withdraw their petition but it seems that all that effort counted for nought. I thought the club were holding back with the additional seats until they knew which division we would be in. Martin Perry stated earlier in the year that if we didn't get promoted there would be no point in putting the seats in because opposing teams wouldn't bring enough supporters to make them financially worthwhile. Now we have been promoted but there still seems to be silence on the issue.

On the subject of players injuries, I think I heard on SCR a couple of days ago that Simon Rodger is expected back in training in the next ten days but I can't be totally sure.

 

[Mustela Furo]

Simon Rodger resumes full training Monday week

Dean Blackwell needs to return to the Doctor for a status check

 

[The Large One]

I am extremely confident that the club is not hiding anything. Just because people demand answers, it doesn't follow that there are answers to give. And just because there may be speculation (aka gossip) about a given topic, it doesn't follow that there is a story. Maybe the club is not saying anything because nothing is happening. Or that they are in the middle of something that hasn't yet been completed. Or that there is nothing to tell. Also, it is not always wise to tell everyone everything, especially when there is opposition to a plan, and the knowledge might be used as ammo against the club's aims.

As has been said, it is Dick Knight who knows about PR. They will tell us when the time is right - NOT when people throw toys out of their pram demanding answers NOW.

 

[Rangdo]

At the risk of being repetitive, I still haven't heard a decent or logical reason why Sussex University car park cannot be used. After all it's going to take some of the parking for Falmer isn't it?

It may not necessarily be in the right place. If demand is for a park and ride for traffic coming from the West or North then that traffic will have to go 4-5 miles past the ground then be brought back again. The Large One can probably clarify.

 

[London Irish]

There have been regular updates in the Argus about injured players, that's not a problem.

The seats question is a different matter though. I think the Carden Ave scheme has failed and the club have been understandably reluctant to trumpet this. What the strategy is now, it would be good to know, although the lack of news could simply be that the club is still considering its options, and really wants to have something positive to say when they give out an update, rather than just dwelling on news of the Carden Ave failure.

 

[Lammy]

Not in the run-up to Cardiff

The much criticised merchandising dept pulled out all the stops and the club shop was fully stocked with loads of different gear for the trip to the Millennium Stadium

Maybe so, so why can't they get the new strip out in time for the kick off of the season?

Not that I care as the new strip is pony so I won'r be buying it personally. But a new strip is a massive money spinner for the club. It should really be given top priority. Also it should be accessable through other outlets.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Having the 2,000 seats, or not, could be the difference between survival or relegation.

A 29% increase in our turnover and we could, conceivably, afford decent loan players if they come along. Right now, we haven't got a pot to piss in, hence the Currie 1-year deal.

I know the club have been trying very hard on this one but I would have thought 5 years is enough time to get this sorted.

 

[BensGrandad]

I sent an E mail to Martin Perry earlier today and have received a reply that says basically that Carden Avenue is scrapped cdertain other sites are being investigated and 2 Withdean residents have put a spoke in to their local councillors who have withdrawn their support for the extra seats. The council is now a 'hung' council and getting permission is not now so simple as when it was controlled by one party.

 

[Rangdo]

I sent an E mail to Martin Perry earlier today and have received a reply that says basically that Carden Avenue is scrapped cdertain other sites are being investigated and 2 Withdean residents have put a spoke in to their local councillors who have withdrawn their support for the extra seats. The council is now a 'hung' council and getting permission is not now so simple as when it was controlled by one party.

Can't we get some people from Withdean to speak to their councillors in favour of the seats? Some people on here must know supporters who live there or live their themselves.