Fans fight council

[Guest]

From kentonline.co.uk...

 

Football fans plan to fight council

by Paul Hobson

 

FANS of Welling United are considering standing in next year’s council elections in protest at a perceived lack of support from Bexley Council.

Supporters believe the council has not given their club enough financial backing over the years, and is too focused on its relationship with Premiership club Charlton Athletic.

The continued absence of council funding to support a community officer at the club has proved the final straw for some fans, who are now considering taking direct political action if there is no change.

Writing in a recent match programme, Matthew Mein, a Wings follower of 15 years, said: "Over the past few years, we have consistently heard about the positive relationship between various clubs and their local councils.

"However, our club seems to miss out on many advantages these other clubs have.

"After much thought we decided to ask for a meeting with the club to find out if it would support our members standing to be local councillors."

He said with 4,500 members, the club has enough people to make the elections a success.

The supporters are due to meet with general manager Graham Hobbins in the next 10 days to discuss the situation.

Mr Hobbins said he understands the fans’ frustration, but did not necessarily agree with their plans.

He said: "Since I’ve been here from 1978, the council had not volunteered to spend a single penny on the property. That is disappointing.

"But whether their (the fans’) idea is the right way, I’m not so sure. Sometimes it’s better to talk and sit round a table.

[jkmaskell]

Dont think they'll win any seats but the issue means a lot to them. I do think they have a point though. Itll be interesting to see what happens with this one.

[blueblood]

Why not?,they surely have a more legitimate reason for standing than most of the others. If the candidates they put up are articulate then WHY NOT? .

[jkmaskell]

They could just stand on a platform of making sure Welling gets more influence but there needs to be more than that. Any prospective candidate must make sure that whatever ward they stand in they make sure they look at everything, not just Welling FC, otherwise the electorate will look down on them. Just saying that the Council arent giving them enough recognition wont get them elected. Its about the hospitals, transport, schools, the rate of local taxes, businesses, housing, rubbish collection and tourism, amongst other things.

 

Looking at the last elections, its 32 for Labour 30 for the Tories and 1 for the Lib Dems. Independents with the exception of one case (who was still not elected - out of curiosity why was Graham Holland not re-elected?) arent even close to being elected. The Welling fans could be elected but going on a platform of giving Welling FC influence is not really going to work unless they become either the majority party or a major minority party. A single Councillor wont have enough influence by themselves.

 

If they wish to be elected they should link up with the Opposition Conservatives, who will want to take control of the Council next year and will help. If Welling are serious about this they should start talking to the Tories. This is said objectively here, not as a Tory.

 

I see what you are saying blueblood ie if they say it right theyll be elected but its more than the football club, no offense meant to Welling FC at all.

 

Gotta say though, Bexley Councillors get paid quite nicely. Us in Thanet think our Councillors get paid a lot...ours only get 4 grand compared to Bexleys almsot 8 grand a year!

 

Best of luck Welling with it should you decide to go ahead with standing for office.

[Porka]

Quote:

jkmaskell said:
They could just stand on a platform of making sure Welling gets more influence but there needs to be more than that. Any prospective candidate must make sure that whatever ward they stand in they make sure they look at everything, not just Welling FC, otherwise the electorate will look down on them. Just saying that the Council arent giving them enough recognition wont get them elected. Its about the hospitals, transport, schools, the rate of local taxes, businesses, housing, rubbish collection and tourism, amongst other things.

Looking at the last elections, its 32 for Labour 30 for the Tories and 1 for the Lib Dems. Independents with the exception of one case (who was still not elected - out of curiosity why was Graham Holland not re-elected?) arent even close to being elected. The Welling fans could be elected but going on a platform of giving Welling FC influence is not really going to work unless they become either the majority party or a major minority party. A single Councillor wont have enough influence by themselves.

If they wish to be elected they should link up with the Opposition Conservatives, who will want to take control of the Council next year and will help. If Welling are serious about this they should start talking to the Tories. This is said objectively here, not as a Tory.

I see what you are saying blueblood ie if they say it right theyll be elected but its more than the football club, no offense meant to Welling FC at all.

Gotta say though, Bexley Councillors get paid quite nicely. Us in Thanet think our Councillors get paid a lot...ours only get 4 grand compared to Bexleys almsot 8 grand a year!

Best of luck Welling with it should you decide to go ahead with standing for office.

Think they're just after a bit of publicity for the football club's cause. Smacks of desperation. But Welling have been known to get fairly decent crowds and this sort of case can stir up a bit of pride in the community. A lot of people couldn't care less who wins local elections so they won't mind 'wasting' their vote on a campaign like this.