The Meeting after the Match today (long post)

[Radders]

As all Slough fans were invited to attend I see no problem with sharing what was said on here.

 

As many of you were aware a camera crew were following proceedings throughout today's match. They were from the Bravo TV channel and have approached the club with a view to working with Slough on a new TV venture. The premise is something along the lines of Channel 4's Faking It, where a person goes into a job they have never tried before and tries to convince those around him/her that they are a professional. In this case a man by the name of Ashley Hames wants to come into the club and basically be manager for a week. The show would be shown as part of a 13 part series on Bravo and maybe even Channel 4 or 5, where Hames goes into many different jobs and tries his hand at them.

 

The company approached the Ryman League, who suggested a list of clubs who would maybe be interested, most probably due to the fact that they were mid-table and not really playing for results at this stage in the season. Roy showed an interest in the project and discussions began from there.

 

Hames would join Eddie and the team from Monday 3rd April, where he would coach the team on Tuesday and Thursday, hopefully manage the Capital League side on Wednesday, and then 'manage' the side against Folkestone on Saturday 8th. Eddie would basically be the 'assistant' during this time.

 

This idea may sound worrying to some, in terms of the fact that we are still not fully safe and it could be seen as a negative against Eddie. Roy was at pains to point out that nothing will happen if Eddie and Westy do not agree to the terms of the deal.

 

There are obviously positives that could come out of such a deal, namely an increased gate for the Folkestone game, if advertised well, and also TV coverage of the club when the show goes out. The guy who was there today also stated that in the contract the company must agree to show Slough in a positive light, and that issues such as the club's finances, etc will not be raised. However, it is still a chance to voice concerns about the club's future in terms of a home, etc.

 

The majority of people who remained (a group of about 10 or 12) seemed to be up for the project (providing that Eddie is happy with what is put down), and my personal opinion is that, if marketed correctly, we could bring in an extra 100-200 fans for the Folkestone game.

 

Obviously nothing is yet signed and sealed, but Roy and the guy from Bravo were speaking to Eddie and Westy straight after the fans left.

 

Watch this space .....

[A Rebel and a Saint]

so we get a few extra fair weather fans who turn up and leave with the cameras, and increase our chances of losing a game we could really do with winning......im not convinced....if getting to the FA cup second round and winning the league cup didnt promote the club much i cannot see how getting the team managed by some random guy for tv will help us push away from the relegation spots, let alone promote the cause of the clubs homeless situation

[A Rebel and a Saint]

ok then, say we go into the game and the cameras see another performance similar to today, or fisher at home a few weeks back, thats really going to bring the fans flocking to us

[michaelSTFC]

"The premise is something along the lines of Channel 4's Faking It, where a person goes into a job they have never tried before and tries to convince those around him/her that they are a professional."

 

 

They're too late - Steve Browne left years ago!

 

Boom, boom!

[Roger Rebel]

I do hope that the Barmy Army does not get pushed out, as we have Sponsored this Match and we would be very very cross.

[Burnham Lad]

Surely what really matters is what Eddie, Westie and more importantly, the team, think?

 

Can anybody seriously see some character coming in and motivating them to win a "must win" match, decide the tactics, etc? It is hard enough for a manager like Eddie to get the performances from the team we need, so I cannot see players at their level responding to such an artificial situation.

 

And after the reactions to the Make Slough Happy, not to mention the Office, does anybody really trust an unknown TV programme maker not to use it to take the p*ss, despite whatever they say, if they think it makes "better television"? There are plenty of examples where the programme maker has given assurances of this sort, but been unable to resist the temptation.

 

It doesn't matter what the contract says, when the programme has gone out, the damage has been done and who has any money to pay the costs of any legal action?

 

Be very very wary........

[Ian]

Personally I think it's a stupid idea. This is OUR football club, not the bloody play thing of a television station. I'm disappointed that it wasn't dismissed out of hand. If it goes ahead, I won't be at the game.

[Guest]

Has to be the worst idea i have ever heard, we are not even safe yet and how anyone could could come up with such a warped idea is beyond me, i for one will not attend the Folkstone match if this goes ahead..

[A Rebel and a Saint]

wahey im not the only one to think its a completely stupid idea! agreed with all the other views expressed i posted my opposition.

that was going to be my 25th match of the season but im tempted to keep my money in my pocket that day.

if we win the game it will be down to the hard work of our players not some random prat who is probably paid more to do the show than its costed to keep our club alive!!

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Im undecided, at least they havent picked the Windsor match, which is far more important IMHO

[Matt]

Seems that news of a meeting with fans over this issue should have been raised earlier then! That's not to say anything was agreed, as Radders said, but it would probably have been better to get a wider view...

[A Rebel and a Saint]

maybe a poll on here could get the opinion of the fans on here, and then that view put to roy?

[GarySTFC]

Did anyone voice their concern at the meeting? The impression that I got from earlier discussions was that the fella would come in and work as 'manager', but Eddie and Westy would still call the shots.

 

Basically, if we lost, we can blame the other bloke, and if we win, it's down to Eddie & Westy not the other guy...

 

I'll be there regardless. At the end of the day, the club needs the support both in people numbers and also money through the turnstiles. If they are going to all this trouble and will be advertising the match for us which generates us some much needed extra income, then it's a good thing.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

I total agree with Ian and will not be turning up if this goes ahead.

 

This is shear madness!

 

Or think about all the chants you could do with the name "Ashley Hames" - it would make "chuck baiting" look tame!!!

[Burnham Lad]

Quote:

Gary-STFC said:
Did anyone voice their concern at the meeting? .....

I may not have been paying attention, but I was at the match yesterday and I certainly didn't hear anything about a meeting after the game. When and how was it announced? I'm sure the people around me didn't either as they all went home. Would certainly have voiced concerns, if I'd known.

[Ted]

I don't think that the club will get very much out of it. Bravo TV is hardly mainstram viewing. That said, every little helps, and if Eddie thinks its a good idea, then fair enough by me.

[Rebel Kay]

I wasn't even aware that a meeting was taking place.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

i heard there was a meeting but it wouldve been nice to know what it was about first!

[Chris]

What a joke

 

Sorry, but my opinion is it makes us look proper 'Mickey Mouse'.

 

Who are we Fash FC or something? Can't see it adding anything to the gate, it's on Bravo where there are few viewers and makes us look like a proper pub outfit if you ask me.

 

Were not safe from relegation. This is just an embarrassment. If we were getting lots of money out of it then fair enough, but were not. What positives does it offer the club?

 

Supporters have worked very hard to improve Slough's image to make us appear more professional and with this joke of an idea that hard work is being sent down the drain.

 

Unless Bravo want to sponsor our shirts as part of the deal and plough money into the club for a couple of seasons we should send them packing in my opinion.

 

...and yet again no mention of a meeting. Only found out about it when I asked Gary what the camera crew was about half way through the game.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Yeah, agreed i only found out because it was said behind the goal; i didnt bother staying because as someone pointed out higher in the thread, how many people watch Bravo? and as it seems we are getting no money out of it, it seems pretty pointless, maybe if we get this publiced on local rags etc it may get us an extra 20 or so fans on the day who knows?

But come rain or shine ill be there to support the boys. This idea is not down to them and refusing to turn up won help one iota.