Date finally set for ‘urgent’ meeting between Newcastle United Fans Forum and club officials
We at last have a date for when the next Newcastle United Fans Forum will take place.
It will take place on Monday 6 July, ‘only’ 71 days after Managing Director Lee Charnley agreed to arrange an urgent meeting before the end of the season, to discuss all the various issues and problems facing the club and supporters.
Taylor Payne who is the ‘Members Representative’, said on 3 June 2015 that the Fans Forum members had sent countless emails to the club but with no reply.
That Lee Charnley’s letter of the 26 April agreeing to an urgent meeting BEFORE the end of the season is reproduced below, whilst firstly this is the message that Taylor (one half of the @TaylorandBesty Twitter account) sent on 3 June to a Newcastle fan who was asking what was happening with the promised Fans Forum meeting:
“Requested a meeting after Leicester, club agreed. We’ve heard nothing since. Sent countless emails. No idea why.”
Tonight (Wednesday 17 June) though, Taylor Payne has revealed that there now has been a date set and the fans will at last meet club officials on Monday 6 July.
Wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall at this particular meeting as the fans present will undoubtedly be pressing the club for answers, both on the running of the club, as well as the contempt that the club have shown for the supporters who have volunteered to sit on this fans forum.
The optimists amongst us will be hoping that with the meeting set for 19 days time, surely this indicates we are going to see a hectic period of activity, with Steve McClaren appointing backroom staff as well as going on to make a number of credible signings.
If Mike Ashley allows the club to make the kind of investment needed in the kind of signings we would all like to see, then it will head off much of the anger and dismay the members of the fans forum will be feeling.
With club directors Lee Charnley and John Irving having regularly attended the fans forum meetings, it will also be interesting to see if newly appointed directors Steve McClaren and Graham Carr will also be attending meetings now.
Originally there were four meetings per season before the club unilaterally told fans forum members they were cutting the number to three per season.
The previous season the final meeting was held on Monday 12 May 2014, one day after the last match of the 2013/14 season.
Since then there have been meetings on 20 October 2014 and 2 March 2015, so interesting to see if the club will count this meeting on Monday 6 July as the final (third) one of last season, or the first of the three for the coming season.
We all await the minutes with interest AND the frenzied transfer activity in the meantime…
Lee Charnley letter to NUFC Fans Forum members (Made Public 26 April 2015)
“In order to discuss the issues you raise, I intend to bring forward the date of our next Fans Forum meeting which was originally scheduled for the end of the season.
“I am sure Forum members past and present will agree that the Club has been open and transparent during all interactions, including meetings and correspondence, and this next meeting will be no different.
“In my opinion, the introduction of the Forum has been productive for all the parties involved and, as we move forward, the Forum will continue to be one of our preferred forms of fan communication and engagement.
“With five games now remaining of the season – including three at St. James’ Park, I would ask you, indeed all supporters, to get fully behind John Carver and the players as they look to finish the season as strongly as possible.
“When St. James’ Park is loud and supportive of the team on the pitch, it does make a huge difference.”
“We accept mistakes have been made and understand you raise these issues because you want the best for your football club.
“Please be assured we want the same – we want to give you a football club you can be proud of and a team you feel passionate to support.”
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