Boycott Or Not?

[Mattyblue]

Speedie Gonna Get Ya (member of Coalition) said ‘If you are content with the current ownership and the way the club is being run then attend’, that is complicity re-worded.

Edited Wednesday at 20:17 by Mattyblue

[RevidgeBlue]

7 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Speedie Gonna Get Ya (member of Coalition) said l  ‘If you are content with the current ownership and the way the club is being run then attend’, that is complicity re-worded.

I think you're looking for reasons to be offended there ( particularly if you're boycotting yourself anyway)  but hey ho.

There will no doubt be some supporters who  take the stance "Im not being told what to do" no matter what the rhetoric is surrounding the call to arms.

 

[Mattyblue]

Why would I be offended. But I take it you agree that those who will attend are not complicit with the owners?

[RevidgeBlue]

1 minute ago, Mattyblue said:

Why would I be offended. But I take it you agree that those who will attend are not complicit with the owners?

Never said they are. 

It's entirely a matter of personal choice whether anyone wants to attend/not attend, boycott for one game or permanently/not boycott etc.

I voted with my feet several seasons ago so can't boycott per se however I do firmly think it's the right thing to do. Something has to be done.

Imo those that still enjoy attending games, even under the current circumstances, won't have a Club left to follow in a few seasons if the Club continues on its current trajectory.

[Dreams of 1995]

1 hour ago, M_B said:

I honestly don't oppose the boycott, people can do whatever they feel is right. It does make me wonder though, why it has taken an official one for people to act,i mean come on, they've had 15 years. 

Also how it is now being seen as some cliff edge, do or die moment, and if you don't comply(not saying that the coalition have said this) you are somehow responsible for the ills at the club. It's absolutely ridiculous. 

You're right, I obviously do wish they'd go, but I don't think for one second that they'll be forced into it. The result of what's happening, in my opinion, is much more likely to result in a statement confirming their intentions to stay, rather than an intention to leave. If that does happen, you can guarantee that the boycott hasn't helped, quite the opposite. 

To be honest, I don’t think it’s as big a deal as the microcosm of people who post on here and Facebook are making out. The majority of supporters don’t post on here or follow the fan groups on FB with any regular interest. It is those people whom which the success of this action rests with - the silent majority

I have some faith that, actually, a lot of people do engage with fan groups one way or another. And all fan groups are behind this action. Simply by membership, I’d wager at least 1-2 current match going fans are paid up members of groups contained within the Coalition. It only takes another 1-2 to 3 before you’re almost at 40-50% levels of typical home fans. If few who usually buy walk ons don’t bother, then the boycott will be visibly seen

I think the cliff edge moment you allude to is driven firstly in good faith. By that, I mean that fans are disagreeing not with the end outcome but with the road one takes. This disagreement causes much frustration and the desire to persuade leads people to embellish. “This is our last chance”; “this has no chance of succeeding”; “they are billionaires - who cares”; “if you do go, you are complicit”

The above are statements of persuasion more than anything. And human nature is such that when persuasion fails, it usually hardens people in opposition rather than changing hearts and minds

I would disagree a statement to remain means the boycott has failed. They would provide that statement anyway and so usually when discontent occurs. Suggesting this is a sign of failure would mean that you are of the idea doing nothing and plodding on is more likely to see Venkys leave. The boycott won’t be the nail in the coffin, but it will help no matter the outcome as it is another sign that the club is not operating correctly 

 

[wilsdenrover]

29 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I think you're looking for reasons to be offended there ( particularly if you're boycotting yourself anyway)  but hey ho.

There will no doubt be some supporters who  take the stance "Im not being told what to do" no matter what the rhetoric is surrounding the call to arms.

 

Tell them to attend 🤔

[speedies gonna get ya.]

45 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

Speedie Gonna Get Ya (member of Coalition) said ‘If you are content with the current ownership and the way the club is being run then attend’, that is complicity re-worded.

Bad choice of words on my part but I do believe you are trying to find something to be offended by. I have never used the words complicit.

I genuinely mean if you are happy with everything attend, if you are not you have a choice to make. Do you add your support to a planned boycott or not. It is that simple.

[RevidgeBlue]

3 minutes ago, speedies gonna get ya. said:

Bad choice of words on my part but I do believe you are trying to find something to be offended by. I have never used the words complicit.

I genuinely mean if you are happy with everything attend, if you are not you have a choice to make. Do you add your support to a planned boycott or not. It is that simple.

Whilst Im fully behind the call for a boycott it isn't quite that black and white. People have to decide whether or not to forgo something they've already paid for and there'll be a few like the poster previously who are obliged to attend as a one off due to personal circumstances.

Im also not one of those who thinks the result of this initial call to boycott is of crucial importance either way. I assume in due course there'll be a call to supporters to boycott  ST purchases for next season. You may (or may not) find there's a more noticeable response to that and either way it'll hit the owners in the pocket harder which will have the most chance of achieving the end goal.

Need to do as many different things as possible by way of protest.

[Mattyblue]

Right, all agreed then, people that attend aren’t complicit, but Rovers fans, just like us, who happen to see things differently.

I’d be surprised if the Coalition went there with season tickets.

[RevidgeBlue]

8 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

I’d be surprised if the Coalition went there with season tickets.

Why?

You're not going to get them out by going "We dont like you but it doesn't matter we'll buy tickets or attend matches regardless."

Has to be all or nothing.

Edited Wednesday at 21:38 by RevidgeBlue

[Mattyblue]

Just my opinion, I think it’s a step they’ll back away from. Time will tell, I suppose.

By the way, you are falling in to that trap of thinking these are normal owners. You’re not going to get them out by losing a couple more thousand ST holders either, as losing twelve thousand of them under their watch has shown. Boycott or no boycott we’ll be considerably down on ST holders next season and they will still be here .

[RevidgeBlue]

2 minutes ago, Mattyblue said:

By the way, you are falling in to that trap of thinking these are normal owners. You’re not going to get them out by losing a couple more thousand ST holders either, as losing twelve thousand of them under their watch has shown. Boycott or no boycott we’ll be considerably down on ST holders next season and they will still be here .

I think even for these owners, there will be a point of critical mass that we're rapidly approaching.

Imo losses exceeding a certain prescribed level that they're prepared to go to will be the only thing that shifts them. They certainly dont seem to mind being unpopular.

[Mattyblue]

Let’s hope so, personally I’d just see them using it as an excuse to further cut costs and mothball/sell off the infrastructure we have left. A Wigan-esque lower league club.

We’ll find out either way as BRFC will end up in League 1 sooner rather than later and ST sales will continue to decline.

[Crimpshrine]

Support the boycott?

Fancy being part of a video montage?

Send in a clip of yourself saying 'i am boycotting the Watford match' or something similar to iamboycotting@hotmail.com

[...]

11 hours ago, BigUts said:

What's ridiculous is people not willing to make the minute sacrifice of not attending a single game to help prove a point and shine a spotlight a little more on our crazy owners.

Imagine being one of those people and the history books... "Fan groups attempted to rally support against the Rao family ownership, by organising a blanket boycot of a single game, yet there remained a number of supporters who were unwilling to do so, instead insisting that they would not be told what to do by anyone"

I can tell you now, that anyone attending the game will, by proxy, be supporting the spinned notion by 'the club' that there "remains strong support amongst the fan base for what we are trying to do here"

I read that 2nd paragraph in Ronnie Barkers voice lmao 

"We spoke to Biguts and he thinks it's all getting rather silly" 

😂😂

[47er]

1 hour ago, RevidgeBlue said:

I think even for these owners, there will be a point of critical mass that we're rapidly approaching.

Imo losses exceeding a certain prescribed level that they're prepared to go to will be the only thing that shifts them. They certainly dont seem to mind being unpopular.

That's not necessarily true. They could simply cut costs irrespective of the damage that would do. Its not as if they care what division we are in is it?

[StHelensRover]

Sheff Weds fans didn't know whether a boycott would definitely work, but they went ahead with it and it seems to have helped. 

Leicester City fans largely boycotted their most recent home game. They won't have known what the outcome of that will be. But they've given it a go. It got a lot of attention, let's see what happens.

We have absolutely nothing to lose by boycotting one single match. What is the worst that would happen? You might miss our 3rd home win of the season in a season of rubbish and misery in a relegation scrap? So what? It's one game out of the years, decades you've been going. No one knows what the outcome will be of a boycott, but let these owners know how you feel. The boycott might not make the owners sell but the cost of trying is so small and meaningless that I can't understand why it's not worth just trying. 

[Mattyblue]

Because a lot of remaining match going fans fundamentally don’t think that’s what you do as a supporter. Crap owners but it’s their cross to bear.

We may struggle with that, it’s one game, think of the big picture and all that. But not going to a game when they are a season ticket holder, when they think the team needs support, wouldn’t cross their mind for a second and are bemused by the whole thing.

(and before you jump in Rev. This isn’t me ‘carping’, this isn’t me saying it isn’t the right thing to do, this isn’t me not supporting the Coalition. As it’s a thread to discuss it I’m just explaining the mindset of all those that sit around me that will be there. So let’s stop worrying about them and just try and work with what we’ve got.).

Edited yesterday at 07:02 by Mattyblue

[MarkBRFC]

15 hours ago, speedies gonna get ya. said:

If you are content with the current ownership and the way the club is being run then attend.

Really poor comment this from a member of the group leading the call.

Could understand if it was just someone on here who had that opinion, but a member, who has become a spokesman for the group on this board shouldn't be trying to divide the fanbase with comments like that in my opinion.

Edited 22 hours ago by MarkBRFC

[speedies gonna get ya.]

1 hour ago, MarkBRFC said:

Really poor comment this from a member of the group leading the call.

Could understand if it was just someone on here who had that opinion, but a member, who has become a spokesman for the group on this board shouldn't be trying to divide the fanbase with comments like that in my opinion.

I have already addressed this and admitted it was a poor choice of words. However my next sentence addresses those who are not happy. This one sentence is being taken out of context It has no hidden meaning and does not call anyone complicit. It means if you are content you will attend obviously, if you are not then you have a decision to make. Join the boycott or not. No hidden digs at anyone. 

Edited 21 hours ago by speedies gonna get ya.

[47er]

2 hours ago, MarkBRFC said:

Really poor comment this from a member of the group leading the call.

Could understand if it was just someone on here who had that opinion, but a member, who has become a spokesman for the group on this board shouldn't be trying to divide the fanbase with comments like that in my opinion.

I don't agree "he's trying to divide the fan base". The fan base is divided---that's a fact. That's why we are so ineffectual and Venkys don't feel any pressure to leave.

[Leonard Venkhater]

24 minutes ago, 47er said:

I don't agree "he's trying to divide the fan base". The fan base is divided---that's a fact. That's why we are so ineffectual and Venkys don't feel any pressure to leave.

Absolutely.

And it also shows that many fans on each side of the divide are sensitive about their own positions and quick to bite back.

[MarkBRFC]

16 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Absolutely.

And it also shows that many fans on each side of the divide are sensitive about their own positions and quick to bite back.

I'm actually on the side of the boycott as I have stated a few times.

But as a grown up I can also see the other side and why people want to attend, without saying "well they must be happy and content with how things are, so attend".

I accept that Speedie has said that it was maybe a poor choice of words however.

[Vinjay]

18 hours ago, levi said:

 

So that's the reason we'll be attending....i'm happy to enter the ground 5 minutes late as has been suggested above though

 

Better lower it to 10 seconds for others if that's not too much for them. Can't risk missing a goal.

There were fans in the 90's who must have died very happy as far as their football club was concerned. You should remind them how many fans have died with such idiots in control some of whom would have been actively boycotting or driven away permanently.

How many more do they want? Sometimes you have to be that heavy to get through to people. It says more about them if you can't.

Edited 19 hours ago by Vinjay

[StHelensRover]

I'm a STH of almost 3 decades (including the Covid season) and I'll be boycotting the Watford game. I'm also really torn on ST renewal and whether I can bring myself to not renew. I think final league position may have some bearing on that. If they take us down again I definitely won't be going this time, it will be the remaining 5000 "true fans" who just keep going, who would not bat an eyelid about owners even if we were running out in the north west counties... as long as they were "backing the lads".

Jack Walker's legacy down the drain, but just "back the lads, don't be negative".

I feel resigned at this point to the boycott not really materialising and the crowing that will occur from the Venkyclappers (no one will buy us, we'd do a Bury without them, we're so grateful, brigade) when that happens. 

Edited 19 hours ago by StHelensRover