Personally I don't see a problem at all. I know at least four FF members and they never volunteer any information, all are very discreet. From the little I have heard the FF gets consulted on the new shirt and that's about it. BRISA will be public from the outset, anyone who is an FF and BRISA member will not be privy to any private BRISA info as there simply won't be any. BRISA will be meeting senior club management so they will be aware of our thoughts and ideas through direct communication. While I'd be deligted to see a good working relationship between BRISA and the FF I don't see any reason for BRISA to be concerned by the FF's secrecy. I haven't spent the 3-4 years I've know Glenn and others thinking "Now what's he/she holding back." If there comes a time when BRISA has information it didn't want to get back to the club it would never occur to me to ask Glenn and others to leave the room! These people are trustworthy and have the club's best interest at heart. We are here to back BRISA, one very strong reason for this is the FF tells the fans nothing. So lets get on with BRISA and let others worry about secrecy.

Absolutely not. The situation is this. Any organisation must have a structure, especially one like BRISA. If the club is to take BRISA seriously it is importatnt the club sees BRISA is well organised and provides clear and constant lines for communication. The communication aspect is very important; if club representatives are faced with different people every time they meet BRISA the club would soon tire of the organisation. Currently we have in place a Steering Group which comprises (I have witheld surnames because I don't have time to ask everyone if they mind or not): Chairman: Mike G Treasurer: Stuart W Secretary: Paul B Web Mistress: Clare N Media Officer: Neil T Add to this around 10-15 people who have attended some or all our meetings. Some of these people are Steering Group members, some do not wish to be. For example one person who would be great on the SG refuses to do so saying his only interest is to make sure BRISA is launched. Everyone involved to date has agreed the Steering Group will remain in place for 6 months from the launch date. At this point BRISA will hold its first AGM when the Steering Group will stand down en bloc. At this AGM the first BRISA committee will be elected. It is important the Steering Group remains in place for six months, we have worked on this for a year, the club know who they are dealing with, BRISA needs the continuity or it will fail. If an entirely new committee is elected at the AGM I will be delighted. Why? Simple it will mean BRISA is run by those who the fans have elected and will become truely democratic, answering once and for all any criticism about elitism. The existing people are involved because they started it, EVERYONE can join NOW. It is your choice to be involved or not, I've made my choice. If anyone believes BRISA is elitist I would urge you to at least come to a meeting and learn the truth. BRISA has worked very hard to date, we need more active people, the more people involved the better. One final point, four members of the admin/mod team from here are involved. One has a "position" in BRISA, secretary. The secretary doesn't vote.

Andy to respond to your points: Andy: How can this be if the launch is on the 27 Oct ? BRISA members distributed leaflets amongst the Rovers support at Anfield yesterday and will be doing the same at the Birmingham and Leeds games. We are advertising our existence. Perhaps active was a poor word to use - we weren't demonstrating in the streets! There were will be other promotional activity to inform fans of BRISA's existence. Andy: I thought BRISA was supposed to be the fans ? BRISA is the fans. So far around 70 people have expressed real interest and about 30 have been involved in meetings to get this far. The phrase you picked above is saying BRISA wants to hear what the fans, individually and collectively want, BRISA is not going to campaign solely on the issues thought important by the current membership

Revidge, Glenn has responded in much the same way I would to your questions so I won't go over them. I will add a couple of personal points though: I'd stress these views are personal and part of the reason why I believe in BRISA. 1. BRISA is not intended to replace any existing organiasation though BRISA does believe there is a need for one voice representing the fans to the club. This is where BRISA will differ from the Fans Forum, it will represent the fans views. I will apologise now to any FF members who read this, but in my personal view the FF does not represent the fans views. The FF is an unelected body, the membership of which is known to nobody, has not to my knowledge ever engaged with the support and talks in private with the club. How can this be represenatitve of the fans? BRISA intends to be the very opposite. 2. BRISA understands it will probably raise subjects that have already been covered by the FF. The difficulty is the fans have never heard the answers. The club is very poor at communicating the answers to these issues, consequently the support believe the club does nothing about the issues. The FF never communicates with the support. If the FF has the answers to these points they should be in the public domain. I have met John Williams once as a result of BRISA - I have a much better understanding of the club's view now than I ever had in the past 25 years as an ST holder. For me that says it all.

Thank you philip, the emphasis should be on the ALL as around 30 people have got us to this point

BRISA has been working hard these past few months. As from Tuesday watch your local and national media for more information. BRISA will be active at today's Liverpool game and the next two home games against Birmingham City and Leeds United. There are plenty of ways to join, get involved and tell BRISA what the fans want - please use whichever avenue is open to you.

BRISA Blackburn Rovers Independent Supporters Assocciation All Rovers fans are invited to the public launch of The Blackburn Rovers Independent Supporters Association (BRISA) Venue: Blues Bar Date: 27th October 2005 Time: 7.30pm BRISA is the idea of a group of people, who want to bring all Blackburn Rovers fans together, with the aim of giving supporters a voice on all Blackburn Rovers matters. BRISA will be a democratic organisation and has been recognised by the club. There will be regular, minuted meetings with the club. We will maintain our independence from the club and while we aim to work for the benefit of the club, we will not be afraid to constructively criticise and challenge. BRISA will be totally open and frank with the club and with all Rovers fans. The launch meeting will be the ideal opportunity to shape our campaigning agenda and to focus our efforts on 2 or 3 achievable goals......that is why we want YOU to be part of BRISA. We encourage anyone who has something to offer to become a member and stand for committee. Issues may include: ticket prices, getting the support back to Ewood Park, standing areas, pre match entertainment, in fact ANY issue that you would like us to focus on. If you can't attend we still need your views, please contact BRISA on: admin@roversisa.co.uk www.roversisa.co.uk Download a Membership Application Form Make a donation at Roversisa.co.uk or direct to the BRISA bank account: Account Name: Blackburn Rovers Independent Supporters Association Account Number: 32791501 Sort Code: 40 37 25 Bank: HSBC

Yep WE know how good they are at that trick!

Gentlemen, gentlemen........please

How very strange - I didn't get the dates wrong. The match is in the Calendar as October 12th - which is where the front page gets it's information from. Glenn!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I was a lad we had a cat that used to bring home squirrel tails. Now else just the tails

352231[/snapback] Sorry AS didn't see your bit. Just happened to read this in the paper and thought must find a link and post it.

It's widely written this is the best England squad since 66/70 1966 squad: Gordon Banks Ron Springett Peter Bonetti George Cohen Ray Wilson Jackie Charlton Bobby Moore Jimmy Armfield Gerald Byrne Ronald Flowers Norman Hunter Nobby Stiles Alan Ball John Connelly Martin Peters Terry Paine George Eastham Ian Callaghan Jimmy Greaves Bobby Charlton Geoff Hurst Roger Hunt Look at some of the talent that didn't make the team, in bold. I was twelve at the time so my memories of the WC are hardly clear and concise but I don't recall England playing as poorly as they did yesterday, at any stage. We seem to have a talented squad but we don't have a team, if recent performances had been at Ewood what would our reaction be? SGE isn't a suitable person to be England manager, never has been in my view. This side won't get past the quarter-finals, the most unfortunate aspect of it all is we face 9 months of the media, FA, England manager, England squad etc. spouting complete b*llocks about what is going to happen in Germany. Totally underwhelmed.

Because I got the dates wrong

The problem seems to be spreading from London

Yes I see what you mean. Good point. To get an accurate picture we need responses only from fans who have stopped attending at Ewood or more generally have stopped attending football elsewhere. I suppose a large element of the "over-priced" vote, for example, could be a reaction, albeit a reasonable one, that football is too expensive. A protest rather than a reason if the fan still attends the matches.

theno I don't understand your thinking with that remark. If someone expresses a reason why they no longer attend/watch football surely that opinion remains valid. It might not be the majority view but it remains the individual's reason for non-attendance. Unless of course they choose to blame Grooby!

Hnaging around outside the ground after the match I listened to two couples chat as they met up. One pair seemed to be STs the other pair were saying how much they'd enjoyed the game and that they must all go again. Now that is POSITIVE!

Scudamore That's nice to know. I think this weekend is possibly the worst example of fixture tampering I can recall; there are five games today, I presume they are all on the telly, with KO's of 11.15. 13.00, 13.30, 14.00 and 16.00 - so it would be impossible for the armchair fan to watch them all. Surely one match on a Sunday and one Monday is enough?

After six minutes of the first hafl

As Alan says it isn't guaranteed but what is certain is that spread over the first two weekends we will have one home and one away game. Provided you can leave after the second weekend you will be sure of at least one game.......I think

Slightly off topic......well quite a lot really. On our hols this summer we had a trip up into the Alps behind Nice to a wolf park. Great excitment for our Tom who recognised the Ski Data equipment......anyway the thing that caught my eye was that we had to be scanned in and OUT. Seems to me Rovers could introduce this for the Riverside stand....stop all the early leavers going before FT

Two things I'd like to see, very similar in fact: 1. As an ST holder I could simply role up for a cup game, stick the card in the machine and have my account debited for the cost of the ticket. I know the problems assocciated with this - when to sell ST seats on open sale etc. 2. If people on the database had a card they could arrive for a PL game, scan the card, go in and be debited for the cost. Both would not be without difficulties but could make entry easier for many while saving the club the large cost of mailing out tickets.

Depending on how well the club collects and analyses the data they could establish: 1. What time I and my kids arrive at the ground. 2. Does this vary according to KO time 3. Do we attend all games 4. If we don't attend all games do the kids miss the evening ones 5. It probably could be switched on/off as bob brilliantly describes - cracking idea 6. It's simpler to spot anyone using a concession ticket they are not entitled to Now all of the above could be done with the old ST but it would have taken a lot of counting. From the above they could forinstance: Target us with a mailing to encourage use of the food facilities Vary the bar staffing according to likley attendance Oh yes and Lee Grooby can tell when you're late for a meeting in The Fernhurst

Clearly you sleep as badly as I do philip! Hughesy from the Independent Link above: "First and foremost it is about players' application and allowing themselves an opportunity to have an impact on the game. Today, because of the way they worked and the positive manner in which they approached the game, they gave themselves a chance to win - and they grew in confidence." A major moan of mine for perhaps two years has been our lack of application. I have lost count of the number of games in which the players appear not to try. Now I've had some stick over this but there seem to be far too many games when the team is a long way from giving its all - which as a fan is the number one thing I expect to see. I hope Hughes has made the above very clear to the team because it's so true. Frequently we seem to lack belief or take the wrong attitude on to the pitch. If the players can improve their "application" on a regular basis there is no reason why we should see the dross of the previous two seasons again. It will also have a major impact on the sta away fans, so starting with WBA on Saturday lets have plenty of application.