What happened at the Surgery?
On Saturday, 13 December I held my fifth surgery of the season for supporters in the Princess Royal. I met with 6 supporters. I would like to thank all those who came to meet me. The main questions that they raised were:
- Is there any further news on the new stadium proposal at Lionel Road? Work is continuing on developing a financially viable stadium plan. A formal update on progress will be issued at the end of January 2009.
- Why aren’t you standing again for the Football Club Board? With my increased work responsibilities it has become more difficult to meet the many commitments I made when I became Supporter Director. However I was still debating whether I would stand or not. My decision was made when the Bees United Board voted that the current Supporter Director position had to be held by a Bees United Board member; there was no way I could physically undertake the work associated with both positions. Indeed upon appointment as Supporter Director I resigned from the BU board as I had stated in my election manifesto that (even then) I didn’t think any individual could satisfactorily combine both roles and, in the light of my experience, I still think that’s true today. I am disappointed that my time has come to an end and doubly so that the Bees United Board have taken away the right from the membership to directly elect the person to represent them onto the Club Board. Communication with supporters has consistently been a Bees United weakness, illustrated most recently by their latest members’ survey, and I really hope that a way can be found to actively represent the Club’s supporters’ views (not just Bees United members’ views) to the Club Board so that they can be considered as part of future decision making.
My next surgery in the will be in the the Bill Axbey Stand, New Road before the home game with Notts County on 17 January between 1.40 - 2.40 pm and not 1.15 - 2.15 pm as previously advertised.