RESULTS
NOTE: All SW19's comments are in brown
I won't add too many comments to this bit, needless to say this is probably the most saddening and annoying bit of this entire poll. Read on and note the irony, and the ability of WFC to totally fuck things up.
Do you think the club is in much better shape than this time last year?:
| Yes | 94 % |
|
| No | 6 % |
YOUR COMMENTS:
In better health, not better shape, no Premier league cash!
Infinitely better
Yes, the speed with which many of the disruptive influences and poor performers have been moved out is refreshing. There is still some work to do in this respect, but with the experience of this season behind them, the Club employees should be in no doubt as to what is expected in terms of attitude, behaviour and loyalty. More of the same next year please.
Yes, apart from finances. Charles Koppel is doing a brilliant job. Only in a few years will people realise this. At the moment it is trendy to hate foreigners and chairman. Koppel is making sure that we stay with our heads above water.
Yes, more stable within the players
Much better. We have slashed the wage bill and improved our squad IMO.
On the playing side, yes
Yes thanks mainly due to TB but the new owners have improved things in some areas.
Financially yes – got rid of the ‘stars’, has more realistic expectations, stable management.
Squad could still do with pruning – Ardley, Hughes, Blackwell, Selley, Thomas are all expendable and would save about £40k/week.
Yes. I think a lot of the deadwood and difficult players have been got rid off. I get the impression now that its a case of players wanting to play for the club and not just players putting themsleves in the shop window ie Carl Cort etc
Financially yes but the biggie still remains unresolved
Yes – although we have lost some good players and lost much money, i think we are possibly nearer a ground, becoming more professional off the pitch, have great potential on the pitch and the owners (read CK) are getting to know the fans.
Do you think WFC's marketing has improved since this time last year? :
| No | 60 % |
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| Yes | 40 % |
YOUR COMMENTS:
Yes-first signs of it eg with getting a mascot, the cheap tickets, shop
in Wimbledon, player appearances etc.
On a certain level (eg with their own fans) but not nationally.
No - we have marketing?
Yes. The ditching of the CG stuff at last has been the start of all the positive stuff. FITC continues to score well and the introduction of the two Club shops are major steps in the right direction.
No. It’s cack.
Yes but still not good
yes - marginally
No, the marketing team really have to work at it now we’re no longer in the prem – not just sit on their arses waiting for the phone to ring
Is that a serious question? (I'll take that as a "no" then)
Aside from spelling my name right on a letter, no,
Not in the least. Compare the OS to Grimsby, remembering that the Northeast has the lowest %age of internet users in the UK and that WFC (allegedly) has more fan websites than any other club.
Womble Mascot? Fuck off. I’m a Don, not a fluffy kids’ puppet.
No. WFC marketing has a lot to be desired but to their credit they have opened the 2 shops and brought in the mascot!! Cheap seasontickets for kids is a good idea as well, although it took them long enough to send the forms out!!
No, we are living in the dark ages.
Do you think WFC's PR has improved since this time last year? :
| No | 60 % |
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| Yes | 37 % |
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| Not sure | 3 % |
YOUR COMMENTS:
A little bit, still learning though IMO
Not really. They are still not communicating with the fans. there’s obviously much less coverage as we are no longer Premiership, but they still are unable to control rumour and gossip eg Milton Keynes and QPR.
It's trying
Same old Reg Davis should go and be replaced by someone who is a little younger and is more of a supporter than Reg.It is pretty poor that the Club does not get a mention in the Sutton Guardian, it’s all Sutton (as you would expect) and Palarse!
Has declined due to MK, and the merger crap. You would think they don’t want us to come anymore the way we get treated
Yes, more control over relations with the press, but still not good, such as the MK/QPR debacles
Good God no. The QPR and MK stories were a remarkable demonstration of the total LACK of expertise in this area.
No, as proved by the merger shambles
No. Doubts that circulate should be quashed with a statement from the chairman sooner.
Hahahahaha! At least with Sham you could tell it was all bullshit. The leaks (MK & QPR), the CEO denying the Chairman’s comments on several occasions, the laughable address after Norwich, the fact that no-one seems to own the PR
No. QPR merger, Milton Keynes?? Need I say anymore.
They need sort out their relationship with the media and fans. We hardly get a mention in the Standard which I'm sure a lot of fans read.
Aye’ish
A little but the bastards still keep us in the dark.
They have a pr dept? (no)
No it’s worse if that’s poss
Hmmmmmm………I believe there is more being done with supporters and potential supporters, but haven’t really experienced it first hand.
Do you think that WFC should run the away travel instead of the OSC? :
| Yes | 41 % |
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| Not sure | 28 % |
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| Don't care/use it | 24 % |
OTHERS: Depends, no
YOUR COMMENTS:
YES!!!!!!!! Ask those that got the coach to Bolton.
Yes, but then it dont matter to me, I live in Southampton!
Don’t care as I travel independently when I go.
Depends on what the aim is. If the aim is to get the same people going to away games and stopping at some godforsaken pub for two hours before the game and such like, then no. If, however, the aim is to get as many fans to away games in good time for the game and at a cost that breaks even at best and loses £500 per game at worst, then yes.
OSC is a bit cliquey. So yes. I think it’s been proved time and again this season that the non-affiliated fan groups are far better at organising their own travel than the OSC are, or the club would be.
Yes. All functions need to be run centrally.
Would it make any difference?
The cheaper option always.
Yes, I’m a very strong believer in this
No opinion – I have always apart from once, made my own way to away games….and will continue to do so being the unsociable sod I am.
I go independently anyway
If WFC did run away travel, would you travel away more/use it more? :
| No | 59 % |
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| Depends | 33 % |
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| Yes | 7 % |
YOUR COMMENTS:
No. Probably still take the train.
Depends what it was, and how much it cost depends on my work commitments
Probably, although I would rather not be tied to a coach. Not literally.
No, coaches are not for me
Wouldn’t go to more games as the pick-up points would be at least an hour away during which time I can be 80-odd miles towards the eventual destination under my own steam. I like my lump of German engineering and heavy metal on the CD player far too much. I’d consider using it for going to European games though……..dreaming…….
Not sure. I've never used the OSC so can't comment.
Depends if Jonsey is going to arrange anymore mental days out
Wouldn’t use it either way unless it’s free
Only if cheaper
I’d use it when I needed it, like I do now.
How
else do you suggest that WFC could get more fans going to away games?
:
Pay Kelly Brooke and Hannah from S Club 7 (for you repd) to be the bus
drivers (cheerz)
Free buses. More reward schemes for regular away travellers.
Encourage more of a Club feel eg with a Clubhouse for social events etc. I think the fans are treated more as customers than members. At the moment the clubby aspects seem to be run by fans eg chatrooms on websites etc; Couldn’t the club itself take more of a lead in bringing fans and players together off the field?
By consistently challenging for a promotion spot. Running free travel to SATURDAY games.
Make it a reasonable price. At present, I understand that the price of the coach assumes that the coach(es) will not be filled more than 50%. If the Club worked on the assumption that each coach was full (regardless of whether it was or not), the price would come down. Alternatively, perhaps those who drive to games could post on the Official Club Site their car availability and starting point/leaving time with a contact number. Those without access to the internet could both offer and search through the Box Office. In my experience, we have many more people travelling by car than using the OSC coach.
Include a couple with the ST’s.
Maybe they should concentrate on getting more fans to home games and work from there
Be top of the table
It’s hard as there are so many northern clubs in Div 1 it costs a lot to go,away
Organising a bit more ambitious away days than just a coach. Chartering a train for big matches oop north?
Make it an appealing day out for EVERYBODY. Perhaps the team could travel with the fans in such a situation, at least back from the match?
Arrange for any tickets the players are genuinely not using to be given to the coach organiser & have a draw for them amongst the travellers
Advertise on WFC supporters web sites.
Find out what the fans want and make the changes
Easy. Set up a decent website with full e-biz capability and link it to a powerful CRM (Customer Relationship Management) package. Then encourage as much bookings by net as possible and start building customer profiles. Once you know exactly who you’re dealing with, you’ll know what to sell them – eg incentives air-miles style for ‘home’ games (buy 4 get 1 free) and ramp these up to encourage away fans – eg free travel (links to Railtrack pages would be a start), buy 3 aways and get a ‘home’ ticket free. Alternatively employ a Marketing Director from outside the football industry but with a broad ‘leisure’ background – ie used to high volume low value customers.
Pole dancers
Perhaps an account to pay for away tickets where you pay a certain amount per month, this would improve away turnouts when we have expensive months or long distance games. For example it was noticeable there were lower turnout when we had two northern games in a week or ten days, other time we had no games outside London areas for a month
Maybe introduce a taxi service for about 5 per fan for all matches - I'd go a lot more!!
Get a home ground
Incentives such as free kids, cheaper tickets to the next home game, subsidised travel for members of a travel club; make journeys more interesting- videos of past matches/seasons perhaps; promote the new club extensively thru mailshots, full page programme page, PA/ Jumbotron announcements etc,
The club should promote going to away games as a Good Thing, too many people miss out on it.
Have you been to the new club shop?:
| Yes | 55 % |
|
| No | 45 % |
If "yes" - what do you think of it? If "no" - what are your preconceptions of it?
it is very shiney, Better than the palarse shop.
Very good. Could do with a box office though.
No - Small and not stocked with very much or very imaginative club merchandise
No - I think that the base in Wimbledon is a god idea. It seems to supply fans with what they want
Yes - Good but it should realy be pushing ticket sales as a priority
Its ok, just good to be back at home.
I think that the reality of having a Club outlet in Wimbledon is highly important. Initially this was more important than what the shop sold and helped to clear the stock that was brought back from Uncle Ron’s shop at Selhurts. The range is important as the store in SW19 is not very big, especially compared to most of the away shops I saw this season, but I’m sure this will change with the construction of a new stadium….
Yes - a step in the right direction
The shop is good, but the merchandise is still absolute tat
It’s ok, and is a good thing for trying to get more of an idenity back in Wimbledon
Just like the club shop at SP, but in Wimbledon?
It’s ok but I’m not the souvenir-buying type
It’s there, and it’s ours!
Club shop is an improvement on no club shop but staff pretty unimpressive.
A little more imaganitive merchandise wouldn't go amiss.
It does no more than the one at Selhurts and doesn’t sell match tickets.
I like the shop at the ground. A little crowded at times but nice not to be surrounded by scummy blue and red shirts!! Staff very friendly. Better than the old one………..
Good, but could have more new-style merchandise it's OK
It has a very small customer base.
I think it is like our PR and Marketing - in the fucking dark ages. We have little merchandise outside of kits. It's bloody embarrassing. Have you seen the clobber you can get at, say, Fulham! And you can't buy bloody tickets at ours.
Good. Cant be a cheap place to put one.
Should have a lettering service and a ticket service.
Are we really expected to go to selhurst to pick up tickets the day before a game? And I was gutted (having flown over) to find I would have to make a separate trip to selhurst to get my name put on the back of my shirt.
It’s great the only problem is that the choice of merchandise is low. Good clothing range but would like more accessories.
It rules! The manager is a top bloke, staff are superb, and the shop is in good condition. And believe it or not, I’m not just saying that because of my relation with it!!
Sends shivers down my spine, just seeing the badge on a shop front, that yellow and blue maaan, does it for me!!!
Standard fare
Do you like the new Womble mascot? :
The mascot is now - ironically - named as "Wandle". Which means if it's anything like the SW19 guestbook poster of the same name will be begging for rocks all the time and often having a shit...
| Yes | 37 % |
|
| Don't know | 27 % |
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| No | 23 % |
OTHERS: Haven't seen it
YOUR COMMENTS:
It has great potential but at it’s unveiling it sunk quicker than the
Titanic. I’m sure it will come good though.
No, he needs 2 people to look after him, he seems a bit of a wuss to me.
Still haven’t seen it in the flesh. It’s a good idea though.
Yes; it is exactly the right one to have and mascot’s are a projection of a club’s personality – even if they are a bit naff, it’s a tradition of football to have them.
Personally I hate mascots and wished they would bugger off. BUT for the kids, it is a good idea, and strengthens our links with the young ‘uns. Also Mascots are known to have on pitch battles, which would be entertaining!
Not seen him/her in the man made fibres yet
Yes definitely, an excellent idea If it brings the kids in then I’m all for it, so yes!
It’s a bit cack but if he twats Pete the Eagle then I’ll love him.
He's close to one of the funniest things I've seen this season - it works and it's good!
Mascots are okay. As long as they allowed to have some fun…..
Quite funny, shows that we should be playing in Wimbledon if the club decides to use something that Wimbledon is famous for apart from the bloody tennis…
No – I was kind of happy that we were the sole league club without one. I think you can attract kids to football with more subtle gimmicks than a tit in a latex suit. (latex?)
No, everyone has a mascot we were different because we didn’t have one
Not seen him/her/it but it’s about time.
Mixed feelings towards mascots, good for kids but we'll have to wait for his first punch up with a rival mascot to judge him fully.
Fucking hate it. Can we swing the vote to get it named ‘Wanker’? (no we can't. It's got to be named after a place or river and unless there's some settlement in northern Yukon with that name forget it. I'm surprised it wasn't called "Milton")
I was proud of the fact we didn’t have one but can understand why someone should think we need one, but a floppy puppet? No thanks.
I haven't seen it yet but I'm sure it could beat that shitty eagle mascot in a fight!!
It’s fat isn’t it?!
Sort of but it needs to lose the skirt and a bit of weight, might help in image terms sounds okay.
Could interest kids.
Gotta get a someone inside who will banter with the other mascots though.
Yes. The Wombles are some of the other things Wimbledon is famous for and it’s good PR. Even if we’re supposedly never going to play there again.
Ummmm, not concerned about it, in fact I don’t know it either. he’s a bit podgy………..
Good idea
What are your impressions of supporters groups like WISA? :
Again, it's what people think that matter. I know WISA have FAR more important things on their mind, but if they take a couple of dissenters points on board.....
YOUR COMMENTS:
Well run, professional. Not nearly democratic enough. Too cliquey. Witholding
information at times when there is no need and dominated by older members
who still view it as their baby and do not accept their newly ELECTED
role.
Cliquey
Good
Essential
They are useful and there hard work has been essential in stopping moves and mergers, however they seem to ignore the image they convey to OTHER wfc fans many of whom see them as more of a 'club' than an organisation. Many WISA people also seem to want to give out an impression that they are 'the clubs biggest fans' and 'we are better fans than you'. The age old 'trainspotter' jibe also comes into play on the WISA groups image. I ai'nt sayin they need a drastic make over just an end to this impression they let off of 'I'm a better dons fan than you'they are probably not even aware of it.
It is important that WISA has a voice and that it is heard by the Club. I have joined this season and feel that the concilliatory nature of the Association is absolutely right. We have to be firm but we also have to be realistic and we have to be prepared to help the Club, rather than (as some might want) demanding action by the Club. The mantra seems to be “it’s a two way thing” and if both the Club and WISA stick to that, then it can only be good for all parties.
Vital. We would be fucked without them.
They seem to add value and are well organised, so positive impressions
Good.It gives an official voice for the supporters at times.
WISA are good and I hope that they can get their ideas over to the club and that the club take note as WISA does seem to me be switched on to what the fans want…
Very good well meaning but achieve little
Very important
Excellent work and never give up. They are important and things may not be organised without them. Meaning we the fans would not be heard, although a little pompous sometimes.
Invaluable, especially when we get treated like shit by our owners, moreover from such a distance. Strength in numbers and all that stuff. But one criticism is the lack of militancy – I really thought the 10yr anniversary would mean more visible demos, protests, etc.
On the whole I think they do a good job. It's nice to know that whatever stupid ideas Koppell & Co throw at the fans there will be someone to voice our opinions.There could be a bit of a higher profile in match day magazines though I guess.
Good on them
A lot of hot air and little clout
They need higher concentrations of membership
Keep up the good work
Much needed to make sure the Nogs don't fleece us like Hammam.
Defo needed come across very well and really put the effort in.
Appreciated by all I think.
They do a great job and have to put up with more shit than most sport fans (which, in the end, is what we are) should have to put up with. This, I suppose, could apply to all WFC fans!
I really appreciate the effort that WISA are putting in right now, and it seems to be paying off very well.
Milton Keynes? Every club needs some sort of action group. Without them where would the official statement from the fans come from? It’s important to give a united front. However I’d like to see a big push for membership next year, I’ve yet to pick up a pamphlet asking me to join when I walk into SP.
I feel that sometimes it comes across as a bit cliquey, I don’t like the way people judge you on the amount of games you go to, or don’t go to, the fact will always remain that I’ve been to many hundreds of Wimbledon games, but who gives a fuck apart from me? So if I choose to go to only a few games this year it doesn’t make me any less of a supporter, when you get older other things take priority….like a girlfriend, a career and mortgage!!
OK, but narrow-minded in WISA’s case
Pro-active
What improvements would you like to make to the running of WFC?
YOUR COMMENTS:
Make Selhurst a more womble friendly land.
A chairman that tells the truth to supporters. A more efficient box office and marketing department that listens to the fans last year I hoped for more professionalism and I think they’ve started to make big strides in that direction.
CK and his colleagues are businessmen with ambition who think and act sensibly in the club’s best long term interests – more of the same please.
More supporter input on a board level + less situations like QPR happening.
Get some supporter representation
Sack Reg Davis
I’d like to see a member of WISA on the board in a non exec role and with no voting powers, more to be used as a guage of the fans feelings.
Stop shafting us.
Better relations with the press, more money for transfers, new ground
Get a home ground and things will happen from there.
Better communication to the fans to let us know whats going on. I think the club has to get a more of a grip on the marketing and pr aspects of their business. I also think that the fans SHOULD be included at board level via some sort of investment or bond scheme – the close knit feel of the club should be treated as an asset by the board rather than bemoaning the size of the support.
Put me in charge of marketing and get fans inbvolved more.
Higher profile to attract bigger crowds.
Better facilities at ground.
New ground.
Communicate to the fans (The life blood of the club)in a more expedient manner.
Get a Marketing Director who knows how to build a profile from scratch (necessary wherever we end up geographically) – research, planning, image, positioning, appeal - the whole lot needs attention.
I think transfers could be dealt with better as they either fall through or everyone knows about them before the player does!! (although to be fair this is a problem not just confined to WFC) Also tickets for games could be reduced, as if you are a non-member it will cost you a mint to watch one of our games.
We should be encouraging more casual supporters along on a Saturday.
More KFAQ and more publicity in schools etc.
Supporter representation on the board better communication between club and supporters.
An end to the off the record press-briefings and to supporters having to continually be on there guard against stupid crazy ridiculous schemes
Marketing of STs is awful. Do we advertise in the local press? (never seen any)
Discounts could be given to adults purchasing STs when they buy one for their children in the family section for example. More outlets for purchasing tickets.
Better Marketing, more communication.
New stadium (local!) and get rid of the current marketing people
We seem to be heading in the right direction, possibly due to the presence of CK.
I'm sure better pr and marketing will come, and could make us appear more professional.
After the mess of Hammam the new owners are doing alright. We will have a new training complex, youth academy, we have a new club shop, we have an exciting youngish team, a new mascot but we still play at Selhurst Park and that’s what needs improving ie new purpose-built ground in SW London or surrounding area
I think CK’s got everything sorted and running smoothly.
Wimbledon have already changed beyond recognition in the last couple of years, slightly better handling of the ground issue would be a start.
They really need to win the confidence of the fans if they are to move forward on anything, as things stand I doubt we’ll be able to keep the supporters we DO have for much longer simple due to us being parked over in SP….
It has improved with CK hands-on approach, but I don’t trust the man.
More communication to fans about the ground problem. No rejection of MK possibility
Additional Comments about WFC:
Boring and easy to say, but get a new ground please.
You’ll never notice how much I love you until until you’ve taken my wombles away. BUT NO MORE SHIT. NO MORE MERGERS. NO MORE MILTON KEYNES. I could be VERY close to walking away.
I’m a new Don – only 4 years or so – so I don’t have the ties with or affection for the past Crazy Gangness that many have. I am therefore delighted to see WFC seeing itself as and now being run as a serious Football business building for a permanent return to the Premiership rather than a bunch of amateur nutters who surprised everybody that they manage to stay up there for so long.
We must retain unique identity in any league - prof or non-prof and get our own ground
Please. Sack Reg Davis
Generally I think that things are on the up. It is doubtful that we will ever live long enough to find out exactly what happened to put the Club into the circumstances that the current owners inherited, but it seems that we are probably closer than at any time in the past ten years, to finding out what is possible on the ground front.It is also encouraging that the prime consideration of the owners is the long term financial success of the Club and the realisation that we I) need a ground of our own, but not just anywhere, ii) will not have a fan base of more than 12000 to rely on for income and iii) the fans voice is here to be heard.The future is bright(ish) the future is yellow and blue!
Stand up if you love the Dons.
Things are looking bright in general
Get a FUCKING home ground.
Need to sort out the booking office as it can be a nightmare getting tickets for extra people and for away games
I think the club is in much better hands than three years ago. By getting people to run a feasibility study on the GS ground option he already has done more for the club than the Lebanese grocer ever did. I remain cautiously optimistic.
Anyone not pulling their weight in whatever capacity should be dispensed with
They should use their brains more and listen to the people It has been a long time since 88 and although I enjoyed last season for a different perspective it gave to us eg. not involved in the perrinieal relegation battle I would still love to see my club back in the top flight where we fought so hard for so long to get to.
Unless you are there at the pinnicale you might as well not exist in the eyes of the rest of the world,and this goes doubley for a little club like Wimbledon.
I yearn for some success again and promotion would be a good start.
If this could be achieved then the sky would be the limit as we still have a premiership backbone to the club.
I enjoyed watching Alvares do so well in Europe which made me uncharacteristically nostalgic for Dons years gone by when we ripped up the league and tore up the form book to confound those footballing purists from the Daily Mail(tossers) and twats on MOTD. It still hurts to think about the two years we would have qualified for Europe if it hadn't been for those scouse arses.
One day I will sit down with my brother and one or two friends and plot my summer in accordance with where the Dons will be playing in the Champions league that year! A night in the Nou Camp. A battle at the Bernabau!!!! Well I can dream can't I?
The owners still don’t realise what they’ve bought and need to do more to get statistical and anecdotal feedback from loyal fans, lapsed fans, and target fans.
If we had our own ground we’d be laughing !
We gotta get out of this place”! Give us a fucking ground of our own.
If we do not go home soon (I will take Kingston as home thanks) this club will die
Future looks bright.
If we can get a ground soon, I think the group of players we have (under tb and sr’s guidance) could go on to become media-friendly and successful, and attract more fans. This wont happen in another team’s heartland. But realistically, this collective, in a 25k stadium in our own patch could make the club money (on the gates, through tv and through winning things).
The relegation gave us the opportunity to give these guys experience in the first team. In two years they will have up to 3yrs behind them, playing together to tb’s style and still be an average age of 24, 25. no other team can match that, except perhaps Leeds.
We get a ground, and we’re sorted.
Where do I begin? They play a game of football, they give the few that do support them lots of ups and lots of downs….bit like life really!!!
The stadium issue will be resolved this season, I am certain. Whatever the outcome, it will be good for the club, if not Merton, IMHO
V Positive on the pitch but uncertain off the pitch. A lot depends on if we get promotion.
It's really sad that Koppel has decided to destroy the trust he's built up (as seen above). Still, his loss....
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