[philtooleycfss]

Hello again, it’s been some time since I’ve been on here! I think we were readying ourselves for a play-off game to potentially move into level two for the first time since 1951.

The reason I’m posting again is simple, the club I love and have volunteered at for 42 years is dying. That’s not a position that I ever envisaged when we were being entertained by Paul Cook’s superb side, and whilst at that time I could see that we were more likely to have bad times rather than great times, a second straight relegation battle in the National League did not feature in any of my nightmare scenarios back then.

Our club (that’s OUR CLUB) has been run into the ground and trust in the governance and management capabilities is at an all-time low and continues to fall week by week. Crowds have plummeted after four years of declining results and many decisions, on and off the field, have baffled the majority.

That said, all I want to do at this stage is ask a question, aimed at fans that have been loyal regulars but now don’t come as often or even not at all.

The question is, if the club were to be wholly taken over by a consortium of genuine local supporters, would you consider returning on a more regular basis even if the immediate prospect of a significant upturn in results was not forthcoming?

If your answer is ‘yes’ the response is easy, but please add any comments that could help potential bidders formulate their plans.

If your answer is ‘no’ please say what would need to be implemented to encourage you to return.

I’m asking the question in good faith to potentially help out real and genuine interest in the club’s future wellbeing to enable pragmatic decisions and predictions to be made by a number of people who genuinely have an interest in getting the club back on track and returning to being a vital and respected part of the community once more.

Thanks in advance for any input, it will all be useful.

I’m off to AFC Fylde now (make a turn at Preston, seems ominous), I fear there will not be many there in Blue!!

Phil

[jack bauer]

I will be honest, i'm not in the category of people who have stopped going, I don't go as often but i'll say this if the current regime were bought out by a new and progressive board then i'm back full time, half season ticket at xmas, followed by full season ticket next season, purchase of replica shirts etc. all the best phil

[erniemossity]

Phil...I stopped going this season after the Stockport game after close on 50 years attending through thick and thin. My answer is a deafening YES to returning if the club was owned by genuine trusted people. And that includes if results and performances don’t improve, because put simply, I would feel part of the club again, I would be happy to put money into the pockets of decent people, and no matter how many years it takes, I would still have hope that we would get back to where we belong, because with fans in charge it matters more.

[Phil V 72]

Blimey, things must be bad for Phil to post this.

In answer, yes I’d start attending when I could (with a potential +1). I haven’t paid for a match at the Proact since Tommy Lee’s testimonial and before that the 3-3 with Colchester under Saunders.

[twistedspire]

I think a group on local business people with the best interests of the club & town at heart would pull on the heart strings of many.
Even if a blunt and scary statement was issued that things need to change and it may take 2-3 to sort out before we can push on again was released. I think past experience (post Darren brown) shows that people will rally behind the club.
I would expect the 5-6k to be there week in week out but there are no end of people I talk to who say they won't return until the current incumbents have left the building.
A good honest piece of PR around the people of Chesterfield having their club back will go a long way

[Alan Birch]

Welcome back Phil.

I think any wholesale change of ownership and administrative management would bring a better financial status for our Club....more folk would return and the coffers improved. And new administrative management would most likely also improve our Club's financial status.

I wish you all the best with my full support.

[SpireiteFitzy]

If the club were to be taken over by genuine people who had the best interests of the fans and club at the forefront of their minds I'd be back in a heartbeat regardless of league position. The only reason I stay away is cause I simply refuse to finance the poisonous regime killing this club. But if it is ever run by decent people again then my support will be back through hell and high water

[Spire-ite]

Phil

I stopped attending games two years ago, after being a ST holder for many.
I will never attend a game again, until we have owners who actually care about the club AND it's all important fans.
So my answer is Yes, I would return to games and being a ST holder again under new ownership.

[Hoare (400)]

To be Honest Phil, the consortium would have to get rid of all the brown nosers and newarks at the club, the yes men etc, and then I think the fans would come back.

If it did happen, you could do a lot worse than put the only honest man at the club up as chairman. Jim Brown. They could also do the right thing an give a fully deserved Testimonial to.



Hoare (400)

[Heart of a Niven]

I haven't stopped going but I've forgotten when I stopped enjoying it, as it was so long ago.

If there is any hope, on what seems a very distant horizon, then I will be more than happy to support any potential consortium in whatever way I can.

[SatNav21]

i would return if a takeover was done and the current people in charge were gone from our club and if the current standard of football reflected the amount of money i would be paying to watch.

IMO the price of a ticket from watching potential promotion to championship football to watching the non league football wasn't enough of a drop to keep me interested in going and from the results i'm so glad i haven't wasted my money over last season and this. the two seasons before were bad enough watching us play and thinking my sunday league side is better and more committed that them lot.

its upsetting every time someone at work asks how we got on at the weekend and my reply being 'OOOOO just the usual'

the article someone wrote about us being the most depressing team to watch in England really stuck the knife in as it is very very true.

someone needs to come in and see the amount of hurt that we have been through over the last few years and put things in place to get OUR CLUB back to being OUR CLUB

lots of respect for your post with all the things you have done for OUR CLUB

[gb007]

 philtooleycfss, on 08 October 2019 - 10:53 AM, said:

<br />Hello again, it's been some time since I've been on here! I think we were readying ourselves for a play-off game to potentially move into level two for the first time since 1951. <br /><br />The reason I'm posting again is simple, the club I love and have volunteered at for 42 years is dying. That's not a position that I ever envisaged when we were being entertained by Paul Cook's superb side, and whilst at that time I could see that we were more likely to have bad times rather than great times, a second straight relegation battle in the National League did not feature in any of my nightmare scenarios back then.<br /><br />Our club (that's OUR CLUB) has been run into the ground and trust in the governance and management capabilities is at an all-time low and continues to fall week by week. Crowds have plummeted after four years of declining results and many decisions, on and off the field, have baffled the majority. <br /><br />That said, all I want to do at this stage is ask a question, aimed at fans that have been loyal regulars but now don't come as often or even not at all. <br /><br />The question is, if the club were to be wholly taken over by a consortium of genuine local supporters, would you consider returning on a more regular basis even if the immediate prospect of a significant upturn in results was not forthcoming?<br /><br />If your answer is 'yes' the response is easy, but please add any comments that could help potential bidders formulate their plans.<br /><br />If your answer is 'no' please say what would need to be implemented to encourage you to return.<br /><br />I'm asking the question in good faith to potentially help out real and genuine interest in the club's future wellbeing to enable pragmatic decisions and predictions to be made by a number of people who genuinely have an interest in getting the club back on track and returning to being a vital and respected part of the community once more. <br /><br />Thanks in advance for any input, it will all be useful.<br /><br />I'm off to AFC Fylde now (make a turn at Preston, seems ominous), I fear there will not be many there in Blue!!<br /><br />Phil<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Hi Phil - we all knew it was bad but for you to say this I fear the end is upon us.
Your post on Twitter showing your grand-daughter on the pitch in the CFC shirt with the caption ‘at least someone on the pitch has pride in the shirt ‘ adequately summed up the current on field situation and should be put up on the dressing room before every game.
I told the players something similar but this was not deemed acceptable.

As you know I have 7 lounge tickets and used to bring many guests as well as using the restaurant hospitality on many occasions -we do not use this anymore neither will I be bringing any additional guests.
Members of our group used to use the ground facilities for Xmas functions etc this has also stopped.

I am sure if a well meaning group of fans wanted to run the club they would get 100% support from our group and they would then start to encourage others to come along as well as channeling as much money into the club as we could afford.
The main thing that needs to change in our lounge is the pricing as having to pay £35 to bring a guest is extortionate at this level with the product being offered

Let me know if you need any further info /input and we will help where possible

Keep the faith Phil we can’t afford to lose the likes of you

Gary

[metallilad]

We need owners who value what they buy into. Supporters want shut of these in charge, that has been stated so many times and currently 3000 supporters could swell up to 5000 upon the removal of them.
The thing is, we all know that we are a good investment because the support is loyal to the club.

[metallilad]

So in answer to your question.
I myself would still purchase a season ticket for myself and my son. I would still buy the drinks and 50/50 tickets.
Even if we dropped into the league below.

[Brookie]

These days I am an infrequent attender but a change in regime would see me back on a regular basis even if the unthinkable of a further relegation occured

[Search & Destroy]

Yes

With an honest, upfront assessment of the state of play.

Not been since Woking

[Looker-on]

I stopped after the FL relegation season, for which I had a season ticket. I was worn down not by the rubbish on the field - in my 40 years of following the club I'd seen plenty of that - but it was all the off-field stuff that did it for me. If new owners can restore the pride I once held for this club, then I am sure that the passion will return. While I would perhaps be a bit more forgiving of those long-time fans who continue to serve the club and its current ownership regime (I once backed the wrong horse with Darren Brown, for far too long) I would say that everyone brought in by Allen and Carson must go, as must they, completely. I don't think any form of club ownership by others would work for me, if they continued to hold the stadium, say. I want to be able to return and know that I won't see one of those horrible people lurking, like a turd that won't flush. Get it moving, please, and I'll try to be there, whether it's Preston North End or Curzon Ashton.

[Cactoise]

Looks like the actions of pathetic weasel Bean could be the straw that breaks the camel's back . Good post Phil

[Mr_Pleasant]

Yes. If a new regime takes over it may still take years for the club to get back anywhere near an even keel, but I'd turn up to support that, and to feel engaged with the club again.

[Search & Destroy]

I reckon you’d get a buy in from folk committing to buy a Season Ticket for next season if there a way to guarantee the investment wasn’t going to current regime