Nothing changes, if nothing changes: Foxes Trust statement on relegation

[Foxes_Trust]

Full statement (and details on our latest work) can be read on the Trust's website here

 

Nothing changes, if nothing changes.

 

The Foxes Trust is bitterly disappointed to see the club be relegated again for the second time in three years, jeopardising our chances of being a sustainably successful Premier League club.

 

As part of our stated aims to hold Leicester City Football Club and its owners to account for the highest standards of business management, and operational and commercial decisions that directly affect Foxes Trust members and the wider supporter base, we contacted the club following relegation in the 2022/23 season. We submitted a list of questions that we were seeking assurances on about how the club was being run and what lessons had been learned from the season.

 

Despite initially offering to meet to discuss our concerns, this meeting was delayed and delayed and our questions went unanswered.

 

We have heard numerous examples in recent months of Leicester City supporters feeling a disconnect with the club and the lack of communication from senior directors is often referenced as a missed opportunity. The Fan Engagement Framework – mandated by the Premier League and implemented last summer – was intended to bolster and widen communication with supporters but is now, in many instances, being used as a reason for the club not to engage directly with supporter groups.

 

We feel this needs to change. Many of the issues in club-supporter relations right now can be linked back to a failure to engage with, listen to and communicate with, fans.

 

When there is such disconnect and discontent amongst the supporter base, we urge the club to address this: have senior directors responsible for both the on-pitch, and off-pitch, operations share direct with the fan base what the strategy and vision for the club now is and meet directly with all supporter groups to address their questions and hear their concerns.

 

The Trust will again be submitting questions to the club in the wake of our relegation. We encourage all Trust members, and the wider fan base, to share with us via email ([email protected]) questions or concerns that they would like sharing with the club.

 

This time, we will be expecting answers.

[AjcW]

[Parafox]

Is there any (PL) club that divulges the inner workings of their board and the decisions they make, to any officially recognised supporters group?

Edited 21 April by Parafox

[davieG]

Don't take NO for an answer.

 

Remember the 5 Whys?

 

The "5 Whys" technique is a problem-solving method that involves repeatedly asking "why" five times to uncover the root cause of a problem. It's a simple but effective approach for peeling back layers of symptoms to get to the underlying issue. By starting with a problem statement and iteratively questioning "why" each subsequent answer, the technique aims to identify the root cause that, if addressed, can prevent the problem from recurring. 

 

Mind you I tried this with a Director once and my immediate boss had to ask me to leave the meeting. I was eventually proven right though.

 

 

[PAULCFC]

It's probably just easier to accept they don't care about us plebs.

[CosbehFox]

5 minutes ago, Parafox said:

Is there any (PL) club that divulges the inner workings of their board and the decisions they make, to any officially recognised supporters group?

A lot of clubs have taken to doing video updates or briefings on the how and why of their decision making. I’ll try to find an example. 

 

EDIT: https://strettynews.com/2024/01/15/sir-jim-ratcliffe-holds-first-meeting-with-manchester-united-fan-group/amp/

 

Ratcliffe at Man U met with MUST back on January 2024, albeit I suspect that’s soured 

 

Equally even someone like Leicester Tigers are having a Q & A session with their board in the next couple of weeks 

Edited 21 April by CosbehFox

[davieG]

1 minute ago, Parafox said:

Is there any (PL) club that divulges the inner workings of their board and the decisions they make, to any officially recognised supporters group?

Doesn't mean we shouldn't try. I'm sick of hearing the club coming out with that's what other clubs do. Let's be better than them.

[LinekersLugs]

We need direct actions 

 

trust and UFS need to work together 

 

we need something spectacular 

 

the stands need to change something cos we are way too passive 

[ashbyj]

Nothing changes if nothing changes. Sounds like a Michael Owen statement.

[Silva Fox]

Good luck with that!

[davieG]

Nothing Changes

Song by Jewelle Blackman, Kay Trinidad, and Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer ‧ 2019

 

•  
  Lyrics
•  
  Listen
•  
  Artists

 

Why the struggle, why the strain?
Why make trouble? Why make scenes?
Why go against the grain?
Why swim upstream?
It ain't, it ain't, it ain't no use
You're bound, you're bound, you're bound to lose
What's done, what's done, what's done is done
That's the way the river runs
So why get wet? Why break a sweat?
Why waste your precious breath?
Why beat your handsome brow? Nothing changes
Nothing changes
Nothing changes anyhow

[Foxes_Trust]

9 minutes ago, AjcW said:

Not our best bit of Comms back then, granted. Which is why we now have different people running that part now and hope to do better this time around!

[fox_up_north]

5 minutes ago, ashbyj said:

Nothing changes if nothing changes. Sounds like a Michael Owen statement.

Said from the co pilot seat of a helicopter

[AjcW]

5 minutes ago, Foxes_Trust said:

Not our best bit of Comms back then, granted. Which is why we now have different people running that part now and hope to do better this time around!

It was a bit of a cheap shot but we all need a laugh today! 
 

Is anyone who is working on comms for you from that background? I’m not taking this piss, genuinely interested. 

[TrickyTrevLeftPeg]

 

24 minutes ago, Foxes_Trust said:

 

 

This time, we will be expecting answers.

Surely you should have been doing that the first time around. 

[Bilo]

Sorry, but @Union FSare much more direct and more likely to hold their feet to the fire - publicly and without apologies. 

[Foxes_Trust]

3 minutes ago, AjcW said:

It was a bit of a cheap shot but we all need a laugh today! 
 

Is anyone who is working on comms for you from that background? I’m not taking this piss, genuinely interested. 

Yes, we now have a working group which includes individuals with corporate comms experience and includes three individuals who were not involved with the Trust a year or so ago. We're also trying to find others to come and help out with different bits here and there.

 

Of course, people still have their perceptions of the Trust that have been built up over many years - and we know we've not always hit the mark in the past - but we're changing the way we operate and hopefully you'll observe a different approach in the coming months.

[jammie82uk]

A better title for you

 

“Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted”

[beepee1984]

34 minutes ago, Foxes_Trust said:

This time, we will be expecting answers.

And you will get NONE

 

The club are NOT interested in anyone's opinion unless you are call Rudkin

[Foxes_Trust]

5 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Sorry, but @Union FSare much more direct and more likely to hold their feet to the fire - publicly and without apologies. 

The two groups are different in nature, of course. 

 

We're sure @Union FS will also have their own approach on how they handle this situation and what they want to say - different approaches are a positive thing and it shouldn't be only one group expressing concerns to the club.

 

That said, we are meeting with UFS to discuss how we can collaborate and the newer board members at the Trust are very familiar with the more prominent members of UFS. That provides a good foundation for the two groups working together where it makes sense to do so.

[Foxes_Trust]

2 minutes ago, beepee1984 said:

And you will get NONE

 

The club are NOT interested in anyone's opinion unless you are call Rudkin

We have to try though, right?

 

There's only one way to guarantee nothing changes: not trying to fight for any change.

[Bilo]

1 minute ago, Foxes_Trust said:

The two groups are different in nature, of course. 

 

We're sure @Union FS will also have their own approach on how they handle this situation and what they want to say - different approaches are a positive thing and it shouldn't be only one group expressing concerns to the club.

 

That said, we are meeting with UFS to discuss how we can collaborate and the newer board members at the Trust are very familiar with the more prominent members of UFS. That provides a good foundation for the two groups working together where it makes sense to do so.

It's good that you're working together, and I appreciate you keeping us updated on what can often be quite a hostile forum.

 

Respectfully though, I don't think that the polite and gentle approach works. You've as good as admitted it with your statement showing that the club, disgracefully, fobbed you and the fans off. 

 

I hope that you and UFS can agree a sound middle ground between polite engagement and public condemnation, but I do feel that we're at the stage of leaning more towards the latter. 

[Tielemans63]

16 minutes ago, Foxes_Trust said:

We have to try though, right?

 

There's only one way to guarantee nothing changes: not trying to fight for any change.

Hats off to you for trying to do something about it. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of those making snide / mocking / dismissive comments have done precisely **** all to try and improve the situation. I might not always agree with all of FT's actions but respect for at least putting in the effort to try and make a difference 

Edited 21 April by Tielemans63

[Spudulike]

5 minutes ago, Tielemans63 said:

Hats off to you for trying to do something about. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of those making snide / mocking / dismissive comments have done precisely **** all to try and improve the situation. I might not always agree with all of FT's actions but respect for at least putting in the effort to try and make a difference 

I'd also bet the same majority are the ones being embarrassed and telling match going fans how they should support the club. 

[Globalfox]

56 minutes ago, Foxes_Trust said:

Full statement (and details on our latest work) can be read on the Trust's website here

 

Nothing changes, if nothing changes.

 

The Foxes Trust is bitterly disappointed to see the club be relegated again for the second time in three years, jeopardising our chances of being a sustainably successful Premier League club.

 

As part of our stated aims to hold Leicester City Football Club and its owners to account for the highest standards of business management, and operational and commercial decisions that directly affect Foxes Trust members and the wider supporter base, we contacted the club following relegation in the 2022/23 season. We submitted a list of questions that we were seeking assurances on about how the club was being run and what lessons had been learned from the season.

 

Despite initially offering to meet to discuss our concerns, this meeting was delayed and delayed and our questions went unanswered.

 

We have heard numerous examples in recent months of Leicester City supporters feeling a disconnect with the club and the lack of communication from senior directors is often referenced as a missed opportunity. The Fan Engagement Framework – mandated by the Premier League and implemented last summer – was intended to bolster and widen communication with supporters but is now, in many instances, being used as a reason for the club not to engage directly with supporter groups.

 

We feel this needs to change. Many of the issues in club-supporter relations right now can be linked back to a failure to engage with, listen to and communicate with, fans.

 

When there is such disconnect and discontent amongst the supporter base, we urge the club to address this: have senior directors responsible for both the on-pitch, and off-pitch, operations share direct with the fan base what the strategy and vision for the club now is and meet directly with all supporter groups to address their questions and hear their concerns.

 

The Trust will again be submitting questions to the club in the wake of our relegation. We encourage all Trust members, and the wider fan base, to share with us via email ([email protected]) questions or concerns that they would like sharing with the club.

 

This time, we will be expecting answers.

Maybe I am confused but since Mr Bason is the Trust nominated rep on the Fan Advisory Board and co-chairs it with Susan Whelan is he not ideally placed to secure these answers for us?