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Please remember that this is a family based site and so keep all laungauge at a decent level. Anything written that I do not like will be altered but the basis will be the same. |
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on the subject of marketing I bumped into a fan on Saturday furious that as a non member he would have to pay £25 quid to get into the home section of the ground as he wasnt allowed in the Holmesdale . I thought we had relaxed our policy of fleecing non members for £25+ to watch our games since relegation but it appears not. On the basis of this how anyone can defend the clubs marketing strategies is beyond me
graham
chatham lovely chatham, - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 15:26:28 (PST)
PR - fine with that, don't particularly agree with censorship but then it ain't my site :) Think I'll come on here more often...
REPD
SM4 still, a bit knackered, - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 14:15:06 (PST)
Just read my last post again and it sounds like i'm having a go at REPD just to say I was only tidying up some of your posts that were as a result of LC posts. Hope that all make sence.
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 13:02:52 (PST)
Right I have changed a number of posts I hope that the original posters will be ok with this (REPD)? lets hope I dont have to do this again.
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 12:35:17 (PST)
Regarding LC posts yes I will be deleting the ones that are offensive I would yet again like to remind people that this is a family based site and would ask that they think about what they are going to post before they do it. LC, post your views but dont get offensive thankyou.
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 12:10:09 (PST)
Re: marketing, the club was one of the most successful in the country in the 90s and saying that not having our own ground is why our marketing department has not improved our fanbase is simply a cop-out (no pun intended). Any younger fans would not of thought WFC is not worth going to watch because it doesn't have it's own ground. Giving away 000s of tickets a week (rather than trying to eek as much money as possible from away fans) combined with our decent home form and glamour matches against the top sides could and IMO would have strengthened our numbers massively. If we had set a target of gaining 500 new season ticket holders per season from 1990 onwards we would of had 6000 more supporters by now and be averaging over 10000 in div 1 - can any one disagree with that?
Hutch
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 09:55:30 (PST)
LC - ah, a challenge. Right then. Firstly, I'll get the obvious "move back to PL" comment out of the way. Currently? Firstly, do PROPER maildrops to every - and I mean EVERY - household in Merton/Sutton/Wandsworth etc, flogging the idea of either STs or individual game tickets. Offer incentives for floating fans, ie buy one get one half price/free (for adults as well as kids), or buy two tickets for a certain game and get a free scarf or something. Start ENCOURAGING people to join. Keep ST prices cheap(er) than all other local clubs (league wise). How to get people to SP? Simple - try running a coach (maybe free or significantly with a purchase of a special offer) from SW19 or another local drop-off point. If people want merchandise (and this is a sore point on here I know), offer something like a 20% discount through being a member (this may be the case ATM I don't know), or for one off games against teams like Grimsby try a 50% reduction on everything with production of a valid match ticket. Loss leader? Not if you sell twice as many as a result. And it builds up goodwill. Now, I know that somebody is bound to say "this is all going to cost money we haven't got". My answer is, WFC cannot afford NOT to do this. Basically, you've got to make people WANT to come. Anyone else?
REPD
A wet SM4, - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 09:49:07 (PST)
Since this is a family based site I asume that our esteemed webmaster will be removing the puerile and homophobic comments made by Loose Cannon? I might even have a little more respect if he was willign to sign oin as himnself and use a real e-mail address. If we only have 5,000 fans I will settle for 4,999 if this person is a genuine Don.
Sean Fox (seanphilfox@aol.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 09:24:52 (PST)
Hi Nick, nice to see you have joined us on this site. I agree with you 100%. But one thing I would say is that back in those old PL days the club was never structured to support a 1st Division/Premiership team anyway. In fact the Premiership was formed after we moved. I dont think anyone seriously thought then when we were at PL that we would see players earning £20,000+ wages per week. I would love to of known what our top player was earning when we left PL, just to see the inflation of wages.
stuart D (stuart@sdeacons.fsnet.co.uk)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 08:58:35 (PST)
I agree with REPDs point - the marketing opportunities in the boom years were certainly missed, especially the years when we were the 2nd best London team around behind Arsenal. However what really fcuked us up was not having our own stadium. If you ask me a stadium and atmosphere is the main reason new/floating fans come back to a club. That's why people get hooked on a club even if the team they're watching played crap. That's why we all got hooked at Plough Lane - the players whacking the ball up wasn't why we went back, it was the special atmos at the Lane. Something that Shithurst never had or has. So i suppose the Marketing at Wimbledon was an impossible job but I still don't feel they took enough advantage when the fleeting chance was there...
R Don
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 08:50:13 (PST)
Bloody hell, with my spelling I sould support bloody Chelsea!!!!! :-)
Loose Canon (Loose.canon@hotmail.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 08:48:52 (PST)
REPD. Point takne, but in all fairness if you lived 1.5 miles from Wimbledon and didint know that WImbledon had a team then maybe you should support Chelsea nayway. Why dont we have a little competition between people on this guestbook, just for fun of course. HOW WOULD YOU SELL WIMBLEDON FC TO A FLOATING FAN, WITHOUT MAKING ME FALL ASLEEP ON HERE IE: NOT TO LONG. YOU ALSO MUST NOT MENTION KC, JUST THE GOOD POINTS OR SELLING POINTS OF THE CLUB??
Loose Canon (Loose.canon@hotmail.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 08:47:47 (PST)
LC - You may think it's too easy to slag off WFC marketing - however, I would argue that it's the main strand of WFC that gets people in. Let's face it, how many ways really do people start watching a particular team in the flesh - you either get taken by somebody who goes anyway, or you are made "aware" of that team's existance. And it's the latter that has IMO consistantly failed WFC. To get people in, you have to give them incentives to want to come - I once decided that I would spend a summer pretending I was a floating football fan just to see how WFC were going to entice me to become a fan (I live 1.5 miles from Wimbledon). Result? Nothing. And this was in our Prem heights and very little has changed. If I was a floating fan, I would be more inclined to support Celsi or Palace because they actually give the impression they want my support...
REPD
SM.. you know, - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 08:26:42 (PST)
REPD, I just think it is so easy to slag of the Marketing team for our pathetic support. Everyone laughs at us, even when we were in the Premiership. I got so fed up with defending my team that I refused to talk football with them because I would end up knoccking them out. I think we all know that untill we have a solid base of our own that we will never attract the fans. I know that on my first game at PL I remember going to the home game against Man Utd. I remember them reversing into the entrance next to the Sportsman. I rememeber seeing Bryan Robson looking out at us with a bit of concern. I thought that our ground must be really intimidationg if he look worried. It was only when I{ started going to away games that I realised how small we were!!!! But it was too late I was hooked!!!!!
Loos (Loose.canon@hotmail.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 08:20:41 (PST)
LC - "sour grapes"? What - because I'm very fussed about the professionalism (lack of) at WFC and have the obvious temerity to criticise about it? At the risk of sounding smug, perhaps if more people did do more about how absolutely pathetic this club has been run (top thru bottom) we wouldn't be in the situation we are now. Enough self-congratulation - I've never been tempted once to work for WFC, it's just that I've been dealing with them on and off since the mid 80s and been consistently appauled by their attitude. No doubt you'll now dismiss my thoughts as just me with an attitude problem, which makes you sound like somebody of WFC admin calibre.
REPD
SM4 still, - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 07:58:20 (PST)
Why are you so insulting to people on here, Loose Cannon?
Martin D
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 07:58:01 (PST)
Why is it when ever someone has a comment about a WISA member they come out fighting and back each other up. Maybe you all come from Brighton!!!!! Peter, Im glad you think out of your head and not your rear end like others. REPD. I think I have seen you before at reserve games and others and it doesnt suprise me that you have a grudge against Wimbledon admin. Did you ever apply for a job there and get turned down???? Seems like sour grapes to me. BW, please dont email me, I dont want my guestbook full of boring, (I am the messiah messages) I love the messages of 'what have you done to save your club'. Well I have done my bit, but I thought it was a tema effort!!!! When the club is saved and goes back to PL, are we going to have a Trophy for the person who done the most????? Seems like it!!! Good work by a loads of fans, but please dont let it go to your head. Who is this Jonesy guy by the way, I have never seen him, but people talk about him as if everything he says is gospel!!! Come on have a brain. You all follow him lick a flock of sheep. Happy Easter. BTW, before you say it, I am a memebr of WISA and the DONS TRUST, but I have a family and cant get to meetings. Does that make me a lesser member???
Loose Canon (Loose.canon@hotmail.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 07:34:24 (PST)
LC - mind your language. I see that by your "low support anyway" comment you have illustrated 110% my entire point. Yes, our support could be better, but we certainly ain't doing much to remedy that are we? Why would ANYONE want to support WFC at the moment? We look like one of those iffy fly-by-night operations you see on Watchdog. Give WFC a bit of stability and a look of professionalism and watch the attendances at least improve. To give you an idea of how this club has always thought, it refused to accept even under Hammam/Barnard that moving back to Wimbledon would do anything. They were always more obsessed with the team doing well and very dangerously believed that everything else would fall into place. Short termism at its most blinkered. It didn't and now look what's happened. And yes, I do have a serious grudge - I have a serious grudge against the brain dead retards who infest WFC and who live in ivory towers. They don't want to get the fans involved because - as has been proven - the fans would whip their asses and make them look even more pathetic than they are.
REPD
Earning £, - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 04:46:55 (PST)
My opinion on the marketing at WFC (I thought it was called Media and Communications now) is that there have been some huge missed opportunities over the years. It's not just about getting 'kids' in to the ground. I was 17 when I first went to a game. Why not try something like 'bring a mate and they get in for 1/2 price'? Anyway, it's all largely irrelivent because WFC has no intention of encouraging people from Wimbledon to go to matches. That's in no way intended as a slur on what people who work there are doing.... it's just that Merton isn't Mr Koppel's target. From what I can tell, the thing that has constantly held back the marketing of WFC has been the people at the top, and their priorities. Hammam seems to have been quite obstructive, and Koppel's actions speak for themselves. The rotten owners need to be removed so that WFC can get back to where it belongs..... Merton. If you build it, they will come.
Peter Bowles (peter@wisa.org.uk)
Wimbledon, Wimbledon Wimbledon - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 04:37:08 (PST)
Just as I thought 'Loose Cannon', you mail address doesn't exist. Suprise, suprise.
Brighton Womble (brightonwomble@hotmail.com)
Not open for that kind of abuse., - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 04:26:25 (PST)
Yes, loose cannon, that's right mate. Everyone in Brighton is 'queer'.
Brighton Womble
Funny, would you say that to some of the nutters on the Whitehawk Estate? I doubt it., - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 04:19:29 (PST)
Loose cannon, you are an idiot. What possible good does posting such abusive and nasty rubbish on the gb do? What are YOU doing to help save this club?
Martin D
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 03:57:05 (PST)
How can you market a team, that has no ground, gets low support anyway and is competing against all the other London clubs. The only chance we had was with the kids to get them to support us and then start the generation thing. Do you seriously think that people go to Chelsea, Arsenal or Spurs because of the marketing!!! No they go because of either the atmosphere, team, or because thier mum or dad took them at an early age and got them addicted!!!! Marketing helps, but cant be the only excuse. REPD - You have a serious grudge and they could attract 10,000 extra men to the game and you would still moan that thier are not enough girls!!!! BW - seen your posts on here and you are alwasy the same!!!! Your just a sad person who enjoys a bit of the limelight.
Loose Canon (Loose.canon@hotmail.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 03:55:26 (PST)
"Judging by your own website with the labguage..."
Brighton Womble
Proof reading a speciality :), - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 03:02:46 (PST)
'Loose Cannon', the marketing of the club has been rubbish, if not non existent for years; it makes no difference what division we're in. If the club marketing was run by 100 monkeys with only pens and paper and no typewriters, they could do a better job of designing more effective marketing strategies.
Brighton Womble (brightonwomble@hotmail.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 02:52:40 (PST)
LC - hmm. Yes, I do have a grudge against the admin at WFC, simply because they are a massive pile of plop. The very fact you say that marketing was better because it was "easier" proves my point more than anything. The rub is, WFC expects everything on a plate and can't be bothered to do much - if anything - itself. It's just excuses all the time with them, yes, relegation makes it harder. So try much, MUCH harder to get people in. And that may involve a bit of (gasp) hard work and (gulp) dynamism. If not being in the top flight means we shouldn't bother trying to get people in, then 72 clubs shouldn't bother either. Funny how teams like Wycombe seem to have got a better idea of equipping themselves. Back to my point of WFC not doing anything itself - why did Hammam lust over Dublin? Because it was handed to him on a plate. Why did he systematically screw up (deliberately) every single approach made in Merton and surrounding areas? Because he expected everything on a plate. Why has it taken a group of WFC *fans* in their own time and probably expense to draw up plans for a brand new stadium on PL? Because WFC expect that sort of thing on a plate. Why is Koppout hellbent on murdering WFC by MK? Because it is (supposedly) being handed to him on a plate etc etc. See what I mean? When I hear people whine that things are difficult because we're not in the Prem, I dispair. I dispair of the sheer lameness (all right, sheer and utter pathetic nature) of that get-out comment. Good job that the team didn't show that sort of meekness during 85-88, otherwise WFC would never have been able to use the "we're Prem" or "we're FA cup winners" excuses to hide their own shortcomings. Two more things : 1) I have done a whole morning on marketing as part of a self-employment induction course. Hardly diploma standard but probably over-qualifies me for WFC employment. 2) With regards to my language, I only accept criticism about my choice of words from people who can put their hand on their heart and say they have never used a rude word in their life. I've yet to meet one, you could be the first. Anyway, I'm off to the Nelson to get my humour removed...
REPD
Home, - Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 02:20:48 (PST)
REPD. You seem to have a serious frudge against the admin staff dont you!! I thought personally that when were in the Premiership that the marketing was getting better and we were atracting more HOME fans. Relegation stoped that in its tracks. I always think it is easy to critisise from the outside looking in, but unless you can do better I would be careful critisising. Do you have any qualifications in Marketing??? Judging by your own website with the labguage and so forth I doubt very much if you do!!! Also get a humour by pass, becuase without one you could be described as quite sad. Everyone supporting the Dons needs a sense of Humour!!!!!!
Loose Canon (Loose.canon@hotmail.com)
- Wednesday, March 20, 2002 at 01:50:31 (PST)
Memories real people real fans it cheers me up sometime to remmeebr the humor on the West Bank the old men at the back, the dissaproving looks form the North Stand, the South Stand benches. Nottingham Forest, you can stick oyur Alna Ball up your arse cup tie, eins over teams that looked on in horror. We cna have it back people
Sean Fox
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 15:12:13 (PST)
REPD - point taken re WFC admin crew! I dug out all my old Dons stuff the other day, you know; old programmes, videos etc. This usually entertains me, but on this occasion just made me so bloody angry! Watching the taped editions of Match of the Day covering our FA cup 6th round, semi and final from '88 has never been such a sad experience.People with not a clue or care about football are wrecking the game - I don't just mean Wimbledon, the game as a whole. Amongst all my stuff is an article from cup final day saying that if the Wimbledon players of '88 won the cup, they will wreck English football forever. Looks like the club's 'suits' of '02 could succeed where Beasant, Sanchez & Co failed.
Edinburgh Don
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 13:56:05 (PST)
PR - I refused to get involved in something akin to a student rag week or something you would expect to see on Soccer AM. Besides, I have very bad memories of Grimsby last year.
REPD
Who has a humour by-pass, - Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 13:43:06 (PST)
Aah yes Grimsby/Cleethorpes last season seems years ago rather than one but then so do all the good memories at the moment. mr Koppel you are killing our club get out. You will never defeat us because everywhere you go we will be there behind you in front of you beside you nowhere will you be allowed to get aawy from Wimbledon supporters to remind you if you succeeed. Thats not a threat its a promise :)
Oh and what next in your ridiculous attempts to undermine our chances of the play offs presumably Trond to Burnely, Connolly to Preston and Shipperley to Conventry. Is there no depth to which you will not stoop?
Sean Fox
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 12:31:44 (PST)
The Hawian shirts event took place last year and in fact anyone who made the trip all the way to cleethorpes for the first time last year will know what a brilliant time we had in the pub right by the station. For a game that was called off quite early (about 11am or so) their were a load of wombles (about 30) that made the trip all the way. Some people dont appreciate humour do they REPD :)
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 11:49:39 (PST)
PD - yup it did happen. A Hawaiian beach party in one of the UK's most forsaken places (behind Middlesbrough and Croydon) was somebody's idea of a joke. Sad :) The event took place, sadly the game didn't...
REPD
SM4, - Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 11:45:09 (PST)
I remember last year some people saying something about wearing hawian shirts and bringing inflatables to Grimsby to take the piss. Did that ever happen(as the game was posponed) and is anyone planning on doing that this year?
Peterboro don
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 11:42:49 (PST)
ED - thing is with WFC (especially their admin side) is that they have always been deluded idiots. They of course will think they're mega confident of this rubbish going through, but then they've always been mega confident that past things like giving masses of tix to away fans and zero advertising is the best way to build a club up. They are ostriches of the highest order, and WFC needs a pack of dingos more than ever.
REPD
Finally back in SM4, - Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 10:23:36 (PST)
Cheers BW!! You have a place in heaven my son!
Jamie
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 08:46:12 (PST)
Jamie; http://www.wimbledon-mad.co.uk/
Brighton Womble
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 07:17:39 (PST)
Edinburgh Don - I think it very much depends on you definition of F***ed. They wont succeed in moving Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes, but the club we're left with is going to look very different from how it is now. IMO.
Peter Bowles (peter@wisa.org.uk)
Wimbledon, Wimbledon Wimbledon - Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 06:08:22 (PST)
A senior of the senior members of the Dons admin crew let the phrase "when we move" slip into a conversation on Saturday, and then was very embarrassed when trying to backtrack. Not "if", but "when" was the phrase. They seem just too confident that this is definitely going through and there's not a thing anyone can do about it. More and more, I have that feeling of impending doom, and that despite all our efforts, we are indeed, f***ed.
Edinburgh Don
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 05:22:41 (PST)
Hi, Can anyone send me the league tables (top division) from 1986-2000? Would be much appreciated!
Jamie (jamieweir@fcuk-me.co.uk)
- Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 03:37:19 (PST)
Ralph, nice one. BTW, Wibbly, although it was only through a message board, someone claiming to be a shareholder in Northampton Saints claimed today on rivals.net that there is absolutely NO chance whatsoever of ANYONE groundsharing next season or ANY other.
Brighton Womble
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 15:49:50 (PST)
Dolfan - the pope is a fairley big bloke so be careful about offering him out + he prob has god on his side.
peace to all dons fans.
chwp
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 15:22:04 (PST)
Ralphy, nice to see that you have calmed down a bit, what were you on, as Peter stated WISA and the Dons Trust need everyone to work together against this cancer as you have probably seen he is already looking to sign up to a ground share in Northampton for next season
Wibbly Don
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 11:57:32 (PST)
Thanks Ralph - and yes, they do get too much grief. Thanks to the club shop bhoys as well - looks like one of the groups is going to get a volunteer to help, one that can speak his mind!
Ronan (rgwarde@ukgateway.net)
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 10:16:11 (PST)
Just voted for Charles Koppel as Player of the Year - on the basis of All Round Team Player. Any other anarchists out there ??
Steve M
Carshalton, UK - Monday, March 18, 2002 at 09:44:38 (PST)
Thanks for that Ralf, but WISA and the Trust still need your help, so get involved.
Peter Bowles (peter@wisa.org.uk)
Wimbledon, Wimbledon Wimbledon - Monday, March 18, 2002 at 07:04:03 (PST)
Cheers Ralph, brought a tear to my eye that! ;-)
Jamie
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 05:55:38 (PST)
After meeting the boys who work in the shop for the first time properly after Saturday's game, I would like to apologise for some of my posts over recent times. After discussing several of the issues raised on this guestbook, it would indeed appear I have been mis-informed, mis-guided if you will, about the efforts of many of you and what you are trying to achieve. They have put me straight on a few things and I have to admit I'm eating humble pie. The one thing that stuck out more than most was the fact that none of the lads want the club to go anywhere MK. I beleive they have told that to CK outright. They work in the shop to provide a Wimbledon face to serve those who do not want to boycott the merchandise. To serve the dad and his lad, because the kid just wants to show his mates who he supports. The flack they take is unecesary and not valid. Each I beleive are trust members. In all sincerity would like to apologise to those who have been offended by my comments and wish the Trust, WISA and everyone else who is battling against MK and CK the very best of luck, in whatever role they fill. Please though - don't put all your faith in Merton Council being able to deliver their loose talk and promises. Good luck one and all.
Ralph Malph
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 05:36:27 (PST)
Alan, amusingly enough no. Thought you'd all find it amusing.
Brighton Womble
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 05:35:07 (PST)
Brighton Womble - I presume the addition of 'arrogant twat' to your last post was a dig at Koppell? Shame, I thought it was an admission on your part.
Alan
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 05:32:07 (PST)
Charles Koppel stated:
"We remain convinced that the move to Milton Keynes is the only possible way in which the club can survive and thrive. This has always been our sole concern. We still hope that we can achieve the move harmoniously in liaison with The Football League and with our fans."
Fancy that!
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 02:57:01 (PST)
Charles Koppel stated:
"We remain convinced that the move to Milton Keynes is the only possible way in which the club can survive and thrive. This has always been our sole concern. We still hope that we can achieve the move harmoniously in liaison with The Football League and with our fans."
Fancy that!
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 02:56:32 (PST)
"We will progress out from Plough Lane in a radius until we find a suitable home AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE"
"We realise that no agreement could ever be reached without consulting our supporters first"
"All discussions of Milton Keynes are pie in the sky - we are a LONDON club and that is where we will be going".
Fancy that!
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 02:54:30 (PST)
DONS TO PLAY IN MILTON KEYNES, By Pat Sheehan.
Wimbledon will announce today they are moving 68 miles north to set up home in Milton Keynes. Talks with the business consortium headed by pop mogul Pete Wilkinson have reached a successful conclusion. It means the go ahead for a purpose built £50 million, 45k capacity stadium that will also boast a hotel and office complex.
Dons chairman Charles Koppel met senior staff yesterday to outline the switch ahead of breaking the news publicly. Eventually, the name of the club is expected to change to MK Dons. Norwegian owner Bjorn Gjelsten would have preferred to remain in London. But he found no financially viable sites where planning permission was likely to be granted.
He expects the Dons to be housed in their new home by the start of the 2003-4 season, ending 10 years as tenants at Selhurst Park. No approval for the move has yet been sought from the Football League. But it will be virtually impossible for the League's board to refuse as the alternative is Wimbledon going bust.
Ironically, Wimbledon were granted permission from the Premier League to relocate when they were in the top flight and considered moves to Dublin, Glasgow and Cardiff.
There is certain to be another fans backlash over the move. Supporters reacted bitterly when a proposed merger with QPR was exclusively revealed by Sun Sport, forcing the Dons to back down. Dons would own the new stadium under the plans and would have options to build it in stages, starting with a capacity of 30,000.
The club are prepared to offer travel concessions for loyal fans to stick with them.
Fancy that!
- Monday, March 18, 2002 at 02:52:04 (PST)
Koppel: Fans should want me to stay Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel has told protesting Dons supporters they would be foolish to drive him out. Koppel's resignation was again called for before, during and after the 3-1 win which sent Stockport down, because of his plans to relocate Wimbledon to Milton Keynes. But he insists the club would be put at greater risk if he is forced to leave. "Since I announced my plans, not a match has gone by without some fans calling for my resignation," said Koppel. "What if my fellow shareholders and I do walk away? Who will take control of the club so that it can move forward? Who will put up the £20,000 required per day to fund the club? "Even without repaying the existing shareholder loans, any new owner would have to provide in the region of £15million to fund the club to the end of next season
Brighton Womble (brightonwomble@hotmail.com)
Arrogant twat, - Monday, March 18, 2002 at 02:37:13 (PST)
Paul, I was confused as to how a 'Dons' site didn't have enough sheep related features but now I realise why - wrong 'Dons'! ;-) WBA should be awarded the 3 points, of course but Sheff Utd should get the book thrown at them. Call me cynical, but that second injury didn't seem entirely convincing. 3-0 down with 8 minutes left, at worst the 3 points are awarded to WBA anyway and a few players are suspended (would happen anyway), or at best the Football League order a replay giving Sheff Utd a second chance.
Edinburgh Don
- Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 12:23:52 (PST)
Anyone have any views on the Sheff U / WBA game on Saturday if the result (and therefore the sending's off stand) the Three Players will be suspended when we make the trip to Bramell Lane. Reading reports Keith Curle was lucky not to be sent off as well. I imagine that Sheff U at minimum will be charged with failing to controll their players (I think this is automatic if 5 players are booked) but could they be looking at a points deduction, although with them in the middle of the table it wont affect any play-off's or relegations issues unless it's a big deduction.
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 11:39:13 (PST)
I supose talking about scottish football does clear the Ayr a bit and it was a Stirling effort by the Stockport fans yesterday. :)
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 05:13:00 (PST)
Paul, Scottish football provides a little light relief, (if you saw it you'd see what I mean), in these miserable threating days. Ed Don: you're theory about a breeding farm for stewards may not be a million miles away. We can't blame Blair for it though because most of them would have been cloned around the late thirties. As for yesterday, the Stockport few had come to support their team no matter what but the jobsworths made sure that they remained miserable. If I could have had one wish yesterday it would have been that is was Palace instead of Stockport. Then they could all have been miseries together. But perhaps "Glad All Over" doesn't go with a celebratory conga! Oh, I dunno', could be worth watching. Good to see Beckham's free kick V Greece win the TV highlight of 2001. I imagine the whole nation jumped up at that moment. It was twenty five pence to register a telephone vote and one of the other highlights was the Eastenders shooting of Phil Mitchell. I would have gladly splashed out fifty pence if they'd shot the bugger for real.
TW
- Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 05:02:18 (PST)
I know the website is called "It Must Be Dons" but it does refer to Wimbledon and not Aberdeen. In the past few weeks their has been a lot of Scottish Football being talked about on here I dont know we have had Rangers, Celtic, Cowdenbeath, Hibs, Hearts, Livingston and Meadowbank Thistle I dont know I just give up with whats going on. :)
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 04:35:03 (PST)
Ralph - I've been reading all the latest posts and I've got to ask you that if you have had experience of running a club, why the hell don't you approach WISA or the Dons Trust to share your experience? I don't agree with everything WISA have ever said or done and I certainly don't agree with some (not all) of their senior members who come on here. However, I am still a member as we only have a chance if we act in numbers, and WISA/Dons Trust appear to be the only significant bodies of Dons Fans, and are our best chance of representation. Please put aside your dislike of Brighton Womble or whoever it is that annoys you, and talk to them because we're heading up s**t creek with no paddle and a hole in the boat.
Edinburgh Don (edinburghdon@yahoo.co.uk)
- Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 04:31:46 (PST)
I keep telling you TW, Hearts do alright until YOU turn up! Heard about the stewards stopping the Stockport Conga yesterday - where do they get these guys from? I reckon they are genetically engineered in a top secret Government Laboratory called the "Human Jobsworth Project" run entirely by the secret branch of MI5 known as the 'Fun Police'.
Edinburgh Don
- Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 04:21:54 (PST)
Ed Don, as I look into my crystal ball I can see you've got a good couple of weeks ahead. But perhaps Saturday may be a day to avoid coincidence and avoid football with any one who may have once been at Nelson Athletic.
TW
- Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 02:27:07 (PST)
The Dons victorious, Palace losing AND Hearts winning the Edinburgh derby! I've had a good day! :-)
Edinburgh Don
- Saturday, March 16, 2002 at 13:02:46 (PST)
Paul, apologies accepted, Chris well done I wouldnt expect anything less, as I have stated several times now I can only admire Stuart D for the stance that he is taking inlight of all the crap being aimed at him and I suppose that must be the same for the rest of the people within the shop, albeit I certainly do not agree with it, can I just ask all the doubters that Koppell is trying everything to relocate the dons anywhere except London, please read the news section on W&WW, 4 home games left to support your team, this has probably changed a few minds re the season ticket debate
Wibbly Don
- Saturday, March 16, 2002 at 10:10:26 (PST)
Please could you update me with the latest news about the Wimbledon move to M.K.
I have not heard news since the abitration meeting sent it back to the Football League.
Also what about the plans that Merton were supposed to have in regards to building a stadium at Plough Lane.
Now I read today that Kopple has signed an agreement to use another ground ( somewhere in Britain - but not in Wimbledon). Surely WIMBLEDON means WIMBLEDON.
Ray Lane (audray@iafrica.com)
Durban, Natal SOUTH AFRICA - Saturday, March 16, 2002 at 09:57:46 (PST)
Wibbly - I can only say sorry about your post, I was removing the spoof post and I forgot to download the uptodate version of the guestbook it was a genuine error it was not removed due to what was said and once I loaded it back I thought theres a post missing but couldn't work out what it was, hope you understand.
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Saturday, March 16, 2002 at 00:51:11 (PST)
Wibbly - I would like to point out that three members of club shop staff are Dons Trust members. That is all.
Chris Draper (tfi2@hotmail.com)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 14:34:31 (PST)
Ralphy, As Paul deemed it his perogative to erase my previous posting slating you I will try once more, I am surprised that Paul has kept your last posting on his guestbook, it is offensive and obscene against the loyal band of people trying to save our club from distinction, 1001 people have signed up to the Dons Trust, not WISA, WISA themselves have 1800 members, all of these people have pride and a very real passion for their club and are trying their utmost to do something about it, ex players have signed up, children and wives of ex players have signed up, they are not all small mindless tossers and I take real exception to your posting but I suppose it makes you feel important or something, I am sure that Stuart feels very fortunate to have someone of your calibre in his corner ( come on then Ralphy lets have the usual piss take and more derogatory comments I suppose an apology is out of the question)
Wibbly Don
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 14:24:49 (PST)
Pope - Would u rather have Palace scum working in the club shop?! Who r u anyway? If u want a fight I'll be more than willing! U r making a lot of people look very silly in here (BW excluded, cos he is anyway!), there are very few that have the same opinion as u when it comes to the club shop workers and I think u should apologise now!
Jamie
Stuart D's yellow and blue army!! - Fri Mar 15 16:37:23 2002
brown , is anything to go by
dolfan
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 14:07:02 (PST)
Pope - Would u rather have Palace scum working in the club shop?! Who r u anyway? If u want a fight I'll be more than willing! U r making a lot of people look very silly in here (BW excluded, cos he is anyway!), there are very few that have the same opinion as u when it comes to the club shop workers and I think u should apologise now!
Jamie
Stuart D's yellow and blue army!! - Fri Mar 15 16:37:23 2002
brown , is anything to go by
dolfan
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 14:06:42 (PST)
apparently it is in another timezone jonesy , 8 hours bacward and backkward probably just about sums up the visitors to here if jamie
dolfan
USA - Friday, March 15, 2002 at 14:05:22 (PST)
apparently it is in another timezone jonesy , 8 hours bacward and backkward probably just about sums up the visitors to here if jamie
dolfan
USA - Friday, March 15, 2002 at 14:05:04 (PST)
wat the fook is goin on with this time pst?????
dolfan
staffs - Friday, March 15, 2002 at 13:45:44 (PST)
The standards have fallen, the value has dropped, the club is run by a fool with an IQ half my age, a half wit from south africa stands on my stage, some walk like they own the place , while others creep in fear. So try it you can , THIS IS YOUR chance to walk like a man, so simply do it
Mark Glynn (Mark@dancewav.com)
you know, - Friday, March 15, 2002 at 13:26:58 (PST)
er - any reason why my post did not appear?
Jonesy
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 13:19:07 (PST)
Quick question... Paul - why are you talking about whats happening on my site on yours? Wouldn't it make for a better discussion if you joined the one in mine? your website seems to be in another time zone? I'm not being aggresive or nasty - I am genuinely confused to the way that the club shop workers seem able to pretend nothing is happening before their very eyes....
jonesy
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 13:10:43 (PST)
Just to say i have removed the "suposed spoof chris phillips message" - but would like to say at the same time i'm dissapointed by comments that have been made by "Phillo" over on W&WW he may have been "having a laugh" but I find it stupid same time if The Pope wants to ask questions regarding trust and supporters he can ask either me direct or check with the membership secretary and if their is a data protection issue I will sign anything needed to say he can have the info. As ever it comes across as some of our supporters need to grow up and it's not a case of i'm better than you are never has been never will be. It could end up being someone who has never done anything for the cause that results in resolving this will people turn round and say "but I sent more letter than you"
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Friday, March 15, 2002 at 12:35:33 (PST)
BW - Thing is it's not your ball to take home it's mine so there!
Paul Raymond (webmaster@itmustbedons.com)
Tooting, London England - Friday, March 15, 2002 at 12:27:58 (PST)
Ralph - your understanding of the Football League rules is not the same as CK's or that of his lawyers. And given that the FL rejected the move on principle, and were told to reconsider by the arbitration panel, it might be said that others agree with him and not you. While it is obvious that the FL hierarchy are firmly against any such move, they do have the discretion to allow it.
kris (chair@wisa.org.uk)
London, - Friday, March 15, 2002 at 10:57:17 (PST)
Is that why Fans United was so well attended, or why supporters from many other clubs wrote to their MP's re: the early day motion, or why we got so much support at the launch of the trust.....Fact is, Ralph, you're the one who's bored by it all. As for insults, you really don't need to descend that low.
Brighton Womble
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 09:46:12 (PST)
Stu - you are taking a bit of stick on w&ww. Never mind son, you are free to do what you want in life and those small minded tossers who call you a traitor should really open the curtains in their smelly bedrooms open a window and let some air. Then put away their sticky collection of jaz rags and put the used kleenex in the bin. These people have no moral fibre in them and really need to get a life out side of football. And if people want to think I am undermining them and the mighty WISA efforts then the same applies to you. No one has the right to have a dig just because their world is blinkered by the rose coloured specs they wear. Stu - do you think you'll be in for some stick tomorrow? THERE IS MORE TO LIFE PEOPLE - GET OFF THOSE HIGH HORSES AND TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR. DO YOU NOT REALISE PEOPLE AT OTHER CLUBS ARE BEGINING TO LAUGH AT YOU ALL? The average football fan doesn't give 2 hoots about us.
Ralph Malph
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 09:28:30 (PST)
Hutch, you might aswell forget about GA, he isnt going to see the first team again before he leaves IMO. He obviously isnt in TB's future plans so obviously he will look to next season
stuart D (stuart@sdeacons.fsnet.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 05:48:27 (PST)
Stu - I would prefer Lionel down the left and GA down the right with the normal front 2 (but Aggy to get 30 mins if we are not winning), however if we came out tomorrow with the 3 youngsters in the starting line up I would be pleased with that, I would be even more pleased if we ran at them (like Aggy did in the 2nd half against Man City) at every opportunity, it would scare the shit out of them and get them on the back foot from the start.
Hutch
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 04:09:48 (PST)
Agreed hutch, and the annoying thing is that we have in Joby and Lional the players to do it. It would be nice to bang 3 or 4 past Stockport tommorow to get some confidence in us ready for a last push for the playoffs. Iw ould play both Jobi, Lional and Patrick tommorow and see if Stockport can handle the pace!!!
stuart D (stuart@sdeacons.fsnet.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 03:59:33 (PST)
I am not trying to stir up anything but what do people make of the Alan Kimble piece in today's Wimbledon News? Personally it is I feared that the players really don't care where they play and who for.
Ralph Malph
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 03:59:27 (PST)
I agree with Martin Drake. Pleasde do not use other peoples names to slag them off!!!! Have the balls to do it under your real name. You may get some respect and also a thick ear!!!! It really is pathetic and must be a youngster who hasn't grown up yet. I come on hear because it is civilaised and not constant insults like a other website I know!!!
stuart D (stuart@sdeacons.fsnet.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 03:55:54 (PST)
Stu - Ellington has scored 21 this season for Bristol Rovers (including 3 in the cup at Derby), IMO he would have been an excellent investment - apparently we offered £800k and Rovers wanted £1m - we wouldn't budge, IMO we will regret that decision in a few months time. I much prefer the football we play now, I don't want us to go back to the old style, I would just like to see the ball played wide, full backs beaten and crosses whipped in (GA did it well towards the end of last season) we have the players with the pace to do it, tomorrow I would love to see us pin Stockport back for long periods and get the ball into the box as often as possible and really put the pressure on
Hutch
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 03:28:05 (PST)
Sad to see the pathetic insults and childish name copying going on again on this guestbook. I wonder what such posters have done recently to save Wimbledon?
Martin Drake
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 03:25:13 (PST)
Hutch, im getting worried, we seem to be agreeing with each other. I agree that shipps will guarantee you a dozen goals but we need to strickers to get 20 goals each just like the Palace duo and the Wolves duo. I didnt know much about Ellington at the begginging of the season so I wouldnt have brought him in.. I would of loved to of brought someone like Scowcroft, now at Liecester or even Akinbyi!!! I know he plays for Palace now but he will get loads of goals in this division. We do play to much football, but I do enjoy the way we play now than under Kinnear. It is more pleasing to the eye, but we obviously dont get the results. I suppose we did to blend the two styles.
stuart D (stuart@sdeacons.fsnet.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 03:11:02 (PST)
thing is though Stu, Shipps has been the same wherever he has played in div 1, he will almost guarantee a dozen goals, he has tremendous work rate and is a decent div 1 player. We had £800k to spend on a striker - I thought that Ellington from Bristol Rovers would have been perfect, young, quick, strong, good in the air but unproven TB went for Shipps simply because you know what you are going to get with him. I really don't think we have used him in the right way - he isn't that big so asking him to win flick ons with his back to goal against big defenders or winning crosses when outnumbered in the box is asking a lot, what I would like to see is wingers (i.e. Morgan and GA) beating defenders and whipping crosses in for Shipps and Conno to compete for when defences have been turned, not when they have been allowed to line 8 up on their 18 yard line against 3 of our players.
Hutch
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 02:54:15 (PST)
Hutch, If your talking about just home games, then I have to agree with you. We have lost out on a playoff due to our home form there is no question of it. I think it boils down to though the front two. Every team that are in a play off place have a quality strike force. I think Connolly is superb but I dont think Shipperley is the right partner for him. When we first signed Shipperley I though it would be a great partner for Connolly but it hasnt worked out IMO..
stuart D (stuart@sdeacons.fsnet.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 02:38:47 (PST)
Hands up everyone, who really listens to BW anymore???? Lets be honest boys and girls, dont be scared of the chosen one.
Jamie Brown (Jamie.brown01@hotmail.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 02:24:35 (PST)
BW, I always come on here and look at peoples comments with interest. I dont blame Stuart for what he says about you. You always think you know more than everyone and are always correct. Why????
Jamie Brown (Jamie.brown01@hotmail.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 02:23:02 (PST)
Yeah? Well I'm taking my ball home so you can't play with it, so there!
Brighton Womble
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 02:06:35 (PST)
Stu - I am talking about matches at Selhurst where 99% of opposing teams play exactly the same way (i.e. sit back and hope to nick something on the break), I think away from home our results have been respectable - and sometimes superb - at Selhurst the tactics are not working (13 wins in 41 league games tells its own story). Because we overpass in the middle of the park the strikers get pulled back in an attempt to link up the play, whereas if the ball was going wide and crosses were coming in quickly they would have a chance of getting into the box before they are outnumbered by big defenders and retreating midfielders
Hutch
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 01:45:50 (PST)
Al, Al, super Al,... Al, Al, super Al... Al, Al, super Al... super Alan Kimble
Barry Fry (bigfatbazza@posh.com)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 01:26:21 (PST)
BW, no the difference between me and you is that I can admit when I am in the wrong and reason with people. You think you are right all the time, thats says a lot to me aswell. Have you noticed now that when you come on here now, no one can be arsed to respond to you. Doesn't that tell you anything either!!!! Happy Easter
stuart D (stuart@sdeacons.fsnet.co.uk)
- Friday, March 15, 2002 at 01:15:25 (PST)
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