Report from 2nd Supporters’ Meeting

These are the notes taken at our second Supporters’ meeting that took place in the Ratcliffe bar last Wednesday evening. All comments have been written up as they were recorded on the night, and if there are any inaccuracies from that please contact us at info@daletrust.co.uk. As is often the case, there’s plenty of overlap between the categories which will not be a problem when we put our action plans together.

Communication Football

No communication with fans
Last minute details of youth team / academy fixtures. These should be advertised in advance – why don’t we know? Who are the players?
Communication gap Sunday to Thursday
No Comms from manager before Tranmere match
Does anyone research other Clubs websites and media output for contents? if not, why not?
Fan Input on choice of manager – could shareholders be aware in advance?
We know nothing about the player injuries or why players don’t play etc
Captains voice – has been silent. Could they nominate a spokesman?
Getting to know the players – why has this stopped?
Quigley played for Stockport B team this week – why didn’t we know he’d gone back? This fuels negativity on social media
Daily Reports – we don’t know anything about players and their backgrounds
Club should be promoting themselves to schools and youth clubs
Survey the Fanbase – how do they want to receive information?
better questions after the games? Why are the subs so late?
Could fans be involved in the questions ie win the chance to do this?
Could College students be involved in media output?
Where are the academy playing? Why don’t we know?
Better online content – its so predictable
Squad pictures aren’t available for all players including Danny Lloyd who signed Nov/Dec
Why weren’t we told when McNulty’s assistant joined?
How can we improve the output on a reduced budget? Use students – T Levels
Regular features from the Club – what do they do on a daily basis?
Half time scores on Scoreboard
Survey fans what and how they want info from the Club
Updates on ticket sales – how are they going
Regular comms to the database – not everyone gets emails
Base the output on what fans want
Why they felt the need to bring in consultants and will supporters see full report?
The communication from the club is average at best . On the big issues the volte face from fan owned to investor-led in November was disappointing. I think I’m right in saying that the Trust was not consulted prior to the change of direction and ignoring your biggest shareholder on major strategic shifts does not sit right with me. On everyday communication, the Friday newsletter is simply a rehash of items already communicated so of no interest to those of who keep abreast of issues at the club on a daily basis. I’d like to see more effort put into both the high level comms (strategy, direction of travel – and I don’t mean how to get to Dorking) and daily comms (e.g.more probing interviews)
From a distance, it would appear that there is insufficient dialog on how the club is managed in financial terms.
The clubs weekly newsletter could be much stronger – interviews with players or injury updates. The period around 2005/10 we seemed to be more proactive in communocating directly with fans.
I wonder whether the Trust could learn from good practice in other successful fan owned clubs such as Exeter.
Greater openness
Clearly this is a very sensitive issue but just taking the 2022-23 season as an example, a well run club would have terminated the manager’s contract as soon as there was evidence of no wins in the first couple of months. What was the financial position that supported a “Laize fair” approach. The Trust of a supporters owned club should be made aware of the implications both financial and personal issues. Maybe they were aware or maybe they were not. In my opinion, they should be involved.
More interviews, more player content, injury updates, quarterly business updates so we know where the club is commercially, maybe some features on the Academy, training etc. The newsletters from Spain pre season were great for example. More of that – at present it seems like a new vacuum

Communication – Non Football

Who is responsible for ensuring communications are accurate and timely? Who is accountable for this?
Monthly updates from the Board – what are the Board up to in terms of their responsibilities?
Updates not just from Simon Gauge. We have several people on the Board, let’s hear from them and their area of responsibility, eg what is the progress of the youth team rather than youth team match reports, Club employees – what are they doing?
Dale Events – why isn’t this promoted?
Survey the fans – what do they want to see and where?
Communications never cross reference other Comms by the Club. More joined up work connecting, Club, Academy, Community Trust, Events etc
Scoreboard can be better utilised
Media training to all – will come across better in Comms. Fans can pick these apart at the moment
Communication directed to away fans needs to be better, needs to be Fan Led
Stop making assumptions rather than actively working towards something
Volunteer Army – no communication around this, wasn’t followed up. Lots of interested fans
Where does the Club think it can improve comms?
Liase with other Clubs (or plagarise). Look at other ideas
Information about the Directors – who are they, what are their specific roles and other staff
Better support for Sponors on Social Media after games. Other Clubs display pics of sponsors before and after games. When its corporate, they will retweet this themselves and add publicity to our hospitality
Needs to be a process for feedback
Need to get the basics right – Bentley / Chadwick pics were still on the website three weeks after their dismissal
Will the result of the MRKT consultation be published?
Will MRKT be used as a scapegoat?
Hospitality – is there any feedback from diners? And if not, why not?
Hospitality – we have done theme nights in the past that have proved popular. Could these be brought back?
Advertise the hospitality – how do we book?
Highlight the good links the Club has in the Community
More good news stories – there are so many wonderful things that go on that no one ever gets to hear about. This is a historic issue that has never been resolved. If the Club can’t sing its own praises, how do you expect anyone else to?
The Club Shop – Survey the Fans and ask what they want

Football Operations

How will the academy work as a National League club?
How committed are we to MRKT report? All in? What we agree with>
Are we concerned about attracting talent or players being poached? What steps being taken to address? re: funding – will staff remain?
What is the reporting structure? (first team manager – DOF)
Status of contracted staff / players – relegation clauses? Wage Cuts? Free to leave?
Results prioritised over style? Jim/BBM dont do league tables
Season tickets – cheapest outside of National League North
How will away tickets be allocated next season if we have a reduced capacity at some of the smaller grounds?
Commitment and longevity of Platt Lane Training facilities
is Ethan Brierley still going to Blackburn? If so, what fee is involved?
Academy contracts – is the Club responsible or is there a general contract for National League? Can we write our own contracts?
Can the 3rd kit be designed as a nighttime kit?
Are there 5 subs in NL rather than 7?
Are contracts for players affected by relegation?
Why do we persist with a style of football that is not suitable for the players we have and cannot adapt to it?
Can we decided on a style and stick to it? Can we choose managers to suit and can it be joined up to the YouthTeam?
At what stage should an artificial pitch be considered? Income generation by hiring out. All teams can train on it
I think that football should be left to football professionals – and from what I see that is how the Trust works too – so I’m happy.
Good from the Trust but club hit and miss
In terms of finances how devastating would non promotion back to the EFL be?
I would keep it as it is – same as my response above.
Forces discount on Season Cards / Matchday tickets
Success has to be driven on the pitch, from this the club can grow. A clearly identified model for the club to function a sustainable model must be adopted with supported / shareholders buy in. This is then the focus as the club move forward.
It has been a very poor season. It is vital lessons are learnt so I am eager to see this report into the running of the club, which will include footballing matters I assume.
I think it is important for the fans to hear how the club is planning to cope with conference football. There are a lot of unanswered questions with regards to how the football club will adapt to dropping to this level. I am most interested to hear what the directors ambitions are going forward and their plans to achieve them. I fear we don’t have a plan or end goal.

Future Role of the Trust

The Trust did a cracking job in the takeover period, and fans should be grateful. Would like us to have a bit more of a focus each year – such as buying shares, raising funds, building something etc. Ultimately as a fan owned club (for now) we need to be more engaged
Happy
“Is it worth considering offering a place in the Trust structure
to a young person (16+) – may encourage understanding of what attracts (or not) them to our club but also gives an opportunity to let them know of what is not acceptable in or around the ground and the consequences to the club accordingly, eg, racist comments, flares, fighting?”
With new venues at away matches more exiles meetups.
“Would like to see an annual target to focus members minds. It could be bringing friends to games, with prizes for those that do (prize draws), specific fundraising activity. Bowlee was great. I know that some didn’t want it at the AGM, but we are a poor club and we need to raise cash throughout the season. How about a pre Christmas period sportspersons dinner and then an end of season curry night. Indian food doesn’t appeal to all….And two events means choice and those that can afford it will go to both.
Would love to see the Trust help the club with a volunteer programme. We need to drive footfall to games and I believe we need volunteer ambassadors to make new fans welcome and show them the ropes.”
To continue to have a major say. Whilst there remains a significant number of independent shareholders then I don’t see a need for a majority stake but there may be a point in time where this is necessary. In this situation I would probably gift my shares to the trust (I don’t have many – don’t get too excited)!
Keep members informed
Hold Club to account and to inform how we are keeping fans informed
What are the restrictions of what can and cannot be released from the Trust Director
Protect the Club
Ensure fans voice is heard
Money raised to help certain projects
Keep doing what we do
Does a Board member compromise the Trust?
Hold regular fans voice sessions
Independent view
Ask for volunteers when needed
Ensure any new investor has involvement with the trust within the plan
Trust should know what they have agreed at Board level
Conflict of interest having Board member
Could the Board agenda be known in sufficient time to be discussed at Trust Board level?
Trust Board Member – is it sustainable in its current format?
Should we have a Trust Board member?
Dripfeed Donations for Shares purchase
Do any Directors want out? If so, shoudl Trust purchase those shares? We know this would not be new capital into the Club
Trust Board Member – what level of disclosure is relevant or permitted?
And to ensure that members are updated and understand the terms of reference
Trust Board should know what they are agreeing to at Board Level

Growing the Fanbase

Half time matches for schools
Free school tickets for children
Price of season tickets might mean fanbase struggles to grow next season
Involve Supporters Trust in season ticket / matchday prices
Number of season tickets levels. Young fans > 21 now paying adult prices puts them off
Look at how Stockport have grown their fanbase?
Club / Trust have to make statements that those causing trouble are not wanted
Tap into Asian community. Displaced Ukranians
Can we do an incentive for young people who go to University ie holiday times and until late September? Special prices, blocks of tickets
Access for all. Ticket pricing structure to represent local demographic eg unemployed, students,UC, JSA etc
More advertising around Rochdale for upcoming games
Half Season tickets
Bring a friend for Free / £10. Where did this sort of incentive go once the physical season tickets went?
Connect with local children’s football clubs – use Ratcliffe End of Season events with 1st team players presenting awards. Collect names, contact and follow up with parents
Cash turnstiles back again
Can we offer a deal for say 5 or more people to include a voucher for a free drink in the Ratcliffe?
How do we appeal to a more multicultural demographic? Don’t stop banging the drum. Lots of Asian and Afro Carribean teams in grass roots football. Don’t just approach kids
Don’t discriminate / discourage potential customers – ie IT literate, cash turnstile and card
Ticketing system is frustrating and discourages purchasing. Can’t purchase multiple tickets in priority periods. Can’t purchase adult and kid ticket together
Upgrade profile of club in town- bigger presence
Reach out more to local youth football clubs – thousands of kids already into football. Cup Finals at Spotland on the pitch
Get an identity “Play Like Brazil”, “Bunch of Cloggers”, “Boring Boring Arsenal”
How can we encourage more women to the game?
How do we and can we improve engagement with ethnic minorities? For example,can we get ideas from clubs such as Bradford/Blackburn
Could we run a fans football tournement with winners playing past / present players?
Could we increase merchandise aimed at children to encourage them to attend?
Do we plan to improve facilities such as toilets for a better fan experience to improve the chances of fans contiuing to attend?
Can we look at improving adverts around the town of fixtures, players etc How could we do this? Accy do this really well
Have we looked at incentives to keep the current fanbase?
Can we increase our efforts to engage Alumni players and organise sportsman’s dinners? etc
Do we have a database of all the female run businesses? we could have a game directed at them to generate some interest
Can we build communication with other sports teams using kit procurements as an introductury tool?
Can the Club run regular 5-a-side tournaments to boost fan engagement and scout for players?
Tap into the women’s football media and offer targeted freebies
“I have great concerns that we have lost focus on being a family club. My experience of taking my family to Rochdale in recent years has led to these concerns.
Being a fan for over 40 years it is important for me to share my love of the club with my 10 year old son and in the future with my 3 year old twins.
My son has been a season ticket holder for the last four years and enjoys football immensely, however some of the experiences at Spotland in recent years has in my opinion done nothing to attract our family to the club, and that’s without watching the product on the pitch.
When I first started to bring my son to the club I decided to move from the Sandy Lane to the Family Stand, with a view to get a more family orientated experience. How wrong I was!!
The behaviour of fans in the family enclouser was appalling. Aggressive behaviour and language from younger teenagers and fans in their twenties was the norm. When this was challenged by fans they were met with aggression and threats. It got the point where my son started questioning why our fans were so aggressive. Yes you expect some bad language at a game but not on the scale that was seen here and not in the family enclousure.
Stewarding in this area was no more than a token gesture. We asked stewards to take action but this fell on deaf ears. After one and a half seasons of putting up with this behaviour we decided to move to the Sandy Lane.
Up until the start of this season this improved the match day experience. We stand towards the corner near the away fans and there are quite a few children who enjoy the game there.
Since the start of this season there has been a migration of a small minority of fans from the Pearl Street to the Sandy Lane who are determined to cause trouble. This has been happening outside the ground for a number of years with the so called ‘Dale Youth’ and the club have done nothing to address it, and this problem is growing.
The trouble is well documented this year with Flares, In appropriate chanting and missiles being thrown at away fans.
During one game my son was walking back from the toilet down the gangway at the front of the Sandy. It coincided with a surge from these so called fans making a charge towards the away fans. The stewards tried to hold back these fans and my son was caught in the middle. The stewards where refusing to let him passed and he was getting crushed from these thugs surging forwards goading the stewards. In the end I was able to pull my son to safety but he was in tears and scared.
I contacted the club and board and was amazed I did not get a reply. Thankfully it has not put my son off but then the Dale is in his DNA.”
We have done little in recent seasons and football isn’t affordable for a casual fan at Spotland
I think that the work done in the local community is exemplary. I no longer live locally but am seriously proud of your work.
Have seen nothing specifically aimed a the Asain community
Quite good in terms of attracting children to some games with pre match activities
Not aware of all schemes but nothing seems to have been hugely different over the last 20 years and the home attendance is very much evidence of that. However I would say the home crowd if more diverse than in the past. Much more female fans and also a little bit more culturally diverse however this still has huge potential.
“The club needs to put in place a plan to focus on growing its young fan base and attracting families. This needs to be a collaborative effort from the Club, the Trust and Rochdale Community Trust.
If we are to survive and grow our fanbase for the future we need to become a community focused club offering a true family experience.
The club need to set up a dedicated family enclosure and enclosure. Fans who use this enclosure should accept the rules around behavior and the club has to enforce it.
Action needs to be taken to address the behavior of the minority of fans who are giving the club a bad name. The time has come to be strong.
We need as a club to invest in the community aspect of the club. It should not be a token gesture or left to the community trust. The club needs to consider the community aspect in everything that it does. We should look to other clubs such as Exeter, Stockport and Lincoln that have grown as community clubs and look to replicate it.
I currently live in Stockport and the difference is remarkable, albeit I except with a bigger budget. Stockport county are in my sons school twice a week running PE lessons and after school sports club. There staff are all in Stockport County training tops and they are engaging young fans. I have had opportunity several times this season for free tickets and feedback from friends who have gone has been positive.
The Trust could have a part to play here. It has a junior membership, but currently there is nothing that it offers younger members. Is the time right to try and launch a junior supporters club affiliated with the trust, to try and reinforce the family message of the club. This could be linked to the mascot ‘Desmond the Dragon’.
Maybe they could work with the club to put on events on matchdays to try and enhance the matchday experience.”
“We need to fill the family section – success breeds success. Family tickets with kids should be very very affordable – £30 for 2 adults and up to 3 kids. Pester power means they spend more on refreshments etc. These are our future fans
We have to make it affordable in non league. I know the club will argue that revenue is tight as it is – but how about a £12 ticket in the Sandy through to max £20 in mainstand. Season card holders are paying circa £15 max if mainstand based on current pricing so there is still a good reason to buy a season ticket.
There need to be half season tickets at Christmas, but two get 1 free for low demand periods (November/December) bundled tickets for Christmas and Easter to encourage fans to bring friends and wider family when they are home.
Must get all schoolkids in the borough into Spotland each season. We have so many empty seats. Teachers come free too and parents for a fiver. Our fanbase is ageing so fast and we need a future group of fans that start to create habits. And if they come, give them a deal to come again and again. Once they have been 3 times, enrol them into a club with deals, access to players for autographs, training sessions, and special prizes.
A discount deal for Hornets fans, and vice versa. The town needs both clubs to support each other.”
This is difficult. How do you transfer the huge community effort into people through the turnstiles? Ethnic Community representation on the board? would that help? Look at the demographic of the inner city/town, Asian inclusion is essential to long term survival.
Offer dads & lads (or daughters) match tickets with greater discounts for each accompanying child
Continue to charge stalwart main stand fans like myself a premium but offer an affordable Sandy Lane price this works well. 2) Really aggressive family ticket pricing, assume kiosk spend and club shop spends every game along with long term thinking to warrant this. 3) Subscription tickets to help people spread the cost and appeal to the fan that comes and goes with performances, regardless of games £xx per month all home matches in that month covered and can cancel at any time, summer months could be for reduced new season shirts instead of matches. 4) Target students with student pricing. Plenty of colleges in the area and also Universities in surrounding towns and cities. This helps bring back existing fans that could be priced out when they start university but could also help appeal to football fans that have moved to Greater Manchester for their studies, the bigger clubs are too expensive we could be an alternative. 5) I think there’s already alot of comments I’ve read around utilising links in the local community through the football in the community trust and also looking to grow a more diverse fan base that is more representative of the town and I would also echo this.
“I think the club has done a lot of good work in improving the activities for children on matchdays.
The fanzone has also led to an improved matchday experience for older fans too.”
It is also important to make exile fans feel valued to ensure that new fans can come from their families/friends. They are more likely to introduce the club to people if it is a club that they feel involved in, that listens and that cares.
“Providing a safe and fun space for young people and families in crucial to growing the fanbase and the club should continue their hard work in this area.
As an country season ticket holder I have missed when the “”bring a friend for….”” vouchers but these are a good way for people to bring their mates, who will hopefully see a good game and come back again. I have been critical in the past how these are usually on a Tuesday night, so not accessible for country season ticket holders. I think it’d be much better to use them for a game that the season ticket holder can choose. I do think it is a good incentive scheme worth continuing.
It is obvious to say that keeping ticket prices at affordable values is crucial to get new fans to spend their money on the football (Rather than other more essential things).
If the club can have a way of knowing who first time attendees are, could it be an option to offer their second match for half price?
I think this also ties in with communication from the club. If fans feel involved and that the club cares/values them, then the fan base has the best chance of growing. This is in contrast to the disillusioned way some feel now.”

Matchday Hospitality

Communication of how successful matchday hospitality does – is it? Feedback
Better communication of former players coming
Better links between Club official media, Community trust, Supporters Trust – eg former players, live podcast event with Trust not advertised
Staying with same food supplier in kiosks? If not, what plans are in place?
Will we be able to offer the same standard of hospitality given our drop to the National League? Staff Cuts?
Increase use of facilities for non football events – increase advertising of it
Preferred a carvery
Caterers need own kitchen for freshness – looks to schools etc for second hand
Fanzone – live music, pie and pint included in ticket
Improved facilties for providing hospitality for disabled and wheelchair bound supporters
Filming MOTM presentation for use on social media
“Dale Events” now has 54 follows. Does the Club’s Official Twitter even know about @RochdaleEvents?
Who is Jenny? The Club need to promote Jenny and her role. Frances was pushed to the fanbase. Doing similar with Jenny will help push sales
Digital content creator – needs to be filming up in the hospitality areas to show what fans can do in hospitality
Does the Club maintain a list of which supporters attend Hospitality? Must surely help with the marketing if we know which fans actually go to hospitality and allow special offers to those who do go
What do other Clubs do well with their hospitality that we don’t? What can we learn from other Clubs. The Board must see what happens at every away game, surely there are ideas that we can pinch and use ourselves
Have the Former Players been successful so far? Can this be advertised more? It’s brilliant to welcome former players back but the key reason they are there is to make hospitality an “event” that cannot be missed. There has been times this season where diners have turned up and found a former player there that wasn’t advertised before.
Is the word “hospitality” offputting? Could be dual branded – the 1907 Club – prematch hospitality at the Dale
Fair value and decent service/food
I think food at kiosks improved initially with the new board but it seems to have scaled back in the choice. The Ratcliffe improvements are progressing well to create a fan zone and things like the happy hour are an unbelievable price and something that should be advertised more widely. (See my target students feedback)
“The hospitality seats are awful. Can there be access to the wider mainstand for those in hospitality?
Also, how about a fans birthday deal. If you, or a fellow fan, has a milestone birthday, here is a deal to take a table of 6-8 once in a season. Make it special. A few balloons and card, a visit from a player or a director to say hello. Make it special and increase the headcount as a result”
Make the most of the National League rules and drinking in the stands. Macclesfield have a new covered area with bar in sight of the pitch. If this is successful there maybe it’s worth a try in the corner between Sandy and Wilbutts lane. 2) More events targeted at bringing more diverse fans to the football. eg International Women’s week could see a Saturday double header with 2 matches for your ticket, Women’s team at 12 and the men’s team at 3 with free tickets given out to all girls teams in the borough etc etc. Maybe there’s something similar that can be done with other communities of Rochdale I saw the Ramadan event advertised at the club but was this also linked to the football were free tickets issues to attendees.

Matchday Experience

Sandy Lane Kiosk – Specials / Pie of the Day scribbled on a piece of paper – not very professional
Pot Noodles – don’t go off and cheap to buy in bulk
Hot Water Geysers run out – should be on timer
Tops on bottles – we are supposed to be a family club. Other Clubs sell with tops, we should
Standing in seating area – should be a consistent approach in all stands
Trust Board members should be identifiable with a lapel badge or similar
It might be an idea for Trust Board members to have a “Pen Pic” on the website and perhaps a hierarchial tree
A cashless stadium will put some people off
Written policy on searching is required and consistency in the approach
Why are there no bins within parts of the ground?

Ownership Structure of the Club

When appropriate, a Q&A session with prospective purchasers to air Trust members views
Whoever takes over be 1 or 2, or a new Board, they must report back to the Trust Board once a month. Don’t be restricted by Fan Director
Golden Share. Similar scheme at Brentford to allow the Trust veto over certain matters – ground, kit colours, Fan Director, transparency over buying shares
There is a Rochdale way to do things – playing by the rules and a collaboration fan based ownership. This must continue to allow the Club to continue for the next generation
The Trust have spoken about non negotiables regarding investment/takeover. Can this be guaranteed by the Board?
Commitment between Club and Trust to replace the generic MOU with something bespike with agreed processes / lines of communication. This needs to be stronger than a MOU and written into the Club articles if possible
Lack of communication – Club Board does not issue statements on what is going on, We wish they would, including bad news, but don’t be patronising or aggressive
Ownership of ground – can this be kept separate from the Club as a protection, similar to what they have at Chelsea?
Football Experience in Boardroom is needed now and should be always present
What is the process for updating Companies House? 75k shares (Jan) only updated in April. EGM share issue was only published at point of Zuto Rumours
“I would like to know how much collaboration the trust is getting from the board of directors with regards to the search for an investor.
It is becoming clear that given the dismantling of the business model that allowed us to create funds from developing and selling players, that unless that success can be re-established the feasibility of maintain a club owned by a wide spread of shareholders has become increasingly difficult.
It has been made clear that the boards preferred approach is to look for major investment for a single investor. This comes with the prospect of handing overall control of the club to a majority shareholder.
The trust have made substantial investment in purchasing shares during the last few years, being made possible mainly through donations and the Clougie inheritance.
How can the trust ensure that their investment is not made meaningless if the club is sold to a sole investor, and wont this put the trust in a weaker position to manage all the potential risk that comes along with this type of ownership model?
Are their any plans for shareholders, with the trust being the largest, to ratify any sale.?

Have the trust started to set out the terms that they would be happy for a sole investor to be given a majority stake? If so are their plans to share this with members?
Fans need to understand the risks associated with giving individuals a majority stake. Once those shares are signed over then it is difficult to get that control back.
The alternative is to continue with the status quo, having a broad spread of shareholders with no one individual having overall control. If this is the model that we continue with then as a club we need to accept the level in the footballing pyramid we can become sustainable and load to consolidate this position.
Meetings like these need to be the norm.”
The absence of communication on ownership, NDAs notwithstanding, leaves a void which has been filled by rumour, blame gaming and dissension. Now as never before we need a united fan base and the club and the Trust have to take a lead in creating an environment where co-operation and mutual respect can thrive. We won’t always agree but let’s have discussions where other points of view can be heard. The lack of response from the club on the volunteer army has been disappointing.
Good increase in fan shareholding, but still small percentage ownership
Happy
The Trust it acting in a very professional manner notwithstanding the the Clubs fall from the EFL . But as always onwards and upwards.
I hope that the Trust will do everything possible to support Chris Dunphy and his colleagues in his bid to rescue the club.
Seems ok, but started from a very low position
A survey of trust members and wider fan base to get a database of services that fans can offer for free or discounted rates
We need a clearer process whereby the decisions of the Trust are communicated to members and the public via the website.
Sell shares in lots of £500. Issue framed wall certificates so people can put them in the the study or wherever at home. Invite all shareholders to a Chairmans finger buffet at the AGM – make a shareholder feel valued and welcome. I don’t believe that there are few people that can afford shares. But need to make it special. Also create a market place for the transfer of shares to other fans if a fan needs to sell. At present these are private shares with no exit route.
Difficult to say – the club does need a cash injection and this likely means an investor. I would like to think that this could be achieved with an under 30% investment. I do not want to see a majority share owner and I will not sell my shares to such an interest (unless of course it was to the trust – but that doesn’t bring the cash injection required.
Exploration of sound and honest 3rd party investment is a must, preserving the integrity of the Club.
Try and improve and grow the youth system
Supporters able to contribute time in exchange for equity – concept of sweat equity as seen in Co-ops. Could reduce wage bill significantly. EG Directly ‘employed’ stewards – fans given training get free entry to games to steward.
“Chris Dunphy
Free tickets for local schools and parents at all home games
Team Rochdale ethos – games are won by those on and off the pitch
Grass roots invitations to all home games
Match day atmosphere which makes people want to attend again
Tap into the massive number of people who no longer live in Rochdale to buy tickets or the equivalent of tickets for things like curry nights even though they might not be able to attend in person. I suspect there is a lot of goodwill out there.”
Chris to be chairman again
“It’s hard to know where to start on the feedback up until now. It hasn’t been great (and that’s probably an understatement). Lots of people have many questions to answer in terms of “”how has it gone so badly wrong””. It is imperative that these lessons are learnt and avoided in the future.
I am glad the club is engaging in producing a report of how things can be improved and I look forward to hearing the outcomes of the report.”
“I just think the club need to be as open as they possibly can be on issues. It seems the club is proud that we’re a fan owned club, yet the fans don’t really know what’s going on. I think more regularly interviews with the chairman/board would be something that would be widely welcomed. I would be very happy if Chris Dunphy did return to the club.”

Anything Else

A clean sweep to remove as much of previous regimes as possible as we need a new approach with people with football experience
Appoint Ian Henderson as Director of Football now. He’s under contract now – a DOF is essential for RAFC
Young persons who are a bit naughty – don’t ban but engage
Board Director needs to report back all information, Trust prepared to sign NDA with Club on topics to be agreed
RAFC should become a limited company – benefits ability to get better investment
Marketing department needs to be more proactive and visible. They don’t follow up emails or ex customers
Trust must do things for other causes (charity) which will give us good publicity
Amazon Community Fund – money for Trust?
Club marketing is dreadful and has been for years. We need a user (fan) friendly department. Ours is not fit for purpose
Can we have a chat group for international Dale exiles around the world so we can communicate and coordinate better. I only know 1 fan in my region of the middle east and don’t know who else there is outside of the UK
Am I right in thinking that there will be no iFollow next season? I currently watch all games from Spain
The focus has to be on getting back into the football league. This need not be ‘next year’ as it is one heck of a task, but there needs to be clear plan and I do think the goals have to be shared and performance measured against it. Dropping a further division could be fatal. The business plan is critical to survival. I see this survey as a major step in helping to construct it.
The fan base is majority middle aged white men. We have a town full of diversity, can we start working with other groups and communities to encourage more use of the stadium. Im a muslim revert and all the mosques have young men and boys who love playing football, as an example. Big ukraine and Bangladeshi community too to engage with. And yes it will mean cheap or free tickets but after 15+ years of having a 2000 home gate its getting old now that nobody wants to come when no effort is made from the club or fellow fans about being inclusive to those who don’t want to go to a pub drink pre match, and rather have a halal family experience.
Perhaps radio commentary if video isn’t possible

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