Thetownend.com

Blanket press ban on all staff by the club according to Sam Morshead.

Wonder why?

Going by how they previously reacted to information getting out in the public domain, I wouldn't be surprised if it's to do with naming trialists. Pointless and self-defeating though.

I'm sure we can find out on Fanzai.

I heard Tansmedia were welcomed with open arms...

The club are yet again making a them and us scenario between the club and the press.

They are treating all press as being bringers of bad news and not using them as a communication device which all other clubs do to inform fans of happenings at the club.

I personally don't like it, yes some things need not get out to the fans/public but many many things do need to be told, nothing is being told currently and that just creates a bad atmosphere with fans thinking there are more underhand dealings happening.....which there probably isn't.

Given our clubs history of financial problems etc the fans need to be reassured that things are ok, this they are not getting and unlikely to with Power pulling the strings unfortunately.

Something big coming, good or bad, who knows. The way things are it makes the Stasi seem people friendly.

Power is ruthless.

And a bit of a cock.

And with our history of he doesn't understand why secrecy is meet with extreme suspicion he's not the person I thought he was.

if I see him tonight I'll ask him.

If keeping secrets till we've done our business gets us better players in for a lower price then I'm all for it. There's plenty of time for news.

blanket ban is not just about players though.

Thats your ST banned then ;)

So what has triggered this? Sam and ASD giving away a few trialists names? Hinting about a couple of friendlies? The club aren't playing the game are they? If you want the press to be favourable you have to build a relationship, understand their needs as well as your own.  

Morning all. This hasn't just come about today, and there's not been a formal 'banning notice'. Since the end of last season - no interviews or access to anyone at the club, as a rule.

Meh! *shrugs shoulders*

To stop any potential transfer leaks?

...awaits fanzai official and exclusive media partner announcement...

Regardless of how good signings possibly are or however good the finances are CLAIMED to be... when my club are banning the Town's longest standing newspaper for months with no explanation, putting out a blanket ban on interviews for all members of staff, refusing to communicate properly via Twitter or other media and religiously using a broken, half-assed and ineffective social media app for all the latest news?

Lee Power and the team are really trying to alienate us. So much for all his interviews of "I'm a football guy. I am a fan of the game so I know what the fans go through" etc etc blah blah. I really want to believe that what he's trying to do is positive for the club, but in the back of my mind I can't help but feel we're nothing but a money maker for him and nothing else.

Of course it's a money maker for him. He's a business man, suck it up.

As long as he continues working his mojo in the transfer market and keeping us competitive toward the top of the table, then fair play to him.

No one would give a shit if it was mid season and we were winning games.

Yes Power is a football man, yes he made us competitve on the pitch but he has said since he came to the club that its about making money.

He did say that if we got up to the Championship then he would probably sell the club, that was in his earliest interview.....I see no reason why anything has changed.

It isnt though. and as well know if there isnt any news, it gets made up, until everyone is in a frenzy.

I find it naive to expect an owner to act entirely altruistically toward the club. We're no Chelsea that can attract a super-rich sugar daddy. We're an unfashionable 3rd tier team that would likely struggle in the 2nd tier. The likes of Brentford and Bristol City got lucky with a rich benefactor that happens to be a fan. Maybe one day that will be us.

For now, however, we have lee Power and he's done a pretty good job so far. As you were, Lee.

I concur!!

The owner being a fan doesn't really mean anything....Lansdown's years and millions haven't exactly delivered Bristol much.

We had a fairly wealthy fan in charge with SSW, again didn't achieve much.

Power has his way of doing things and so far has done OK....next season is going to be a proper hard examination of the model...insofar as season 1, we still had a fairly strong squad with some leftovers from PdC days, last season we could still put out Wes and Williams' 20 goals from the previous era....next season, as things stand we're looking to be even more dependant on youthful enthusiasm.

I think it'll matter when they eventually depart and (probably) wont want to leave the club in a mess.

You only need to look at the beloved clubs of the 2 Jacks, Walker and Hayward, to see that it can still go pear shaped even with the best of intentions.

Even more reason to be grateful of Power's competence so far.

Whatever the post-benefactor eras bring, Walker and Hayward did make big contributions to the revamping of the grounds. Lansdown is doing this for City as we speak. I'd be amazed if anything similar happens to the CG during my lifetime.

I can understand keeping some things under wraps, it would not be Swindon Town F.C. otherwise, but like a fair number of people would appreciate a little more information from the Club itself. I do not think for one moment it is good public relations as I assume it is still the public the club wants to attract, and if it were not for Sam Moreshead jumping the Adver ship would the fans know anything?

 :hmmm:

I'll be amazed if we get new floodlight bulbs..

Normally we get stuff like that, and progress reports on the grass growing, nothing this year.

Marcus has been forced to sign the Official Secrets Act!!

 ... and all the players will be wearing full face balaclavas in the friendlies ... at least!

                       :ph34r:

           :ph34r:   :ph34r:   :ph34r:

:ph34r:  :ph34r:  :ph34r:  :ph34r:  :ph34r:

                  :ph34r:

                              :ph34r:

Interesting formation that. Hope whoever is playing left side is prepared to do a lot of running. Or maybe that's just how my phone is configuring it

This

The fella has done a bloody good job, I still haven't seen anything that gives me the slightest bit of concern about him.

If he wasn't treating the club as a money making business venture then would be a bit of an idiot TBH

I thought you were on Holiday?

I am. I got carried away.

The Mrs will be kicking your arse if you keep responding.. :spank:

She's at work. Reckon I'll get away with it.

So has Cooper gone against directive then?

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/13377038.Cooper_fully_focused_on_his_job_with_Town/?ref=rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Power speaks

https://m.soundcloud.com/bbc-wiltshire-1/swindon-town-chairman-exclusive

Cool, well I guess we should learn nothing to report. then no point jawing off..

'If there's something that I deem newsworthy, I'll let you know'.

I'm content with that.

Hmm no smoke without fire all the press was reporting the Cooper & Sheff Weds news and I'm sure they was not all wrong, I am inclined to believe Sam on most things though as he does seem to have his ear to the ground more than certain other Journo's and has proved most of his info reliable.

I always feel reassured when I've heard a Lee Power interview  8)

Sounds like he should be selling fish at Billingsgate.

Wouldn't like to cross him, though.

This

What a cuntish comment.

Yeah, he was angling for the Wickes voiceovers.

That's my gig....

Its got your name on it.

You sound uncharacteristically servile. Since when does Chairman Lee have a monopoly on deciding what is newsworthy?

NB. I've nothing against a policy of trying to keep transfer targets secret, so maybe it was just the way your post read.

It's as good as we're going to get under Power.

My main area of discontent was the club not explaining themselves. They've explained and as the last 18 months indicate, they're not going to budge.

How many noticed the out and out lie in the adver's latest whinge?

Power didn't say 'local media' at all, yet still they chose to put it in the headlines. I wonder if the daily Mail are keeping notes.

I look forward to Dan the fans next column. Hopefully he gets a ban too

That fuckwit. I just had a pop at him on twitter but I may have been a bit rash as it turns out he may have had a point on that particular occasion.

Doesn't matter though. I still called him a fuckwit. It's about time I had a pop at him, I might start making a habit of it.

He is such a pompous prick, I knew he would have an opinion on the matter due to his "exclusive" relationship with the Adver and he duly did.

Shows how out of touch the Adver are that they think anyone gives a shit about Dan's opinions

How has his column survived so long?

He is pompous, very much so.

I'm kicking myself. All the times I've been at a lose end when I could have been giving Dan the Fan a hard time. I must make an effort. Has he blocked you yet Tans?

I suspect it was more a case of one element of the press coming up with something and the rest latching on to it to create a spiralling story. It was all a case of 'it has been reported that...' but no great substance or evidence of direct contact with either club. Effectively, if the first report is erroneous, they're all erroneous.

But there was a lot of noise coming from Sheffield.

Surely they must have had something more than unsubstantiated Adver fluff.

You may well be right SP, but a lot of the reporting was 'sources in Wiltshire...', 'sources in Yorkshire...', 'sources close to...' but with no direct quotes. Not that I saw anyway. Still, I suppose all the coverage the story got made someone happy for a couple of weeks.

Anyways, he's still here and that's fine by me.

Whoever was right or wrong, it still doesn't change the fact that the club could have nipped it in the bud by telling everyone to calm the fuck down...

I hate to keep bringing up Boo, but Power said he the club doesn't comment on made up stories..  Well the media reported that Boo had signed about a month ago and the club didn't comment on that either...  Was that made up?

I am not slating Power. the club or the media here...  But they do have a duty to keep fans informed when things do happen or when false claims are reported, if the club are going to shut down the media you will start to see made up stories appear, it's human nature, even on a football forum,  and I do not class forcing an app that doesn't work down our throats...  They haven't even commented on that FFS.

I don't expect to find out everything from the club but at least give us the basics...  Tell us how the pitch is looking, show us some pretty pictures of pre-season training, just dangle a nugget of a carrot at least..

Spot on!!

Shall we arrange some kind of Glasnost and Perestroika protest before or after one of the home friendlies? Maybe that twink from Bath can organize something. Or old scholars could provide a tickertape effect by ripping up newspapers. Is that an example of irony?

We all thought we were being run fantastically behind the scenes during Black's tenure, because J. Wray was such a great communicator, even though in a lot of respects, the way we were operating turned out to be something of a shambles.

By all accounts we're being run more effectively under Power, but with no mediator between the board and the fans, the atmosphere seems considerably more negative.

We're a pretty superficial bunch, all things being told. A bit of cheap PR, drip-fed to us regularly, could have a hugely positive effect on the atmosphere around the club.

You wouldn't have believed from the current atmosphere that we:

- finished 4th last year
- got to a playoff final
- played some of the best football we've seen in 20 years
- cemented a reputation for developing young players
- forged close links with a number of Premiership clubs
- were able to balance the books, having got the last remnants of the Di Canio era off the payroll
- just made a record amount from the sale of 2 players, and still have Kasim, Bryne, and Smith, and a few more   
  potentially valuable assets on the books
- are run by a chairman with good business sense, a keen eye for a player, and a lot of money to work with
- have what will no doubt be an exciting and unpredictable summer of transfers ahead
- will be playing in one of the most open looking league 1 in years

Haha not yet

:')

@SamMorshead_: Swindon Town confirm no pre-match press conferences in 2015/16. Club will conduct their own previews on official website/promote over Fanzai


@SamMorshead_: #stfc will meet FL obligations re matchday pressers but nothing more. Say logistics re training ground switch to Calne are part of reason.

@SamMorshead_: Not expecting anything by way of written explanation etc. Total Sport informed over the phone. Got to feel for the press officer.

What a load of old shite.

In fairness, pre match press conferences are total crap anyway. Might be nice to read some stories in-season that show a bit more thought than "Cooper says that they will respect next opponent, plays down any controversies and suggests they will go for win".

Not that the club aren't being stupid here, but I've quite enjoyed the more innovative articles the local press have been pitching up recently as they aren't able to report on the insipid comments of well media trained players desperately trying not to say anything interesting.

Does it really matter, though?

I shall just wait for whatever snippets deemed by the club are for public consumption to be rehashed by Sam et al.

I shall not be using that God-awful app.

Plus, it gives full licence for the other 'media' to print any old bollocks and stick 2 fingers up to the club.

they are really helping to attract fans to games aren't they, some neutrals like to read how the club is doing what they are up to etc, but if there is nothing for the press to write about then it's almost like the club are not at the forefront of people's minds

Personally I like hearing  / reading interviews from players and management now and again

Know what you mean, but it's mainly homogenised bollocks.

Gone are the days of the PdC combustion rants.

sigh

this is a fucking prick move by the club.

why oh why, the majority were just buying in to power being what he said he is. now he's instantly built a wall of mistrust again for no seemingly good reason.

I'm sure that comment will be closed as melodramatic by some, don't give a fuck.

in fact the only reasons for doing this I can see are:
1. they are going to monetise fanzai
2. to control the press the day they want
3. as a big fuck you to the press, just for did and giggles.

what have I missed? where are the positives?

No positives for anyone but the club.

But it wont stop the journos sniffing out a story.

And, if the club really think they will make money out of it, they're mistaken.

But the club pulling up the drawbridge isn't what the fans want. We just want to be chastised for not buying enough STs or for not going at all.

I dont see an issue, you either get the app or you dont, It will be reprinted within seconds on forums anyway. But the ultimate reason for doing it  will be point number 1 in batch's list above.

I hope they makes lots of money from it and put a chunk of that into the club.

If the fucking thing worked it would be a start.

I suspect getting it working will be part of the plan.

Should have sorted that out before jettisoning the local media and trying to attract the fans.

Yes, but most apps would go through testing before they launched, this hasn't happened which hasn't filled me with confidence. They are lucky, football fans will probably persevere more than most would with a duff app, but I still think many will be put off by their first experience with it

I don't know if you'd like a serious answer or not. Suspect not but tough tits.

1. The way the club are forcing you to go through Fanzai is rediculous. The Twitter and Facebook social media apps are market leaders with vast numbers. Sometimes I miss things other people pick up on by seeing through these mediums.

More importantly those 'casuals' aren't as likely to seek out club news by this kind of inderection. More inconvenience = less likelyhood of doing it.

2. The app itself is shite, already discussed.

3. The fanzai concept is adding absolutely nothing to the OS/Twitter/FB mediums. At least not for the fans.

4. I have heard absolutely no explanation of why the club want to push it. What is the advantage to them?

5. I'd like to know who 'owns' this app. If its Standing past history has warned me off shadowy figures standing in background , potentially making money for their own pockets off the back of the club (pure speculation, merely a concern).

6. The whole thing just drives a wedge between club and fans/press. So why bother.


Yes,  fair enough. In reality that is what will happen. Hopefully so few will click through to Fanzai it'll dissapear up its own arse.
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This coupled with denying press access is rather rediculous. As I said, post Diamandis/Jed I'm wary of any chancer opertunities.

FFS it's 'ridiculous'

sorry sir. please don't ban me.

:)

100% this.

Surely, at the end of the day, all the fans really care about is where we finish in the league.

All this peripheral fluff is just close season madness.

:D

This.

Power worries me.

He's exceptionally paranoid and overly suspicious of the press.

That is either because of previous bad experiences or naivety. Given his vast experience in football and in business, one has to presume that it's the former.

His poor relationship with the press is alienating a huge amount of people because people are naturally suspicious of his motives.

He needs to either grow the fuck up and start to realise that just because he's the owner he's not necessarily going to be right about everything all the time, or he needs to recognise his own shortcomings and have the bollocks to bring in a professional CEO that doesn't have his narcissistic tendencies and can run that side of the business properly and professionally.

And someone inside the club needs to remind him that despite what the share certificates or companies house say, he doesn't own our fucking club - we do.

I believe an increasing amount of fans are sceptical of his intentions and I don't think it would take too much for them to turn on him if the playing side goes tits up this season.

And anyone who falls for the old Essex Mafia accent must be a complete cunt.

I think as a fan base we are a bit paranoid too. With reason.

If Power is straight up he's doing a great job on the football side so far TBF. Not got a problem living in our means, I'd prefer a well intentioned sugar daddy but we ain't got one.

Its just stuff like this makes the spider sense tingle. I hope its a(nother) stupid over reaction on my part. I really do .The Standing thing, and the fact Agombar played, and the press blackout don't help.

Fuck all we can do about it really. Guess we'll have to wait and see (and moan).

No it's not peripheral at all. The fans need to 'feel good' about the Club. It's essential in fact.

Does Power have to tell the fans anything? Of course not but it would be much better for him and for everyone if he engaged at least a little bit with the fans. If people feel good about the Club they will be far more inclined to put money into it, whether that be buying season tickets, match tickets, replica shirts or just a STFC duvet cover.

It's not hard -

A week into the close season - you have the traditional pictures of the pitch being re-laid and articles about what a good job Marcus Cassidy and his staff are doing.

You then announce that BOO has agreed to sign on the 1st July and you're working on getting several more in (You don't need to tell us the names Lee)

Next - you put to bed the Cooper to Wendies rumours and state that no approach has been made - the end.

Then you announce that you've invested in some brand new state of art cones for whoever the Cone Gatherer is these days (that tall bloke who also has the initials 'MC') and so it goes on...

Just engage with the fans - who are the one and only 'constant' at any Club and without whom you are fucked - and let them know what's going on without giving away any trade secrets. It will be much better all round for everyone.

This is such a steaming pile of shite. We've bought into the benefits of having a football man as chairman for the first time in our history (unless Reg wants an argument), but here's the downside. Football insiders have a deep disdain for the oikish fans and their ill-informed views, and an equally deep distrust of the press and their independent agendas.

So we get a North Korean solution to news management. Well fuk yu Kim Ill Lee, if you don't mind I'll stick to the habit of a lifetime, and get my news from the local press, rather than from your completely retarded party organ.

Shame you understand fuck all about communications, because I was ready to trust you on the football side. Or to put it in terms you might grasp, you've scored an almighty PR own goal. Think about that next time you're asking for our fucking money. Jeez.

The obvious way to do this would have been to gradually reduce the amount of stuff available to external media outlets whilst gradually increasing the exclusives on the Fanzai app, leading to a general herd movement over to the club's chosen media. This could have taken 2 or more seasons to complete but would have felt more 'natural' to the fans.

Instead we have had a bit of an anschluss, an annexation of media overnight.

As long as we can listen to the match on matchday without player throwing a paddy and we get the team quiz on Radio Wiltshire at christmas that's all I care about. That and cobfirming signings/delartures.

Highest league position in 20 years. Selling players for record fees buying players for cash, we are witnessing some of the best football i have seen in years. He inherited a load of shit and if to be believed has us operating at the closest to break even than we have in decades.

If the bloke wants to try a new business venture and see if it benefits the club then fair fucking fucks to him he is entitled to try it.

Yes the press ban is shit and personally i don't agree with with it but let's see what its like in a couple of months. If we are also top by christmas fans will not give two fucks what link they click on

yeah, he got us to Wembley. he deserves to do what the fuck he wants because of that.

If this was diamandis the sky would have fallen in by now.

if fans are stupid enough to allow league position dictate their views then they deserve to be shit on.

But he isn't Diamindis is he? he has put his money in he has run us in a way that has cleared debt. If you want to ignore everything i said and assume i meant just the wembley bit that's fine.

The real idiots are the ones that all of a sudden think they are being deprived all sorts of news. The club only gave the adver and other outlets the news  it wanted us to read anyway so no different to what the app will do.

People are yet again getting worked up just for the sake of it.

Alternativly if fans are stupid enough to compare every decision a chairman does on Diamindis they deserve to get shit on

Every descision? One descision.

As I said earlier in the thread:


My point wasn't that Power definitely is another Diamandis and we are fucked. My point was he isn't and shouldn't be given slack because of the likes of Diamandis and the Brady bunch.

"he isn't a Diamandis" - well who the fuck really knows. I don't think so, bt ultimately I have no idea.

We;ll disagree on that.

Its not the actual deprication of news that's the issue for me. Its the methods being deployed.

Incidentally, just to be clear the "stupid fans" response was in disagreement to


I wasn't calling you stupid, if that's how it came across.

Few people comprehensively agree with it, right?

This is getting quite hyperbolic now. Offer me solutions/sensible forms of protest by all means (because it is a wrong call by the club) but I'm not doing anything like boycotting my support of Swidon Town FC because Andrew Steele-Davis isn't getting exclusive quotes.

I've still got my orange hat! To be honest most of the news that the Adver reports about the club is lifted from other media outlets anyway. It should be easier for them now, as they can take it all from one source.

Personally I'm never using it, I don't care if othe people do - that's their perogative - I'm selfish and this forced approach is disadvantaging me so that's why I'm pissed off.

As for a solution, well I guess this doesn't buy the club as many fanzai accounts as forcing people to use it, but some sort of fricken makreting of the thing would have helped


Then official twitter and FB pages could carry normal club news. As apposed to forcing people to register just to read about Everton hospitality and to be able to vote on charity of the year.

If a simpleton like me can do it I'm sure the club can.

------
The press issue is a separate one in my mind. Its very very not right. Not sure whatcan be done there. I guess they will have to go Adver and get stories elsewhere.

I don't use the app, the only reason I know about it is because others moan about it.

It's not made one iota of difference to me, not a smidgen. 

Same as.

I doubt I ever really looked at the official website for news stories anyway, Sam and ASD always tell you the any news a matter of minutes later anyway.

Don't get me worry the whole press arrangements are bit silly but if this is biggest issue at the club right now I'll take that every day of the week.

Yep, agreed.

If this is what people currently have to moan about, then that's a sign that things are going relatively well. :)

Most of the club news during the season is total crap based of about three lines of boring nothing dialog from a player/manager...which is fluffed out into a non story anyway.

I'll be honest this time of the season I'd have liked to have seen more news on signings but as we haven't really made any....

Although....a simple we have had no bid for Cooper would have been good. Still convinced it was tans style bullshit Internet lie that spawned into a story that ran because we didn't deny it...not quotes at all....

There must be something to moan about if DV is making an appearance.

FWIW - very little I suspect - I think this is a complex issue.  I don't disagree with anyone who says that this is a bit of a PR mess, coming on top of the freezing out of the Adver, with no proper explanation.  However, the uncontrollability of 'news' (gossip, rumour, plain lies) in these days of endless and growing mass media, in which anyone can say anything - and be believed - without much fear of retribution, makes the whole press management issue a very big one for a football club, which is both a business, in which confidentiality and sensitivity in dealings, whether over sponsorship or buying and selling players or anything else, is really important, and also a 'community asset' which both prompts and relies on the fervour of its customers.

For example, I have no idea who let out the news that we had bid for the Shrewsbury CB.  I have no idea whether it was a realistic bid or not.  I have no idea whether, had it remained confidential, there might have been a chance to go back with a new bid.  But any potential deal was scuppered, or at least complicated by forcing the Shrewsbury CEO to come out and make a stupid statement, which creates bad feeling between clubs and potentially does great damage to our preparations for the new season.  The same can be said for whoever started the rumour that MC was being chased by Sheffield Wednesday.  We all then get on the back of the club(s), and more ill-feeling is born....

This heavy-handed management of the media is a culture change affecting everyone in the modern era...the mysterious thing is it doesn't seem to improve anything much.

....I'd personally go with not enough players to put out a full match day squad yet but ho hum...

rbw- I think Shrewsbury would have leaked it their end anyway, they seem to hate us

Minor eg: my old man, a season ticket holder, gets his Town news from the print version of the Adver. He's not seen any info about ticket prices, kick-off times, pay on the day etc for the home pre-season games. Obviously not a meltdown situation, but irritating.

Statement friday this afternoon

Ah, bless 'im, maybe he does know all about Swindon traditions after all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33477311

The amount of stories on the Official Site has rocketed today, quite a few with players and one with Cooper (and the one announcing the signing).

Maybe they are listening. This is what people wanted right? The boring pre season jargon?

yes it's absolutely spot on today.

Ta dah!

http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/chairmans-statement-2539363.aspx

Nothing about fanzai - good.

About players and very much 'as you were' regarding objectives.

Sign a few more and roll on Bradford!

And it appears TEF have disclosed the statement first!

Basically, can you please all shut the fuck up, I've got this.

Pretty much this.

That was a statement for the fans and the fans only.

Those poor ol' journos.

Oops! Am I/we banned? #inthistogether

meh. didn't address much.

completely agree with self sustainability and the model he's attempting. don't know many that aren't.

Why would he need to put his hand in his pocket for a player when we've got the Luongo/Gladwin money plus the Wembley dosh?

The Luongo/Gladwin money is his money. Ergo, if he buys a player, it's out of his pocket.

"If I need to put money in personally to purchase a player, like have I done in the past, then I will do ... "

The odd line every now and then and everybody would shut the fuck up.  Everyone would have stayed calm had the club just drawn a line at the time of the stories..

BOO has signed

No approach by Sheff Wed

We will be training at Beaverstock

Actively talking to players...  That's all it would have taken.

This news would have usually been communicated by the various news outlets in town and everyone would have been happy (mostly), but as he has decided to shut down the any communication with the various news outlets it's no wonder the fans haven't shut the fuck up.

Basically, if he doesn't want to be having to make statements every few months, release the odd nugget to the various news outlets..  that is what they are there for.  If not, don't be surprised when they take a punt on a rumour they have heard on twitter or from other local news outlets..

And if you want us to use Fanzai, come out and tell us why and make it work..

Evening all,

Loads of interesting points on this thread and many from either 'side' which are understandable. For us in "The Media", there is the point of precedent to be considered. I imagine most of us will have something more substantial to say next week but for now, like I've mentioned on Twitter, I'd ask you to contemplate the ideas of accountability, community and legacy. Many will see that as self-defence; I honestly see them (as a fan) as very real issues to consider.

Couldn't have put it better Bernie. Power's not done a lot wrong during his tenure here but I suspect he's learned a lesson over the last few weeks. The fact that he's bothered to make a statement at least suggests that he gives a shit what the fans think - which is a good thing.

I doubt very much he has learned a lesson OST, his time at Cambridge included a bit of toying with the local media

I've always found lady journos to be game myself....

So what went on at Cambridge then Rob? I never really got to the bottom of it.*

*Due entirely to laziness on my part.

He pretty much engineered himself into managing the club and would feed stories to play politics as I understand it.  I would imagine he is not keen on being challenged and having other people leak things.  Nothing huge and I am fully supportive of his time with us, just think he doesn't play nicely when he sees other people taking control of an agenda (in his eyes).  He does seem a bit of a control freak and to be fair it is generally working out well, but may also explain a lack of activity when he isn't about or deems there isn't anything the press should know about.   Think back to his frustration at crowd numbers, it made no sense to him as I think he works on the old school philosophy of all you need is results and good football and everyone will be happy.

Last paragraph. Good old Daily mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-3156353/HOT-NOT-John-McEnroe-loudmouth-mode-Wimbledon-s-star-turn-unlike-Maria-Sharapova-s-ferret-impression.html

To save anyone having to access the Daily Mail

"A League One club with an average gate of less than 8,000, Swindon have nevertheless decided they don’t need help with their publicity so this season their manager Mark Cooper will speak only to the club website. We in the independent media look forward to ignoring them."

Probably fair enough really, if we have a cup run it'll be really interesting to see how the policy holds up to national interest.

A piece of shit right wing rag with an unhealthy, borderline paedophilic attitude to girls, I look forward to ignoring it.

I already do and always have done.

Just because they're contemptible doesn't mean they aren't right.

Dunno why they're complaining, they'll probably just hack Power's phone for news anyway.

Since when have the Daily Mail given lower league clubs any coverage?

damn poor substitute for toilet paper

The great British public, make their feelings known about journos, in the results of this MORI survey, on the subject of trust, which I'd suggest pretty much covers the ideas of accountability, community and legacy. The % rating shows results over a 30 year period, from the most trusted doctors to the least trusted... journos.

Occupations.
Doctors 89%
Teachers 86%
Professors 77%
Judges 75%
Scientists 67%
Clergyman/Priests 75%
Television news readers 68%
The Police 61%
Ordinary man/ woman in
the street  56%
Pollsters 48%
Civil Servants 43%
Trade Union Officials 36%
Business Leaders 28%
Politicians generall 19%
Government Ministers 18%
Journalists 17%

You should go and have a chat with Justin Tomlinson about it.

Sorry, but I trust Sam more than a Priest!!  At least Sam keeps his hands to himself...  most of the time..

The point remains that the club seem to view press relations as a one-way stream, with no apparent benefits to them. I think they'll be proved comprehensively wrong.

But whatever info the club release will automatically be rehashed by other media.

Any stories the club may want to keep quiet, the media will have to fish for just as before

I think most of us know that'll be the case.

don't blame jurnos for showing a bit of solidarity. even the mail ones

Not reading the Daily Hate Mail is no loss. We could protest outside their big building in DIdcot if we felt like it.

Does the alleged press ban mean that there will be no pics of STFC games, and the Adver will resort to using Subbuteo figures again to re-enact crucial moves for use in their paper!

no I don't think it's that severe, more a lack of access to stfc staff other than post match (football league obligation).

that's how I understand it.

own goal.

I wonder if Cooper will be given guidance by Mr Power on what he can and cant discuss in his interviews with the press

One of Coopers best attributes is how he handles the press, doesn't say what shouldn't be said. Doubt he needs guidance from Power.

He was even dignified when asked about Agombar.

If there's one word to describe Cooper it's unflappable.

Glad all the Wendies fallout has dropped off the radar.

As i like to play Devils advocate. So since the ban we have signed players played a game etc. How much news have we lost out on

We haven't missed out on the news, but we have missed out on what the views of the club are about the news, until the chairman decides to release a statement.

The negative side of the press ban will be that the outlets will jump on any negative story that pops up, without a response from the club, and therefore a comment to the fans..

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/13409908.Town_charged_by_FA_over_Hylton_move/

Valid point, though interesting that news readers aren't counted as the journalists they are. Is this a case of a few rotten eggs spoiling the whole batch, though? Are that many of us journos determined to fabricate and lie and deceive and stir the pot - as many would have make out? Is it that much of the public doesn't fully understand the journalism industry? Or am I being overly defensive and a little too sensitive?

The washbags view on it..  Agree with most of what is said

http://thewashbag.com/2015/07/13/communication-matters-lee-power-fanzai-and-pr/

FWIW I agree with most of that too.

FWIW, I think it's mostly bollocks.

FWIW, I'm not even going to read it. 'Cos that's how I roll, motherfuckers.  :toocool:

And you are entitle to your opinion as I am entitled to mine.

yeah, but what do you think of it.

Got a few paragraphs through and found myself thinking what a load of old bollocks.

Dear lord, that hurt my eyes.  No offence Alex, but what the fuck are you drivelling on about?  There is a two paragraph section in the middle where you may have been under the influence a little.
It suffers a bigger problem in so far as it presents opinion as fact.  For example, the talk of bad PR - well a certain Irish airline based a decade and more of success out of seeking bad PR.
Now, I'm not saying there isn't an issue that needs addressing, but that "article" is hardly going to help.  Shame, usually enjoy reading the blogs.

I'm beginning to feel a compulsion to read it now.

Can't disagree with "Fanzai is rubbish and the new media ban is ridiculous.". Nor with the sentiment that shutting everyone out automatically makes SOME of us a tad worried.

And for every Irish airline there is a Ratners.
---
But the biggest question, given all the negatives in the clubs aproach, is what are the positives and are they worth it.

Sounds familiar

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/it-s-good-to-talk-blackpool-fc-should-try-it-1-7357230

Adver on talksport at 345 talking about the ban

Statement on O/s



THE club are very disappointed and surprised in the way in which our new media arrangement has been portrayed locally and presented to the national media.

So we are very clear: the football club are looking to start something different this season. Bearing in mind the change in training facility (which is a considerable distance from Swindon), our in-house journalist, Tom Otrebski, will be conducting interviews with players, management and staff during the week as well as producing a lot of behind-the-scenes material that will engage the fans and give them more of an insight into how the team and the club is run. This will be distributed on all the club's official media channels and also on a new and exciting media platform called Fanzai which the club have decided to trial. This was first trialled on Saturday during Town’s pre-season friendly with Everton.
 
Fanzai is a family-friendly app which is free of the profanity and abuse that users may experience on existing social media. Fanzai’s unique approach to social media is something that club decided to align themselves with and launch our media output through.

For the avoidance of doubt, post-match access and the reporting of matches by the media will remain exactly the same as last season. There is not a blanket media ‘ban’ as is being reported. We are trying something fresh which we feel will give supporters a new insight into their football club.

 
Read more at http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-2546181.aspx#wOH20UFUEycZ8meV.99

'profanity and abuse'

Do they mean us?

They surely do!

They're really not helping themselves are they? Could someone climb down into the hole and confiscate their spade before they make it any worse?

bullshit excuse for forcing official news through the fanzai app.

you can do both for a start.

 won't someone think of the children

Except 60s pop stars. The less they think of the children, the better.

good point. and some catholic priests too

Imagine profanity and abuse associated with a football club. Imagine it.

TEF - perfecting 'profanity and abuse' for 10 years.

Fucking bollocks!

We really are famous we've made the press gazette, journo's trade mag http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/swindon-town-fc-extends-local-press-ban-all-media-it-signs-fanzai-app

And a good chunk of 70s/80s political establishment. Allegedly.

The defensive tone of that statement is cringeworthy. That's Bob Holt-esque. They would've been better off saying nothing at all.

Saying that Calne is too far for a journo to travel is bullshit.

25% abuse, 80% profanity

Do they not have the internet in calne? What a load of shit. Huge own goal by the club

No.

I'm currently posting via carrier pigeon.

Is this that much different to the big clubs putting all their content out via MUTV etc?

They don't refuse to talk to the press though do they? And I think the boot vs foot pendulum is a little different for Man Utd, Chelsea et al than it is for a "still got a lot to prove to the world" STFC

isn't that a TV channel you have to pay for?

I strongly suspect it won't be different in the not too distant future.

but why not just turn off comments on Facebook. that way the profanities won't exist and the club still get to dictate the news.

I'm going to apply for the PR role at the club. The current incumbent is clearly a dribbling idiot.

I don't think he is. I think he's being not so much overruled as elbowed out of the way.

good point. I shall think of him in the future less as a PR officer and more as Power's Propaganda Puppet.

Anyone starting to wonder if Power owns a white cat?

Even if Calne was unreachable by modern transport methods, surely it should be up to the journos if they want to attempt the dastardly trek.

BTW, are the club telling any fans from Calne not to bother attending games at the CG due to the vast distance they'd have to travel?

In the words of the Bard "Methinks thou dost protest too much".

Painfully obvious that by trying to use the current method of reaching out to the masses by the use of "Fanzai" to the exclusion of anyone else has backfired rather.

As a very long standing supporter I am extremely disappointed how this fiasco has been allowed to develop and once again we are in the "news" for all the wrong reasons. If the club are hell bent on going down this path without having really looked at the implications then all the good things that have been created of late are currently being pushed to the back.

As an aside, my IPad apparently does not have the Fanzai app on its' system??? so I have not got a clue about how good/bad it is anyway.

Shouldn't dribbling be an asset in a football club?

Or maybe a (probably not very well-)paid employee who has to follow the whims and directives of his employer? Even when he inwardly cringes at said whims, perhaps

Hah! 'I was only following orders' wasn't a defence for the Nazi's, I see no reason to allow it as a defence now.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

You've gone down in my estimation Paul, does Power have to invade Poland before this PR bod stands up and says 'No More!'

You're right of course. We should all be on our guard for an announcement of a pre-season friendly in Walsall

Do you think he's formed an axis of evil with Oxford? Their pre season tour is in Austria!

My God! It all makes sense now!

It even says as much on the back of the new kit! What fools we've been!

 I don't see what the fuss is about....the Adver has taken its news from the TEF for years now, and will still be able to do so.

They can still do the match day stuff...

As for the PR stuff....mostly guff, what will affect gates are the usual drivers of cost, performance and time of year etc.

Might even get some of the idle journos out of the boozer and into being creative in their writing.

The clubs quote has made todays 'Fiver'

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/14/the-fiver-claudio-ranieri-leicester

Journos sticking up for journos is no big surprise.

Today, for me, saw the situation predictably move away from an issue of service (for fans) and more about a war-of-words between club and media.

The local and national press can make as many articulate statements or small piss-takes as they want but at the end of the proverbial, it's a two stubborn sides who aren't allowed to directly say or aren't allowed to say 'fucking grow up' and/or 'fuck off, we'll do it how we want'. Lee Power's disliking of the media as been evident from early on, it's only going to get worse in that respect.

...and as the days go by, my lack of caring (towards this subject) increases.

I'm not sure I've really noticed a difference if I am being honest - before this ban the Adver produced dubious quality articles on a daily basis and they continue to do so since.

In terms of bans, Man Utd had one on the BBC and Ferguson for years.

Club should have just took it on the chin and played with it to be honest - no ban to see here (unless you are the Adver), just using some new fangled ideas as a trial as well.  I have no sympathy for their handling of this, but they have gone from having the Adver and the local BBC to having multiple people all wanting a pound of flesh from them, suppose they are combining a want to rationalise, control and potentially trial revenue streams as well.

What is really worrying about this press ban is that the kit is going to look very creased.

I think the mainpoint of this debacle is that it's clear statement that the interests of the fans simply aren't a factor in the decision-making at the club. Community club? Really?

Here's my tuppence worth...

Some of the media may be complaining about the new set up. They will do, their job has got a little harder/more creative. What struck me and has been overlooked initially is this:

On the first day of pre-season not one of the journalists even bothered to go up to Beeversbrook. I know some work independently and time constraints are hard to manage. So i'll give AS-D some slack. SM was on holiday so left AW at the helm, he was in  Leicester reporting on the speedway. TB didn't respond but was not there. BBCW also weren't forthcoming as to why they hadn't sent a bod up there.  Granted, about two or three days later we had some good images by NY but not a lot in the way of literature.

Now this may not seem important, but as a fan the first day of pre-season marks a significant timeline on the footballing season. We want sniffs of who may be training with us, potential new signings and who isn't there that probably should and so on. To not have any journalist there (I have it on record that the local media were told that no interviews would be conducted/entertained at BB) is pretty unheard of. At the end of the day even when a journo is told "you won't be getting anything from us today" surely that fuels the curious and inquisitive nature of the job in which you are paid to do. Searching, digging, researching, no matter how small the return on intel. may be. You strive for that surely. Another nugget that your fellow journalist may have missed/not thought of.

To now start getting ruffled about a "media blackout" so to speak seems odd. You can't have it both ways. In no way do I necessarily condone the route the club are trying to take but maybe they see a strand here that many of us are missing purely because it's a "new" or "different" approach. Whatever route they take, it's irrelevant to the bottom line of how you give the customer the end product. Yeah, we're selfish like that.

So come on SM, AW, AS-D, TB, BBCW et al. Now is the time you'll really earn your crust and respect as journos. Being dignified and calm would make great strides. The club have set out their stall. Roll with it. Work with it. Deal with it. It's time to show us all how good your creative writing skills are (I know that you're all a talented bunch) and that will take further time, energy, even later nights but above all a passion for the job.

Don't take this as an attack, this is just showing you an opinion from another edge of the coin. Sometimes, we all need that.

Good luck.

Neither did the Official Site ;)

The club told all the journos not to turn up on day 1 of pre season. Hence why they didn't.

Personally I missed 'Pitch Watch' more than anything else. One close-season there was even a webcam displaying the progress of the pitch. This year I don't know if it was even dug up; what does the in-house journalist do if not report on things like that?

Make everyone tea, change the loo rolls...

Come on, if you're told that, all the more reason TO go up. Haha!

Yeah, but dissobeying the club might get your access to club staff limited.

Oh.

Best post today.

haha, aren't they in that catch22 situation anyway. Also since when were they employed by the club?  :hmmm:

Obviously from a man who has never tried to iron a synthetic kit.

Inside out on low heat......

Has Lee Power missed a trick here, how about this for another Brighton import:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/14/brighton-council-try-charge-200-recording-fee-interview (http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/14/brighton-council-try-charge-200-recording-fee-interview)

£200 per session, multiplied by each outlet would very quickly pay for some proper testing of his mate's smart phone app.

Is that possible in a corby?

Sandy Grey was fucking useless at general PR duties during the Diamandis era, but Chris Tanner kept things ticking along on the website and fed the journos with tit bits to keep them busy.

Even Martyn Starnes, who was a bona fide cunt by the way, had a bit of media nous. Granted, he spent most of his time noshing Bob Holt, Androikou and Diamandis, but he played the game even during the dark days and the playing side of the business carried on as normal.

Good as he may have been last season by bringing in a few decent players, Lee Power is a paranoid cunt with no fucking idea about modern day media and general PR.

He needs to bring someone in, sharpish, because it's inevitable that the situation will get out of hand when things are not going well on the pitch.

Interesting article (& comments) in the Guardian.

Guardian: Swindon Town FC Bans Media Outlets from Press Conferences (http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/14/swindon-town-fc-bans-media-outlets-from-press-conferences)

Good point.

"Power suggested the Advertiser had 'backed the wrong horse' in a boardroom leadership battle"

Really? I don't remember the Adver being on Team Jed?

Me neither, if anything they were Pro Power!

I think Power is referring to earlier goings on before the court case when the Adver has quite a few exclusives with Jed/Ged hearing his side of things.

I certainly remember Jed in the adver a lot at the time.
In hindsight that was always going to be the case when you consider the personalities of the two men.

The bloke needs to grow up, he's acting like a spoilt child.
I've certainly lost a bit of faith & trust in him this summer.

Hearing players talk passionately about the club, targets for the season, talking about his team mates, the gaffer etc all make you feel connected to the club & the players. I don't know about anyone else but despite the great run last season I never felt as connected with the club or players as I have done in the past. Such as the PDC, Wise & Poyet or Andy King eras. I think this came down to the lack of knowledge about what's going on behind the scenes etc.

I will always follow Swindon and as long as I can afford a season ticket, I will buy one but I can see why the odd neutral or part time supporter wouldn't part with their hard earned cash to watch us. If you have no history or affiliation with the club and you hear about the press ban and all of the cloak & dagger malarkey you'd stay well clear.

If and this is an important "If" Power is legit and running it as a business, a business that benefits the future of the club on and off the pitch, would you rather take the ride that Di Canio and Wray took us down, or the boardroom antics when Andy King was here, compared to this regime?

We were given a shed load of information in the Wray and Dicanio era, more connection than we could take, but behind the scenes we know the finances were handled extremely poorly.
Whether we had a sugar daddy or not (in the case of Black)

It should be an easy answer but completely understand why people get frustrated.
We can't have it all I'm afraid, last season was the closest we've got to getting it right in 15 years.

I'm aware i'm writing nothing of note we don't already know, just how I see it.

So you felt no connection to players like Thompson N and L, but did to players like Leon Clarke and Lucas Magera  :hmmm: and felt more connected when the club was run by someone barred from directorship, who'd bought into the club for a laugh.  :hmmm:

At the end of the day those club owners who truly altruistic can be counted on the fingers of one hand (6).

The majority, including Power, are in it to make money - nothing wrong with that.

Problems occur when owners just take out and put very little, if any, back into the club.

There's no evidence as yet that Power is 'doing an Oyston.'

It would be nice to see a little of the cash generated by player sales/Wembley spent on a player or 2 - but who's to say it wont be before long

Picking a fight with the Adver and circumventing them is one thing.  Taking on the whole of the press and trying to replace them with Tom Otrebski is entirely another.

It's a mistake by Lee.  I like what he has done with the squad/playing side, but he's wrong on this.  It's a battle he isn't going to win...for the simple reason that STFC needs the press more than the press needs STFC.  I just think he's overplayed his hand.

^^^ this ^^^^

but he's a stubborn guy so I'm not expecting any movement from him on it for a while.

he hasn't even played the "due to negative press.... frightening off investors.... considering my position" card yet ffs :)

Let's take a step back. The press can still go to the grounds on a matchday, give us updates of the game and no doubt the BBC (as they always did anyway) will conduct the after match presser with the manager and a player or two.

In the grand scheme of things I don't think things will change much for the fans. For Sam, & Andrew and to a lesser extent whoever does the interview for the BBC it will get sticky midweek and they'll have to just take quotes from the official site.

It's no secret Power at present seem to have a good relationship with the BBC Wiltshire judging by last season and this preseason.

Relationships ebb and flow. I don't agree with the clubs stance but I do agree there is now far too many local media outlets for our region that don't offer anything different and are now pushing up to the second reporting to its limit.

I can't see it sustaining.

Notice I've not included Vital Swindon as I genuinely believe the've either been hacked or the only smart phone left with the password for their twitter account has been left in a psychiatric ward.

Think you're wrong, whereas back in the day, the club and press had a cosy symbiotic relationship.....in these post modern times I'd say the local press needs the club, and the national press doesn't give a shit....there you'll find more column inches about "Stevie G" playing 45 mins in some friendly in America, than anything happening in Div 3 and 4.

Speaking of Stevie G sky even said how long it took for him to touch the ball in his first game for LA

Fawning cunts

Agree with some of that, but not on the conclusion.  Press coverage is free marketing, and we are voluntarily giving it up.  The nationals hardly cover us anyway...fair enough.  But the local press have covered extensively and the Club pays nothing for that service.  Floating fans are not going to download Fanzai and will not seek out Tom Otrebski's latest piece on the Club website.  But they will listen to local radio and catch the Adver now & then.  The new arrangements may work, to an extent, in keeping the existing, already committed fanbase informed.  But it will do nothing to attract new fans.  And that's why I think that STFC needs the local press more than is being recognised.

The whole fawning over Stevie G by Sky is vomit inducing.

He's gone over to the States on a big salary to play some retirement football. End of.

But nothing much has changed....the important stuff, namely, match day is still there.  Before the Adver had its nose put out of joint, their output had deteriorated to a seeming weekly interview with Miles Storey. 

I'd hazard a guess that the number of < 30's who look at the Adver, hard copy or website would be quite small.

Bang on.

😀😀😀

Did Mathew contact you and thank you for providing a story for him? Maybe you should be towns new press officer?

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/13419603.Power_says_new_media_approach_helps_club_to_engage_with_fans/

:)

So, for those who have signed up for Fanzai, how is it going?

Are there plenty of STFC stories updated regularly?

Does it publish match reports on the friendlies?

Or is it a pile of shite?

Is no different to the usual twitter and fb feed news. Having said that they do post some interviews and a few videos you don't normally get with the coverage on social media. The potential is there for it to be decent. I think it would be good if the club ran it alongside other media outlets. The media content isn't really as good as the likes of FLIC and Total Swindon. As its the only source of media along with other social media and the OS it doesn't add any real extra value.

My main gripe is the app itself. Its a bit simple and poorly put together. Also I seem to get notifications all the time about players I don't even follow. I've turned the notifications off full stop in the settings and I still get them. Its an app that needs a lot of improvement.

So the older generations who may not even have a mobile phone, let alone a smartphone, but buy the Adver to get their team's news - as they have probably done for the past 50 years - are left out in the cold are they?

thankfully the official site have stopped being fucktards and are posting club stories directly to facebook/twitter again,  meaning I can avoid that turgid piece of shit app.

the media ban is still bollocks

Wouldn't have thought so Ronnie....there's still Wiltshire Sound.  In fact the presence of SSP there is ever so slightly wonderful. It may not be called that any more, and will probably not withstand the Tory purge of the BBC, but Brian from Larkhill, deserves a platform.

What about people that only have a tape deck in their car? Are they left out in the cold? We move on.

My old man, a season ticket holder, is feeling 'left out in the cold'. He buys the Adver and uses it (used it) to find out ticket prices, ticket sales details, kick-off times, pre-match team news etc. He doesn't do social media because he doesn't want or need it. When he went to the CG to get a ticket for Everton, he made a point of mentioning to the staff that the lack of information in the Adver is detrimental to him (of course, he might be the only one, but probably not). The response was along the lines of: 'there's nothing I can do about it, you'll have to go to the main office if you want to tell someone about it.' (Rather than: 'Thank you for your comment, I'll make sure it gets passed on). He'll go down there again this morning to get a ticket for WBA and find out about whether he can still get a ticket for Liverpool.

This whole Power-Adver tiff and the limiting of media access may not be a problem to some, but it is a pain in the arse for others, and reflects badly on STFC.

If he cannot get a ticket he can have my ST seat as I am not going to that game, not sure when they can release those tickets though.

I must be odd because I prefer the cloak and dagger to the days where the Adver would parade a new signing on their back page before we'd signed them and then they appeared a few day later with a Huddersfield scarf above their head.

Ah Theo Robinson....yes that was eggy face moment.

Thanks for the offer, but he's a ST holder so should get a ticket for his seat as I don't think they've gone on general sale yet. I couldn't find any info on the official site. Cheers.

I believe he has until Monday to get his ST seat.

I might be in the minority here but I'm reasonably satisfied with the Fanzai app. I've not experienced any of the crashes that other users had mentioned as of yet. The only thing I didn't like was random status updates from various footballers, none of whom play for Swindon. Although have since found out you can unfollow them so newsfeed is just STFC based.

Are you Apple? Seems IOS is stable.

In any case the biggest issue with the App itself was that the club were trying to force people to use it to read official news. They seem to have stopped this.

Its a separate issue from the media lockout though.

Yes Apple iPhone 5s and appears to be stable.

I couldn't even open the app long enough to form an opinion on the content as it crashed constantly.

Fanzai is unreliable and what they release of watered down news but they could resurrect Steve Jobs to sort out the bugs and Walter Cronkite to deliver news and it wouldn't make any difference because of the bland content they're being spoon fed from STFC.

Can't see any coverage of yesterday's match on the Total Sport Swindon site.   :hmmm:

Good article
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/26/football-clubs-ban-journalists-newcastle-united?CMP=twt_gu

Decent article that.

Pretty good summary of the reasoning on both sides.

The question is whether direct revenue from in-house journalism/ the Fanzai app will be more financially beneficial to us than free advertising from coverage in external media.

suspect we won't be that profitable via advertising via fanzai. can't think they'd start to directly charge for it either as take up would be pathetic.

can only think we are some kind of loss leader, or that the app really is about control of content after all.

The thing i don't understand is what is it that people think they are missing out by the adver etc not doing the interviews. In recent years most of the content i have read has been from tyhe interviews conducted before/after a match, this is still the case.

All of a sudden people are acting like cooper and power used to sit there and divulge every bit of info to the reporters. If the press want to run stories they still can and still should 

It was the media that made football all about money, they can hardly complain now it's come full circle.

We are missing nothing newsworthy at the moment, it's the off season.  What we will miss is the media asking the difficult questions that the fans are asking.  Can you see in-house media person in the club asking power why a player is not at training, or how much we got offered for player x?  Why didn't this player get named in a squad, or are we looking to strengthen by bringing a short term loan in when a injury occurs.

Of course we are not naïve enough to think that Cooper and Power are telling us everything, but sometimes a response of "no comment" or a narky avoidance are enough to tell you that there is no smoke without fire.

If you are happy with the club determining what you are, or not allowed to know, or are happy with just the same level of information that you get week in week out from the match reports then join fanzai and don't worry about the fact that anyone else has an issue with it.  Part of me wants to know more as I want to know what is going on at my club.  If I didn't I might as well go and support a plastic prem club and have the same level of interaction with them.

This is my point though.Whether its the club doing it through Fanzai or the local press they have determained what news we get either way

An interesting thought....to which I'd respond that it isn't your club. Traditionally, Town fans would have thought of it being their club....especially when shareholding was one share one vote, 1000 shares 1 vote. STFC though has like the wider body politic, mirrored the degradation of the concept of community into the concept of consumer.

So it's Lee Power's club....as a consumer you have the right to go plastic, a choice which increasing numbers take.  I meet all sorts who will go to some Town games especially when things are going reasonably well, who profess undying allegiance to an Arsenal, ManUre, Spurs or Chelsea, who seem genuinely perplexed that I have not a jot of interest in the Prem.

The only counterpoint to this thrust is the Trust, and as we've seen on here, it is difficult for them to make a case, without coming under mindless abuse from those who toe the neo liberalist line

Who actually takes time to read the pre/post match reports anymore?? It's full of bland, generic, cliches.

The Adver/Flic/ whoever reports on Swindon will still be able to write/investigate etc.

People need to ask themselves what they think they are missing out on with this new media arrangement.

Anything other the usual bland pre-  and post-game comments are rare.

If there are shenanigans, of any kind, going on journos always had to sniff them out and that will remain the case.

The problem, from the club's point of view, is that it makes some people think there is something to hide or they are avoiding any embarrassing questions being asked.

Saying this, I still think it's entirely the wrong route for the club to be taking.

I think its all OTT. the adver etc still report on the club just take a look on their website. wiltshire sound is still a good listen on the way back from the match and you still have live twitter feeds everywhere should you need it. what has actually changed? for those dependant on the adver for ticket information etc, why does a press ban affect them printing information on this? It doesn't, and this is when we are out of season.

Maybe you missed my point, or I didn't put it across very well.  It's not the level of news coming our way I am talking about, it the ability to ask questions I'm talking about..  The local press are more likely to do this than the in house journalist..

The only way the club will ever make any money from the Fanzai app is to charge a subscription fee, shower it with adverts, or sell on the personal details of everyone using it. None of those are particularly lucrative for such a relatively small population size.

The suggestion that there is a financial benefit here seems a bit of a straw man to me.

Ah Reg, the old devils advocate..  I know it is not "my club" and again this is not the point I was trying to make..  However, I class Swindon Town as my club ( I have no shares and do not claim ownership) because I regularly invest emotion, time and finances on it.  I have been watching them since I was a boy and my mood is regularly determined by how they are doing.  I have a vested personal interest in what is going on at the club.

The point I was trying to make was, if I was supporting a plastic prem club I would probably get the same level of interaction and feedback (apart from I would see them on TV more) as it now feels like I am getting from my local club now, the one that I feel invested in.

I feel that is dangerous for a club the size of Swindon.  Interaction with the fans is more important for a club this size because part of the reason we support them is (apart from them being local) that we feel that we are more involved with the comings and goings (even if that is not the case).  Anyone who supports a plastic prem club knows that they have no influence at all because the club will get a natural influx of new supporters because of the nature of the "big league", so it doesn't matter to them if they lose fans because of the decisions that they are making.

Swindon fans have shown in the past that they can have an effect on goings on at the club, it's not very often that happens in the big league.

Still not sure that I have put my point of view across sufficiently, but well done for picking up on that part of my post, even though the point I was trying to make was something completely different :)

Then you don't know what a strawman is.  :)

I wouldn't even know about this fanzai malarky if I didn't read people moaning about it.

"Straw Man": A false argument.

Suggesting financial benefit is a false argument.

You are welcome :-)

A strawman is where a party in a debate constructs a weak argument that can be easily defeated making them look victorious, it's an argument that the opposition did not even put forward.

A footy related example:

I think it's too soon to be saying we're going down.
Oh, so you think we're going up then!

The 'going up' argument was never proposed in the first place an is easier to attack than simply 'not going down'

http://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/strawman

You are thinking of something else. A red-herring perhaps, or just a lie. But not a strawman. Trust me, I know my logical fallacies. I help to manage a theological debate group that has over 50,000 members, I do this a lot.

Your welcome :-)

Edward Woodward

*you're.

I'll stop correcting you now ;-)

 ::)

Corrected for you :D

Oh god, oh Jesus Christ.....Oh, my God! Christ! No, no, dear God! No, Christ!

Swindon link website seems to have disappeared. And I haven't seen anything from Sam for days.  Im starting to worry.  Could someone go round and check he's not been bumped off?   

It's working for me Sax, and Sam updated this yesterday by the looks of it.

http://totalswindonsport.com/2015/07/town-could-miss-out-on-kent-say-reports/

It's now totalsport they have obviously removed the auto forward on the linksport webpage thinking people would know by now

Either that or as Sam is on his own he's removed the auto forward by accident being so busy

Blimey.  That sounds completely terrifying.

Ha. It's actually quite cool (If you're into that kind of thing). It can be very interesting, educational, fun and often comes with a large slice of Schadenfreude.

Where does one find it, FH?

Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheGodDebate/

I'm alive. Thank you for your concern.

Thank God.  I had visions of you having been stabbed purely for once using the suffix -zai in a sarcastic fashion.

Power kicks it up a notch

Well Power is doing a phone-in on Radio Wiltshire on Monday evening, hope he gets asked some awkward questions - do you have pseudonym ready Mr Sam?  soapy tit wank

Just how the fuck does Power think the Club are benefitting from this bollocks? It's pathetic.

Indeed

I'd recommend Mam Sorshead. They'll never guess.

Or Dexter Fletcher.

Doing the Radio Wiltshire phone in though so still seems to have a good relationship with them and seems happy to talk to them.
Problem with all the local journalists is that they all know each other and at some point or other have worked for the Adver. Seems like he has a major issue with the Adver (and who can blame him) and rightly or wrongly wants nothing to do with its current or ex employees.
Let's be honest here as well, if it wasn't for them all moaning about it on Twitter would we have even suspected they have been banned, probably not...

Bbc wiltshire will never ask where the gladwin and luongo money has gone unlike the others

Bet shaun hodgetts has still got those stonewashed jeans from 1976 too

Thing is if Power has paid himself back the money he's put into the club (and I'm not saying he has) will anyone actually have a problem with that?
Also I'm sure the Gladwin/Luongo money will be paid in installments and we don't know how much has actually gone to Spurs, I'm sure they won't have just accepted us pulling a fast one on Luongo's price....

If the money is paid in instalments (I'm sure it is) then surely we'd be in a position to sign someone, paying on an instalment basis?

A straightforward question about the current finances of the club should suffice, ie is the club now totally debt-free, and is the present budget one that means it is likely there will be no debt next year too? Therefore, would any future income received from transfers (past and future) and cup runs put the club in 'credit' and be considered for eg: purchasing players, upping the player budget, stadium redevelopment, developing a training ground in the borough?

Most fans should be happy if Power openly states that the recent transfer income has cleared debt, including paying back Power any loans he may have contributed, but a consequence is that there is no cash for outgoing transfer fees. So long as there is a clear and sustainable plan for the running of the club that we can all 'buy in to', there shouldn't be any animosity or suspicion.

I really hope Power comes across well on Monday. It is a great opportunity for him to clear the air and reinstall positivity about him and the club on and off the field.

With our financial history? Can you honestly see any club allowing us to pay in installments?

Hasn't Power already done an interview this summer that basically said he transfer money has paid back debt and set us up to break even, plus he'd pay fees for the right players?  or did I dream that one.

edit: not sure this was the one I was thinking about, but puts in simple terms that we wouldn't see it re-invested and we were now in a god state, the philosophy remains the same as 2014/15.  http://totalswindonsport.com/2015/05/power-reflects-on-luongo-and-gladwins-double-move/

Cheers for the link. Hopefully Power could reiterate it on Monday so that those still clamoring for mega-money signings get the message.

The club being in a 'god state' should mean that Town sweep away all before them this coming season!

Hopefully on the phone in Power can explain why they are not talking to local journos trouble is on these phone ins you usually get certain type of people phoning in and I am sure Mr Power's arse will be kissed quite a few times metaphorically obviously.

I'm sure he is still only talking to the Beeb as they never ask any awkward questions and go with whatever stfc tell them.

Maybe we should list a few questions here we would like answered and then see if they get asked / answered

Just a simple

'What is the benefit to the club and the fans of Fanzai and the club itself replacing the local media?'

Question's I'm wanting to ask:

Someone please take some of these for me...

Fanzai - I understand it from the point of view of it being a discussion environment for younger fans that shouldn't be exposed to bad language etc as there is nowhere for them. BUT don't sacrifice almost every other fan's natural news feed. It's something a dictator would do; forcing the population to use their own news service so they can control the 'news' that gets out. Almost like a propaganda machine.

Fanzai #2 - If Fanzai is to be successful, it needs better support from devs. More capabilities for contacting a help-team for those who can't get it working. It needs a bug tracking ticket system (I'm a dev myself) so issues with it can be fixed promptly.

Calne Training Ground - when are we going to start training here or have we started? Chance of an open training session for fans to come and watch?

Press ban - PLEASE give the local journos access to interviews in lead up to game-day. It doesn't help anyone in the lead up to matchdays if there's nobody generating buzz around it.

Barry - are the circumstances signing him similar to that of Harry Agombar? (Not really expecting an honest answer here)

Turnbull - I love that he's back, so well done.

Ajose - what's the situation here? He's a good, pacey striker that has played here before. Any truth that we're in for him?

Displays - Any chance of getting any sort of small financial backing from yourself to help the fans put on some of the best fan displays in England?

Fan engagement - we, as fans (or least 95% of the ones I've spoken to about it), feel very disconnected from the club and something needs to be done to make us one entity instead of two separate units. Clare Scarth was very good at updating fans on Twitter and answering questions. Whoever is in control of @Official_STFC and @STFCStore needs to pick this up and be available to answer questions almost every day. Look at @FGW for an example.

Please don't pretend you speak for all fans.

:D

I'm turning off if there is a load of press ban/fanzai questions.

Hopefully that topic is wrapped up and despatched in a couple of minutes so we can move onto interesting subjects like prossies for ST holders

Be careful what you wish for

Ok. I understand that. Let me change it.

twitter.com/TrustSTFC will be live tweeting the phone in for those that can't listen

They've been training there for ages - since the last half of last season - they use the gym I got to which is between Calne and Chippenham for strength and conditioning work
I'm not sure it's "open" as such but kids from my school go up all the time for autographs etc

See Power revealed tonight that we've had an offer accepted to build a training ground in the Borough which is good news, the club might actually have an asset on the balance sheet finally.... There's where a lot of the Luongo/Gladwin money will be going along with the Eady money. Maybe people will stop moaning about not spending the money now!

(http://i.imgur.com/h05I4ht.gif)

Fickle folk!! ...

I note the chairman makes an appearance in David Squires' first cartoon of the season:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2015/aug/04/david-squires-on-the-new-football-season?CMP=share_btn_tw

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/08/05/sports/soccer/english-soccer-club-sets-up-tight-defense-but-this-one-repels-journalists.html?_r=1&referrer

Well I certainly didn't expect us to get into the New York Times this summer.

A very well written piece, taking into account it's American.  Bit worried about the extrme measure of eliminating local media bit.  Morshead might have to change to Horsehead.

Very fair article there...and well informed.

I don't normally like cartoons, but that is really funny.

Just read an article in WSC, About the media ban, seems to be generating more coverage than General. For what it's worth I for one do not want to see the "locker Rom" interviews and touchline reporting which is creeping into cricket.

Last time I looked there were no lockers in the STFC changing rooms....are there now?  Mr Box?

Ban the press, get international media coverage. The sweet, sweet irony.

Power is a genius.

I wonder if Izvestia have anything?  I believe Pravda has lost its prominence in post-Soviet Russia.  Wheretherealreds might know.

Media kicking up a fuss about media being ignored shocker...

Are those people wholly relaxed about the principle of a press veto the same ones who thought Dux's politics had no relevance to the way he behaved as a manager?

That's just a nice way of saying "couldn't give a shit about either."

Which is fine, as long as they don't moan about the consequences down the line.

What are the consequences?

Well time will tell, but I'm guessing a less compliant local press that will feel freer to report objectively and remind the club of promises made, while being less keen to beat the drum if the club is short a few punters for the next game. What percentage of the total potential catchment do you think gets its STFC news direct from the club?

So not much different to the last 12 months then, the Adver has had little interest in reporting the club for ages (hence the moaning about them on here), and when they have I haven't seen them being compliant, more like seeking to stir things up - seems a win win for them, they have an excuse for a lack of news, don't have to try and also get the opportunity to act like some manner of paragon of the oppressed free press?

Mr Morshead seemed to have a better relationship (and an actual interest in the club), so we shall see.

Who knows, you could also ask how many of those who are now singing the praises of the Adver were the same commenting how shit it had become in its reporting of the club?

Noticed Power mentioned the Adver reporting that Liverpool were bringing a mainly U-21 team to the CG which obviously could have affected ticket sales.

He was none too happy about that, either

The adver were only reporting what the liverpool echo said at that time though

I've carried out a thorough search of the media here and I did not find any news about STFC. No reds, not even under the beds.

Disappointing, we need to do more to raise our profile in Russia....how else are we going to get an oligarch on board?

Plus we were near/actually sold out already.

If only there was some kind of mechanism whereby the local press could check such ideas with the club and thereby give the club the chance to correct any misguided impressions before they go to print (or website) ....

Don't think anyone's "singing the praises of the Adver". It's still very poor. But that doesn't make the press ban any less stupid.

stfcbrides4u.com?

I can't believe there is 23 pages of waffle about it. Which I have now added to. Only 4 days and hopefully threads like this get forgotten. The press will still report

Can't believe someone thinks this is an entirely unimportant issue. Hope you're right that club propaganda will be more successful than decent press relations in boosting attendances.

well said Mr frog

What has this "press ban" done? If something is worth reporting it will get reported. Are there adver interviews with cooper? Yes. Are there adver player interviews? Yes. Are there loads of other swindon related adver stories? Yes. Match day Twitter feeds? Yes. Full match commentary? Yes. There's even phone ins with the chairman this week! And something they said they will do regularly.

I don't know what more you want from media outlets which is why I'm putting this down to lack of football season.

I think that's quite a short-term view, based on the quiet news season. Let's see how this plays out over several months. Press starts to do more critical or investigative stuff on the club. Reports more off-the-record insider sources, doesn't get behind club initiatives (if the club has time/interest for such things), becomes openly critical of the manager and/or chairman if results start to wobble, that sort of thing.

Might actually make for a better read for the fan - I mean who actually wades through match previews or player interviews anyway? - but can't see how any of it helps the club. And it's not as if the club's putting any resource into their new media strategy. Still one increasingly put-upon press officer who now has to single-handedly whip up a frenzy of enthusiasm as well as producing all the programmes and existing comms, match day ents and passes etc etc. Good luck with that Tom.

It's not like we're already turning people away at the gates is it?

A lot of theory in the above and I don't see how this will ban will effect attendances which you have implied. Results breed success not the adver attending a press conference. The bbc will still be in attendance and the adver will still get their stories. No one can provide evidence of the detrimental effect it is having. Let's see how it goes when the season starts

There's no point burying your heads in the sand - the press are th conduit allowing the fans to keep the football club to account. Limiting what 'independent' press can do will of course have an effect, how great is yet to be seen

Complete bollox....the local journo has always had his hand firmly up the arse of the club, in a cosy relationship.  If anything Power's ending of this makes it more likely that the local journo can now act as your conduit to hold the club to acount.

Yes, it's my theory that you will notice some differences with a press that owes the club nothing. And if you think results are the only factor affecting attendances, then I presume that you have little or no experience in sales or marketing. In fact, it's when results are poor that you need the most aggressive promotions.

Of course results aren't the only factor, but the product of the local hack is certainly so far off the radar, as to be irrelevant.

Clive King was the Adver man from 1970 when we averaged about 20,000 to the mid 80's when we averaged about 3,000.

CK's ouevre was consistently supportive of the club through this time, yet we still managed to lose something like 17,000 fans down the back of the sofa. 

Feels a bit like you're arguing the toss here Reg. I'm not sure how 30 years" history of sport and society can teach us much here, except perhaps the rather naive point that a compliant press is not enough to build a club"s fortunes. Tell me about a small-time club who's already implemented a similar strategy with success and I'm listening.

I found it genuinely intriguing that even in the heartland of sporting capitalism, the NYT thought our tiny club's brave initiative worth an entire feature article. Fanzai et al will have to be very good indeed to communicate better than an even mildly negative press.

Football is a business, like any other, and I can't imagine any other business that actively seeks less, free exposure.

It smacks of a business taking its customers for granted - 'they'll turn up whatever we do'.

I can see no financial benefit to the club whatsoever. Looks a bit like someone just trying to make a point.

It's not really a ban though is it....rather a change in arrangements, which has put some cub reporters noses out of joint.

We'll see Reg, we'll see. And it's not just those cub reporters you regularly patronise. As we've seen, the press close ranks on this sort of thing, and I think Power's putting his fragile ego ahead of the club's interests, and all on some pretty feeble perceived slights.

Gladys Skinny Pete puts it very well above.

I don't think he does....a football club isn't like any other business, if the Adver went to Tescos and expected to get access to staff, on a weekly basis, they'd soon be told to fuck off or get charged for the privilege.

OK Reg. I guess I prefer to compare STFC with other football clubs.

Back to the 'press ban' (can we stop calling it that? It's not a press ban. The club have chosen to exclude certain media companies and we're not the first) - I do disagree with it from a consumer/fan point of view but find the mass media coverage around what is in essence the PR strategy of a small business utterly baffling.

I've had accreditation requests, media requests and general media involvement with organisations, teams, individuals etc shut down, pulled or completely ignored many times over the years - it's the prerogative of said individuals, organisations or clubs unless dictated by the governing body.

Why do people expect to be able to hold the club to account, over what is in essence a very small part of it's business strategy, as if it's some charitable trust or government department. It's a small business. We're customers. Emotionally attached (or deranged) ones, but customers none the less.

I understand that some are concerned with the 'Bigger Picture' and that any perceived form of censorship is unpalatable to a lot of people, but let's look at this from a logical perspective. Using the Adver as an example, what have they actually lost and how does this effect their reporting?
Prior to 'The Ban', readers were supplied with what? In the main it was the post match interview on the BBC, cut up and spread out over the week. Other stories concerning the club weren't sourced from the club directly anyway. The Adver can still hold the club to account, without having items spoon fed to them; isn't that what investigative journalism is all about?

I'm not saying I agree with the Club's stance, but I fail to see how it will hugely impact the coverage local media provide.

According to Sam the "change in arrangements" may well be on Channel 4 news, they have been talking to the Adver!!!  Bit of a hole being dug all round i fear!!

In business/legal terms you are strictly correct. In every other respect, you are as wrong as Scudamore.

Yes, the list of journos with noses out of joint seems to be growing daily:

http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/normal-ban-journalists-football/9763

Very strange sectarian exchange of tweets on the subject

It all seems so unnecessary doesn't it.

Whether you think the club are within their right, or completely out of order, the result is the same. Negative press. The press are nearly as bad as cyclists in closing ranks if you upset them. Well, the club made their bed, they can lie in it.

Power isn't stupid. Ruthless yes. Stupid no.  Stupidly stubborn, maybe.

We can argue about whether we are missing out or not until we are blue in the face. The purpose of press exclusion isn't clear to the average fan. The "protect the children from nasty comments" explanation is surely mostly bollocks. If you want to protect them, turn off comments on FB via privacy. Everything else is not controllable by the club, and so trying to force people through Fanzai won't stop this -if kids have access to the mediums now they will continue to do so.

Should someone tell matey boy that although LP lives in Switzerland he may not be there 24/7 with the new season 3 days away. That's damn irresponsible implying he's sat there screening his calls.

Fair comment - Yes and no. Lots of different organisations like to think they're more than they actually are. Obviously to us all, STFC are far more than just a small business, but if this was anything other than football there'd be absolutely no reaction whatsoever by anyone. Simply, as football fans, we believe we have the right to more but why?

Exactly my point.  :nod: if the selected press ban wasn't made public none of us would have even realised!

Also, the suggestion that we're suddenly going to lose hundreds of fans because Tom Bassam and Morshead aren't at a press conference on a Thursday is equally bizarre.

As I said, I actually don't agree with the club, but the reaction has been.... disproportionate.

It will be interesting to see what proportion of today´s Total Sport Web Chat (1230) will be taken up with this issue. 

Agree, although this stance by the club cannot help when they are sending out "rallying cries" at least once a season to encourage fans to turn up or buy season tickets etc.  Also it only makes the trust's job harder when trying to convince people to hand over their cash to build a stand.

I have not decided the level that I am going to donate yet, but not feeling valued or informed by the club is hardly going to increase the take up of donations is it?

A fair point about the annual season ticket rallying cry....but surely not the Trust, if anything the current arrangements improve the Trusts chances.  Power seems to get on OK with the Trust, and there's nothing stopping the Adver or Morshead talking to them and printing their news, in fact, if we're now led to believe there's a news vacuum the Trust can fill it.

See it's this idea of being 'valued' that I struggle with. How do you feel valued as a fan, and why do people need to feel valued?

I follow the club out of habit and enjoyment. I always will. I don't feel the need to get anything tangible back, certainly in media terms, from them to heighten my sense of fandom.

It's a sense of ownership that fans feel. It's their/our club ergo we are entitled to know every nut and bolt of what's happening at the club.

That aint ever going to change.

I just want the club to be up front and let me know what's going on when it is going on rather than 4 weeks later, that makes me feel valued.  Also pricing fans groups out of things like player sponsorship does not help.

as said before, journalists can still do what they should do, i.e. investigate rather than commenting on the size of a Kardashian ingrowing anal hair, or making up stories from unnamed sources. Do I care? No, not much I read the match reports on here or I go to the match; if there is shenanigans going on then I expect the journalists to find out, that is their job, they can still doorstep just like the tabloids do if they need a comment - but they won't because they're not real journalists.

As well as being a life-long fan, I'm also a (minor) shareholder.  There has been no communication from the Club/Company for ages.  The last time I heard anything directly from them was when Andrew Black bailed out two years ago.

Except no-one's actually suggested that. It's more about failing to attract occasionals than losing regulars. I don't think the squabbling band of no-life dribblers who inhabit this forum are the ones who will be primarily affected by this strategy. It's the 10000 casual visitors who will be less bothered about coming if they read the negative press about our tinpot club, and perhaps more importantly have difficulty finding out about club promotions.

That's kind of the point though.The adver were mainly only printing the shite stuff anyway. The 10000 casuals are not likely to be following Sam or Andrew on twitter anyway are they,looking at their follwer counts it's not made up of thousands and thousands from swindon.

I have said before i think the idea from power is stupid but maybe he has sat back and thought fuck this there are too many outlets trying to outscoop eachother. There is no reason why they still can't report rumours on players etc but even that has stopped lately

I'm looking forward to this blowing over completely when the season kicks off, as said elsewhere its been whipped up (fairly well admittedly) by local journalists on social media.

Whilst I am not surprised Total Sport and FLIC feel aggrieved (the Adver have only themselves to blame), not only are they still present on a match day - but they can still post the main articles of interest, which for me are rumours and the odd Q&A with an ex-player.

We are only 'missing out' on the pre match interviews which are spread out between every news outlet. And if I am not wrong, the BBC will have some coverage in the week anyway?

Yep, agree.

To be fair we are missing out on insightful local interviews like this...

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/cherries/clubnews/13574875.AFC_Bournemouth_boss_Eddie_Howe__Best_squad_I_ve_ever_seen_here/?ref=mac

Considering its the first time they have ever played at this level and they have splashed a fair bit of cash you would hope it would be the best squad he has ever had.

Excuse my ignorance but is the Fanzai application free?

At the moment

OK, well I use an application called Grindr which is free, and although sometimes its performance is shaky, it certainly delivers results. Maybe Fanzai is comparable to that.

Now there is a proper idea for a football app, swipe players left or right depending on how good or shit we think they are before the game, et voila - team selected, reset, in game play - subs selected. We can save money on Coopers wages and Standings consultancy fees* and Fanzai in a new player.

* which I totally made up.

Interesting way to come out to the TEF btw.

Thanks. How did you come out on here? Hope to see you all at The Town Gardens before and after the game on Saturday. Beware that Old Town roads will be closed around 11.30am - noon due to the parade. http://www.swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk

Still living a lie Combe.

Pride looks pretty good, and free.

Ah OK ;-).  It is a good day out. All are welcome. Usual attendance is about 8,000 throughout the day. Be interesting to see who gets the highest figure on Saturday!

Beware the booze policy though. There are bars onsite but you can bring your own but a strict 4 cans only per visit. The security is tight. Anyway don't mean to hog this thread. Back to the Press Ban...

Good interview and as good a place as any for those who haven't seen

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33787491

Tom Bassam was interviewed on Channel 4 news as part of a feature on media bans.

Newcastle, Celtic, Rangers and Town featured.

Did he get his words mixed up?

Is anyone else starting to get really tired of all the moaning and the hard done by act from all the local journalists on Twitter about the lack of pre-match interviews..... Let's be honest that's all it is, it's not a press ban.
I've had to unfollow Moreshead and Bassam on Twitter as they are acting like a bunch of spoilt school kids on there constantly having a dig at the club. I'd say they are actually starting to embarrass themselves now and it's hardly likely to improve relations is it?!
I look forward to the season starting tomorrow and solely being concerned about the on the pitch stuff for a while!

I can see why Sam is pissed, he's a fan and done lots of donkey work over the years, but I tend to agree, time to get the game upped and stop moaning, and prove the club wrong, and get those stories out, by whatever it takes. Losing a pre match interview doesn't matter in the long run.

Having read Bassam's ill-timed and ill-judged article this morning, i definitely agree and will be removing the Advertiser from my 'favourites' list. It is pathetic, whatever the rights or wrongs of Power's actions.

Sorry Sutton.  But every time I see this, I will correct you.

:)

That Tanswell character does it too.

nope

That's not funny, Sam probably is pissed. What else is there to do now he can't get interviews?

Exactly but it is easier and cheaper for the Advertiser to just play the spurned party, bleat about press freedom and save sending anyone from Oxford.

It's like the nationals and the present gagging order regarding the sportsman and the celeb, it's all over the Internet but that's not stopping the press running multiple stories about press freedom.

Eh?

At the time he wrote it last night, he was probably right.

I certainly was :)

A mention of ban on Spotsweek with Garry Richardson on Radio 5 this morning. Apparently he used to report on Swindon in the 70's and would go and have a cuppa with Danny Williams.

Nope. You might have to get used to some negative press, and I think you're misplacing the blame.

It's a shame on this press ban, usually the press would have had news on the new directors, not having to read it in the programme to report it, they would know about players signing new contracts, they would know about new players on trial  joining.....such a shame

Interesting quote I read from Sam the last few weeks in that he put in a request to stfc about a lead he had picked up about interest in a player if memory serves correct, and not hearing anything back, then a few hours later found that all of a sudden it had been leaked to BBRS.

Does make you wonder if there is an agenda at the club against the written press but htye are happy with the radio as Shaun does not ask any awkward questions he's happy to take their line.

Somewhat different approach from Total Sport... http://totalswindonsport.com/2015/08/boss-for-the-day-swindon-town-vs-exeter-city/

On reading that it states that 'Total Sport are excluded from all pre-match press days at Swindon Town, we are not allowed to discuss the Robins’ next game with actual manager Mark Cooper.'

If the media are excluded who is actually attending these press days?

With regards to the weekend


BBC gave us an interview with the chairman pre and post match and of course the official post match interviews.
We had twitter updates all game from the 3 local media Adver Total Sport and Flic (& STFC)
Totalsport even had their own audio interviews with Byrne & Cooper post match

I think the title of this thread needs to change

Even if they get access to Cooper again I'd quite like them to keep these articles going. Good read.

Don't forget, BBC are rights holders thus contribute financially. Total Sport et al are not and do not. Right or wrong, the landscape is changing.

Coopers not the actual manager anyway is he?  ;)

Yep fully aware BBC pay the rights.
Was just surprised to see Total Sport getting audio interviews.
I stand by my point the word.

Wasn't directed at you Kaufman, just a general point.

Are the Byrne and Coops audio files on Total Sport not just the Beeb post-match grabs?

Afternoon. I agree, it's not a ban, and I've never addressed it as such - the thread title is off. What it is is selective exclusion for what is probably financial motive. Panda Paws is right in that the landscape is changing. It's a sad evolution of the football business. For me it's an ugly reality but for others doesn't make a jot of difference. As for the Byrne and Cooper audio - those are from my own post-match interviews, rather than replicating the Beeb's stuff.

It's cool Panda and yes I agree with you it's changing and will no doubt change again.
Sam, it's good for you that you can still interview the manager and a player post match.
I doubt you were expecting that every game, but it's probably more than you were expecting Saturday?
You just need to up your mic placement game next time!

Ha, I know. It was fine with Byrne but Cooper kept leaning back, well away from the mic. I'll strap him down tonight.

We don't want to know what you get up to?

Coops is totally a top. If anyone does the tying it'll be him.

Crawley have banned 3 fans for questioning the boards motives on their forum!

Good job Power is a techno-luddite, I'd have gone months ago.

And me :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

That's the thin edge of the wedge there, reports of money laundering been going on there for sometime

Didn't Crawley have mysterious owners during their rise to the Football League? Or was that a lazy assumption created by non-Crawley supporting football fans?

When talking on the Adver Forums a few years back I regularly mentioned that the Crawley Factory would soon come crumbling down. I know their gates are slightly higher now, but back in league two they were around 1500-800. It was never enough in my eyes for them to stay afloat in L2 let alone L1. Unless someone was constantly ploughing in funds, yet none of this seemed forthcoming. It's interesting now that it comes to the fore.

As always, it's their fans that will suffer when a newly formed Crawley FC has to rise from the ashes in the Vanarama Premier South (or whatever). Always been dodgy, but who am I to judge....

Worth having a read its getting a bit ugly there

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2015/07/bangkok-based-wolves-english-football.html

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2015/08/boiler-rooms-and-shadow-directors.html

Based on today's adver headlines I don't think we will be seeing them invited back to the CG under Powers reign. They seem to be almost goading him

This was a strange quote..

I've only got mobile access, which headline? not the Redditch reaction?

There is apparently nothing as bitter as a spurned Bassam.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/13617409.TOM_ON_TOWN__A_Power_failure_to_learn_from/

Male bunny boiler.

ooh. as someone who is fully against the advers (et al) exclusion even I think that was just an unhelpful, petty and needles dig.

though we shouldn't be fucking around over the rules/smaller clubs, obviously, so there is a point there.
------
nice to see power take a humourous note of the internet/fan reaction with his kim Jong/Instagram thing.

This Bassam fella just keeps coming across as an illiterate moron. (Article here (http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/13617409.TOM_ON_TOWN__A_Power_failure_to_learn_from/?ref=mr&lp=4))

He's a fucking writer.



It's not the first time either, there was an article recently that had at least half a dozen mistakes.

Agreed, it doesn't help the Adver's case to be taken seriously when they employ such a poor journalist.

Beyond poor journalism (ability to find and construct a story) - he can't actually write, and there's no subbing of online content either.

Think that's open to debate on current evidence

Another gem from our 'hero'!   :D

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/sport/13618409.Stewart_to_finally_get_his_move_to_Town/

He has mostly just copied another journo's article but this bit is priceless:

"The Glentoran forward has been literally back and forth between Belfast and Swindon, with deal swinging from on to off and back to on again all week."

Just how many trips has Stewart actually made, Tom?  I'm guessing one single trip so far.

YOu can almost play spot the difference...

The original
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football-news/jordan-stewart-ready-to-realise-lifelong-dream-by-signing-for-swindon-town-on-friday-morning-1-6916560

The Adver
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/sport/13618409.Stewart_to_finally_get_his_move_to_Town/

He's on that plane hourly.. the fucking lunatic.

I've done a fair bit of proof-reading/editing for SEO copy companies, and Bassam is about the standard I'd expect from a Filipino earning $5/hour. Perhaps not even that.

The sad fact is it will be people like Sam who bare the brunt of Tom Bassam acting the total cunt

What a shit stirring bellend. Power must be itching to share info with children like him.

When did the TEF get this precious? You all seem to be queuing up to give the Adver a spanking because they dare to criticise our great leader, and to get all Lynne Truss about a couple of small typos that could have been found in any Adver article since the birth of the internet.

Our great leader was clearly readier than you lot to accept some negative press coverage. Bring it on I say. A lot more interesting than the usual bland fodder a loyal local press has to churn out.

He is particularly poor but, to be fair, the Adver don't pay much more..

They would be taken more seriously if they could spell, or construct a sentence. If that's sloppy, how are people meant to take articles seriously? Get the small things right, and gain some credibility. Easy to do.

Didn't have you down as such a stickler Sutton. I saw nothing more than a couple of very minor typos, just like I've seen in articles by Sam, Gary Rose or any other local journo over the years. Not to mention daily on the largest national news sites. Looks to me like people scrabbling around to bash the Adver for any reason they can find. I don't really get what they've done to upset people this much.

For me, being involved in the industry, I just can't get my head round poorly constructed stories, bad grammar and just all round poor writing. I'm no wordsmith on here and make typos all the time, but to publish stories in the state some of the Adver's (and ASD's for that matter) is shoddy, no question.

Genuinely can't remember the last time I checked the Adver's site and found a good, original story well written.

Minor typo's... parts of it doesn't even make sense - I assume he just cannot be bothered to proof his work before he presses go - which immediately makes one wonder if he approaches all his work in such a considered and thorough manner?

FWIW there is blame on both sides in this ongoing spat, but Bassam has managed to wring quite a bit of coverage in the national media out of it and may yet get his move to the big time on the back of being the spirited journalist of Wiltshire fighting against the oppression of the free media (perhaps the pain of fighting this battle explains why he hasn't the time to do such basic things as proof reading!) - but when he blatantly just doesn't give a shit about what he publishes why should we take it any more seriously.

I can be, write it in Klingon I wouldn't bat an eyelid, and it doesn't bother me on here with it. But I expect a pro to be a pro if you see what I mean.

Anti-adver sentiment was growing even when Fitton was here, it is by no means a new development that started long before 'our dear leader' was on the scene. I remember Sam coming into rather a lot of stick when he was there, partly because of misleading headlines that he was not responsible for. Any accusations that current sentiments is purely in defence of Power is demonstrably bullshit. They seem to have taken a turn somewhere toward being more tabloid-esque and many have noticed it. It's not just the sports section either, I often notice 'what is the world coming to' type pieces on their FB page. A few of their people have been leaving recently also. That could just be coincidence, or it could suggest that things are not all well at Adver towers.

Sam's a good Journo and now they've lost him, they've replaced him with Bassam who seems to be lazy and/or incompetent. I get the impression that he just goes to the office and waits for somebody to give him a story. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I get. That could explain why he is kicking off the loudest about this press ban* kerfuffle whereas others like Sam have voiced their disapproval, yet employed a 'let's get on with it' attitude. (*even Morshead agrees that the term 'press ban' is misleading.)

I'm baffled at the defence of the consistently piss-poor spelling and grammar. It's a core aspect of their job, spelling and grammar is a large part of what they are paid to do. It's their fucking job for crying out loud. What's more is that people have been complaining about it for some time yet still it continues. Do they not follow up on what their customers think? Do they just not care? Or are they just too incompetent to do anything about it? It should be majorly embarrassing for them that they can't even get the basics right yet I get the impression that they just could not give a flying one.

Fuck them. There are far better options out there.

Flashheart really hits the nail on the head!!  The paper is very poor now, glaring errors - like putting last weeks television programmes in three times before they even notice - and are now taking to making stories out of adverts that appear occasionally for solicitors appealing for info for deceased people to wind up their estates.  Another thing that really pisses me off is that they will find out that "Downtown Mother Union" is meeting in mid-October and repeat the story about six times before the end of August.  Cheap and poor journalism at it's worst in my opinion.  Bassam is a donkey but no worse than some of the other journos working up Vic Hill!!  And that's not even considering the glaring typos and grammar mistakes they make on a daily basis - perhaps we should start a thread to highlight every one we see!!!!

I agree with a lot of what's being said about the adver but I can't help but think about like my 90-year old Nan and people like her. She only hears about anything Swindon Town related via the Adver that she gets delivered every day.

There are people out there where it's their only source of news or promotions from the club. If that goes then the club are alienating the entire population that are not people that use the internet all the time like most of us.

But your nan will still find out Swindon Town news via the paper, it just won't be as thorough and will lack the word 'exclusive' by the title.

Most of the people on here could do a better job than Tom Bassam, and that's saying something..

I can spell my own name without any spelling or grammatical mistakes.

But the print paper regularly doesn't even have a STFC article at all. Which is a shame. I keep her updated though :).

Surely that's down to the adver?

Strange Tip TV can get an interview with Branco but no local media

https://youtu.be/81q3VQv1v-o

Pay for her to have the internet

She's 90. She tried doing some computer-for-the-elderly courses... but it's all a bit much for her.

(https://i.gyazo.com/feffe29fccd3488f45068493523db1b2.png)

I thought it wasn't serious in the article   :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Ha.

That's clearly tongue in cheek, has Bassam really missed that?

 :D

I can sympathise....

You could go and give her some lessons Reginald

Surely not, probably chose to ignore it.

Shows Power is a bit more tech savvy and more inquisitive about STFC fans use of the internet than he likes to publically say dosn't it.

What's all his stuff about whatsApp everyone's moaning about? Can't be arsed to read any adver articles to find out myself

Sam mentioned it in his article tonight (Which is rather good in fairness), apparently Power's Whatsapp (which is apparently a thing) is now Kim Jong Un with the taglone 'your imperial master has spoken'

If that's true it's diabolically funny.

Screenahot on the previous page :D

Leaving aside the amusing Whatsapp pic, slightly more worrying is the allegation in Sam's article that the iron fist is being shaken at fans as well as the press now:

"I was advised that a supporter of some clout was warned about what they were posting on social media forums with relation to criticism of the club, and its use of Fanzai in particular.

The warning did not come direct from the club, it was relayed through a second party, but the issue is there at large"

- See more at: http://totalswindonsport.com/2015/08/sam-morshead-when-the-football-medias-freedom-and-cricket-collide/#sthash.AZ5I7xpK.dpuf

For those who shrugged their shoulders at the media getting shut out, does that (if true) not set off a few alarm bells?

It werent me, ive checked my emails :D

If it's true who was it? Social media forums could be Facebook, Twitter, or... here? Most of the people who bother to post on the club Facebook or Twitter pages (other than the tanswells getting their kicks) are rarely particularly in-depth thinkers (it's like the Adver comments section. In fact probably the same people). Certainly no-one on here, nobody was particularly vociferous in their hatred of Fanzai and then suddenly disappeared.

Actually, has anyone seen Ardiles in the past few days?  :hmmm:

I'll criticize Fanzai until the cows come home. I have no clout though as I'm sure whoever at the club reads this agrees.
---
Warnings about opinions on the shiteness of Fanzai, the piss poor PR and the media strategy is a massive club cock up, but very few seem to care. To be fair caring only about football is as it should be in some respects.

The cricket thing seems  very petty, at least without providing an explanation.

I just had a quick glimpse over the top articles on the adver site that show up on my phone and tried to spot an error. Call me a saddo or a pedant but it REALLY didn't take that long..

1. TOWN have completed the signing of Jordan Stewart from Irish Premiership side, Glentoran for a fee believed to be £55,000.
Passable but what's that comma doing there?

2. literally back and forth between Belfast and Swindon
Was he really?

With all the off-field wrangles now apparantly out of the way
Apparently anyone can be a juornalist.

3. without giving seven days' formal written notice.
Who do these days belong to exactly?

4. Legible from Harry Abbott.

5.  Brown is hoping he can shake that off to feature more prominantly this weekend.
These As and Es eh?

6.“but we were happy with the performance “It takes time for those results to come, but we said in the dressing room if the performances are good we know eventually the results will start to come as well.”

Would blame it on a computer error if there weren't so many others.

7. With the way Town play they are always liable to concede goals and that is a something unlikely to change

(http://i.imgur.com/rdP7cnj.png)

Honestly, it's not just the odd forgiveable typo we're talking about. It's fucking incompetent.

In the light of Sam's article (which contained a language error, incidentally, confusing providence with provenance), anyone continuing to think that errors in the Adver are the burning issue needs a serious reality check.

With the ridiculous clampdown on media, employees and now apparently fans, Power's media incompetence reaches a new level. Sam challenges fans who don't agree with the policy to do something about it. I'm on holiday this week, but when I get back I'll be writing to the club and the Trust. (What have the Trust been doing about this?) Renewing my non-attendance pledge of the Dux era is a pretty toothless gesture from someone who went to four games last year, but I'm considering it.

Is anyone else on here sufficiently angry to want to do something about this?

If this is, essentially, all about the club trying to make a few quid by charging for access who do they think their customer(s) will be?

Apart from the 3 local media outlets I can't see who else would be remotely interested.

As for Fanzai - is it actually working - that is one area the fans can make their voice heard. Don't fucking use it.

The club will, no doubt, bring in a subscription for that in the future. Strangle it at birth.

More a strategy than incompetance.


Angry, but not so angry as to protest or boycott I'm afraid. Occasional keyboard warrier and boycott of official club media is about as much as you are going to get out of me.

But if fans are being pressured for criticising aspect of the way the club is conducting their business that may change.

I didn't realise that Fanzai was still a thing..

Perhaps we should start communicating our opinions in code.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPr-8jsBODQ

Fanzai as a service isn't really the problem, it's the measly content that the club supply via the app which makes it so farcical. They've not come close to providing the information that STFC said they would.

I installed it and it didn't work on my phone.. so I just got rid.

No.

Three local media outlets are creating daily content on the club.  What exactly is the fucking problem?  And any fan (clout or no clout, and who has clout and over who?) contacted by a friend of a friend of Power can tell them where to go if they like, no words can prevent them from expressing an opinion unless they were making comments close to libel.

And no, not even remotely irritated.  If people didn't keep making an issue I wouldn't even have noticed if I am being honest.

This, this and more this

Is clout something you earn by buying tickets via the online ticket office?

OK just me that's bothered enough to think this is damaging the club and wants to do something about it then. See if you feel the same if attendances continue to struggle around the 7k mark or less, in part because of the reduced positive media coverage. But maybe those most affected are only "plastics" anyway.

I'm astonished people can't see why this is dangerous. Let's put it in a context then. When we were all (or most of us) engaged in the Trust protests/orange hat stuff against Diamandis, that didn't just happen overnight. It started out as a few people expressing a bit of disquiet, then more loudly why Diamandis was worrying, then grew into some public meetings, then the orange hat thing and mushroomed from there. I was always quite astonished that Diamandis and co didn't just ban me, Tony, Andy and a few others from the ground and revoke our season tickets right from the outset. Because even if it hadn't stopped us, it would have discouraged a lot of other people from joining in and we'd never have gained the momentum we did. And that's the path Power's headed down.

Now, hopefully Power's no Diamandis. But we don't know that do we? There was no indication of the rot below the surface when Diamandis' consortium were first in charge, most people found Bob Holt likeable, approachable and convincing. Me included. It was only when he'd been around a few years and thanks to the persistent digging of the likes of Tony and Andy that the reality started to emerge. And, as a fanbase, we were able to do something about it. Will we be able to if Power takes a nasty turn? Or, given the persistent "Oh, well, fuck it, doesn't affect me" attitude that's characterised much of the comment on this issue, would we even bother?

Sorry if I gave that impression. I didn't mean I was a more proper fan at all. Less of one, if anything.

What I meant was that I think it's the occasional fans that risk turning up less often as an effect of the club's press policy.

Don't think the personal abuse is necessary. Reminds me of the last time you used it against me, when we disagreed over di Canio. Can we just agree to differ without the name-calling?

Whatever happened our attendance are going to be around 7k this season regardless due to a northern division and poor away followings. It's only really the odd bumper crowd that's increased our average in previous seasons.

We've played two games so far including a Tuesday night match versus Port Vale and are averaging 7558 so hardly hovering around the 7000 or less. Power has already stated that season ticket sales are up slightly and seems very happy to talk to Wiltshire radio. These comments are then used by the Adver and Totalsport in their articles. I'm more than happy with that.

It's nigh impossible for anyone to comment without knowing what was said on social media or in response by the club - its little more than heresay at the moment. It's also a little odd that this hasn't come out on social media previously?

I don't know why you feel the need to go back to a comment I deleted some 20 minutes or so ago. I misread what you wrote, it happens when one has a 2 year old playing up.

I would have thought most can see it might be indicative of something worse, while in and of itself being a bit of a non-issue(for them).

But reading the Total Sport piece again this morning it still tries to play the 'media freedom' angle again. It is rather a tenuous link to get from the club stopping drip feeding stories to the local media to this being some manner of attack on the free media, Thus we have the club not playing ball and media outlets spinning this into an entirely different story?

I made a similar point earlier on in this thread quite a while back and got shouted down so decided to bow out.  It seems that the more vociferous posters are happy with the current situation with regards to the PR stance at the club, so I moved on, not worth the energy.

Seems to be the case.

10 years ago this PR stance would have caused a shitstorm.

Let's face it, a bad month on the pitch and fans will include it within the list of things to be livid about.

Paul, I completely get your post, but the current situation is of no relevance - the press has every right to investigate and report as it sees fit, and nobody is able to stop them doing that.  The "ban" is also not "real" because we are still getting interviews and reports with people in the club, just not for one of the old media outlets (and for all their efforts, the two newer websites are merely taking some of that audience).  Some may argue that the BBC is being nice to the club, but as an independent body it is actually far better placed to offer an unbiased approach if it sees fit.

There was a time where the Adver didn't give a rats arse about the club, with an attitude of the club needed them more than they needed the club (straight from the horses mouth of a previous editor).  Now that the internet is destroying their business model they have tried to use sensationalism to retain readership (in print and online) to keep their advertising spend coming in.  It's a shame that other online outlets suffer, but to be honest, they are commercial entities in an overcrowded market anyway.

Finally, Ferguson banned the BBC.  The BBC still reported on Man Utd and Man Utd didn't suffer commercially.

I'd probably have more sympathy if the Adver hadn't become such a useless media outlet in general.  I'm amazed Bassam hasn't interviewed himself yet, and used a photo of himself in the CG car park with his arms crossed.

All in good time.

Not forgetting the Adver Cold Stare

Agree with all that Rob, esp this last bit. The Adver are making it very very hard to have any sympathy with them. My point was more that while there's been a lot of talk of whether local media can "hold the club to account", actually they don't and traditionally haven't. And with good reason - the guys covering the club are sports journalists, not business/politics journalists and there's not many David Conns in local media. So it's usually fallen to the fans to do that, but Power clearly is not a person who takes well to being even asked questions, much less held to account and if he's already moving in the direction of trying to shut down critical comment from fans, then that's a very worrying development to me.

Put it this way, I think the work the Trust are doing at the moment engaging with the club is excellent. If there comes a time when they also perhaps need to ask a couple of difficult questions (not go out and out "anti" as we did, just ask a couple of difficult questions e.g. if the training ground development starts to look more like being good for Power and pals than the club), then do they run the risk of jeopardising all the hard work they've done on that positive engagement? And so does that then prevent them from asking those questions in the first place?

I understand. It's for similar reasons that it took me 20 mins to post a response to your original reaction while on holiday with two small children.

Credit where credit's due, quite a good article. Keep it up.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/13621289.THE_FULL_REPORT__Laying_the_Roots_for_success/

You are spot on with everything you've said. On the pitch I trust Power completely, his record for unearthing gems speaks for itself but off of the pitch the stories about Cambridge, his failed businesses, fanzai, the press ban, the cover up of the invested\withdrawn £1.2 Million to con the FL over lifting our transfer embargo amongst other things leads me to hold a suspicion against him that I just cannot shift. He maybe completely innocent but he has a shady history and if he was hiding anything, the lack of press coverage means we would never know.

If anything, quite the reverse. The Adver never got to grips with previous dodgy regimes, when they had a cosy relationship.

Surely, by fucking off the local journos, it makes it more likely they'll try and find any dirt.  It would have been far easier, just to do the traditional thing of scratching each others back.

It really doesn't, does it? I very much doubt any stories concerning dodgy dealings are ever uncovered at press conferences and interviews. Power can't ban investigative journalism.

Fair point from you and Reg.

Do you think the local journo's are holding back stories and personal opinions with the aim of keeping the relationship sweet if Power ever changes his stance?

I'd imagine anything stronger on the personal opinion front than has already been said would be permanently burning the bridges (like the Adver). If The Fanzai is put down, then maybe the exclusions will be lifted.  Though the club seems to have a special relationship with BBC Wilts for whatever reason so maybe not.

I'm sure if there was proven evidence of wrongdoing they would print it though.

Add to that the seemingly refusal to release a full set of accounts, and what happened to the this that was supposed to be released that was carried out by Sangita Shah, that has never seen the light of day.

So while these things still hang around there will always be an air of suspicion around Power.

Ref BBC Wilts I don't think they would risk jeopardising their 'special' relationship to ask any awkward questions that Power did not want to answer or found awkward, although he does seem to bat them off with the standard line of it is to do with the clubs general manager. Who from what I can recall has never been put up for an interview to explain what he does at the clubor answer the questions Power claims he can answer.

The only reason there is a relationship with the BBC is that they pay the club.

No doubt, if Total Sport or FLIC offered money they would be welcomed back.

How do they pay the club for access - is it just the rights as if so shouldn't the club be all over Sky as they sponsor the leage etc?

Presume the BBC have signed a contract to broadcast live from games along with interviews and are on a 'first to know' basis for club info.

TV rights would be separate from Radio.