The STFC Orange Revolution - What's all about

We hope to be handing leaflets out with this one before the Walsall match (these handouts will be edited versions of the statement below) and also before the Brizzle Rovers match. We'll be trying to hand out as many as possible, hopefully for the Rovers match they'll be printed on Orange paper so if you support the idea you can hold it up pre match, also working with others to try and get some orange merchandise to give out pre match v the gas.

"The STFC Orange Revolution – What’s it all about?

Fellow Supporters,

To put it short, the Orange Revolution is about showing the board that we, as fans of the club, want change. We need to show them we have lost faith in their leadership, as with the current board members at the helm we appear to be treading water, when, off the pitch, last season we seemed to be making strides in the right direction.

With this in mind I asked myself, how can we as supporters show the powers that be at the club that we have had enough? Should we chant “sack the board” and risk upsetting Paul Sturrock, his management staff and the players? Should we wait outside the Arkells stand after matches baying for the perverbial blood? How else can we demand change without causing damage to our fine start to the campaign?

I thought of revolutions, blood thirsty ones and peaceful demonstrations. The one that stuck in my mind was the Ukrainian “Orange Revolution” of 2004, when the people of Ukraine managed to over turn a fraudulent election in peaceful means wearing bright orange symbols, hats, emblems, scarves, armbands you name it they had it.

What we intend to do is to have a visual, not vocal revolution, we’ll continue to support Luggy and his team, it’s what we do best (orange is also Paul Sturrock’s favourite colour – even one of the walls in his office has been painted orange). What I ask is that you wear a lot of orange, or a little bit of orange, it’s your choice. If you do when the directors take their seats at the Bristol Rovers game, (and all games from then on until there are constructive talks between the board and consortium), they will see us supporters, their customers, wearing the signs of support for the Fans Consortium.

We are not trying to push anyone out of the club, as the current board pulled off a great coup in persuading Mr Sturrock to the managerial hot seat, however, what news is their on being in a position to pay off the CVA debt? On the ground redevelopment??? Any recent announcements on their long term vision of the club??? I believe the current board need help, but seem to be backwards in coming forwards in asking for it.

Last season the board were happy to welcome Mr Power to the club and it seemed that STFC had turned the tide, the fans were optimistic, even with things not going so well on the pitch. Yet now the board members are dragging their feet in terms of talking to the Fans Consortium, that includes Mr Power, about a possible take-over. Only a couple of months ago Mr Starnes was quoted as saying

“If any individual or group can provide additional funding for the Club we would urge these individuals to come forward expressing a desire to invest and become involved in the running of the Club, in part or in full. The Board have made clear, on numerous occasions in the past, that they would welcome and encourage these discussions. Should an individual or group prove to have the financial backing and management ability to ensure the future of the Club an agreement would be formalised and immediately the current Board would resign and relinquish the day to day running of the Club.”

What about now, with Mr Power offering to be the financial man behind the consortium suddenly the board seem to have changed their minds, trying to cling on to the club. They even seem to be trying to throw a spanner in the works telling the press that the mystery investor was “An American who is not even a supporter of STFC”, which was proven inaccurate only minutes after Mr Starnes’ recent radio interview.

So let your imagination take over, bring anything you have or can get hold of that’s orange, even an inflatable Nemo if that’s your bag!!! Orange ties, ribbons, wigs, jackets, armbands, anything to show you support of Bill and others, who are determined to get Town going in the right direction.

With a bit of luck we’ll be on hand before the Rovers game to provide you with additional orange items if you’ve forgotten to bring anything.

Thanks for your time, you can now either throw this in the bin if you like or you could hold it up as the players come out before today’s match and become a part of S.T.F.C.’s very own Revolution.

The future’s bright….
….the future’s Power"