Ok, notes from last night below. I've tried to avoid editorializing too much. Hopefully everyone feels this one was an accurate representation of what was said (
Ben Clasper please do clarify anything where you think your intended point was different to what I've written).
As a general note, really enjoyed the evening, and I'm very grateful (as always) for the manner in which Ben and Hak approached it - even if Ben is wrong about the right covering not having much impact on the atmosphere ;-)
Q1 - Will the club run coaches to difficult away matches?
A: Trust's job, coaches generally not popular and travel not usually an issue, Trust will consider if there is a special need
Q2 – Cover behind the goals at the current and new stadium. Last time club would say they’d look into it, what’s the update?
New ground: Is something that’s still being considered. MOL restrictions present challenges, but not insurmountable. Want to make happen in a way that aligns with our obligations.
Current ground: Ben would like help from the Trust to deliver this in a way that isn't scaffolding. He doesn't actually think it will affect the acoustics that much [Ed: politely but strongly disagree]
Hakan says nice things about the atmosphere and support fans are currently giving
Q3 – Can we do more to promote women’s games?
Ben: Yes, agrees can't just follow template from men's games. We've hit a bit of a plateau with attendances. One of the aims of the new women’s hire is to improve that [more about that below].
Q4 - New ground. What's happening?
- Have permission but not developer
- Have lost previously contracted developers, which has caused a delay
- Difficulty finding developer who will build flats AND stadium
- Instead looking at finding two developers
- Trying to find people to be employed by the club who can work full time on stadium delivery (clock is ticking on planning permission)
Q5 - Do we have a chance of getting to the playoffs?
Hak: Yes we have, if we continue playing the way we're playing. Has taken more time to gel than he expected, but now we're getting there. People have been learning to do the job while they're doing the job. Christmas period will be crucial.
Q6 – [General point about everyone doing their bit to get more people to support the women’s team]
Ben agrees.
Q7 - What can the fans do that would help Ben?
Q8 - What can the club / fans / trust do to share our lessons from non-league success?
Hak: Supporters are doing a fantastic job, other clubs have been invited to come along and see what we're doing. Supporters can't do much more.
Ben: I don't think the rest of football wants what happens here to spread. The opposition and attitude to us has been the most negative aspect of my experience at DHFC. We're knocking on some very closed doors when it comes to the authorities, but that's not to say we can't do it from the bottom up. We can make an effort to push other clubs to support their women's teams more.
There have been some successes, other clubs have changed their matchdays and how they engage with their fans.
Q9 - Future plan for the women's team, follow-up from last time
Monthly meetings with women's team leaders. Team provided proposal on what could be improved. Looking for someone to hire to focus solely on women's game (off the pitch). It's underway, and monthly updates are continually being held.
Q10 - Does Hak think the men's squad understands the fans? Compare to women's team and their relationship with the fans. What can we learn from the women's side?
Hak: Bees game after the final whistle was amazing. Do all the men’s team understand who they're playing for? Maybe not. The majority do. There has been a frustration in some of the players where they feel they haven't given the supporters enough. For them to understand the supporters is vitally important.
Q11 – [Question about the men’s squad, but at this point I went for a wee]
When I came back, Hak was waving around a piece of paper with a list of players he’s targeting to potentially sign in the future (including January).
Goalkeeper coach was sorted late, which has led to a cascade of goalkeepers. Should have 2 goalkeepers left by the New Year.
Q12 - Improving communication on who the squad actually is
Hak: Always tries to work with a 22-23 man squad. Has a few signings that he thinks has potential and doesn't want them to go somewhere else, that's why the squad is as big as it is (plus goalkeepers). Always tried to bring 3-4 lads in who aren't the finished article, bleed them in.
Now Kian's come in, most squad news will be communicated through regular updates with hum. All communication will be going through Kian.
Q13 - Plan's for infrastructure below the men's first team
Ben: Access to pitches historically an obstacle for men's reserves. Now starting to look at youth and academy. Starting to talk to existing teams about affiliating. 2-3 individuals have said they'd like to work to start an academy (dialogue with the women's team about whether or not this would be for both sexes). Big decision about whether to start with a blank page or not.
Hak: We;re in so many cup competitions to give everyone as many minutes as possible. Clubs above us haven't got the facilities that we've got, so we need to make use of that. Need to grow our own academy, have our own reserve team. Could have our own reserves and academy up and running next season ("god willing")
Q14 - DHFC haven't won a cup since mid 2000s. London Senior Cup is our last opportunity for silverware this season. Pompey Dunc: “I'd love to see us win the cup. Let's go for the London Senior Cup!”
Hak: I didn't really look at it that way, but now you've expressed your feelings towards it... there's no better feeling than getting out of our league. This is a transitional year, but... let's see on the 19th. I might change my mind about that.
Agrees winning breeds winning.
Q15 - Did some fan's reaction on social media lead us to not retain some players last year?
Hak: George Porter, did want to keep him. He did say something that happened on social media made him want to move on.
Q16 - Now Kian is in role, how does Ben see how that job will be done differently?
Ben: Wanted to be more communicative and less admin focused. Wasn't really working the way we were doing it. Giving Kian a lot of freedom with how he builds it up.
Kian also has genuine passion for the women's team, and passionate to do comms around that
Hak: he's made a big difference with the men's team
[Kian's not physically present during the Q&A, he's still in Glasgow where he’s been watching the Lionnesses]
Q17 - PA system is ineffective. Arguably not capable of fulfilling it's safety function with 3,000 people. Follow up from previous question
It's happening. £15-20k to replace it, which is the blocker.
Ben: Let's resolve that
Q18 - 3 year vision plan for the club. Is it possible to publish that in redacted form?
Ben: Yes. Ben has finished editing. There are changes at board level, so aim is to have it ready for publishing when that is settled.
Q19 - Matchday waste and single use packaging. Working group on that hasn't produced anything publicly. What's the latest?
Paul (at the Trust) leading sustainability subgroup, about to start speaking to other local clubs to see what they've been doing around waste. Are looking at it, but stretched for resource. Survey results will be published very soon, but single use plastic was biggest issue from that survey.
Q20: Can we get TNT Sports (tafka BT Sport) back in the bar?
Used to get it free in the NL. Now we don't, but Ben will look into it
Q21: How are finances looking since we dropped down a league?
Ben: This year carried more risk with a lot of unknowns. Better than expected crowds meant that risk has dissipated.
Has challenges with London Living Wage at the moment. The model LLW uses to calculate figures doesn't actually fit this business. That's going to be a challenge.
It's going to be tighter than we hoped, but there's no hidden concerns.
Q22 - Fenix Cup. Can we approach them?
Ben: Yeah, I assumed it was invite only. Let's look into it.
Q23 - What will the new ground be called?
Ben: Champion Hill
Final words:
Ben says stadium is near its end game, hoping to have significant updates next time.
The opposition has not gone, there will be big fights coming. How we address that fight will have serious issues for the future of this football club. Is concerned about their behaviour and what they might do. We can't take it for granted, we are back in a bit of a battle to get this over the line.
The trigger will come on things like leases to the land, which all have to be renewed.
We're going to need support, and we're going to need anybody who has experience with stadium planning / design / delivery
www.theguardian.com
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