Says it all (thanks to TBG)
Michael Green revisits some of the aborted attempts to create a representative fans organisation and reflects on why they all fail.
I was reflecting on the history of being a Leeds United fan over the 30+ adult years and particularly the last decade (provoked by a discusion on the prospect of a social media outlet from the “Leeds United fan perspective”) when I remembered to search through my saved computer files. In there sat a couple of documents that sit as reminders of the frustrations of trying to get the collective Leeds support to speak as one rather than having a million non-desenting voices as the “shafting” continues.
After years of “official” supporters club inertia, resulting in the farce of Krasner using Ray Fell as “honest broker” in undermining other take over plans and the stilted progress of LUST, an organisation born with fault lines still holding it back today, the first inclinations of a “Independent Supporters” group looked like something worth exploring. I remember meeting in a pub before the Preston play-off home game, trying to establish that all potential participents understood each others motivations. The result of this meeting and endless email exchanges was this draft constitution (I have edited out the boring officers and rules bits):
(b) Leeds United refers to Leeds United AFC and is hereafter referred to as Leeds United or the Club.
2. OBJECT
The object of the Association shall be:
(a) To represent the interests Leeds United Supporters, whether they are or not members of the association.
(b) To establish and maintain a channel of meaningful dialogue with the Staff and Management of the club
(c) To establish and maintain high quality services and communications with and for LUISA members and Leeds United Supporters.
(d) To promote and maintain the history and independence of Leeds United within the local community and beyond and, in doing so, encourage the club to ensure it appreciates and welcomes its supporters.
(e) To increase the opportunities and ways in which supporters of Leeds United can express their affiliation with, and active support of the club.
(f) To give a voice to those supporters of Leeds United who would otherwise count amongst those most excluded from decision making and consultation processes.
(g) To campaign on behalf of the members of LUISA and Leeds United supporters in general.
3. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
(a) The Association is committed to promoting equal opportunities amongst its membership. In particular the Association’s Committee shall strive to ensure the organisation’s:
(i) Membership;
(ii) Committee and Officers;
(iii) Meetings and communication mechanisms;
(iv) Employment policy,
all respect and promote the concept of Equal Opportunities and seek to maximise the involvement of groups such as those listed in Object (f) above. LUISA also subscribes to the Kick It Out Principles.
4. MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership is open to all supporters of Leeds United
(b) Members at the Annual General Meeting shall determine membership Fees or membership criteria where fees are not charged.
(c) Membership is for a life unless where fees are charged at which point each fee represent 12 months membership.
(d) Only current full individual members (hereafter referred to as members) are entitled to vote at an Annual General Meeting or stand for committee.
The above was as far as LUISA got, not withstanding the usual bile that was directed towards the initial volunteers by the forum warriors, the project was doomed once the original proposer of the idea decided to move to the other side of the world, something he must have been planning in advance of bringing people together on LUISA. It all fissiled out into nothing.
The next incarnation of futility was born out of the clubs brazen use of the blunt tool of administration. Out of the blue came Loveleedshatebates who had a refreshing and different approach to things. No-one still knows to this day who the main movers were, the need for privacy clear given Mr Bates love of a libel action and the tendency of the numpties to get personal with anyone having an idea. I was asked to comment on some of their activities (the petition, the infamous “Red Baron” (as Bates likes to reference it) flyby, the Red Card protest etc) and a document of principles. LLHB made it clear they didn’t want the “history” to deflect the campaign so I wasn’t asked to declare my support (although they clearly had it). Below is an extract from a document of principles:
“the fans are the heart of football” . The late John Charles, Leeds United legend.
Leeds United Football Club (under its present manifestation of Leeds United 2007 limited) is at a vital crossroads. Whilst financially, the game in general has never been better off. It’s never had more committed followers both at home and overseas. Yet
never have so many clubs been on the brink of financial extinction, nor has the game been so ridden by short-sightedness and self-interest. No other club represents those failures more than the club we love.
During last season the team has been relegated to the third division of English football (League One) for the first time in its history and been plunged to Administration with debts of £35m (on top of the report £120m debt owed in 2002).
LoveLeedsHateBates (LLHB), hopes to unite all Leeds fans looking for an independent voice, It’s these supporters who travel thousands of miles throughout Britain and sometimes overseas every season. Without Leeds supporter’s loyalty there’d be no club. We pack the grounds, we sing the songs, we provide the passion.
Yet Leeds supporters are the one group in the soap opera of recent years which is most frequently ignored. No more. Leeds supporters are uniting around a set of principles
which they believe are essential to the future of the club we love and football in general. We invite all those who love Leeds United and the game and have its best interests at heart to join with us.
It’s time to act before it’s too late.
LLHB calls for:
Leeds United Football Club to take account of the feelings and aspirations of its supporters when operating its business and communications.
That the club be honest with supporters on matters financial, no more duplicitous exaggerations or building expectations of stability when the reality is different.
Transparency on all matters ownership and investment, clarity on who owns what and who the club owes debt to, either historical or newly acquired.
An end to confrontation with supporters, friends or interested parties who express legitimate concerns about the direction of the club.
An end to constant fixture changes to suit television or policing without consultation.
An end to uncalled for bans on Leeds fans attending away games (Cardiff etc) and an end to the practice of decreases in away ticket allocations on overstated accusations of persistent standing.
And much more importantly, the removal of Ken Bates and his associated cohorts from any relationship with Leeds United AFC.
And for football in general:
The creation of one unified governing body governing all levels of football in England to replace the current multiplicity of leagues and associations.
The introduction of revenue sharing between all professional clubs where one quarter of all league TV and gate revenue (including executive boxes) is pooled and divided equally.
Minimum standards of governance, administration and financial control for all clubs to be enforced by the governing body as a condition of membership and league entry, including a “fit and proper” person test for all persons owning or directing a football club
An annual club licensing system to be introduced over a five year period. A condition of licensing to include a ban on unfunded revenue deficits.
The creation by statute of a special legal status giving appropriate forms of “not-for-profit” status for sporting clubs
The Government to permit safe standing areas at stadia where clubs and their supporters so wish
An end to constant fixture changes to suit television or policing
Prior consultation with supporters on broadcasting contracts to ensure a fair deal for the matchgoing fan and an end to TV “overkill”
An end to bans on away fans and an increase in away ticket allocations
A comprehensive review of the structure of all domestic league and cup competitions and the structure of the season involving supporters at every stage
Consultation with supporters on the structure of all European and international club and national team competitions and how they relate to domestic competitions
The development of clear rules in consultation with supporters to prevent any recurrence of the FA appeals tribunal decision to permit “franchise” moves.
The development of clear, legally enforceable rules to prevent clubs selling their grounds without the explicit prior agreement of their supporters and other another ground being provided in the same town
Involvement of supporters in initiatives to combat racism on the field and in the stands
An end to discriminatory treatment of away supporters in terms of ticket prices and allocations in both domestic and international competitions and club levels
The development of a regular TV free midweek evening with no live broadcast Premiership, Football League or Champions’ League games for midweek fixtures to encourage live attendance
An end to the constant above-inflation increase in ticket prices, particularly for lower priced tickets
Discount ticket prices for younger and retired supporters with national standards on age criteria
The development of disabled supporters’ facilities at all levels of the game including minimum standards
Involvement of supporters in all policing and stewarding policies affecting them
Encouragement and adequate funding of supporter organisation and involvement in the game at all levels
The introduction of statutory independent regulation of the game
Just reading it brings it all back, that manic summer of 2007. This time it wasn’t any internal isues that killed things, it was a predictable points deduction feeding a siege mentality personified by a scuffed header by Tresor Kandol, resulting in the legs being cut from under LLHB. some people have kept the flame alive, and good luck to them, but the original movers understood that without the unity of the support the project was destined to move to the margins. Good press and media coverage (totally disproportiante to the rest of the campaign) was generated but the mothballing of www.loveleedshatebates.com was inevitable. Whatever the midwife of LLHB is doing now, thanks mate.
I don’t bring all this back to try and resurect either project, although the case for an independent fans organisation is still strong and the need for an effective LLHB exists so long as Mr Bates continues to fund manage the club. I do think however its worth having the content of the two abortive campaigns “out there” so that if someone else evers feels the need to try at least some of the tedious groundwork as been done for them.
