Iron Hour interview with Michelle Harness and James Moody

[saleiron]

Main takeaways (imo) and summary points (statements attributed are paraphrased) below, I have probably said less about the matters I think are of less interest.

• No plans for a fans’ forum this season, though that doesn’t mean there won’t be one. (Fair to say Michelle didn’t enjoy the one last season).
• Some talk about the kits and mixed reception to their launch. Time pressures meant consultation wasn’t possible. Driver was to get better quality and design than last year and to get them on sale earlier.
• Kits leave Hong Kong today so should be here back end of next week.
• Discussion about partnership with and sponsorship by British Steel, including United in Steel gala day.
• We have a more competitive playing budget this season with an increase of £250K.
• We need to find new and additional revenue streams to meet that additional cost.
• James asked about launch of Iron Insider. Noted that it is similar to paywall content we had a few years ago when we had around 500 members. Mention that access is for the “price of a pint” each month and hope that fans will see benefit as more content goes on there.
• James and Michelle asked whether Voice of the Fans was consulted before the launch of Iron Insider. Michelle said “probably not” although she wasn’t at the last meeting. (James confirmed no consultation had taken place). Michelle said that club can’t put “every little thing” out to fans. She went on to say that club will ask VoF for views on matters it judges appropriate (not the other way.” The club wouldn’t get anything done if it consulted more.
• Discussion about progress in reintroducing the Unity badge. When consulted fans previously, 70% of fanbase was behind it or at least to a change. There are now new guidelines from the IFR about consultation, so need to consider what is needed. Probably further away from a change than a year ago.
• No plans to have another festival such as the one in May 2024. Looking at establishing an improved fanzone outside the ground. Work done to “smarten up” the exec area.
• John Staff left around a 100 shirts to the club which will be framed, mounted and displayed. (Assume in Exec area).
• Discussion about closeness of relationship with players and management team.
• Discussion about the pressures, trials and tribulations of running the club and how you respond to that. Includes reference to negotiation with FGR over sale of Oli Ewing.
• On fifth owner/major shareholder, there was an option of bringing someone in. However, given the current owners have 20% each (MH has a little more), that would dilutes the power of the current owners. So, in this scenario, if the new investor was unhappy on any issue, you have to bring in other (minor) shareholders.

[Deereyme66]

Thanks. Saves me watching it. I’m a fully paid up Iron Hour Outsider.

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saleiron, alcazar, Northumbiron

[MK Iron]

Thanks from me too. Struggle to get through an hour of bantz without a lot of alcohol.

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saleiron

[Iron-awe]

Yeah thanks for that saleiron, I will be forever grateful for Michelle stepping in to help save our club but she’s not a good listen during interviews, too much um and err and you know for me.

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saleiron

[Awaywego]

‘Voice of the fans’ Michelle it’s in the title.
Not the club asking for views they offer their views to you luv. Not impressed with the ‘probably not’ response, certainly a thing the chair should know.

Don’t get me wrong no need to consult, business decisions are the boards to make, now if the Vof through fans views want to respond then we’ll wait and see.
All I can say is tf you got found out on the fc100,000 debacle cos you certainly wasn’t going to consult on that one.
Maybe that’s where a fan board member would help out lol, more chance of hell freezing over than this board having one, certainly don’t want their power diluting, attitudes certainly seemed to have changed.

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alcazar

[alcazar]

Nail.
Head.

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Awaywego

[saleiron]

Some personal reflections on the interview:

Positive
• Additional investment in playing budget.
• John Staff’s legacy recognised with planned display of large club shirt collection, albeit not accessible to all fans.
• Stability and apparent closeness of playing, management, board and backroom staff.

Negative
• A complete failure to see or value the role of fans and fans’ groups as an important channel for consultation and engagement on important matters.
• By extension, lack of preparedness for compliance with the IFR requirements on fan engagement.
• Additional revenue streams needed to fund additional investment and residual historic debt. Surely, we will enter the realms of diminishing returns associated with current initiatives to bring in more income.
• A reluctance to bring in additional major shareholders/investors.

Sadly, it looks like the approach of give us your money, but don’t expect any say in the running of the club will continue. That is really disappointing from a self-styled community club owned by four fans. Sadly, the inability to understand, recognise and respond to fan sentiment and views is likely lead to more and greater missteps. I hope I am wrong and we can look forward to a prosperous season off the field and a successful one on it.

[Deereyme66]

‘The club wouldn’t get anything done if it consulted more.’

I’m not saying it’s the case here, but I know I’ve said ‘We won’t get anything done if we run everything past you’ endless times to clueless managers or those that create problems that don’t exist. I also know one current top down style manager who refuses to consult staff on anything, then wonders why they’re not playing ball. All I’m saying is, that type of phrase can be interpreted various ways.

I don’t think fans expect too much, but they need to be engaged and feel respected. If the club doesn’t take supporters along with them, they can’t be surprised when initiatives fail.

[saleiron]

Absolutely. You wouldn’t and shouldn’t treat employees like this and expect high motivation, commitment, engagement and performance in response. So what would you expect from “customers” or fans when you don’t seek and take account of their views?

[cassidystash]

“Some talk about the kits and mixed reception to their launch. Time pressures meant consultation wasn’t possible. Driver was to get better quality and design than last year and to get them on sale earlier.”

Admirable intentions. If they knew when the order had to be in for the scheduled “on sale” date then it doesn’t take a genius to work out that consultation with fans needed to start a few weeks before that. No “time pressure” if planned correctly.

[64]

Interesting comments re new investment.It seems the 20% they were gifted makes them more equal than any new investors

[Author]

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