Remission

[Rene Artois]

Scunthorpe UNITED

The ‘illness’ that was Swann & WHAM have been cleansed.

Forget not where we were… the precipice of oblivion.

It’s only 656 days since Michelle Harness rescued the club from nihility.

In less than 2 years – we’ve set attendance records for level 6 and secured promotion.

That is success – by any definition!

I think supporters need a thorough reconceptualisation of the 2025/26 id of SUFC.

We aren’t the Championship entity these days. We’ve experienced near terminal ‘illnesses’ and are taking the first tentative steps towards recovery.

We should temper our basic instinct of wanting and maybe expecting to ‘win’ – perhaps be happy that we just exist… until we are fully restored to good health.

Berating our players ain’t good for the players mental health, ain’t good for the custodians of the club and presents a negative image to opposition supporters when ‘feelings’ of such nature are expressed live at games.

Maybe all our supporters across all social media platforms should moderate their critique of players, the owners and the club.

No one turns up with the intention of putting in a bad shift.

I’ve learned my lesson – Beck. I want him to be the best player that he can be with us. I want him fit & healthy and enjoying the environment in which he works. I want this for all of our players.

Maybe the trick is not to get too high on good days… and not too low on bad days?

Let’s make GP and social media a safe haven for our players.

Let’s stop crucifying them.

Let’s enjoy what we have – OUR(!) football club!

[Deereyme66]

Agree with the majority of that Rene. Only thing I’d like to see is a clearer direction for the club, more visibility of the CEO and his intentions, plans, etc. Because all we’re seeing at present are a number of misjudged decisions that seem to be landing at his door (Weekender resulting in bad press and pitch unreadiness, kit design, kit late delivery, etc)

6 users thanked author for this post.

Iron-awe, Cliff Byrne's Right Peg, Awaywego, Rene Artois, j charles, cassidystash

[ironking]

656 days, well done to Michelle and the team of directors.

It would be nice to have had a shareholders meeting in that time and had the forward business plan broadly outlined to see that our club is sustainable.

Two aspects the previous two owners failed miserably to do, be transparent and inclusive to supporters.

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j charles

[Rene Artois]

Agreed. There’s obviously a ‘plan’; however, when you are existing on the bread line and living hand to mouth… it can be a struggle just putting the next meal on the table – let alone a banquet for the knights & squires of the manor.

Communication, feedback, transparency, inclusivity etc all needs to improve.

If we still have debt, tell us. Tell us the debt, the amount, to whom and the estimated fulfillment date of that debt. We’re all adults, we manage our own finances, households & investments. We won’t judge. We understand.

Information = understanding = empathy

If we know we are skint, then we lower our expectation levels – not of effort & commitment but of the squad size & capabilities of players we acquire.

It’s a two way street. We give, we need something back… communication & information – and a gut full of effort on the pitch.

If a player leaves their heart & soul on the pitch every game – then you can’t ask for anymore than that!

UTI

[Awaywego]

Never going to happen again Rene after Hilton, he frightened the shit out most of you then backtracked on all of them when fans cried, closing the academy ( though he did go through with it in the end once daws told him the true cost) training mid week at ilkeston, buy and own your own ground all received like a wet smelly fart.

And you’ll certainly not get the communication from those in charge now nor have you in the past from them, the 100,000 club fiasco not a peep till it got leaked and they then take the huff and can’t believe the fans attitude, what we do get are lies though Michelle said the debt was all but paid down to then be told later we need £70,000 a month to keep us going.
They’ve treat with distain company’s who’ve helped them out during the bad times, ( Danny and mercs labs) plus the trust.
You just doff your cap to them Rene I shan’t be.

[MK Iron]

Totally agree with Rene’s original post.

However this is a football forum so opinions on footballers ability to play football at the general level of the team and the league we are in is surely one of the main reasons the forum exists.

Or is it just to bitch about one another and people that post stuff on Facebook and Twitter?

So long as it does not sink to the level of abuse I don’t see a problem. Personally hope one and preferably both of our current goalkeepers prove me wrong in thinking one is not ready and the other never will be ready for full time mens football.

The goalkeeper situation is not the end of the world because if neither do the business it is fairly easy to sign a competent young keeper on loan should it prove necessary.

I am much more concerned at not recruiting players suited to 5 at the back and then starting the last 2 friendlies with that formation.

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lesgeo, BigLeftToe

[Deereyme66]

‘Nver going to happen again Rene after Hilton, he frightened the shit out most of you then backtracked on all of them when fans cried, closing the academy ( though he did go through with it in the end once daws told him the true cost) training mid week at ilkeston, buy and own your own ground all received like a wet smelly fart.’

Revisionism at its worst.

[Awaywego]

True though Deerey, unless you can point to where it was supported by Majority.
He did communicate it though which is what Rene is asking for.

[Deereyme66]

‘They’ve treat with distain company’s who’ve helped them out during the bad times, ( Danny and mercs labs) plus the trust.’

I don’t think it’s fair to tar them all with same brush awaywego. True or not, there’s been a lot of talk about these aspects being down to the CEO and his pal

[Cliff Byrne’s Right Peg]

Deereyme66 wrote:

Agree with the majority of that Rene. Only thing I’d like to see is a clearer direction for the club, more visibility of the CEO and his intentions, plans, etc. Because all we’re seeing at present are a number of misjudged decisions that seem to be landing at his door (Weekender resulting in bad press and pitch unreadiness, kit design, kit late delivery, etc)

Can’t help feeling the decision to part ways with Turnbull looks more foolish by the week

[Awaywego]

The CEO acts on their behalf, so we can tar them all with the same brush.
And there’s only one chairman and that’s Michelle the final buck stops with her.
Far has I know Danny’s ground ban is still in place.

[Deereyme66]

I would wager he has a little more input and hand in decision making than merely ‘acts on their behalf’. Final buck may stop with the Chair but you’d be crazy to think it’s as simple as that. Wasn’t he brought in for his assumed skills and talents? If he’s merely acting on the Board’s behalf there would be no need for that would there?

As for ‘Danny’s ground ban’, I’m not privy to why he was banned in the first place so it’s hard to say if I think it’s justified or not.

[cassidystash]

The CEO was brought in to take a load off Michelle I believe. I’m not “ITK” so, as an average supporter, I’m still waiting to find out what he’s done to benefit the club. Any offers?

[Awaywego]

He was banned after his actions and remarks about the club after the community game against Chester, but you knew that already, he did put his banning letter up on tuther side.
Not everyone they have shit on is going to stay closed lips, as they would like.
So on the premise of this thread about moderating our critique of players and owners tworks both ways so a little bit of humble pie to start off with from them and then see how we go.

[Deereyme66]

As you said on another thread, it’s not a unity group, it’s a forum. Everyone is free to agree with Rene’s OP or not. I doubt the Board would care much for your proposition awaywego. Some of the members less so than others maybe

1 user thanked author for this post.

Awaywego

[Awaywego]

Most definitely Deerey.

[ironking]

Some good sentiment and salient points being aired on this thread.

Surely questions should be raised or concerns muted.

The CEO is employed by the board and fresh out of college as a CEO, I don’t know enough about his contribution thus far or non- contribution (according to some supporters).

His employment is down to one of our directors meeting him along his educational path and believing him worthy.

Geoff Gadie resigned as a director on 25th June 2025. We now have another person appointed vice-president again known to one director.

Several knowledgeable local businessmen are grateful for the club being saved as are we the ordinary and everyday fans are.

However they are raising their eyebrows over a lack of business plan and the fact that several income streams are still not under the clubs own umbrella i.e catering and bars.

The club was saved by generous donations from many quarters certainly among the more affluent fans and supporters with their own
businesses.

That pot is running dry and some of those aforementioned are critical about what they see as a one way street, with the club taking but not giving back.

Some businessmen who helped have been pushed out altogether, whether that was justifiable or not again I cannot say.

We have been saved yes, and we are grateful yes, but one failing was of us being critical of previous owners and aiming criticism their way, but not really pushing them for important information.

So yes after nearly two years, where is the business plan for sustainability, where are the accounts for the previous 656 days, and what is the mission statement for our club with a realistic timetable to achieve it?

No it does not mean I am ungrateful nor does it mean I am anti-board or anti any single one director. Nor does it mean I wish to know the ins and outs of recent history.

What it does mean is I am interested in the future longterm security of our club, and what if as an ordinary fan I can do to help and assist or even know if I can help make a difference to secure that future.

At the moment outside of four people we are mushrooms, being kept in the dark and very possibly being fed on shit.

Business plan and accounts please as we are entitled as stakeholders.

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BigLeftToe, Rene Artois

[cassidystash]

We now have another person appointed vice-president again known to one director.

I’ve seen reference to this elsewhere but nothing official.
Who is it please?

[ironking]

Luke Michael

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cassidystash

[Deereyme66]

Do you mean detailed accounts? Micro accounts for the previous financial year were filed on time:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00123622

[cassidystash]

ironking wrote:

Luke Michael

Does he have wads of cash?

[Deereyme66]

If he hasn’t, he gotta have faith

[Iron-awe]

Deereyme66 wrote:

If he hasn’t, he gotta have faith

Good point by George.

[Awaywego]

To cover a multitude of threads,
West Ham just done a survey on match day experience, 8000 responses they wanted at least 6000, pretty obvious they knew what kind of response they would get but all the same they did it and listed the actions they will try to improve on.
And only one little defensive throwback to the fans.
Maybe something all clubs can learn from.

[Deereyme66]

Tokenism? You reckon they’ll deliver on those promised improvements?

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