Is there currrently an indipendent fans association?

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

I remember BIFA and SUISA used to help actually give the fans a voice back in the 90s and 00s. Is there anything active like this these days? or have they all disbanded?

 

[Tyler Durden]

Yes, there is a group called SUSA but I don't think they're very vocal about things.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Yes, there is a group called SUSA but I don't think they're very vocal about things.

They certainly should be making some waves given the state of the club these days. Is it worth getting something set up with the aim of being an effective voice, something that can help rally the fans?

 

[Tyler Durden]

They certainly should be making some waves given the state of the club these days. Is it worth getting something set up with the aim of being an effective voice, something that can help rally the fans?

If you ask me I'd say absolutely 100%

We've been missing independent representation for too long. And like you say, we need it now as much as ever.

 

[Silent Blade]

Independent fans groups causes too many problems. BIFA thought McDonald was more honest than Brealey but they were wrong, they were wrong to stage a protest before the Friday night home game to Oxford in 1999 (we had a chance of getting into the play offs then) and it created a bad atmosphere and we lost. No potential buyers would be interested in our club if we have an active Independent Fans Group.

 

[Ricky]

If we can't develop a group like that now we're at our lowest ebb then we never will.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Independent fans groups causes too many problems. BIFA thought McDonald was more honest than Brealey but they were wrong, they were wrong to stage a protest before the Friday night home game to Oxford in 1999 (we had a chance of getting into the play offs then) and it created a bad atmosphere and we lost. No potential buyers would be interested in our club if we have an active Independent Fans Group.

Wednesday have had two. Didn't do them any harm.

 

[Silent Blade]

Wednesday have had two. Didn't do them any harm.

When was the last time they played in the Premier League? We got promotion in 2006 when BIFA and SUISA had been largely inactive for a few years

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Independent fans groups causes too many problems. BIFA thought McDonald was more honest than Brealey but they were wrong, they were wrong to stage a protest before the Friday night home game to Oxford in 1999 (we had a chance of getting into the play offs then) and it created a bad atmosphere and we lost. No potential buyers would be interested in our club if we have an active Independent Fans Group.

Agree that doing anything negative BEFORE a match isn't too smart. But lets not pretend they didn't do positive things on other occasions as well.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

My main concern is how easily corrupted the leaders of these fans associations can be, a few slap up dinners with the clubs representatives and they seem to lose their way a bit. But if this can be avoided then I;m all for it.

 

[Tyler Durden]

When was the last time they played in the Premier League? We got promotion in 2006 when BIFA and SUISA had been largely inactive for a few years

The point is that no buyer was deterred by their presence. And no buyer should be unless they know that their decisions will bring derision from the supporters.

 

[Silent Blade]

But lets not pretend they didn't do positive things on other occasions as well.

Like what?

 

[Silent Blade]

The point is that no buyer was deterred by their presence. And no buyer should be unless they know that their decisions will bring derision from the supporters.

Since I realised McDonald's dishonesty I never get excited when a new buyer comes in because you do not know if they are geniune. McCabe is the most genuine owner we have had in my 46 years as a Blade fan

 

[Dkc]

If we can't develop a group like that now we're at our lowest ebb then we never will.

We're not at our lowest ebb. That was relegation to Division 4 in 1981

 

[JJ Sefton]

We're not at our lowest ebb. That was relegation to Division 4 in 1981

In league terms yes, but was there, back then, the same sense of torpor around the club as there is now and has been for the last few years?

 

[JJ Sefton]

They certainly should be making some waves given the state of the club these days. Is it worth getting something set up with the aim of being an effective voice, something that can help rally the fans?

I'd be up for summat like that.

 

[Dkc]

In league terms yes, but was there, back then, the same sense of torpor around the club as there is now and has been for the last few years?

If anything it was worse. We were getting crowds of 11,000, and half of those were hooligans bent on causing trouble with away fans. The ground wasn't half as good as it is today either.

 

[JJ Sefton]

If anything it was worse. We were getting crowds of 11,000, and half of those were hooligans bent on causing trouble with away fans. The ground wasn't half as good as it is today either.

Crowds everywhere were lower then, 11,000 is pretty good for Division Four even now. And, call me a nutcase, but I can't say I wouldn't like a bit of 'atmosphere' compared to the morgue-like feel the Lane has too often nowadays.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Since I realised McDonald's dishonesty I never get excited when a new buyer comes in because you do not know if they are geniune. McCabe is the most genuine owner we have had in my 46 years as a Blade fan

I would agree, certainly better than any other I've known.
The problem is that when his time comes. We can't left to merely grumble on the sidelines if the next owner is a bad one.

 

[Revolution]

Independent fans groups causes too many problems. BIFA thought McDonald was more honest than Brealey but they were wrong, they were wrong to stage a protest before the Friday night home game to Oxford in 1999 (we had a chance of getting into the play offs then) and it created a bad atmosphere and we lost. No potential buyers would be interested in our club if we have an active Independent Fans Group.

You have said this before. Once again, you fail to mention that:

1. United threw the game away through poor defensive errors.

2. United had sold David Holdsworth 2 days earlier.

That was why we lost. Selling our best players and crippling our playoff chances. Nothing changes.

And no potential buyers would be interested if we had an independent fans group? Bifa was around when McDonald, Colombotti and McCabe bought in. I'd say that tends to suggest you're wrong.

 

[BushBlade]

The point is that no buyer was deterred by their presence. And no buyer should be unless they know that their decisions will bring derision from the supporters.

I'm not sure that's the case. It's a while ago and I'm not interested in the pigs but I do recall something about one of the problems finding a buyer was related to some piggy fan group.
I'm not sure that it matters though as I don't think KM is prepared to sell the club at its current value.
Have we actually got a gripe over how the supporters are treated? Other than finding a way to get us promoted, what do we want from the board? What could we as supporters contribute?

 

[Tyler Durden]

I'm not sure that's the case. It's a while ago and I'm not interested in the pigs but I do recall something about one of the problems finding a buyer was related to some piggy fan group.
I'm not sure that it matters though as I don't think KM is prepared to sell the club at its current value.
Have we actually got a gripe over how the supporters are treated? Other than finding a way to get us promoted, what do we want from the board? What could we as supporters contribute?

There was certainly tension between Dave Allen and the Wednesdayite supporters group which turned nasty. Allen ultimately paid the price for being an arsehole.

I don't have any other gripe than our lack of league success, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be some sort of association in place the represent supporters interests with a more unified and collaborative voice.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

I'm not sure that's the case. It's a while ago and I'm not interested in the pigs but I do recall something about one of the problems finding a buyer was related to some piggy fan group.
I'm not sure that it matters though as I don't think KM is prepared to sell the club at its current value.
Have we actually got a gripe over how the supporters are treated? Other than finding a way to get us promoted, what do we want from the board? What could we as supporters contribute?

Well currently we have 2 owners, neither of which are often to be found at Bramall Lane. Each with their own agenda, whom, if rumours are to believed, are at odds with each other and this is not helping move the club forward. With 2 owners the fans don't even know who is more to blame and this has resulted in apathy. Apathy invariably leads to further decline, something that I and many other fans are keen to avoid.

 

[BushBlade]

There was certainly tension between Dave Allen and the Wednesdayite supporters group which turned nasty. Allen ultimately paid the price for being an arsehole.

I don't have any other gripe than our lack of league success, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be some sort of association in place the represent supporters interests with a more unified and collaborative voice.

But we're not unified. There are people calling a manager who's won four promotions incompetent whereas my view is that they're fucking idiots. I don't see a compromise there.

 

[Silent Blade]

You have said this before. Once again, you fail to mention that:

1. United threw the game away through poor defensive errors.

2. United had sold David Holdsworth 2 days earlier.

That was why we lost. Selling our best players and crippling our playoff chances. Nothing changes.

And no potential buyers would be interested if we had an independent fans group? Bifa was around when McDonald, Colombotti and McCabe bought in. I'd say that tends to suggest you're wrong.

McDonald took advantage of the BIFA power to oust Brealey and then made a financial killing on the club

 

[JJ Sefton]

McDonald took advantage of the BIFA power to oust Brealey and then made a financial killing on the club

Hadn't Brealey been trying to get himself 'ousted' since 1987, with no success apart from the Woolhouse debacle?

 

[BushBlade]

Well currently we have 2 owners, neither of which are often to be found at Bramall Lane. Each with their own agenda, whom, if rumours are to believed, are at odds with each other and this is not helping move the club forward. With 2 owners the fans don't even know who is more to blame and this has resulted in apathy. Apathy invariably leads to further decline, something that I and many other fans are keen to avoid.

So what do we do to address the situation? Ask them which ones we should be blaming?
I'm as pissed off as anyone but I don't see what a fans association can do at this point in time.
If there was an obvious solution like a potential buyer that KM won't sell to then maybe there would be a point in putting some pressure on him but I don't understand what we're trying to achieve.

 

[Grappler]

Well currently we have 2 owners, neither of which are often to be found at Bramall Lane. Each with their own agenda, whom, if rumours are to believed, are at odds with each other and this is not helping move the club forward. With 2 owners the fans don't even know who is more to blame and this has resulted in apathy. Apathy invariably leads to further decline, something that I and many other fans are keen to avoid.

Wonder if t'owd Milan Manderic has the appetite for one more "buy-club-build-it-sell-it" adventure?

Doubtful at his age I guess.

 

[JJ Sefton]

There was certainly tension between Dave Allen and the Wednesdayite supporters group which turned nasty. Allen ultimately paid the price for being an arsehole.

I don't have any other gripe than our lack of league success, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be some sort of association in place the represent supporters interests with a more unified and collaborative voice.

I'd agree. There's a lot of venting goes on on platforms like this but it really needs summat organised and with a 'real' life to achieve any real leverage.

 

[Darren]

Hadn't Brealey been trying to get himself 'ousted' since 1987, with no success apart from the Woolhouse debacle?

Brealey did indeed want out and BIFA beef with him was that he was asking too much for the club. If BIFA pressed him into selling for less than he was holding out for, I can't see anything wrong with that.