Fans' Forum

[floyd__streete]

Hey, Reading FC media as you're so obviously reading this, many thanks for the 'countdown to the new kit going on general sale in the Megastore' upd8s on FB today, they were gr8

Bring back Andy West.

[Ian Royal]

I'm enjoying these little role-plays of yours today IR...

Dunno what's wrong with me. Full o' ranty beans. But still pretty cheerful. I was out giggling in the torrential rain earlier.

[RoyalBlue]

As someone who has a business to run rather than spend all my time on here I apologise that I have not been replying to everyone who is slagging off STAR.

Yes it is run by volunteers (not amateurs but people who have lots of other things to do) and so things do not always happen as fast as they would if it were our job, but it is also successful at what it does. The fact that STAR members were trusted enough by Brian that he was happy to tell us more than anodyne press conferences (a special meaning to those who were there) is because of what we have done over the last 10 years. If that is ruined by one post on here (and that is entirely possible both with the team management and the club management not trusting us in future) then those of you complaining that we are seen to censor the forum will have even less information in the future. Enjoy

If Brian really thinks that if he announces anything particularly meaningful in a semi-public meeting it will stay secret then he is a very clever football manager but very naive in other respects.

As other people have indicated, it is basic human nature to always trust and share a secret with at least one other individual.

If STAR think that they and their members are being fed really sensitive news then they are conceited and/or dumb too.

[peterroyal76]

STAR: Hey Reading fans, we're having a fans forum with Brian McDermott, come along and listen in. STAR: Hey Reading fans, can't make it? Send us a question and we'll ask it.
STAR: Hey Hobnob - come to the fans forum or send us your questions.
Reading FC: Hey Reading fans, STAR are having a fans forum with Brian McDermott. Come along and listen in.

Reading Fans who couldn't make it: So Reading FC and STAR, what happened and was said at the forum.
Reading FC & STAR: What forum!? There was no forum!? You must never know what was said at the forum we've both been publicising because it makes us look good and caring!!!!
STAR & Reading FC: Hobnob! Take down that brief and innocuous summary of the fans forum that no one must ever hear anything from!!! IMMEDIATELY OR WE'LL THROW OUR TOYS OUT OF THE PRAM AND BAN YOU ALL FOR EVER!!!!!

Who is this? And what have you done with Ian?

[Avon Royal]

Genuinely about this.

I must admit that I was labouring under the misapprehension that STAR were an organisation that had the interests of ALL Reading fans at heart. Apparently not. It would appear to be nothing more than another squalid little kick-back club, interested in nothing more than massagaging the egos of their trumped up board of frustrated biddies.

The ridiculous claim that the club only shares certain information at the Fans Forum because it is held "behind closed doors" is spectacularly naive. It's 2012, the club will say nothing that they don't want to get into the public domain.

STAR are a cancer on the Football Club I love.

[strap]

Dear oh dear, what a load of pretentious nonsense. Came back to this thread to re-read Cyry's summary of the FF to discover this idocy!

STAR really REALLY do need to get their act together. In case they hadn't noticed, OUR club has just been promoted to the Premier League. This sort of childish behaviour might be acceptable at a local WI meeting, but is certainly NOT for a Premier League football club.

We all know, (including themselves), that STAR is a bunch of self-appointed wannabees who are trying to bask in the reflected glory of RFC. They have no football talent and are therefore trying other avenues to get close to the club. For crying out loud STAR - BLOODY GROW UP!!!

If you are so intent on assuming responsibility for all supporters of RFC, you have a VERY long road ahead of yourselves.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

I'm not reading all this but I was fortunate to read the really rather good synopsis from that Cypry chappy before the Statsi took it down.

Shirley not Tweeting during a STAR meeting is one thing - not allowing someone's very good synopsis of afterwards is another.

As someone said in the first few posts: "This isn't the bloody Freemasons...." and there were almost certainly some hacks in the audience, anyway.

Anyone who stands against this clique "we're better fans than you and you have to pay XX squid to prove your worthiness" gets my vote.

EDIT: *Statsi - a Freudian slip.... is snowball involved?

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

I'm confused, I think I've mis-understood the purpose of STAR.

My understanding was that they are a supporters trust set up as a voice for all supporters, and that should you chose to pay a small fee to join them (i.e help to fund the organisation) then they will reward you with benefits such as coach travel, newletters, being able to attend fans forums etc.

Now further to this my understanding was that the fans forum was a chance for STAR and some of its members to speak directly to officials at the club, to ask pertinent questions on behalf of ALL FANS and ultimately report back to us on affairs at the club.

I appreciate the club want to send the correct message to all fans, and I can appreciate why they would prefer details of the forum to be released in a controlled way so that nothing is misconstrued, but why then are STAR so inept at ensuring this is the case? Why are their members not clear on its rules following the forum, and why are they so slow to release any information to us themselves? Perhaps it's because they don't represent the fans at all, and instead they are only interested in those who are members of the clique?

They've thrown their toys out of their pram because one of its newest members did exactly what they should be doing In the first place and they don't like it at all! Either represent the fans like you were meant to be doing or step aside and let somebody else take over the mantle.

'Xactly. STAR politburo - I think we all appreciate what you do and what the real STAR benefits should be - and that you give your time freely and willingly - but, honestly...... you are cretins. Dare I say you need a new spin doctor?

[old woman]

Bit pushed for time so haven't read the whole thread and not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but STAR used to publish an account of the forums along with photos of the proceedings on the internet. Not sure why they stopped this.

[RoyalBlue]

Bit pushed for time so haven't read the whole thread and not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but STAR used to publish an account of the forums along with photos of the proceedings on the internet. Not sure why they stopped this.

Because they've got busy jobs you know!

Strange that, I too have one but still managed to get reports on matches, photos etc. up on the websites pretty promptly when I was doing it for my kids' clubs.

[TheLawnMowerMan]

Can we vote Maguire onto the STAR board?

Oh and Ian Royal, Extended-Phenotype and Royal Lady - should make the AGMs worth a visit

[KDRF]

Ohhh can someone explain to me what I missed!?

[RoyalBlue]

Ohhh can someone explain to me what I missed!?

No, you're not allowed to know unless you are a STAR member.

[KDRF]

I can prob guess which part of the media department asked for this to be taken down, and hes an utter twat so would make sense.

[Cobi]

so a Reading fan can't post on here what was said without it being deleted, but you can do what you like on Twitter?

Good on the Reading fans at @**** edited **** who Tweeted what they did then! And how do STAR know who is and who isn't a member of the media when they attend? You simply cannot and should not try and police people letting others know what was said after the event. it's not a secret society!! I quite fancy joining up for the next forum, and I'll quite happily pass on via PM what is said, and for those who want to Tweet.

[Arch]

I quite fancy joining up for the next forum

Joining up? Dude, why don't you organize it? That way you can make up your own rules.

[TheLawnMowerMan]

Just don't ever use #readingfc otherwise they'll be on to you ...

[urz13]

So basically, all Johnny Fordham has to do is pay £10 for a STAR membership, go to a forum with McD, and sit back and watch his pay increase as he gets 'scoop' after 'scoop'?

Simples!!

[SLAMMED]

[RoyalBlue]

Nice work but completely wrong!

Rest assured McDermott will have told the fans forum nothing that he wouldn't be happy with the media and/or our competitors knowing. To suggest he would have done otherwise is to suggest that our manager is incredibly thick!

The only insecurity in this whole affair is that being demonstrated by the STAR clique. If that insecurity is also shared by someone in RFC's media department, then (s)he shouldn't be in the job.