RFSC Fan's Forum
2nd December 1999

notes taken by Justin Beasley/Roger Titford

Guests:
AP - Alan Pardew
JG - John Gorman
NH - Nigel Howe
RB - Ray Booth
CD - Clive Doyle
GB - PC Graham Benham (Police Liaison Officer)
Apologies from Maurice Evans, absent with flu

What's up with the team?
AP - understands fans' frustrations. He and JG feel the same. The team has missed Scott and especially Primus, it lacks width and pace, and up front Forster hasn't been fully fit yet. We need a foil for him, a role which Scott can fill but he's not fit often enough.
Graham Potter (just signed on loan from WBA) will hopefully solve the problem on the left, as we are missing Gray, Hodges and Sarr. This would allowing Murty to occupy his favoured position on the right wing.
Right now AP has to make do with what he has - the chairman isn't offering money to spend right now, so he's trying to move players on. Very difficult right now, as there are too many League players on too much money being touted around by their agents.

What's happened to Mass Sarr?
AP - Mass is a big, strong player, but is always behind in training runs, which can't be right for a professional footballer. As such he can't yet be risked to play a full match. But he is a catalyst, he can beat players and he is likely to be on the bench soon.

How about bringing some youth players through into the first team?
AP - is right behind the Academy, but doesn't think the young players are ready to be plunged into a struggling division 2 side. There are some great players there, particularly Darius Henderson, who is about to be offered a professional contract. Alex Haddow has had a lot of publicity, mainly generated by his agent, but the opinion at the club is that he too isn't ready for the first team.

Do you like Darren Caskey?
JG - loves him. He's a player with skill and bottle; he'll keep going and make himself available even when the team is playing badly. Obviously he has flaws otherwise he'd still be playing in the Premiership!

Are the playoffs still within reach? If not, is the plan to start building for next season?
AP - It's unrealistic to look at the playoffs right now, but we need to be positive and will be positive right through the season - the chairman will need to see some evidence of improvement before he makes any more money available for squad improvement.

Why isn't Parky writing Captain's Corner in the match programme? (Barry Hunter is currently writing it)
AP - Barry Hunter was club captain before his injury, while Parky is a natural leader on the pitch. Both have assumed captain's roles, and AP has no problem with this. AP points out that there have been no disciplinary problems since he and JG took over - credits a great bunch of players who are trying their very hardest.

Why are we so static at throw-ins?
JG - They've worked on it in training but JG can't understand it either. Assures everyone it will improve - it's an important part of the game.

Linvoy - are we going to lose him?
AP - Contract talks are at a critical stage. Linvoy has been offered top money for a Division 2 centre back but hasn't yet agreed. AP says if anyone can keep Primus at Reading he can but the bottom line is money.

How can you get the strikers scoring more goals?
JG - Forster has only been fully fit for 3 games, but he's potentially a 20 goal-a-season striker. Williams is a different type of player, but makes a real difference to the team. Finishing is continually worked on in training - but of course the real match situation is totally different.

What about getting Stan Collymore on loan?!
AP - says he made an offer for him, and Villa accepted. Unfortunately Stan was busy!

What about getting non-playing players to come over to the East Stand to join in with the fans?
AP - No way he'd be able to get the players to come over to the East Stand on match days! But they'd certainly be willing to join the supporters for social events.

AP got the job on the basis that he could get this squad of players promoted. Does he still think that?
AP - Not strictly true. AP came back as caretaker only on condition that he had a good chance of getting the manager's job full-time. He gave the chairman a profile of the team's weaknesses; what was needed, etc. and the board took him on on that basis He never promised miracles with the existing squad - he always knew he'd need some financial help.

Glenn Hoddle - what about the rumours of him investing in the club? Would he be allowed on the board?
JG - Glenn has been training (NOT coaching) with the club now and again just to get himself fit. Obviously he shares a few words with some of the players. He never had any intention of joining Reading as manager and he is not in a position to invest in the club, although theoretically he (or anyone else) would be welcome to come forward if they had money!

Does the manager agree we'll need a big signing in the summer to help sell season tickets?
AP - Agrees that a big signing can get the fans interested. Also believes we ARE capable of attracting good players, as AP has been talking to several good players interested in coming to Reading, and along with Brentford, we have the best scouting network in the league.

How seriously are the club treating the Auto Windscreens Shield?
AP - wants to try out 2 or 3 players, but that's not to say he'll be taking it lightly. After all, a trip to Wembley would pay for a new striker. Mass and Darius Henderson may well get a game against Leyton Orient.

What does the Police Liaison Officer's role entail?
GB - Pre-match intelligence work, along with assessing the level of potential trouble at each game. Matches are categorised as A, B or C (most dangerous.) Just moving to an all-seater stadium has eradicated most of the trouble; in fact Category A matches are now unpoliced.
Gerard Lavin is due in court in Reading next week, on several charges relating to the ball-kicking incident during the Bristol City game back in August. GB believes it was in the public interest to prosecute.

Couldn't the new safety gate be positioned outside the South Stand to inconvenience away fans rather than home fans?
CD - The Yeovil game was followed by an affray between the East and South stands - an area which had previously identified as a possible flashpoint between rival fans. Last season there were no problems, but it was clear that action needed to be taken before the Oxford game. CD is more interested in keeping fans safe than inconveniencing a few. The club is also interested in the alternative idea of a high level walkway down to the A33, to keep home and away fans apart.

What about a club shop in the Oracle?
NH - Broad St Mall has offered the club a unit, but this season it's not viable. As soon as it is, we'll have a town centre shop. Tickets will soon be available in the Oracle.

Don't we get a say in kick-off times at away games like Cardiff (Boxing Day, 11am)?
NH - no!

Why don't we play midweek games on Tuesday?
NH - Agrees. Wednesday night games were favoured by the Council and Burns but the club now prefer Tuesdays. Hopefully this will change next season.

How about a path down from Shooters to the A33?
NH - Great idea! There are plans for a 'Royals Way', a 6 metre wide path down to the A33, but the club are at loggerheads with the council over money, despite the fact that RFC have contributed £6million already to road building.

Are there plans for Bus Shelters for supporters?
RB - No - the Park and Ride Bus shelters are part of a contractual obligation made with Reading Borough Council, but no plans exist for any other shelters.
NH - likes the idea. Will see if any money can be found for this.

Drinks are too expensive at Shooters tonight - £3 a pint!
NH - Unhappy about this - didn't realise. Fans Forum nights will henceforth be matchday bar prices.

Leyton Orient AWS game - isn't £10 ticket too expensive?
NH - You have to get the away team to agree to a discount in cup games. Leyton Orient refused to go below £10 a ticket.

How about offering 3 tickets for the price of 2 when there are 3 home games in a row?
NH -wants to protect the season ticket holders, and as such is not willing to mess them about by discounting league matches.

When is cleaning done in the stadium? There's been a programme in one urinal for weeks.
NH - After each match. However it has been noted that the cleaning is not up to an acceptable standard - it will improve.

What win/performance bonuses do the players get?
NH - If we finish the season just below the playoffs, a player can expect a £10,000 bonus. At the moment they are going to get "bugger all"!

Memberships of Shooter's are still available - how can we make it more popular?
NH - There are currently 500 memberships, with some still available - although not many; 500 is close to the licensing limit. NH sees this as a success.

Does the club respect the fans' right to voice criticism?
NH - YES! The directors feel the same, but NH points out that it's not easy to find a winning formula, you just pick the best manager you can.

How about RFC pants in the club shop?*
NH - If there is a demand then yes! The Megastore has taken off well - the only thing preventing it from expanding and stocking even more is the team's poor performance.

* A plan exists to throw pants on to the pitch during the game against Wrexham to demonstrate the acronym "Players Are Not Trying Sufficiently"!

Why not appoint someone with football experience on the board?
NH - has no objection, although Burns was dead against it as he didn't like the idea of an interfering voice on the board. Maurice Evans has been appointed to fulfil the experienced football brain supporting role to AP and JG, so the issue is largely resolved.

What is the current level of the chairman's commitment?
NH - He is still committed to the club but he is a bit 'iffy' at the moment about pumping more money into the playing side of the club though after all the recent investment. AP - believes they need to offer him some evidence of improvement to get significant funds from him. But he's always put his hand in his pocket before, so hopefully he'll do it again!

Why don't we sell RFC merchandise in Reading sports shops?
NH - It's not profitable. JJB Sports (for example) want such a big discount that RFC would make no money at all.

Why not keep away fans in the ground after matches to avoid trouble?
GB - It's basically illegal - it comes under "unlawful detention."
CD - Also our stadium has specific fire regulations which complicate this. Anyway CD believes troublemakers will ignore requests to remain inside the stadium and will leave regardless.