SLO news

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Many on here will have seen the good work done by our Supporter Liaison Officer, Jenny, in recent years.

Unfortunately, it appears the Club has not been supportive. Perhaps due to the much discussed lack of off-pitch staff working day to day on things like this.

From this month’s Robins Trust newsletter:

Trust Vice-Chair Jenny Hancock has stepped down from the role of Supporter Liaison Officer at Cheltenham Town with immediate effect.

The role of the SLO is defined in the EFL Competition Handbook, and is seen as a key resource by clubs up and down the country. The Football Supporters Association made proactive engagement through SLOs a key part of their work towards the current Fan Led Review of Football Governance.

The EFL Handbook's rule 20.6 states:

20.6 Each Club shall appoint a supporter liaison officer who shall:
- 20.6.1 have responsibility for the delivery of the Club’s policy with regard to its stakeholders insofar as that policy concerns supporters;
- 20.6.2 act as a point of contact for supporters; and
- 20.6.3 liaise regularly with the Club’s management (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, on safety and security-related issues).

Jenny has worked tirelessly over the past few seasons to make a success of the role, working diligently across all three of those requirements. She was the perfect candidate for the position.

However, it has become evident to Jenny that the Supporter Liaison role is not embedded into the culture of the Club and this has a negative and consistent impact on Club engagement with the Supporter Liaison Team, prohibiting them from fulfilling the requirements of the role as set out by the EFL and ultimately representing fans.

She has discussed her reasons for leaving with the Club and emphasised that dialogue needs to be two-way to actively embrace and grow the positives that the role can bring. Jenny has offered to support the Club and a newly appointed SLO if that would be beneficial. As a trust board member, she remains committed to representing fans.

We want to thank her for the incredible work she has done (giving many, many hours of her time on a voluntary basis), alongside the other SLO team members Dave Hardy and Chris Saunders.

It is hugely disappointing that it has come to this point. Thankfully, Jenny will remain on the Trust board in her role as vice chair.

It is now the club's responsibility to make sure that the SLO responsibilities are fulfilled via the following channels: - slo@ctfc.com - @CheltTownSLO”

[Anteros]

A lot of negativity around the club so soon into the new season. Shame

[Ihearye]

Many on here will have seen the good work done by our Supporter Liaison Officer, Jenny, in recent years.

Unfortunately, it appears the Club has not been supportive. Perhaps due to the much discussed lack of off-pitch staff working day to day on things like this.

From this month’s Robins Trust newsletter:

Trust Vice-Chair Jenny Hancock has stepped down from the role of Supporter Liaison Officer at Cheltenham Town with immediate effect.

The role of the SLO is defined in the EFL Competition Handbook, and is seen as a key resource by clubs up and down the country. The Football Supporters Association made proactive engagement through SLOs a key part of their work towards the current Fan Led Review of Football Governance.

The EFL Handbook's rule 20.6 states:

20.6 Each Club shall appoint a supporter liaison officer who shall:
- 20.6.1 have responsibility for the delivery of the Club’s policy with regard to its stakeholders insofar as that policy concerns supporters;
- 20.6.2 act as a point of contact for supporters; and
- 20.6.3 liaise regularly with the Club’s management (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, on safety and security-related issues).

Jenny has worked tirelessly over the past few seasons to make a success of the role, working diligently across all three of those requirements. She was the perfect candidate for the position.

However, it has become evident to Jenny that the Supporter Liaison role is not embedded into the culture of the Club and this has a negative and consistent impact on Club engagement with the Supporter Liaison Team, prohibiting them from fulfilling the requirements of the role as set out by the EFL and ultimately representing fans.

She has discussed her reasons for leaving with the Club and emphasised that dialogue needs to be two-way to actively embrace and grow the positives that the role can bring. Jenny has offered to support the Club and a newly appointed SLO if that would be beneficial. As a trust board member, she remains committed to representing fans.

We want to thank her for the incredible work she has done (giving many, many hours of her time on a voluntary basis), alongside the other SLO team members Dave Hardy and Chris Saunders.

It is hugely disappointing that it has come to this point. Thankfully, Jenny will remain on the Trust board in her role as vice chair.

It is now the club's responsibility to make sure that the SLO responsibilities are fulfilled via the following channels: - slo@ctfc.com - @CheltTownSLO”

Thanks for sharing,
The optics of this is not good at all. It sounds like somebody is taking their eye of the ball and ignoring the more granular aspects of the club. No point in giving us badges proclaiming 'the Cheltenham thing' if we don't recognise what it is makes up the Cheltenham thing

[London Exile]

Something I’ve discussed previously with a friend is could the Trust look to sell their shares back and remove themselves from the board?
I don’t know the full repercussions of this but my thinking is that they could truly and independently hold the club to account if they’re no longer on the board. From the outside looking in the Trust seems controlled by the board and the SLO resignation would seem to suggest that the Trust doesn’t have the respect of the club hierarchy that it should have

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Something I’ve discussed previously with a friend is could the Trust look to sell their shares back and remove themselves from the board?
I don’t know the full repercussions of this but my thinking is that they could truly and independently hold the club to account if they’re no longer on the board. From the outside looking in the Trust seems controlled by the board and the SLO resignation would seem to suggest that the Trust doesn’t have the respect of the club hierarchy that it should have

Nice idea but it wouldn’t work in practice.

To sell their shares requires someone - or the club - to handover £200k to the Trust. It is not like selling shares how you or I would sell shares in stock market listed companies.

The Club could turn around and say we can’t sign players because £200k from the club coffers had to be handed over to the Trust. Thus portraying the Trust as the bad guys.

[andgarod]

If as reported the SLO is required and we have had one who has now stepped away we need to hear the boards version of this
We have a fans director
The financial director is ex Trust so that makes 25% the board
Then we have Murry Toms
So what is the problem is it the chairman or the vice chair or just no one interested
Is it the CEO argument
or is it just little men playing football directors
What sanction will we get from the EFL
Probably a points deduction and relegation where as other bigger clubs would get a smack on the wrist

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

If as reported the SLO is required and we have had one who has now stepped away we need to hear the boards version of this
We have a fans director
The financial director is ex Trust so that makes 25% the board
Then we have Murry Toms
So what is the problem is it the chairman or the vice chair or just no one interested
Is it the CEO argument
or is it just little men playing football directors
What sanction will we get from the EFL
Probably a points deduction and relegation where as other bigger clubs would get a smack on the wrist

Fans do need to understand what the FED can and cannot do in terms of communicating between fans and club.

For example, in the Trust newsletter it says:

“As a Director of the club, Dave is also bound by collective responsibility - in light of the statement we've included below regarding the Supporter Liaison Officer, we felt it was appropriate that Dave took a seat on the bench for this edition.”

That’s why the SLO role is important.

[longmover]

I've never known a club that plays with a straight bat (financially) have so many issues with non playing staff. Its quite something.

[Robin]

Sad news but it doesn't come as a surprise given how we appear to be ran off the field. Just look at the oki coki with the commercial managers we had, still don't think we've replaced that role. Same with Micky Moore not being replaced. The club always try to do things on the cheap and shut out people with a different perspective (see what happened with Andy Wilcox).

[everyman]

A lot of negativity around the club so soon into the new season. Shame

I do think the board are too protective of their positions in the club and resist any attempts or approaches from outside to offer advice or assistance,a sort of seige mentality which results in a lack of real progress on and off the field,helped by the protection of the 2 major shareholders who`s position prevents any intervention from prospective new investors.

[ctfc-fan]

Sad news but it doesn't come as a surprise given how we appear to be ran off the field. Just look at the oki coki with the commercial managers we had, still don't think we've replaced that role. Same with Micky Moore not being replaced. The club always try to do things on the cheap and shut out people with a different perspective (see what happened with Andy Wilcox).

Milton replaced MM

[Robin]

Milton didn't replace MM he only took on the recruitment work.

[plymrob]

I'm thinking defence or midfield?