Expectations

Have read the numerous threads on here which always appears to degenerate into tit for tat arguments about our owners and whether or not there are realistic plans or a vision, whether their heart is in it, whether they should be gifting money to the club etc etc

Much of these debates seem to stem from people's expectations of what a football club owner should or shouldn't do and therefore rather than argue amongst ourselves and call each other names, I thought it might be wise to understand where each of us is coming from with regards to a football club ownership. We can at least understand people's motivation and perspectives before falling back to the tit for tat arguments!

So what is your expectations of a football club owner (could be any club)?

For me I have simple views:

1. Talk to the fan base on a regular basis (but only on important topics when there is something to communicate). 
2. Make the maximum available budget available each year to the manager for recruitment based upon the rules in place
3. Invest in improving the facilities of the club on a reasonable commercial basis (i.e I do not expect owners to gift or write off money they loan to the club but that if the loan and charge interest then it is at a reasonable level and they have a right to protect themselves on the loans they make
4 Support the development of the club through improving the infrastructure and operations
5. Support the manager by putting in place the best staff support around him based upon what he needs and requests
6. Invest in youth teams / development to support throughput into first team squad and create assets that can either mitigate the need for transfers or can generate transfer income in the long term
7. Involve the fanbase as far as possible in major decisions such as ground redevelopment or improvements and be transparent as far as reasonable on them
8. Continually seek to improve the customers experience through improving offers, the match day and non match day opportunities etc
9. Charge reasonable prices and explain when prices change why they have and what's influenced it
10. Make good commercial decisions that put the clubs interest at the forefront and benefits the club in the maximum way possible 

Based upon the above my view of our current owners is that they are doing OK.  There are some areas they could be better in and they could take the opportunity more to bring the fans along with them and involve the fans a bit more and communicate a bit more (e.g they possibly would get less criticism about the training ground if people new at a summary level why it is taking the time it is taking or where in the process they were - be a little bit more transparent without breaking commercial leverage or non disclosure agreements and re the temporary stands, they sought feedback on - the fans could have stand a) which would cost £x amount or stand b) that would cost £y amount but if you go for a)then ticket prices will be whatever, but if you go for b) then ticket prices will have to increase to whatever to make it commercially viable. Fan representatives you decide which option we select and build.) But I don't believe that they should get as much stick as they currently do.

However, that's my view and not the debating point. My interest is as I said, what do people expect from football club ownership?  (Not necessarily ours but owners in general)?

They don’t communicate with us about anything and rather then make us more sustainable have increased our annual losses to such heights that our very future is uncertain.

Of course the real owners of this club are not Wael and family but the supporters if it wasn't for us paying admission fees and using the bars and food outlets etc the club would not exist. I get fed with people referring to the AQ as the owners, admittedly they did pay off the Wonga loan , but money paid for the colony field and new pitch has been set against our ever growing debt which is covered by income from us. You also need to remember that Wael said that the reason why he put a charge on the stadium was so the family could get their money back if needed (which would mean selling the stadium). Most of the recent improvements to the stadium have come from sponsorship from companies that are supporters of Rovers. The family do not have the money to develop the colony field or do any major development of the stadium and have to rely on us to keep the club going as does DC with his players budget, though admittedly he has been able to bring in new players through transfer fee income. We should never forget that we are the true owners of this club and have the right to express our views to the owners on its future and be informed of the clubs intentions.

You are being very polite Bluestick, given some of the drivel written in response to you OP

I suppose some clubs could survive with out their supporters but I can't  imagine the players would hang around to long playing in empty stadiums. It would be nice if the fans were allowed more shares. look at Exeter city I know they are in a lower division but fan power, through their supporters trust  has bought the club a much improved stadium. unfortunately the debt being built up at this club by the family  is making it more difficult to progress without a major takeover.

The board came in with setting expectations saying Rovers need a new stadium and then looked at a training facility. My expectation of the current lot is very low as they show no intention of building either. 

The UWE deal wasn't right, fair enough, over a year on we are yet to see anything from the board. 

The Training ground, they own the ground, so what are they waiting for? I expect they have no money to invest in Bristol Rovers training ground or like the UWE wanted a cheaper deal, a £10M build for £2M. 

I am not content with continuing to watch Rovers play in front of a handful of tents. I am not content with us selling our best players every window. 

I think there is too much hiding from the truth and a fear to admit they cant meet fans ambitions and it is playing staff.

There is little respect being shown to us as fans right now, we have a board that don't speak to us and when they do it carries next to no weight. For football club that supposedly has a lot going on, there is nothing to show from it. TG even if he did put the sausage roll prices up, he appears to be the only one with presence and making things happen. 

My interest and wanting to spend money on season tickets and going away is beginning to tire, on Saturday i could pursue other interests. After 20 years i wouldn't feel too guilty either.

I would expect a mission statement of sorts, what they want to achieve and have it communicated with the fans. But honest communication not bits and pieces, vague mixed messages. I would then at the end of the season like a report, what they did and what they couldnt but how they could put that right, thank the fans for their continued support.

But what would promotion have actually achieved, a dreadful season watching us getting trashed most weeks in the Championship, I sense/fear we've reached our ceiling now until someone spends millions building a new stadium/training complex and increasing the playing budget.

Thanks for your point of view but there’s one thing I would question. With the exception of those who are shareholders, do we the fans own the club? We are the users and customers and heartbeat but the club theoretically could exist with no fans with the owners funding everything?