Latest Fan Forum minutes

Fans Forum Meeting, Friday 2nd August 2024, McDiarmid Park.

Chair for meeting: Danny Williams

Minutes: Tom Welsh

Present Steering Group: Laura Stewart; Stuart Taylor; Dan Shek; Andrew Holden; Danny Williams and Tom Welsh.

Apologies from Colin MacKay; Colin McCredie and Mark Melloy.

Present from Club: Stan Harris; Alan Storrar; Bev Mayer; Matt Gallagher; Aidan Smith and Lewis Melloy.

Apologies: Roddy Grant.

Special Guest: Adam Webb; Chet Arter and Matt Klase.

Chair Opening Remarks

The Chair opened the meeting by thanking all in attendance and confirmed that the Fans Forum Steering group now consisted of 9 members thus Laura Stewart; Stuart Taylor; Dan Shek; Andrew Holden; Danny Williams; Colin MacKay; Colin McCredie; Mark Melloy and Tom Welsh who is the chair and secretary.

Thanks were given to Simon Martin and Iain MacDonald for their past contribution to the steering group.

Players and staff past and present were thanked  for their performance last season in securing our Scottish Premiership status and best wishes were extended to all those that have left except for Dimitar Mitov whose best wishes only begin on Tuesday 6th August.

Best wishes were extended to all St Johnstone teams for the coming season.

The vast contribution of Geoff Brown was highlighted and it is fitting that a celebration will be carried out on Monday evening prior to our first league match of the season.

As Geoff retires as owner we are glad to welcome the man that he has entrusted with the ownership of our club Adam Webb who is accompanied tonight by two of the other investors Chet Arter and Matt Klase.  Welcome gentlemen to the Saints family.

Meeting house rules were explained and Adam introduced as guest speaker.

The Next Chapter - Adam Webb

Thanks everyone for attending tonight.  Our excitement is only exceeded by your excitement.  Overwhelmed by the level of support shown to us and by the volume of ideas that you, the fans have come up with,  we would ask for a level of patience as we work through a long list of improvements over the next number of years.  Some have been done - new TVs in Muirton Suite which will have extended space from Monday. Some projects will take time.  Quotes are being sought for the resurfacing of the car park.  We are looking for a city centre shop location. Projects need finance and staff.  The work done by the limited staff resources at the club is amazing. I have been blown away by what they have achieved.  To grow the staff needs a growth in revenue which needs the product on the pitch to improve to attract more fans, sponsors and advertising. 

New Business Club application forms available.

Adam introduced Chet and Matt who said a few words. Q&A with Adam:

Q. How will Geoff be honoured on Monday?

 Adam explained the itinerary starting from 7.30pm which includes presentations, speeches and unveiling of the stand name.

Q. What attracted you to Saints?

 Geoff and the way the club was run in a sustainable manner mostly in an upward trajectory.

 Base and assets are good. Blown away by passion of fans and the input by staff.

Q. Please fix the East Stand Tannoy system?

We think we have fixed it. Our sound expert has tested all speakers. The  central speaker in the East Stand was faulty but please let us know if it is not working to the best that it can. Technology within the stadium will eventually be upgraded. Digital scoreboard being discussed at the moment but will be down to price.

Q. Old Firm home games are Saints fans to be in East or West Stand?

Adam commented on the atmosphere created at Old Firm games that prevented some of our fans not attending matches. Our battle is to reach the happy medium in generating as much money as we can from the Old Firm matches but taking care of our own fans. This is a work in progress to make it a better experience for our fans.

Q. Plans to improve kiosk and Muirton Suite facilities?

Radical idea to open up Muirton Suite by adding adjacent areas. Restaurant/sports bar idea.

On Monday there will be an overflow area to hold 200 people with a beer selling area. More room, better flow, not just the beer. Longer opening times.

Plan to improve servery areas through time and get a quicker throughput of customers.

Q. How worried are you about all the press predictions regarding relegation?

Do not share the pundits' predictions regarding relegation.  Have seen the quality that we have and  just need them to gel together which is up to Craig and Andy.

If I was a betting man I would not be betting on us being relegated.

Q. What are plans to increase fan attendance?

One of the biggest priorities of all.  Improved product on pitch will be the driver to increase revenue and thus player payroll could increase above inflation, Game day experience improved including serveries. Potential standing area to attract more younger, energetic groups.

Q. How are you going to increase the crowd by 1000 as you have previously mentioned in the present economic climate?

 Increase ticketing income through more people rather than price increase. Make McDiarmid more user friendly.

Q. New scoreboard please?

We have discussions with a supplier today regarding a replacement electronic scoreboard. 

If the numbers stack up as we have to pay for it we may have it in place for the 2nd home          match.  If we cannot stomach his numbers then other quotes will be required.

Q. Who were the fans you met with? Who selected them and what was the criteria? 

Danny and Tom both confirmed that they were invited to the Zoom meeting with Adam along with 3 other members of the steering group.

Adam indicated that during visits the new owners have met fans in various places like Bridgend Inn; met with FCU; Kirkside last night.  We meet fans wherever we go and get into discussions about Saints. Always pleased to meet fans so stop us and say hello.

Q. Can we have a fan zone type event day to celebrate the double cup win where games are replayed.  Realise there is a dinner organised but restricted in numbers?

Interesting idea once we get this video board up.  For example, on the 5th year anniversary there should be serious celebrations. We shall consider this.

Q. Can the Saints shop accept cash instead of just card payment?

Interesting point, wish we had a machine you could put money into and give a card to that value. The shop is run by a third party Saints Direct and the club get a percentage of income. Not our ultimate decision but we will discuss it with them.

Q. Are there long term plans to develop the Real Estate around McDiarmid?

We are desperate to develop.  Hotels pros and cons could differentiate ourselves from others.

Explore it would be looking for a partnership where they run the hotel and perhaps also have a Saints themed bar area.  Frontage grass area could hold the club shop; McDonalds, Starbucks, and is ideal for development. 

Q. Is there any intention to change the seating to be blue?

Major fans focus on getting seats blue. Cost issue. What I am dedicated to do is when these seats need changed they go blue.

Q. Will you carry out a review with support regarding VAR in or out of our game?

We are only 1 of 12. VAR has not been our friend with bad decisions, loss of atmosphere and its cost is excessive.  New head of VAR has promised improvements.

If the league opens up for a decision on this I would certainly reach out to supporters for opinions. What I will say based on last year's decision making I would vote to take it out however I think we are stuck with it.

Q. Where do you see the club developing in the next 5 to 10 years?

First year getting kinks out of the system like car park resurface; sound system. Match day experience improvements.  Get the Business Club up and running, attract a major shirt sponsor for next year and stay clear of relegation.

Five to 10 years happy to be at McDiarmid filling more seats and spending more on player payroll and shoot for European places.

Q. What can the club do to have more connectivity with fans abroad and could we get more content on Saints TV and can we get a shout out for the 30 guys in The Cross Pub at St Kilda?

I have a meeting with Saints TV guys on Tuesday and we want to see coverage improve.  I think a shout out to fans around the world is a great idea. If the fans could send videos, photos and emails the week on the lead up to games we could get them included.  Content needed 15 minutes prior and post match and also at half time. We would be sending stuff in from Atlanta.

Q. What testimonial matches have been approved?

Stan explained there were two testimonials approved in the last couple of years.

Murray Davidson’s which is done but he did not have a game.  Issues behind that but not for an open forum but financial implications.

David Wotherspoon - no committee from fans put together.  David can still have a testimonial but it needs to be committee led. Taxation reason clubs cannot be involved.

Fans Forum Social Media Update - Danny

Email: sjfcfansforum@gmail.com

Web site - www.sjfcfansforum.co.uk

“X” account - @sjfcforum

Tile on Wall - Laura

As reported at last meeting the tile on the wall was agreed by the club however club resources were not available to administer the scheme.  The steering group looked into options but are unable to progress it on behalf of the club as we have no means of processing payments and the VAT implications.  We now require the club to provide a solution to the setting up and managing of this scheme either by their staff or through Saints Direct. So over to you Adam!

Foodbank Update - Laura

Some updates since last meeting. Last season totals almost 5 tonnes of product to Perth and Kinross Food Banks and over £3000 to Saints in the Community. End of Season fundraiser at Railway Staff Club raised £2100 for Perth Food Bank.  Laura and Stuart also got Aviva to donate £2000.

As well as the McDiarmid Park Collections, Danny started collections at the Women’s matches at Riverside.

This season collections have been made at two home league cup matches with 42 crates of product and £314 cash.

We keep on saying it on socials after every collection - you lot are so generous and giving and it is a privilege to collect your donations and pass them on.

The club have kindly agreed to our request for a Saints Fans Supporting Food Banks day and it will be the Hearts match on 2nd November - further details nearer the time.

We carry out our collections from our new Blue and White gazebo (kindly donated by Mark Melloy and friends)  stationed beside the club shop.  You cannot miss us, we will be wearing bright pink jackets.

At the women’s matches we are stationed inside the ground.

Aside from the major supermarkets Saints Fans Supporting Food Banks is the single largest donator. A huge contributing factor is the support we receive form the club, unprecedented compared to any other club in the Fans Supporting Food Banks Scotland network. The other major factor is you guys who just keep on giving - Thank you so much.

Huge thanks to all volunteers who help out on match days.

General Q & A

Q. Why no video to promote 140th anniversary or new kit?

Stan replied for the new kit launched in a different way with new signings.

140th year is actually next year but is on the back of strips as we are in our 140th season.

Q. Is there scope to change walk out and half time music?

What is proposed is that the current will remain for Monday however from the 2nd home match there will be a new walk out song.

There will be a short list of 5 options played in rotation over 10 home matches.  

Fans will be asked to vote and the highest vote will be the walk out tune with the runner up being the second half entry tune.

To be confirmed how voting is to be done.

And Finally from Alan Fairlie - not a question but just an acknowledgement.

Please could it be on record that the volunteers pre match are amazing. My grandson loves going to Saints games and adores the pre match activities in the Muirton gym. Such a great atmosphere and it’s the same faces every week. Derek is so patient with kids (even when they are bouncing off the ceiling) and Ciaran loves going to see Brogan.

Every week he is met with an enthusiastic high 5 from him (and a conversation with him where he actually remembers Ciaran and his hobbies, even down to his pets’ names) and if I said the highlight of the day was meeting Brogan that would be an understatement. Such a good asset to the club to have him. The ladies in the back running a tight ship are simply divine! Always a smile and fun things for the kids to do. Also thanks to Bev for the communication from the club.

I could write a whole 30 page essay about the foodbank volunteers but it is plain to see the amazing work they are doing.

Well done to all volunteers. I love my club.

Meeting Closed