Tekel Towers » DUSF update..

bowers · 02/2/2018 9:00 pm

This was shared by the foundation
Well worded.

Update that was sent out to our members earlier today.
We need more United fans to join the Foundation so please visit our website to find out more at www.dusf.scot
Or if you want to speak to a member of the steering group just get in touch by email at info@dusf.scot or message us via Facebook

Well that was an interesting couple of days!

In the DUSF update of 30th January we outlined brief details of an intended statement of a 'Motion of No Confidence' in Chairman Stephen Thompson.

The DUSF Steering Group had approached the other supporters' groups, Fans United, The Federation of Dundee United Supporters Clubs, Arabtrust, United Ladies of Tannadice and the Dundee United Business Club to get their agreement and sign-off to an open letter to Dundee United Football Club calling for Stephen Thompson to stand down. Fans United and the Federation were in agreement.

During the consultation period with the above groups prior to the intended release time of 6pm on 31st January, the club got wind of the impending statement. There is no doubt this forced them into making the hasty announcement at 3:30pm on the same day that the Chairman would be stepping down in the summer as they clearly did not want to be seen to bowing to fan pressure.

Whilst the immediate resignation of the Chairman was a key focus of the joint statement, another equally important element was the call for the appointment of an independent CEO to work alongside recently appointed directors, Jimmy Fyffe and David Dorward, to oversee a complete root and branch review of all aspects of the football club.

It was also stated we did not consider the appointment of current director Mike Martin as a potential replacement Chairman to be a viable alternative given his involvement in the boardroom throughout the calamitous period of the last three years.

The upshot of the Club announcement is that nothing changes until the end of the season. Even then Mr Thompson, although not the Chairman, will still be the owner and majority shareholder, and Mr Martin will almost certainly be in line to take over the reins as Chairman. The words shuffling deck chairs and Titanic leap to mind.

The episode shows that fan pressure can force change and that your support for the Foundation enabled us to take a key role along with the Federation and Fans United in influencing that change. So thank you all for that support, both financially and emotionally!

Of course the more people that join the Foundation the more influential it will become. We will be working hard to get that message across over the coming weeks and months but we do need yourselves as ambassadors to get the word out to fellow United fans that it is an organisation worth belonging to. Like the other fans' groups who came together through the statement to voice their concerns we are not in this for self promotion, all we want is our club and fans to be United in a common purpose to get us back on track.

Incidentally, for the record we are not looking to "take Thompson's shares and run the club" as erroneously reported in the Dundee Evening Telegraph on February 1st. We have no idea where they got that from.

Finally. although in the end we did not need to issue the statement (the mere threat of it was enough), from those members that responded to the last update email, we received overwhelming support for the action. We were extremely encouraged by that as we must always be mindful that we as a Steering Group represent the mood of the majority of members.

Thank you for your continued support and let's hope we can get back to business on the park on Saturday.

CCX2 2010 · 02/2/2018 9:39 pm

It's a start but it needs to be more than "standing down" before I sign up, I am looking for a clear Thompson must go and the sooner the better.

I also think that if this clown Thompson had any business savy then he would see that his asset is reducing in value every day he stays behind that desk. If he were to resign with immediate effect and set the price required then I feel it would galvanise the club.

On match days it does help to have great players on the pitch but right now we are still not vocally backing the team, getting the Shed showing a bit of fight will rub off on the players. In turn it could be the spark we need to get back up and would make it easier for him to get his money and fuck off to Disneyland.

Arabnophobia · 02/2/2018 10:26 pm

It will take tact and an approach that's well backed in numbers to rid us of ST.

DUSF might gain members by saying what we want to hear as an end result but the DUSF can only claim to be trying to do what the majority want as any funds used are to be voted on.

I think their aims, objectives and priorities seem fair enough.

Voting system is better for us with a bigger membership than smaller.

kdyteejay · 02/2/2018 11:09 pm

I might be well wide of the mark, but did one or both of the other support groups not have a disagreement with DUSF and the outcome was that they couldn't recommend to 'their' members to join DUSF. Is this still the case?

I am holding back from joining until I get the feeling that enough Arabs are joining to make a real difference.

03/2/2018 9:51 am

Don't want to put people off but I joined DUSF at the outset
I don't know too many personnel in the other supporters' groups but I do know a few of the DUSF founders & IMHO they are very able & committed.
Remember they're mimicking the Hearts group (Foundation of Hearts?) & say what you like about Hearts but I'd rather be in their current position than ours.

Richs2Rags · 03/2/2018 10:26 am

I would be more than happy to financially back (within my meagre means) a fans group, but will only do so when at least 3 of the current 5 or 6 groups merge under one umbrella as only then as demonstrated in forcing ST to step down will that give the fans/members the power to force action, and provide support to a fresh investor and board coming in. Hoping that day is not far away.

Last edited by Richs2Rags (03/2/2018 10:32 am)

bowers · 03/2/2018 11:06 am

Richs2rags
Realistically out the groups who do you really see merging?
Federation.
Fans United
DUSF
Dundee utd business club
Utd ladies of tannadice (who are now not a female only group, Will the name change?)
Arabtrust

Arabnophobia · 04/2/2018 12:47 am

bowers wrote:
Richs2rags
Realistically out the groups who do you really see merging?
Federation.
Fans United
DUSF
Dundee utd business club
Utd ladies of tannadice (who are now not a female only group, Will the name change?)
Arabtrust

Fair point Bowers. Could only see the Ladies of Tannadice going under the help of the Fed if they are really a supporters club and the DUSF merge/take over the increasingly un trusted Arabtrust.

All serve their own purpose best in different ways.

What we need is branches of these fan groups to be proactive,helpful & organised aids to the support that work well and folk in charge of them to argue towards solutions out of the public view and bring the support together.

I've no bias other than what's best for United.

I've benefited through the Fed when it was important personally, appreciated the trust's efforts and the DUBC seem selfless and supportive without being publicly disruptive but we need to Unite better now and stop the fkn circus and find a way to combine to be better.

Only my opinion but feel the DUSF are tactful and more likely to achieve something through the stance of a fan vote.

Other groups seem to be voicing the opinion of their members through a voted main man who ends up causing mayhem over unity.

Oor team is bigger than fan figureheads and the progression is buggered up by this pish and mainly gives rivals a fkn laugh over a progression for us.

Hard to achieve but chippin away at eachother is fkn futile.

Need to find a way to Unite.

Tek · 04/2/2018 1:22 am

bowers wrote:
Richs2rags
Realistically out the groups who do you really see merging?
Federation.
Fans United
DUSF
Dundee utd business club
Utd ladies of tannadice (who are now not a female only group, Will the name change?)
Arabtrust

Well the first 3 already have.

2 of the other 3 weren't given enough time to consult their members before putting their name to the joint statement (that was released within hours of the request). Fair enough imo.

No idea if the DUBC will. Are they even a group who would entertain the politics of the club? I ask that genuinely btw not rhetorically.

I don't see why AT and the ULT wouldn't join forces under one umbrella if given more than a few hours notice tbh.

blackandtangerine · 04/2/2018 7:58 am

Tek wrote:
bowers wrote:
Richs2rags
Realistically out the groups who do you really see merging?
Federation.
Fans United
DUSF
Dundee utd business club
Utd ladies of tannadice (who are now not a female only group, Will the name change?)
Arabtrust
Well the first 3 already have.

2 of the other 3 weren't given enough time to consult their members before putting their name to the joint statement (that was released within hours of the request). Fair enough imo.

No idea if the DUBC will. Are they even a group who would entertain the politics of the club? I ask that genuinely btw not rhetorically.

I don't see why AT and the ULT wouldn't join forces under one umbrella if given more than a few hours notice tbh.

Tek, the trust and ult have a committee or a board whose job it is to represent their members. They shouldnt need to get every members thoughts. They should already know what they are.

bowers · 04/2/2018 8:32 am

Tek wrote:
bowers wrote:
Richs2rags
Realistically out the groups who do you really see merging?
Federation.
Fans United
DUSF
Dundee utd business club
Utd ladies of tannadice (who are now not a female only group, Will the name change?)
Arabtrust
Well the first 3 already have.

2 of the other 3 weren't given enough time to consult their members before putting their name to the joint statement (that was released within hours of the request). Fair enough imo.

No idea if the DUBC will. Are they even a group who would entertain the politics of the club? I ask that genuinely btw not rhetorically.

I don't see why AT and the ULT wouldn't join forces under one umbrella if given more than a few hours notice tbh.

Tek.
As b&t says below they have a committee for this sort of thing.
They are elected each year. Same as the Fed whos decision was madr very quickly from all committee members.

Also the 3 have not merged. Yes all in agreement and standing together on this against the club wbich is great and a huge step in the right directiln imo.

Last edited by bowers (04/2/2018 8:33 am)

bowers · 04/2/2018 8:35 am

Arabnophobia wrote:
bowers wrote:
Richs2rags
Realistically out the groups who do you really see merging?
Federation.
Fans United
DUSF
Dundee utd business club
Utd ladies of tannadice (who are now not a female only group, Will the name change?)
Arabtrust

Fair point Bowers. Could only see the Ladies of Tannadice going under the help of the Fed if they are really a supporters club and the DUSF merge/take over the increasingly un trusted Arabtrust.

All serve their own purpose best in different ways.

What we need is branches of these fan groups to be proactive,helpful & organised aids to the support that work well and folk in charge of them to argue towards solutions out of the public view and bring the support together.

I've no bias other than what's best for United.

I've benefited through the Fed when it was important personally, appreciated the trust's efforts and the DUBC seem selfless and supportive without being publicly disruptive but we need to Unite better now and stop the fkn circus and find a way to combine to be better.

Only my opinion but feel the DUSF are tactful and more likely to achieve something through the stance of a fan vote.

Other groups seem to be voicing the opinion of their members through a voted main man who ends up causing mayhem over unity.

Oor team is bigger than fan figureheads and the progression is buggered up by this pish and mainly gives rivals a fkn laugh over a progression for us.

Hard to achieve but chippin away at eachother is fkn futile.

Need to find a way to Unite.

The thing is.
The utd ladies of tannadice was set up initially as a supporters club who jooned the federation. I think for one season.
Before becoming a fan group
Are they a fan group?
Are they just a supporters club with 50 or so members?

bowers · 04/2/2018 8:38 am

Arabtrust continue to let one man make them a laughing stock and have now apologised for a post he made using the arabtrust account.
They are comical

blackandtangerine · 04/2/2018 9:09 am

bowers wrote:
Arabnophobia wrote:
bowers wrote:
Richs2rags
Realistically out the groups who do you really see merging?
Federation.
Fans United
DUSF
Dundee utd business club
Utd ladies of tannadice (who are now not a female only group, Will the name change?)
Arabtrust

Fair point Bowers. Could only see the Ladies of Tannadice going under the help of the Fed if they are really a supporters club and the DUSF merge/take over the increasingly un trusted Arabtrust.

All serve their own purpose best in different ways.

What we need is branches of these fan groups to be proactive,helpful & organised aids to the support that work well and folk in charge of them to argue towards solutions out of the public view and bring the support together.

I've no bias other than what's best for United.

I've benefited through the Fed when it was important personally, appreciated the trust's efforts and the DUBC seem selfless and supportive without being publicly disruptive but we need to Unite better now and stop the fkn circus and find a way to combine to be better.

Only my opinion but feel the DUSF are tactful and more likely to achieve something through the stance of a fan vote.

Other groups seem to be voicing the opinion of their members through a voted main man who ends up causing mayhem over unity.

Oor team is bigger than fan figureheads and the progression is buggered up by this pish and mainly gives rivals a fkn laugh over a progression for us.

Hard to achieve but chippin away at eachother is fkn futile.

Need to find a way to Unite.
The thing is.
The utd ladies of tannadice was set up initially as a supporters club who jooned the federation. I think for one season.
Before becoming a fan group
Are they a fan group?
Are they just a supporters club with 50 or so members?

If they are a fan group im going to start up the FWBM of Tannadice

Tek · 04/2/2018 2:26 pm

@Bowers and B+T

And what if the committee members are themselves split on the issue? Then they have no option but to poll their members on the issue for a definitive decision on how to proceed. Or perhaps (given the initial email request to join forces was given out 10.30pm and the letter issued just the next afternoon) that one or both organisations simply didn't have enough time to confer with all their committee members (with being asleep/at work etc)?

Again I am sure given the chance both would join forces with the other organisations to put their name to the letter. Why wouldn't they? And i know AT has the 'Barile' issue i.e. being argumentative with other supporters/groups etc but he surely can't speak for the whole organisation.

p.s. I didn't mean the 3 groups had 'merged' as one btw Bowers. Just that they had 'joined forces' as one so to speak. Each organisation will doubtless keep their own identity going forward, regardless of any unification of organisations (as they should imo).

bowers · 04/2/2018 3:05 pm

If they couldnt reach an agreement on this between them then they could have said this and asked for more time perhaps?
Each committee member is active via email and conractable on mobile/whatsapp and could have been contacted easily to ask what they thought.

Tek · 04/2/2018 3:18 pm

bowers wrote:
If they couldnt reach an agreement on this between them then they could have said this and asked for more time perhaps?
Each committee member is active via email and conractable on mobile/whatsapp and could have been contacted easily to ask what they thought.

Maybe they were going to do this. Again the request to put their name to the letter and then the issuement of it happened fairly quickly i.e. within a few hours.

These are not Full-Time organisations afterall. Folk could well have been sleeping at work etc.

bowers · 04/2/2018 3:36 pm

Tek wrote:
bowers wrote:
If they couldnt reach an agreement on this between them then they could have said this and asked for more time perhaps?
Each committee member is active via email and conractable on mobile/whatsapp and could have been contacted easily to ask what they thought.
Maybe they were going to do this. Again the request to put their name to the letter and then the issuement of it happened fairly quickly i.e. within a few hours.

These are not Full-Time organisations afterall. Folk could well have been sleeping at work etc.

We are talking of about 18 hours of a time scale here tek.

3 organisations managed to get a committee agreement fairly quickly.

Arabnophobia · 04/2/2018 4:00 pm

Seems like we are moving together in the right direction. I've signed ain O' the bairns up as junior foundation member for starters at £2.50 per month.

blackandtangerine · 04/2/2018 4:03 pm

Tek wrote:
@Bowers and B+T

And what if the committee members are themselves split on the issue? Then they have no option but to poll their members on the issue for a definitive decision on how to proceed. Or perhaps (given the initial email request to join forces was given out 10.30pm and the letter issued just the next afternoon) that one or both organisations simply didn't have enough time to confer with all their committee members (with being asleep/at work etc)?

Again I am sure given the chance both would join forces with the other organisations to put their name to the letter. Why wouldn't they? And i know AT has the 'Barile' issue i.e. being argumentative with other supporters/groups etc but he surely can't speak for the whole organisation.

p.s. I didn't mean the 3 groups had 'merged' as one btw Bowers. Just that they had 'joined forces' as one so to speak. Each organisation will doubtless keep their own identity going forward, regardless of any unification of organisations (as they should imo).

He doesnt speak for the whole organisation but it seems he gets a free reign to do so.

Tek · 04/2/2018 5:31 pm

bowers wrote:
Tek wrote:
bowers wrote:
If they couldnt reach an agreement on this between them then they could have said this and asked for more time perhaps?
Each committee member is active via email and conractable on mobile/whatsapp and could have been contacted easily to ask what they thought.
Maybe they were going to do this. Again the request to put their name to the letter and then the issuement of it happened fairly quickly i.e. within a few hours.

These are not Full-Time organisations afterall. Folk could well have been sleeping at work etc.

We are talking of about 18 hours of a time scale here tek.

3 organisations managed to get a committee agreement fairly quickly.

Again to play 'Devils Advocate' they probably didn't realise the urgency to give the green light to their name being on the letter. Thompson putting out his resignation statement usurped everyone.

I will say one thing if someone did tip Thompson off then i would want them removed from my organisation.

bowers · 04/2/2018 5:57 pm

Tek wrote:
bowers wrote:
Tek wrote:

Maybe they were going to do this. Again the request to put their name to the letter and then the issuement of it happened fairly quickly i.e. within a few hours.

These are not Full-Time organisations afterall. Folk could well have been sleeping at work etc.

We are talking of about 18 hours of a time scale here tek.

3 organisations managed to get a committee agreement fairly quickly.
Again to play 'Devils Advocate' they probably didn't realise the urgency to give the green light to their name being on the letter. Thompson putting out his resignation statement usurped everyone.

I will say one thing if someone did tip Thompson off then i would want them removed from my organisation.

But they did realise as a deadline was set for it.

Someone did tip the club off and i know who my money would be on.

Tek · 04/2/2018 6:16 pm

bowers wrote:
Tek wrote:
bowers wrote:

We are talking of about 18 hours of a time scale here tek.

3 organisations managed to get a committee agreement fairly quickly.
Again to play 'Devils Advocate' they probably didn't realise the urgency to give the green light to their name being on the letter. Thompson putting out his resignation statement usurped everyone.

I will say one thing if someone did tip Thompson off then i would want them removed from my organisation.

But they did realise as a deadline was set for it.

Someone did tip the club off and i know who my money would be on.

Didn't realise their was a deadline.

Possibly it was still difficult for the commitee members to give the green light for their name to be put to the letter for the reason/s i stated.

But perhaps more of an effort should have been given due to the urgency of the request.

I genuinely hope ALL the fans groups can club together as one moving forward.

Billy_Hainey · 04/2/2018 6:27 pm

If there was to be a merger, then I think many more folk would become members, and support the endeavour financially.

kdyteejay · 04/2/2018 7:53 pm

Billy_Hainey wrote:
If there was to be a merger, then I think many more folk would become members, and support the endeavour financially.

100% this.