Press conference tomorrow then i image the groups will have their say.

What is it with arabzone and the other bunch who do interviews? Not 1 of them will properly mic up the guests. Got my laptop at full volume - Joe rice is blaring out and can barely hear ogren.

Is it just me that it really annoys?

Shedtastic wrote:

Always the same with their interviews, annoying as fuck and amateurish as well.

 

I'm not an expert but know a bit about production.  Step 1 - mic him up and check levels. Step 2 - shut the dammed curtains and stop the light bouncing off his napper

Step 3 - don't cut the edit half way through saying thank you and shaking his hands.

As a side note - if Joe could use the correct English in his newsletters, it would make me v happy.... Maybe my English isn't great but then I'm not head of communications at a national level business

kdyteejay wrote:

Ogren calls us a football club and Rice mentioned us as a soccer club. Cringeworthy from Joe.

 
No shock there 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

As someone who was explaining to folk on our bus on Saturday that I can hear electricity moving around the house, maybe I'm sound 'hypersensitive', but poor Joe, head of communications at our soccer club, was also breathing very heavily during that interview.

As for Mark Ogren, he came across well and said the right things, nothing in the least controversial. 

Fed update from meeting..

Fans Meeting with New Dundee United Board.

In attendance was Representatives from Federation DUSC, Fans United, Dundee United Business Club, Dundee United Supporters Foundation, Arabtrust, ULT and the Independent reps of the SLG.

In attendance from Dundee United were Mark and Scott Ogren, Jimmy Fyffe, David Dorward, Colin Stewart, Robbie Neilson, Malachy Brannigan, Tony Ashgar, Derek Bond and Moira Hughes.

Mark Ogren started out by saying he wouldn’t  have purchased if in premier league. His main Goal is to get to us back to the premiership. They had their first board meeting today with the full board attending. Wants to make a lot of improvements to the stadium. Didnt fully go into what improvements but did mention some basic things like the way the fans are served food, the match experience for fans and stadium upkeep. He will use his team to help him run the club and will hopefully get over as much as he can to hopefully enjoy any success we have.

It was then opened up for questions from the floor.

Denis McGurk from Foundation
asked how quickly do they expect profit?
One of the first things they want to do first is to start with youth development.
To make money scottish football team wasnt near top of list of investments they wanted to make but they want a bit of fun out of it as well as making money. They expect to make money but timescale all depends on how the decisions they make pan out.

Tom cairns Business club asked. Has he got plans to fund neilsons transfer budget?
They dont have an open cheque book but funds are being made available asap. He has brought finance director in to assist with decisions like paying players off. Says he hates to lose so wants to win at all costs.

Sporting director Tony Ashgar then spoke to clarify his role. He’s here to oversee the academy, make sure fans are happy with the footballing side and player recruitment. Robbie reports to him for the football side. Says st and mm used his company to sell their shares and the club. Wants to take back control of picking the best local players at young level as it seems that the club is missing out on young local talent to other clubs. Hes not here as an agent but he does have a wide range of contracts. All transfers will be discussed between himself, Robbie Neilson and the board. He made it clear he is no longer an agent and has no deals for making money on players.

Ged Bell Foundation asked Mark Ogren about merger rumours. Mark Ogren’s answer was that there was NO chance of merger or even groundshare with Dundee. He has had no contact with anyone from any other club.

Pat McCarron Fans United asked about Tannadice being bought back and loan being paid off. Mark Ogren answered that  it was the process of being paid back and would hopefully be done soon.

Stewart Haddow Independent asked about if gussie had been bought back. Mark Ogren again stated it was in the process of being bought back and should be Completed in the next 12 months.

Mal brannigan then introduced himself and outlined his role. He is here to run the business side of the club. Is making all the final decisions and will be entrusted by mark to do this. Hes here to protect ogrens investment. Everyone except Scott and Mark will be based at tannadice full time up to 7 days a week.

David Dorward them told us that Mal sat with the fans in george fox upper on saturday. Refused to go in the boardroom. From doing this Mal has said that match day experience needs improving. The fan engagement and food services needs improvement. Needs to be more interaction between players and fans.

Robbie Neilson then spoke to say hes delighted he is working under a sporting director as it lets him concentrate on preparing his team for the next game instead of his focus being drawn to other matters.

Ged Bell foundation asked.
How challenging is it getting players off the books in january?

Neilson saying its difficult to get players moved on but needs players out before he can bring them in. He has players who train at gussie instead of st andrews because his squad is so big and its easier to have them train elsewhere because they are nowhere near getting into the first team. Tony Ashgar is actively trying to come to agreements to move on these players. 25mile rule is  still in effect but if right players come along it will be relaxed.

Tony Ashgar stated that they have a few different strategies for bringing players in depending on wage demands, age, what role they have in squad, how long they will be at the club for.

They have reviewed how players are scouted and its not working at the moment so will be changed.

Derek bond then was intoduced. He is financial director, he done the due dilligence and brokered the deal to buy the club. Hates the main stream media putting down scottish football. Things need to be done right and its not been in the past so financial model of the club is to be changed dramatically to make sure the club can make money.  Is at the club on a consultation basis and is accountable to Mark Ogren if the investment doesn’t work out.

Scott Ogren was given time to speak. Introduced himself and spoke of his love of european football and stated that he  was drawn to the club by the passion of the fans and was a big part in the family decision to buy utd.

All supporters groups then introduced themselves and told the Board what they do.

Neil Lowdon asked if he had any questions about any of the fans groups.

Mark Ogren said he is still getting used to how  everything is going so not at the moment but in time he will try and get to know what everyone does.

Neil then made  a good point of if his local pub shut down he would go to another pub, same with supermarket but if the club goes to the wall he has nothing else. Whole room agreed with that.

Mal Brannigan then stated that the board will have an open approach to things but there will things that he cannot discuss and instead of keeping fans in the dark and not answering, fans will be told we “cant answer that at the moment but info will be put out when it can.” Although not every single detail will be discussed with the fans.

David Dorward made the point the SLG will be the vehicle for fans and the board to communicate because there are too many groups to constantly meet individually.
Mal Brannigan will be the main contact between fans groups and club.

Colin Stewart stated the board want all the groups in the slg so the fans can have more say in what goes on at the club. David Dorward reinforced that point.

Robbie Neilson and Tony Ashgar want the fans to be more vocal. Atmosphere has been flat in last 3 or 4 games. Robbie Neilson says he knows hes half to blame for that as are the players.

Robbie Neilson was asked about the displays by Pat McCarron. Robbie said would love to have the displays every week as the players react to it and it gives them a lift.

Tom Cairns Business club asked about Staff situation at the club.
Mal Brannigan answered by saying Staff at the club are being looked at but no decisions have been made on what will happen. Something that is for the board to decide but wouldn’t like to publicly comment on people’s livelihoods.

Meeting ends with board saying they hope fans, board, staff, players can have a long and succesful relationship and get us back to where we belong in top 6 and playing in europe.