Reconciliation

By Chris MacMillan
November 25 2004

Date: 28/11/2001 A man once said to win a war you must first divide your enemy they are then easily conquered. Is this what has happened to the Airdrie support?

 


At the present time the Airdrie home support, one thousand four hundred on average are split into four different groups, each have at least one thing in common there love of Airdrie football club. Saturdays match against Parick Thistle a home gate of four thousand three hundred was one of those one of occasions where the gates suddenly seem to grow.

The first of our groups consist of those who attend all or most games, support the team who are on the park and care very little for the goings on with the running of the club. This season a phrase was coined for these supporters and as it was put at a meeting, "those who would watch who-ever or what-ever played in Airdrie strips even monkeys".

The second of the groups, formed of two supporters groups, Diamond Direct Action have fought for the survival of Airdrie football club since before the beginning of season 2000. These are the most vocal of support wanting to get involved in the running of the club and wanting to aid in the clubs future. Most have returned to watch the team now sitting top of the league, but have said on numerous occasions that there is something missing, and a lack of atmosphere at the home games. Others will now only attend away games. They will fight for the club and wait in hope of a bright future, a feeling that being part of the clubs future is better than having no team at all. They do however want to see a non-executive position on the board made available to the support.

The third group, are supporters who are disgusted by what has happened to the club over the last two or three seasons. They feel that the club has been raped, and it's major asset stolen from us. Most of this group feel that there is no future with Mr Gemmel in control of the team, whilst Mr Barr takes all the profits from the advertising and all other finances relating to the ground. These are the proudest of all our supporters and will not flinch from the fact that as long as MR Barr has the ability to gain the deeds to the stadium or actually owns the stadium they will never return to watch the club they love.

Our forth group and possibly the largest of all our support are those who aid the gates to grow on one of occasions, they turn up to the cup finals or top of the league clashes they talk about supporting the club with mates at the pub and other than that do very little to aid in finances of the club.

It has been suggested that the supporters form a trust and raise finances to support the team, maybe sponsoring a player or two and bringing at least the first two of the four groups closer together. The third group wants what, there is an easy answer to this, they want proof of the dept Mr Barr says he is owed, they want a value set for the return of the stadium to the team or support, something to aim for even if they do not believe the creative accounting of Mr Barr and KPMG. They require answers to the above statements and to others such as, who will join Mr Gemmel on the new board and what will they bring with them. The forth requires success or at least incentives to attend.

Mr Gemmel although you run the club what are you doing to bring in new supporters, it is up to you to secure the future of our club, that is assuming your consortium gains control at the CVA. What do you expect from the support and are you doing anything to answer the questions of the more sceptical amongst us.

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