A thankless task indeed. A Bit of historical background.
The Last I heard FC Voices had a lot of good people involved but they had no real clout anymore. For that, you need to form an independent supporters organisation which is a massive task with a constitution a guarantee of recognition by the club a committee chairman treasurer etc plus if subs are involved a controlled treasury. then once people buy in everyone as a member has a vote and everything has to be done by concencus which is a nightmare. in 1997 HISA was formed and we all bought in because their one aim was to get rid of Lloyd and ensure the club survived. They organised protest marches, produced a fanzine and petitioned the council. In the end they were instrumental in saving the club and persuading Gateshead to merge.
Once that was done and they were involved in more everyday stuff it became unwieldy and almost impossible to progress any corporate initiatives as consensus was difficult to gain, because as this board proves everyone has a view which they believe is right particularly if they are a paying member.
. Eventually it fell apart.
FC Voices was formed after the sacking of John Kear and although properly constituted and recognised by Auntie Kath Rule and Co they avoided membership but rather took a role of offering a conduit between the fans and the club. When I was involved I met with James Rule and then Adam every couple of months with a list of issues fans had raised and we had a voice. In addition they had a deal of success promoted fans events like memorabilia fairs and two fans forums a year at which the fans could question the owner and the CE plus a couple of players, .as well as providing the fans player of the year award. In addition we represented and accompanied fans at hearings on match day behaviour with the SMC etc. It used to work well and it held the club to a certain level of accountability. But it all seems to have faded away and I guess it will suit them now that no such repoir with fans exists at all.
