The voting turnout… yes, the numbers aren’t bad in such a short space of time but it also highlights one possible shortcoming with the MyFC model – transfers move fast and to mobilise a vote could end up costing the club a transfer.

@11 Yes, there’s apathy at local elections, but that’s largely because they don’t attract as much passion as your average football club does (having covered both local elections and small football games during my career I can safely say the small football games spark up much more interest in the local community). Also, MyFC members have specifically paid cold hard cash to get involved. If I parted with my money, I’d be damn sure I got involved with as many aspects as possible.

‘Fleet faithful’ – writers licence, sorry! I was referring to MyFC as well but it was late and I like alliteration. But yes, point taken.

@12 I’m really lost with that comment? There’s too much information to get enough people voting? Does that not suggest (and I’m speaking partially blind here as I’m not a MyFC member) that communication lines could be clearer and simpler. Information is a good thing, yes, but not if it puts people off voting. Also, as a company, I’m not sure I’d fancy making so much of my information easily available to potential rivals, but that’s a whole new discussion.

@5 true, more clubs need to be more open and honest with fans, but a lot of clubs with active supporters’ trusts are pretty open and transparent (up to a point, see above as to why). Hopefully more will follow that example. I’m not optimistic, though.

A couple more general points. Firstly, I’d still be a bit worried as to where and how these debts have come into being, especially as MyFC did promise not to take on any more debt (although debts are a reality of life at any football club). It’s also concerning (if not overly surprising) that they’re predicting such a large dropaway in renewals, which I’d imagine makes it quite hard for long term planning.

Secondly, while MyFC is a great idea that would be great if it succeeds, there are still a lot of issues, both with the voting and the business model. So, to throw another question out there to MyFC members and Fleet fans, would a scaled back version of MyFC be acceptable?

I will also resubscribe, this is just too much fun and social interest to be missing out on.

Thanks also for the review – I got to know of this site through the daily MyFC e-mail.

The £20K raised for Gash was not just a local whip round from Fleet ‘faithful’ fans – it was embraced by MyFC website and the contributors to the fund came from MyFC subscribers as well as local Fleet faithful. Indeed, it was raised so quickly BECAUSE of the website … credit where credit is due I think.

Also, it is easy to pick up on low turnout … but the real story is that MyFc mustered SO MANY many votes in just 48-hours. Bearing in mind the timeframe and time of year (yes some people were still on holiday, others away from home etc..) the figure is encouraging. Besides – we struggle to get 30% of people to vote on their local issues at elections shows how much apathy there is to break through.

I would love to see MyFC work – fans running football is a heart-warming idea.

Thanks for clearing up my confusion on the matter though – I knew MyFC needed the money but I didn’t know Akinde was looking to jump…

The reason the vote was so lopsided was that Akinde’s contract was up in a few months and he had already said that he wouldn’t resign. He’s also been in slightly suspect form recently, seeming to suffer from a lack of confidence–he’d not started a game yet this season, actually. Given the cash crunch EUFC is in, it just made sense.

On a more positive note, gates have been over 1,800 for home games, up 400-600 over last year. If Ebbsfleet can stay afloat for a few more years, we’ll be in good shape. The next year will be scary, though.

Oh, and I pick a team every game. Those who vote choose to let Liam pick his team–so far, they’ve been almost identical every time. I think the member-chosen team will be put into effect some time this season, the votes are pretty close.

Elaine
Norman, Oklahoma USA