Following the statement released on the Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC website last week, the board of the ICT Supporters Trust felt it important to inform our members and the wider community on our thoughts, position and ongoing attempts to assist the club with understanding the importance of the Supporter Liaison Officer role.
The Supporters Trust Chairman, Don Johnstone and Secretary, Jen Aitchison had an initial meeting with the football club CEO, Yvonne Crook and Commercial Manager, Jim Oliver on the 21st August 2018 to go over a number of items; which included the topic of the SLO. It was intimated to us at the meeting that the club had every intention of appointing an SLO and, in addition to the views expressed by us at the time, the club would welcome our assistance in helping them define the role before moving towards making an appointment.
The new SLO Handbook, produced by Supporters Direct Scotland in conjunction with the Scottish FA (partners on the SLO initiative), was released at the SDS Summit on 8th September 2018; with those in attendance receiving the first available copies. The handbook clearly lays out what SDS and the SFA are looking for from clubs with regard to appointing an SLO and the function they should fulfil. An additional copy was obtained by the Supporters Trust and hand-delivered to ICTFC.
We received an email on September 17th 2018 from Andy Johnstone (ICTFC Supporter Liaison Co-Ordinator) detailing the process outlined in the web article, asking us for us to endorse a “Supporter Liaison Officer Function”. We responded saying that we were not in a position to endorse such a process and the club then, without reverting to us, published the statement with all direct reference to the Supporters Trust removed.
The process being implemented by the club is a little surprising. It is not an option which had been discussed with us and it is also an approach that conflicts with the CEO’s recently published update stating that ICTFC is on track to move from Bronze to Silver Club Licensing status; a status which requires a club to have appointed a named SLO with defined objectives.
A further email to the CEO elicited a response offering us a meeting with the Supporter Liaison Co-Ordinator, Andy Johnstone, who we will sit down with at the end of this week to discuss our views on the inadequacies of the process which the club have implemented; and to urge them to reconsider their position and appoint a named SLO. This, we believe, is a move that would best serve the fans and help the club meet its own target of Silver Club Licensing status.
The Supporters Direct Scotland SLO Handbook echoes our view that: “As the name suggests, a Supporter Liaison Officer is someone who liaises - they are a mediator between the fans and the club, the national association, and the league. The SLO also serves as a link between other parties involved in football, such as the police and stewards. Ideally employed by the club in order to liaise with the fans, the SLO is an advocate of both sides, representing the interests of the club AND those of the supporters.”
So, the ICT ST had a meeting with the club. The club said they intended appointing a SLO in the future. The club asked for your help but you said you were not in a position to help. The club dropped t
Fraz
I know there's some big words in there but it's not that confusing.
From what I've just read the ST and club met, discussed it, club indicated they were going to appoint a SLO as would match thei
Kingsmills
Not privy to what went on but very clearly that does not cover it. It strikes me as another example of those representing the club being high handed, arrogant and not fulfilling promises and undertaki
Following the statement released on the Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC website last week, the board of the ICT Supporters Trust felt it important to inform our members and the wider community on our thoughts, position and ongoing attempts to assist the club with understanding the importance of the Supporter Liaison Officer role.
The Supporters Trust Chairman, Don Johnstone and Secretary, Jen Aitchison had an initial meeting with the football club CEO, Yvonne Crook and Commercial Manager, Jim Oliver on the 21st August 2018 to go over a number of items; which included the topic of the SLO. It was intimated to us at the meeting that the club had every intention of appointing an SLO and, in addition to the views expressed by us at the time, the club would welcome our assistance in helping them define the role before moving towards making an appointment.
The new SLO Handbook, produced by Supporters Direct Scotland in conjunction with the Scottish FA (partners on the SLO initiative), was released at the SDS Summit on 8th September 2018; with those in attendance receiving the first available copies. The handbook clearly lays out what SDS and the SFA are looking for from clubs with regard to appointing an SLO and the function they should fulfil. An additional copy was obtained by the Supporters Trust and hand-delivered to ICTFC.
We received an email on September 17th 2018 from Andy Johnstone (ICTFC Supporter Liaison Co-Ordinator) detailing the process outlined in the web article, asking us for us to endorse a “Supporter Liaison Officer Function”. We responded saying that we were not in a position to endorse such a process and the club then, without reverting to us, published the statement with all direct reference to the Supporters Trust removed.
The process being implemented by the club is a little surprising. It is not an option which had been discussed with us and it is also an approach that conflicts with the CEO’s recently published update stating that ICTFC is on track to move from Bronze to Silver Club Licensing status; a status which requires a club to have appointed a named SLO with defined objectives.
A further email to the CEO elicited a response offering us a meeting with the Supporter Liaison Co-Ordinator, Andy Johnstone, who we will sit down with at the end of this week to discuss our views on the inadequacies of the process which the club have implemented; and to urge them to reconsider their position and appoint a named SLO. This, we believe, is a move that would best serve the fans and help the club meet its own target of Silver Club Licensing status.
The Supporters Direct Scotland SLO Handbook echoes our view that:
“As the name suggests, a Supporter Liaison Officer is someone who liaises - they are a mediator between the fans and the club, the national association, and the league. The SLO also serves as a link between other parties involved in football, such as the police and stewards. Ideally employed by the club in order to liaise with the fans, the SLO is an advocate of both sides, representing the interests of the club AND those of the supporters.”
Best Regards
ICT SUPPORTERS TRUST BOARD