{"id":19357,"title":"(Re)Taking a Stand","description":"Money. Depending on who you ask, it\u2019s either the root of all evil , what makes the world go round, or the surname of the greatest goalkeeper that South Ayrshire has ever produced. It\u2019s probably all three","content":"

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By Mark Jardine<\/em><\/p>

Money.<\/p>

Depending on who you ask, it\u2019s either the root of all evil , what makes the world go round, or the surname of the greatest goalkeeper that South Ayrshire has ever produced. It\u2019s probably all three.<\/p>

In Paisley, with our modest-budgeted team and hometown loyalty often playing second fiddle to family allegiance, money is generally hard to find and harder to hold on to. Short of a cup final every few decades to awaken the full family tree, our decision-makers are forced to consider all available methods in pursuing increased revenue.<\/p>

It was in facing this conundrum that our club\u2019s custodians took the contentious decision to oust Family Stand supporters from their usual pews in favour of packing out two stands with travelling Old Firm fans (for any Celtic fans who have read thus far, please treat this and any further reference as reading \u201cGlasgow Derby Participants\u201d). Indeed, oftentimes these\u00a0travelling<\/em>\u00a0fans have\u00a0travelled<\/em>\u00a0from as far afield as the Wellington Bar or Tea Gardens Tavern on Paisley\u2019s Causeyside Street.<\/p>

Whilst never likely to win a popular vote among the fanbase, Family Stand natives or otherwise, the reasons for taking such a decision were at least communicated and had their justifications. I\u2019ll nail my colours to the mast at this point and say that while never happy to see St Mirren fans being pushed aside for the appeasement of our neighbours, I did take the pragmatic view that we couldn\u2019t turn down money for tickets that may otherwise have gone unsold.<\/p>

Something changed for me this season. This wasn\u2019t the result of a period of intense self-reflection or outcome of a passionate debate. Honestly, it was just a change in gut feeling.<\/p>

Fan ownership is an achievement to be proud of. A key aspect of our identity which has been hard-won and well-earned. Banging the\u00a0community club<\/em>\u00a0drum is natural, but that should be followed up with action. Our new Keith Executive Officer has wasted no time in planting this flag in any interview that allows for it, not least our recent Misery Hunters interview. His passion for growing our hometown connection, particularly through schools and younger fans yet to make their lifelong commitment, is genuine.<\/p>

This tone is what we need and what we\u2019ve worked, donated, campaigned and endeavoured to build. However, that mission statement must then translate into action.<\/p>

I tend to take the long term view. There may be a dose of short term pain in walking away from the promise of another \u00a3100k in the coffers, but the ripples of disenfranchisement in continuing the policy of Family Stand temporary resettlement may bring about far costlier consequences.<\/p>

Getting to see international players roll into town three or four times a year comes with a degree of excitement, punctuating the weekly procession of Ross County loan players or Murray Davidson. If our message to those young fans is that the Old Firm are not only bigger but more important, then we\u2019re unlikely to hold their attention and far less their devotion. In twenty years\u2019 time, we may well still be filling two away stands every few months but the average age of the remaining home stands will only be getting older.<\/p>

\u2026<\/p>

St Mirren are not alone in this dilemma, neither in their previous policy nor the decision to overturn it entirely.<\/p>

Motherwell, our fan-owned cousins and current recruitment solutions provider, went through the various stages of Old Firm fan accommodation before returning to their current single single stand policy. Graeme Thewlis, regular\u00a0Terrace<\/em>\u00a0podcast voice and sometime\u00a0A View from the Terrace<\/em>\u00a0face, was tolerant of the journey but appreciates the outcome.<\/p>

\u201cAt the time, it was never something that I thought really bothered me enormously, and the pragmatic view of getting the money in I understand.<\/p>

However, I really appreciate it now that it\u2019s in place. The club took the view of fans who turn up every week, rather than the potential money from people turning up twice a season, and I\u2019m definitely supportive of it.\u201d<\/p>

As well as Graeme\u2019s former manager, assistant manager, right back, central midfielder, centre half and goalkeeper \u2013 I also take his position on this one.<\/p>

\u00a3100k (or thereabouts) is a lot of money, but it\u2019s not a price we should be putting on the sale of our priorities.<\/p>

\u2026<\/p>

Ross McCluskie of\u00a0The Football Fish Pod<\/em>, alongside his fellow Killie fan Andrew Thorne, take this sentiment a step further. Kilmarnock are perhaps the most notable in our game for reversal of home stand surrender, doing so on-pitch at the climax of our now national team manager\u2019s reign at Rugby Park.<\/p>

\u201cI did sit in the Moffat Stand when it (the second stand for away fans policy) came in, and had to move. Attendance in that stand dwindled more than elsewhere.<\/p>

The principle of keeping a home game a home game, no matter who the opposition are, is necessary \u2013 whatever the cost implications. If it\u2019s horrible for fans, it must also be horrible for players.\u201d<\/p>

Andrew, while similarly glad to see balance restored in favour of home supporters, retains caution; \u201cI understand why we did it and other clubs do it. Its massive income. At certain clubs, such as Killie, the fan base is there to be won back.<\/p>

Every club has to do what\u2019s right for them. With Livi, when there is not substantial support, financially its best to hand over more seats.<\/p>

With St Mirren, it\u2019s not for me to say. It may be best, but you could also have enough fans coming back to fill out your stands.\u201d<\/p>

\u2026<\/p>

Livingston, in their pursuit of financial growth amidst sparse home support, represent the endgame of stand-surrendering in favour of the Old Firm. The Second Stand debate becomes the Stadium Handover resignation when only a thousand or so hardy souls commit to fortnightly attendance in the yellow, black or white.<\/p>

The AlmondView Podcast<\/em>\u2019s nominated spokesperson Liam Innes, a fine man among fine men, takes a sober view of the reality facing a team of Livi\u2019s specific circumstances in sourcing a budget to maintain top flight football.<\/p>

\u201cAt the end of the day, we usually have two empty stands so selling more tickets for more atmosphere is a win-win. Despite the atmosphere with the respective songbooks being a bit toxic, we\u2019ve had a few decent results in the face of 90% away support. Makes it a bit sweeter!\u201d<\/p>

The toxic songbooks are a significant factor in judging one\u2019s gut reaction to relinquishing some degree of home advantage. It\u2019s one thing to pay your money and walk into the bear pit\/lion\u2019s den (insert Stevie G lions and bears reference here), but to sign up for the privilege of being drowned out at home is something else entirely.<\/p>

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but songs sung en masse about bloody conflicts and hatred of one another\u2019s very existence is probably a bit much, eh.<\/p>

\u2026<\/p>

While there are two sides to our decision, balancing finance against fanbase, there is an additional second side to the convoluted metaphorical argument coin \u2013 those\u00a0travelling<\/em>\u00a0fans who will be denied entry once or twice a season in favour of leaving seats to lie empty.<\/p>

John Murphy, a devoted Paisley-born Celtic fan who lends his vocal talents to\u00a0The Cynic<\/em>\u2018s\u00a0Peak Fitba<\/em>\u00a0and who I\u2019ll be trusting not to ruin my newly-married life with his Best Man speech next Summer, holds that instinctive opposition while understanding our motivations for change.<\/p>

\u201cUltimately, it\u2019s St Mirren\u2019s decision. I can understand, when the financial disparity is already a great divide, not wanting to see your own stadium packed with away supporters. You don\u2019t want to hand anyone an extra home tie.<\/p>

Do I think it will improve home attendance? Maybe, if the team are doing well. Otherwise, it will likely just be money left on the table.<\/p>

I do empathise with the people, particularly in my CSC, who try to attend every game and will watch these games on TV with plenty of empty seats on view.\u201d<\/p>

If the power dynamic shoe was on the other hypothetical foot, I\u2019d probably feel similar. Power dynamic shoes do not exist, however, and my real foot is in a partisan diddy-club slipper. The universal experience of the travelling non-Old Firm fan in Scotland is generally an exercise in decision-making insignificance. St Mirren fans are left to find a spot in green-seated restricted view or a blue-seated no-mans-land landing zone for bottles and outdated patter. To quote our outgoing PM and\u00a0alleged<\/em>\u00a0father of more weans than Leigh Griffiths \u2013 \u201cThem\u2019s the breaks\u201d.<\/p>

Indeed, as if to double down on this act of resistance, the club has already confirmed that our matchday ticket prices will be raised for Old Firm visits to reflect the cost imposed for the reverse fixtures in Glasgow.<\/p>

The uppity zealot in me supports this move. We\u2019ll claw back lost revenue from the reduced allocation while casting a stone back in the overpriced direction it was thrown.<\/p>

However, neither club will feel the negative impacts of that price increase. The ordinary fan will. They may not be one of us, but we are all one and the same. Dermot Desmond won\u2019t feel the bite of an extra tenner in his helicopter budget, but a working Dad taking his two kids on their fortnightly away trip probably has something of a decision to make.<\/p>

Short term, fine. Bite back to make the money up with returning the favour as justification. But, the Northbank weren\u2019t wrong at the time when they raised their Twenty\u2019s Plenty banners at Parkhead \u2013 and they wouldn\u2019t be wrong now.<\/p>

\u2026<\/p>

In the end, I believe this decision will be what we make of it. The move to respond to fan sentiment is welcome, but requires buy-in from both sides of the aisle to stick. The club can\u2019t stop now and hand over all financial consequences to the support, while those declared in opposition to the previous policy must now return in voice and number to retake their place.<\/p>

Filling existing\u00a0clumsy negative space<\/em>\u00a0with newly-conceived corporate boxes, such as those shared this week, would be a positive step and encouraging sign of the club\u2019s direction. Expanded use of our home for ticketed and casual events, well-publicised and intentioned initiatives in the mould of Help-a-Buddie or the \u00a330 shortfall payment, consistent fan engagement and consultation \u2013 these all suggest that this decision represents a change in thinking as opposed to a token gesture of appeasement.<\/p>

Long may that continue.<\/p>","urlTitle":"re-taking-a-stand","url":"\/blog\/re-taking-a-stand\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/re-taking-a-stand\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/miseryhunters.co.uk\/blog\/re-taking-a-stand\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1657704817,"updatedAt":1657704962,"publishedAt":1657704962,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":106606,"name":"Misery Hunters"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/7l9aoxqmdlktw6ovekyziv15j0jid754jt9ywuawmdyismwo.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/7l9aoxqmdlktw6ovekyziv15j0jid754jt9ywuawmdyismwo.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/7l9aoxqmdlktw6ovekyziv15j0jid754jt9ywuawmdyismwo.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":37788,"title":"The Back Five #10","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-10\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-10","division":106606,"description":"An irreverent, sideways look at the past week in the world of St Mirren FC, with Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/q0ssixaohwilzdsjczlqogciycu1jpi0pk8vu06ndhn1dzrt.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/q0ssixaohwilzdsjczlqogciycu1jpi0pk8vu06ndhn1dzrt.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":45895,"title":"Red State","url":"\/blog\/red-state\/","urlTitle":"red-state","division":106606,"description":"Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie provides a tactical preview of the Scottish Premiership match between St Mirren and Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Exploring Stephen Robinson's formation challenges and players like Mandron and Olusanya, the article offers strategic insights into a crucial encounter. Christie dissects the tactical nuances that could determine the match outcome, highlighting both teams' recent form and potential season implications.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cvo3nd7mqep8m9pqipt22yxajusl85ntemyvzkwvcb6bndh0.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cvo3nd7mqep8m9pqipt22yxajusl85ntemyvzkwvcb6bndh0.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":36095,"title":"The Back Five #2","url":"\/blog\/the-back-five-2\/","urlTitle":"the-back-five-2","division":106606,"description":"Welcome to the second edition of The Back Five; where Misery Hunters writer Andrew Christie casts his eye over the past seven days of St Mirren Football Club.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wghhvrlrpybb7nwtiuwbnijbqbmucekqo1jd4dqqouopwnlr.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/wghhvrlrpybb7nwtiuwbnijbqbmucekqo1jd4dqqouopwnlr.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}