I’ll start this by pointing out that I’m a fan of GFH. After originally voicing my doubts as the takeover concluded I’ve spoken out in support of them over the last few months as they’ve progressed in making positive changes for the club, it’s made a refreshing change.

Change is exactly what GFH promised, and credit where credit is due, in the majority of areas they’ve stuck to that promise. We’ve seen cheaper match tickets, cheaper season tickets and a few little promotions here and there to try and get the fans united again, for that they deserve recognition.

On the flip side, there’s a serious problem that needs addressing before all of the above becomes meaningless, and with that in mind, I’d like GFH to read the following and try to remedy the situation, for the good of the club.

It’s been discussed countless times, but under Bates the communication with the fans broke down to an irreparable point. Over time even those that were trying not to turn against him had no choice due to the utter lack of respect shown to entire fan base, there are only so many times you can ignore questions from the people that matter before they start to realize that they’re being sold a lie.

When GFH took over we were promised better communication between the board and the fans, and for the first few weeks that seemed to be the case. We were reading interviews left right and centre that had been given to fans, blogs and the damage done by Bates seemed to be healing.

With that in mind, it’s hard to understand why of all a sudden the fans are feeling as though they are on the wrong side of a divide once again.

The last few months has seen countless rumours about GFH’s intentions, we’ve also had Neil Warnock telling us that the search for his successor is already taking place. Reports continue to appear claiming that the club is about to be sold and even the GFH website stated that the company were actively looking to sell it’s share in the club, yet the silence from the owners couldn’t be more deafening.

The club may have released a statement last week reaffirming their stance on the takeover rumours, but it didn’t even come close to answering the questions being asked.

When it comes to the future of the club the fans are in the dark once again, and this is something that needs to change. The season is coming to an end and we’ve got a manager in charge who seems to get a kick out of telling us all how much he won’t be here next season, so why have we not had some form of statement of intent from the owners letting us know exactly what their plan is? Nobody expects names of potential candidates, but at least let us know that someone out there is working on bringing the right man in.

Not only that, but are we going to be entering the new season with GFH at the helm or someone else? Again, nobody expects details, we just want to know exactly what is happening with our club. If we’re up for sale, tell us. If we’re not, tell us. If there’s a bid in progress then tell us. It really shouldn’t be as difficult as this to find out information about the future of the club you support and plough money into week after week.

It also confused me to find that GFH have not been in contact with L.U.S.T. since they took over, despite efforts from the trust. With re-engaging the fans being at the top of their priority list I find it odd, and a little disheartening, to see that whatever went on throughout the takeover saga appears to have left the wedge created by Bates between the club and the trust firmly in place. We as fans were expected to give GFH a slate wiped completely clean once they finally completed the deal, so it would be a bold statement, and one that would show a truly united front, were they to offer the same to L.U.S.T and to build a bridge with them as soon as possible. As Ken found out on more than one occasion, ignoring them will not simply make them go away.

Lowering ticket prices and promotions may well get the fans attention, but in the grand scheme of things what use is that when we’re all staring into the abyss of a wasted season not knowing what the future holds? There’s no action plan to turn to, we’re all left guessing and trying to piece rumours together.

The hard work in getting the fans interest back has begun with promise, but GFH are in danger of letting it all go to waste by not sticking to the one promise that mattered most to the fans, communication. We don’t expect fine details, but when we ask a question we no longer expect it to be met with silence, we were under the impression that those days were done.

Whether they plan on staying or selling, GFH have the opportunity to bring the fans and the club together for the first time in recent history and it is an opportunity that won’t last forever. Even if the answers to our questions aren’t exactly what we want to hear, the mere fact that someone had been bold and brave enough to answer them would be enough, and it really would demonstrate the change that we were all promised.

Should any board member from GFH be reading this I’ll keep it short and sweet, you’ve made positive strides in your short time here but we still have a serious lack of direction. If you speak to us and give us a dream to buy into we’ll be right behind you, the choice is entirely yours, but it’s a choice that needs to me made sooner rather than later.

We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.

Twitter - @giddy_goose

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