I received an email from John Paul Taylor, Celtic’s recently appointed Supporter Relations’ Manager, asking for some help getting the message of his appointment out to the support, and explaining what he is there to do. This, for a guy whose inbox will never be empty, was a refreshingly proactive approach.
Here are the questions I put to John Paul, with his answers below:
So what is the scope of your Supporter Relations remit?
“The role is basically to provide a link between supporters and the Club. Since starting I’ve had a number of issues to deal with including the 5:15 Kick Off, Hearts away and what supporters should do in terms of submitting ticket applications given their current financial plight, supporter behaviour and specifically the Section 111 issue.
“I’ve also travelled to Sweden to provide information and assistance to supporters and officials of If Elfsborg at our UCL Qualifier and more recently I have been working with supporters who have been trying to obtain visas for Kazakhstan. In addition to this I have been working with colleagues relative to Stadium Catering and providing feedback in order that we can assess what happens next, so as you can see a wide and varied range of issues to work on.”
What will you be able to do if supporters come with issues around policing or stewarding?
“These are basically matters which come under the remit of the Operations Director, however there is a responsibility on my part to ensure that they are being addressed. Consequently any issues raised will be discussed and action appropriate action taken.
“Naturally any action has to be consistent and appropriate to the nature of the complaint. The issue of Policing of Celtic Supporters is very much to the fore at the moment and we welcome feedback and specific examples of inappropriate or unfair treatment.”
There are tens of thousands of contacts between supporters and the club, between getting entry to the ground, to buying a cola to using the toilets. Lots of these interactions don’t hit the mark, if you are successful in getting things done, you know it’s only a matter of time before you’re swamped, unless the supporter experience reaches legendary levels?
“I think this is a good point, however I think in the main supporters are generally satisfied with their match day experience. Quite clearly though there are some things that we could do better, equally there will be times where we just get it wrong. This is where the service aspect of my role comes into play and I would ask that on such occasions, supporters make me aware in order that we can provide a swift resolution through the relevant Departments.
“That is a particularly challenging aspect to the role but I believe that we are putting processes in place which are helping us turn around our complaint handling very quickly.”
Are there limits to what you can talk to fans about?
“Football and Finance are really areas where I can’t offer any real assistance. Although, like almost every football fan in the world I would consider myself to be a football expert its one area that there are people more qualified than me to speak about these things when it comes to Club matters “
Have the club established a route for you to get things done?
“I think because this is an entirely new role we are working on a ‘let’s see how it develops’ basis. Naturally I have KPI’s and specific projects that I need to complete but I am working for a lot of the time on my own initiative and providing feedback on the key issues of the day so it’s important to keep a handle on everything that’s going on with the support and what the main topics are.
“I think being close to supporters and having a wide circle of friends and family who are supporters is a real benefit in this respect.”
Final question, who are we going to sign?
“Ha, see the answer to question 4!!!”
I made the point to John Paul that if CQN is anything to go by, in many areas, satisfying one group of supporters is almost certainly going to compromise relations with another – the nature of a divergent club, open and tolerant of all from inception, perhaps, so this is not an easy shift.
That being said, news today suggests he’s off to a good start, which as Mo Bangura will tell you, is half the battle at Celtic.
CELTIC PAY THE PENALTY
I’m sure your mind has already cast ahead to Wednesday night. We will have plenty of possession inside the Shakhter box, which will increase the likelihood of being awarded a penalty kick.
Failure to properly prepare for penalty kicks has cost this football club more than I am prepared to recall in recent seasons, so we must be aware of the following:
There is a high probability we will be awarded a penalty.
Shakhter will know that Kris Commons is likely to hit any penalty.
Shakhter will know that Kris hit his last penalty straight down the middle.
We should prepare not just for a penalty kick competition, but for penalties during normal time.
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Two very physical games coming up, I know it shouldn’t but my mind keeps drifting to Wednesday and the emotional rollercoaster that awaits, especially if we do not make the CL groups, I’m not in the least surprised we have not got a striker worhty of the name, they cost money which we will only spend sparingly
Thm
How you feeling today amigo….
tinytim
08:41 on 24 August, 2013
….but don’t forget he fell in love with Celtic, and the fans, …..that resulted in his enthusiam / commitment / loyalty levels increasing dramatically, which brought out the best in him …..basically, he was inspired, and became a ‘King of Kings’ legend ….
I would suggest his detestation of the bias (to put it mildly) against Celtic also inspired him to achieve the level he did …… He will never be forgotten…
67heaven.
Call it panic buys, or strategy but we always seem to take on pre contracts at the start of the window and everybody else on the penultimate or last day of the window.
It’s a pity we sold everybody so early.
pfayr, yep signing a striker is a complicated as sending the first man to Pluto. It’s a wonder we have 11 players on the park today.
Gotta to hand it Pedro. GB on board – no dissent.
Lenny new contracts – remuneration package linked to financial KPIs, so he follows Pedro like a sheep. Lenny on board – no dissent.
Usual cheerleaders in the media and Internet doing his bidding – no dissent.
Pedro has put the Celtics progress at risk and cover his backside at the same time. He has DD in Merrion Square, a weak chairman Bankier ( compared with John Reid who forced the spend for Strachs 3 in a row ). Pedro is now damaging Celtic and he has complete autonomy to run it as he sees fit.
We now have a manager who is 100% Pedros puppet.
The honest mistake
You are probably right .
Henrik scored 50 goals in 56 appearances for Helsingborgs.
At Feyenoord he was played in midfield /wide frontman and scored 25 goals in 105 matches.
Therefore those that claim that his stats were poor before he came to us were wrong.
I will also take note that I was giving Wim far too much credit for transforming him into a centre forward.
TT
Tbj.
Cheers for asking. Fine.
Reading back, it shouldn’t have escalated, but it takes two to tango. For my part in that, i apologise. The disappointing thing is that the tango soon turned into a ten man lambada with members of the cqn clique having sly digs without reading what the argument was about.
Anyway cheers for the advice.
Hail hail.
Latchford 09.07
I am very interested in your post.
I am also not disbelieving you.
I need to ask .
How do you know such intimate details about Neil Lennons remuneration package , and so very quickly ?
He only signed the new deal this week.
Or are you just speculating?
TT
Latchford
Dont think you like Lenny too much.
Why would that be.
Pedros puppet
Well well
The things you learn on here
Thm
No need to aplogise mate… sometimes when others join in an argument its hard to back down. I can be just the same.
Im sure tet was just standing his ground from his perspective.
Heres a wee secret. .. I once set up a fake blog name … to wind up bt with. So I started to have a go at him then loads of others butt in and gave me it tight.
But. I had by then tipped off bt off line… so we kept it going for a while… never did let that secret out except to a few that I know in person
Sorry cqn… im a bad bhoy :(
Twists n Turns.
You have mail.
67Heaven
That’s all very true if a striker arrives.
Lenny has been repeating the same mantra for nearly a month.
It seems to me we are now approaching the panic buy stage.
Which gets you a Bangura type.
Paulanthony
Could a toughened up Marc crosas solve a problem for us?
The problem with Crosas or a Crosas type player is that you need the rest of the midfield or forwards to continually move for him, we don’t do that, unfortunatelly
Tbj.
Who says that I’m not bt with a new moniker?
FFer offended by certain epithets shouted in the direction of Sevco trialists by the away support last eveningis assured by a comrade:
“Airdrie have always had an knuckle dragging element”
gherrybhoy57
Well written.
Enjoy today’s game everyone
Hail hail
Thm
No chance… your too smart to be BT ;)
TT what did your post at 9:03 to me mean? Hail Hail Hebcelt
TT
You ignoring my question ;)
67Heaven
Born in Late Oct 1963.
I was too young to personally enjoy 1967 , and the LL era.
The MON era was the highlight of my Celtic supporting life.
Henke joined us at the right time.
60,000 sellouts every week.
Plus he played with some real winners, and was managed by a man at the peak of his career.
Henke got the best of Celtic and we got the best of Henke.
My only regret if that era is that injury robbed Paul McStay of being able to play in it.
He would have been a wise veteran at that time.
Younger than Lubo , I think.
TT
TBJ
Apologies amigo.
I missed it.
Square sausage every time .
(:-)
TT
TT
Good answer… as you know… im a grubber no a fighter ;)
Hows mrs TT and that fantastic young daughter
Hebcelt.
PFAYR has posted this morning that he is in Tenerife .
I thought that you were being funny asking him if he was going to Parkhead today.
Other than that , you may live in Tenerife and be planning on meeting him in The Fiddlers for the game.
(:-)
TT
So kid on Rangers beat kid on Airdrionians by playing two players who should have been ruled ineligible Is this Scottish football’s surreal period?
Gordon j.
Did you watch the returned on ch4?
That was the Scottish remake.
What age was the maestro when he retired ?
TT sorry did,nt know he was in Tenrife,I was going to offer to meet him for a pint to discuss views. Quite happy to make you the same offer,always good to put a face to a name.Hail Hail Hebcelt
tenrife=tenerife
The Honest Mistake,
Is that the zombie thing? Didn’t see it.
the honest mistake loves being first
09:07 on 24 August, 2013
We certainly should not have sold Wilson until we had qualified….
Tinytim…..fully agree ….Paul McStay was ‘CELTIC’……Hail Hail
Off for a wee swim now, and onto the game …..decided to buy my grandson a season ticket this week, which enhances my ‘matchday’ experience BIGTIME…….
Ally just Cannae get his heid room the ‘don’t bet on fitba if ye play fitba’ rule. Appears to have an excellent grasp of the complicated regulatory twists required to defeat the spirit of the signing embargo imposed for cheating however!
Tiny Tim
Henrik was highly unusual , – a good player who became a great player.
BTW, on the f
Hebcelt
Once you see tiny tims face you might realise its not always good to put a face to name …. :))))))
Yip.
People return from the dead and attempt to reintegrate back in society, where they left off. The problem is that they all seem to have lost a large chunk of conscience and empathy.
It all turns messy.
09.26
Mrs TT is in great form.
A new outfit was purchased for our visit to the boardroom today.
She doesn’t need it , but then again she doesn’t need an excuse to buy new clothes.
Miss TT will have a mid day lye – in, and spend the whole afternoon getting ready in our house , with her 3 pals.
I will be glad to be out if the house.
They turn two bedrooms into the dressing room of la Moulin Rouge for hours.
There party tonight starts at 8, they will start getting ready around 2 .
Whilst I put on the Victor Meldrew facade, I secretly love the teenage mania that they bring to the house .
She has only a small amount of Celtic mojo these days.
I’m hoping that it returns as she grows older and wants to share some special times with her auld dad.
You more than most will know how blessed I am to have them both.
I still think we can go through on Wednesday(:-)
TT
TBJ he,s a fellow Celt thats all that matters Hail Hail Hebcelt
the honest mistake loves being first
09:40 on 24 August, 2013
Yip.
People return from the dead and attempt to reintegrate back in society, where they left off. The problem is that they all seem to have lost a large chunk of conscience and empathy.
It all turns messy
%%%%%%%
Season 2 being filmed in govan ‘The Rehunned’.
Hebcelt
I can’t meet today as I’m going to the match with Mrs TT , and as you may already have read , we have prior arrangements. (:-)
Another time in the near future would be good .
TT