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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Breaking news on sky
Peruvian prosecutor has offered scottish drug mule a deal…15 years or released the day sevco play their first champs league group match. She obviously jumped at the 15 years :)
Bankiebhoy
The MSM are unwittingly complicit in the Hun demise
Long may it continue …feck them i say
Thm
Is alfie not from Iceland. .. everything smells fishy out there ;)
Scullybhoy
I have never had sciatica but give me your medical opinion on its different degrees of severity
Stairheed
I hope you have removed the dogs sevco top and took its orange flag away. Might need to take the poor mutt to see a shrink
Thanks again Cowiebhoy. Will pass info on.
Ignorance is bliss. Loads of happy feckers around :-)
PF
Colonial will probably show the game today.
Enjoy your holiday.great timing as my old man returned yesterday
BT, are you hopping along to Paradise today?
Tbj:
Aye. Iceland is some plaice.
It’s gutting we didn’t sign Alfie.
Stairheedrammy, hope you changed the dogs clothing :-)
Good Morning.
Is Everyone on the MacKenzie challenge today? Give £5 for each goal scored Celtic Park today– obviously hoping Celtic score bundles!
http://www.justgiving.com/Appeal4Mackenzie
Go on save a life!
BRTH
starry plough forza oscar
I missed your oryginal post. All the best to your Mum. I hope she is well soon.
Tooting Tim
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/routes/belfast-cairnryan/
Depending on time of day and if you get stuck behind an HGV when you debark from the boat journey time from cairnryan to Celtic park can be up to 2 hours
PF……………
only when a publicy humiliated jang-jangle, “The St Mirren Supporter” and all their ilk are forced to admit in headlines and soundbite…..continually….that the team they all support has gone and the funeral held…..in the open…………..will lumbering scoddland be forced to accept their demise as real.
Perrception is reality.
HH
Starry Plough
Big shout out to your mum.
Club today richie
Wednesday early doors.
Richie
I dont know you pal… you dont know me.
But I reserve the right to have a laugh and a joke and… be happy.
Its just a game.. no more no less. You pay your money or not in some cases.
I pay mine.. I would like more.
I buy a lotto… wish I would win.. but keep buying
I buy and consume beer and unhealthy food.. its bad for me.. but gives me comfort.
No offence richie.. give us happy clappers a break. .. play nice ;)
Btw… I consider myself a happy shafter… im a Gemini
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan
I’ll donate £10 for every Celtic goal on Wed. I have set aside £50.
One up front today, Stokes or Balde?
Forrest and Sammy wide, Commons playing off the striker.
Ledley and Broonie holding.
Not what I’d choose, more a prediction of what will happen, we shall see.
Cowie is a lovely place, there I admit it.
See you at 1.
Brth
Good shout for mckenzie.. would rather it was Wednesday though cos think we will score more then
I have come to the opinion that whenever we are in the market for a striker that John Park is kept as far away as possible from the search.Fekin kiss of death in this area.Yes he seems able to find the odd midfielder,or defender,but striker,good god,he would not recognize a good striker if booted him in the gonads.Always there is an exception to the rule,Gary Hooper.The rest,
Murphy,Rassmussen,Brozek,Bangura,Lassad,Miku,in progress,Balde.Might be others,but looking at this list,my brain has gone numb.A lot of money thrown down the drain,that could have bought us a ready made goal scoring striker.Like Finnbogason.
Oh sorry,John Park thought he was overpriced.This at the time we were talking £4-5 million.
TBJ- She still taps her paws when an orange band passes- though otherwise unscathed
TBJ Praying for Oscar Knox
11:39 on 24 August, 2013
You mis-read bud. I am referring to those who seem to be at the CFC board meetings, are privvy to all negotiations with clubs, agents, and players, and have an amazing insight into the thinking of all the key players at the helm of our great club!
Clap, Clap.
Stairheed
Glad you dont stay near me in cambuslang cos her paws would be worn out every summer
The Honest mistake
I very much doubt that JF logs onto a blog and takes any cognisance of any abuse written about him. Give me circa 7 grand a week and ye can shout as much abuse about me as you want
…tin hat on!
Herald saying today that Lenny’s aim is to build a CL team.
Embdy know which club he’s moving to?
Jonathan Soriano of Salzburg the latest striker name linked with Celtic. Has scored 36 goals in nearly 50 games for them.
Richie
Sorry. . Only saw you post that line after my attempts to lighten the blogsphere
Im just a humble jungle jim… no access to the board etc.. although I met pl about a year ago.. I was with bts da… big john warned me not to be nice to him. And as im feart from the original holy goalie. . I just nodded and said nowt )
The Honest Mistake loves being first,
the price was hinted at by Herenveen.They were looking for £5 million.Knocked back lesser offer.Of course I expect no less from you in your attempts to sanitize our boards attempt to purchase a striker.Keep up the good work.
Glendaly
I thought we had a cl team last year
Sciatica= absolute agony when its inflamed as well as a loss of sensation- even after it settles it leaves you with a feeling like your hamstring is tight.- I had it 2 years ago and had to add a tens machine to the painkillers to ease it off
Score update fae Stonehouse
Stonehouse 5 Cleland 5
Turkeybhoy. How do you know that finnbogason is going to be any good for Celtic? There is no guarantee.
Eh…. Guys
Anyone who thinks I am going to miss putting up a MacKenzie Challenge for Wednesday………. doesn’t know me that well!!! lol
I will be here from Tuesday night onwards banging that drum like Keith Moon on Speed….. and if you are too young to know who Keith Moon was then…….. tough.
Today is today though… so here I am….. and you know the rest!
I know TOHG and BT’s opinion of oor Pedro! Hence the need for a tin hat.
Interesting stats on Summer spending, so far, in the EPL…
Man Utd – £2.4m
Man City – £84.4m
Arsenal – £0m
Wenger has managed 967 Arsenal games so far. Will his no spend policy this close season stop him reaching 1k if his team don’t cut it?
How much has Lenny spent so far?