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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Right– Off oot somewhere– can’t remember where– its an age thing!!!
Malone Bhoy
Not in respect of replacing a like for like player. It wouldn’t be difficult for Virgil to be better than either of the 2 above.
But you would pay the money if you thought you could get a healthy return on him in the future.
And that is almost certainly one of the reasons we bought him.
THE HONEST MISTAKE
Enjoy the match with A later.
No outrageously loud singing this time,mind!
Still off oot– but Big Chips— we CAN afford to sign Finboggason!!!
Not sure that is the issue– anyway definitely off oot!
BigChipsUK
We could have bought Finnbogason 2 weeks ago for between £4-5M.
Money that we can afford.
He is now out of our reach due to our dithering.
Balde and watt both start.
Bmcuw.
I’m hoping the half time pies will curb any need to sing. Hail hail.
So Watt will probably be stuck out wide again ?
Is Stokes in the squad/starting?
Malone Bhoy in support of Wee Oscar
13:36 on
24 August, 2013
Friend is a Roma fan, he’s gutting at selling the player he hoped would be the new Totti for €30m and thinks he’s worth more. They paid €20m for him so he’s not chuffed… We have wee team syndrome.
If we finished 6th in the league then just sold our best player I wouldn’t be happy.
However we finished 1st in our league and are now in Europe, The players we sold couldn’t stop us from being beaten 5-0 by Juventus.
So for us to move up to challenge the big teams, we would have to keep the top players we have, although they didn’t want to stay and buy in some young stars or pay upwards of £20m + their wages, for couple of players to perform in 6 maybe 8, maybe even 10 games in a season.
Thats a lot of money.
Happy to have small team syndrome.
Very pedantic point and if it was any other poster rather than Kojo I would totally ignore it. However as Kojo projects himself as an expert in everything, I would refer him to his earlier post when he said we would have to score 4 against Inverness if we wanted to top the League tonight. Not so Kojo, two will do cos if we beat them by 2 its kinda plus 2 to us and well sort of minus 2 to them. Which would reduce their overall to plus 4 and increase ours to plus 5. Needless to say if St. Johnstone win and we win St. Johnstone will top League regardless of who scores what.
Celtic FC – Official Facebook Page of Celtic Football Club
Celtic team to play Inverness Caley Thistle:
CELTIC (4-4-2) Forster; Matthews, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Kayal, Rogic, Mulgrew; Amido, Watt
Subs: Zaluska, Ledley, Mouyokolo, Lustig, Atajic, McGeouch, Henderson
canamalar
If Watt is playing in goal I will still cheer him on!
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CELTIC (4-4-2) Forster; Matthews, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Kayal, Rogic, Mulgrew; Amido, Watt
Subs: Zaluska, Ledley, Mouyokolo, Lustig, Atajic, McGeouch, Henderson
THE HONEST MISTAKE
Half-time PARKHEAD pies curbed my enthusiasm for a lot of things in the past.
Including PARKHEAD pies…..
Only useful for knocking off policemen’s helmets in a way never envisaged by Wodehouse….
Sick of seeing Mulgrew in the midfield. Why not give mcgeoch some game time?
CANAMALAR
Here’s hoping he’s feeding off a target-man in Balde.
Yet another new central defensive partnership is fostered on the team.
Its no wonder the defence is all over the place at times.
Glad Rogic is playing and that Brown is right wing.
Sick Note giving another two weeks line
So Neil…
At least
Drapped, Ledley.. Thank Godot fur small mercies..
It looks that Neil is Tumblin tae the Fact that Ledley is No Pulling His Weight.
But,there is still a Loata woik tae be done wi that Mid Field.
Tony is ,at least .. Getting a Start.
That is sumthin’
But, is looks like he wull ,Once mair be stuck oot oan the Left Wing.
Dang!
Neil, Ye gotta Gie this Guy a Chance tae play in his Natural Position.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
Philbhoy,
Was not in question, question was, will we be playing him out of position again ?
If so why ?
We’ve got players who play wide why not play them in their preferred position ?
Only speculation for all I know we’re going 4-4-2
philbhoy
14:08 on 24 August, 2013
canamalar
If Watt is playing in goal I will still cheer him on!
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great post Phil……….
BigjoelovesYOURpost
Falkirkbhoy says Never Give Up Oscar 14:07
I get, and to an extent agree with our business plan. Although huge failings have been made on and off the field (we might still scrape through but I’m not confident of CL qualification) and there are times when you DO need to speculate to accumulate, no matter how much people may dislike it.
I was more referring to viewing £12m for Wanyama as a great deal. My friend said of Lamela “endless ability but inconsistent”. Wanyama was the real deal. Not saying we could have got much more for him (although we should have as in relative terms he’s worth it) but the fact we think it’s great business shows we’re small fish these days.
I know that can’t be helped due to our environment but we don’t have to like it…
Still here in the tavern have.nt net any cqners
Son wants hid fon back
Slan
BMCUW,
Agreed, would be nice to see an old fashioned 4-4-2, just for nostalgia reasons :o)
canamalar
The manager disney play players in their preferred or natural position.
You should know that.
I got a text from a a mate last night that said the Dutch winger will be out for another month at least.
Corkcelt
Thanks fur the Correction,pal..
But,why are ye being sae cruel tae Me?
Hiv Ah done Something tae make ye wanna Shaft Me?
Come oan..
Spill the Beans,
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
Big Joe
Had a lovely holiday in the Port of San Miguel, Ibiza.
Beautiful wee place.
You been there?
Mulgrew in midfield again by the looks of it unless we play 3 centre backs with Adam and izzy wingbacks.. Mulgrew is not a midfielder why does Lenny not see this?
Can see that formation going back to the diamond shaped midfield. Our players can’t play that way – don’t know if it’s ability, personnel or coaching.
Is the game on Celtic tv?????????????
Philbhoy,
You never know, one day injuries may force him to :o)
I posted on here a coue of weeks ago I was chatting with a Dutch bloke who told me our new signing was expensive for a player we’ll see four times a year, hope he’s wrong but the omens are not good.
Corkcelt 14.07. Clearly you still read his crap and this time i’m glad as it highlights that as with most idiots he cant even get the basics right such as primary school maths right. I now expect a stout defence by his ‘good friend’ at some point :) a brace for big Balde
Nope Kojo, just having a little bit of fun at your expense I have no doubt that if the shoe was on the other foot you would do the same. I must say I have warmed to your posts over past few months and if you stayed away from the political stuff we would get on right dandy.
Your friend who is getting to like you a loater.
Ah see Young Henderson is oan the Bench
well.. That is a Plus. He is a Youngster who has .. Mallam.. Ah like Mallam.
Good Fur You Neil. ..
Kojo
Still Laughin
canamalar
Agree re the Dutchman.
Shame.
I hope we didn’t break the bank to get him!
8-)
Edwardburns5 If Kojo sticks to the fitba he is fine, its when he strays into the political arena the trouble starts.