(13/07/07)

My First year

Firstly I want to thank everyone who voted for me, a lot of mates voted for me just because they were mates, I hope I have done enough to prove I have taken it seriously and got involved where I can. Today I am presenting the Player of the Year trophy to Richard Shaw, you cannot believe how proud I am to be able to do it, so thanks again for having faith in me. I have written a few notes on how my season has gone. I probably forgot tons!

Nigel Spackman

The first major decision I was involved in was the employment of Nigel Spackman. I put across the fans views regarding his credentials - it was an overwhelming no, but I obviously only have one voice on the board and the majority decided to go with him. Once the decision had been made I firmly got behind Spackman and gave support where possible.

Nigel Spackman (Departure)

At times hard decisions have to be made. I have been involved in such decisions throughout my career. As long as such decisions are made for business reasons and not personal reasons I am comfortable taking them.

All I had to do was put forward our views as fans to the fact that we had seen nothing in the ten games in charge that looked like the team could improve enough to take us to safety rather than to Division Four. By that time I think Spackman realised he had gone as far as he could and the decision taken was best all round.

20 players brought in

The board gave Spackman a free reign and a large budget for a team that had just been relegated. With hindsight, I think the board were naïve at the time to bring in as many players in one go and expect them to gel. Especially as we got rid of the few remaining senior pros at the club prior to the 20 arriving.

This was a huge learning curve for the board. Lessons have been learned and the signings of the Willie Donachie era have been well thought through. They have ensured that not only have we escaped relegation, but we have finished offcomfortably in the top 10. If Willie's record was transferred to the first ten games we would have been candidates for automatic promotion. Let's hope he carries on the good work next season.

New manager

Then came many board meetings. Three in a fourteen day period. A list of available managers was collated. I put forward Dave Penney as the fans' first choice as he came out well ahead in on-line polls and mails I received. It really opens your eyes to how many differing views there are!

Willie did well enough to be given the role as a caretaker. It was then his job to lose. Willie, as we all know, made the decision very easy and he has been rightfully rewarded with a two year deal.

On behalf of the majority of fans I backed the decision.

Losing money

Many people write to me asking why the club are losing so much money month in month out. The main reason is that the club is still operating as if it were a Championship set-up. To attract better players and staff we need to offer the appropriate salaries and match day receipts do not cover the outgoings.

Now that we have new investment and the hope of the regeneration, the club appears more financially stable. The board can now look at ways of streamlining the way the club is run, making savings where possible.

Lionesses

The Lionesses got in touch with me regarding their fund raising issues. I was able to go to the board and ask for personal donations. They donated £1,200. The Lionesses are self funded and need all the help and support they can get.

Junior Lions

Helping the Junior Lions was one of my main aims. There is a major problem in this department because the Junior Lions do everything for themselves and ask for nothing. I have made myself available at all times. I set up a meeting that gave them the possibility of using the Lions Centre on match days. This was not possible previously. The only problem is the Junior Lions now need to arrange the cost of hiring it, which is approximately £60. I arranged meetings between the MSC and JL's to try and get them to work closer together. I attended the Junior Lions quiz, Christmas Party and Fun Day. There were a few problems regarding what players the Junior Lions expected to attend.

I arranged a meeting between Terry Burnett and the chairman. This now means we now know exactly what players attend their events. This worked well as there was full attendance from the players at the Christmas Party.

Dockers Day

This was the greatest day since starting the Fan on the Board role.

It may have originally been my idea, without the help of Chris Bethell, it would not have got off the ground and been the succes it was. To see how, we the fans, all pulled together to raise the money really meant a lot. And to see the faces of the Dockers and old players was also great. I hope we can reproduce the event next year.

Board Meetings

Attending board meetings is really a minor part of the role, as I have said elsewhere, the majority of the discussions take place on match days well away from the boardroom. Although talks are often finalised at official board meetings, impromptu meetings and discussions are commonplace. It has been a real eye opener for me. Getting involved in players' salaries, contract lengths, discussing all aspects of the playing side, even discussing the type of lawn-mowers used.

There were heated discussions early on. The catering and ticketing arrangements for the Yeovil game didn't make for a good start at the beginning of the season, but the club agreed to undertake a review and although not perfect, they are improving in this area.

I am a strong believer in people being accountable for their actions. If people do well they should be commended, but if they cannot cope with pressure, action should be taken to ensure improvement.

I have been party to board discussions that has led to several changes at the club for one reason or another. At all times the board have made decisions for the right reasons - business reasons.

MSC

I have attended as many MSC meetings as possible. With the knowledge I pick up as a member of the board I am often able to give a different slant to things. I have also been able to act as Devil's Advocate. This, I believe, has helped ensure good healthy debate within the committee and is also a key benefit of my role to supporters.

Berylson /Lacey/Trust

Hopefully the club are now in a better financial position than when I started. John Berylson and Demos Kouvaris started the ball rolling. I have met them numerous times and my impression of them is that they want to win and see the Millwall Football Club succeed.

Then, along came Graham Ferguson Lacey. A late runner and a 'dark horse.' The whole episode was to cause a great deal of fear and suspicion among supporters.

A deal was brokered between the two groups and financially we are a lot better off. I believe that Berylson and Kouvaris will ensure that The Den will always be the home of Millwall Football Club and not the Smith family. Whisperings of the same have come from Graham Ferguson Lacey. Let's hope they all keep to their word.

The Lions Trust supported by MSC members, managed to rally the troops and start a publicity campaign that was to bring everything and everyone into the open - this was another show of how the fans uniting together can only be a good thing.

Banning orders

I have had many people write to me to help out if they have been banned for one reason or the other. All I can do is set up meetings and mediate. Quite a few times I have been given incorrect information at the outset. The club have then shown me evidence proving the bans have been valid. On a couple of occasions the club have agreed the decision they took was wrong and reversed the decision, but it is never as clear cut as some would have you believe. All I ask is that the club look at all the evidence from both sides, rather than taking the side of the club employees/stewards without looking at the fans' side of things.

I have had many other letters complaining that I spend far too much time on trying to get bans lifted for the small percentage of fans that do get banned when I should be focussing on the 99% that go to games week in week out without causing any problems. Although I can understand their point I must deal with all requests I get. All I need to focus on is what is right.

Personal commitment

The role has taken up a lot more time than I could ever have expected. The financial cost, telephone bills, days off work to attend board meetings. It is a big commitment.But the pay off I receive at times is well worth it. I am honoured to carry out the role. It can be stressful at times. Especially if I am privy to information I cannot divulge. As I have always said, I can only pass on to the board the feelings of the fans, nothing else. We may not like what comes back, but I carry out the role for the benefit of the fans using the information I gain.

When I took on the role I thought I would be able to continue attending games as I always had. How it has panned out is completely different. There is no way I could have achieved all I have from a distance, or not taking a full interest. The majority of the information I have picked up has been in the Directors' lounge. You see who is talking to who and I can push my way into conversations to make sure I know what is going on. I suppose the best way to explain it is that I try to be a constant pest to ensure every decision taken is done so with the fans input via me.

I believe that if I had done it any other way I would have not been as successful. I have asked advice from people from the MSC, The Lions Trust, TLR, NOLU, various websites, and the overwhelming view is for the role to succeed I need to be as close to the board as I can. As the position is up for grabs in a year's time my successor may feel that it is better doing it a different way.

Overview of my remit as I see it

The role has evolved over the year. The main aim, as always, will be to continue to improve communications between the fans and the club. I am confident I have made a difference in this area as communications are at a level never experienced at the club before. The club will meet and discuss any subject with anyone. The discussions may not always go the way people want but at least the club are now willing to listen and at times make changes if appropriate.

Thanks everyone and as always you can reach me at: petergarston@hotmail.com