Held at the Den - Thursday 8th January 2009

Present - Andy Ambler (Club Chief Executive), Bob Asprey (MSC Chairman), Mark Holland, Ted Robinson, Dave Hart and Graeme Smale (all MSC)

1/ The Use Of The Community Centre Building On Match Days

This subject was discussed at a recent MSC Meeting when Fan Director Peter Garston had been present. It was thought at that meeting that the Club could encourage the Community Scheme to make use of the centre on match days.

Junior football tournaments could be arranged supervised by community scheme staff and the bar facilities could be used by parents whose children were participating in the tournaments. The use of the centre in this way would, it is hoped, provide a benefit to supporters of all ages, generate additional revenue and potentially increase crowd numbers.

Peter had drawn up a proposal and sent it to Bob. Andy was asked who was the best person / people to present this plan to in order that it had a chance of coming to fruition.

Andy pointed out that the Club do not actually have any controlling interest in the Centre and merely work with the Community Scheme. The scheme has its own Board Of Directors who include Loo Brackpool, Dick Towner and Chairman Dick Liddell. Any profits made will therefore accrue to the Scheme and not to the football club.

There are various obstacles, but Andy could see the merit of the ideas put forward and suggested that Bob could meet Dick Liddell to discuss the subject.

2/ Stewarding And Swearing Bans

The Club's stewarding policy had been criticised again over Christmas following the ejection and banning of a fan from a section of seats behind the away dugout. Andy stated that he did not like talking about individual cases but the fan involved seemed to intimate on message boards that his outburst had been limited.

In fact it had become so prolonged and uncontrolled that the 4th official had alerted the Police who were asked to take action.

Bob asked whether the supporter was warned before he was ejected and Andy replied that at one point the fan had four stewards sitting next to him trying to curb his behaviour. No warning was actually given.

The MSC requested that the Club follows the rules laid down and that a warning is issued before a fan is ejected.

Andy countered that this procedure will be followed in the vast majority of cases but there may be times when immediate action is required. As in the case above, the Club's actions seem to have prevented an arrest being made.

It was agreed that a statement will be placed in an upcoming home programme highlighting the Club's policy regarding swearing and crowd behaviour and that a continual tirade of swearing accompanied by aggressive behaviour will not be seen as acceptable.

3/ Catering

Over the Christmas home games, the MSC had received a number of complaints about catering. Firstly, Andy recognised that the caterers had run out of major lines such as burgers etc and, even worse, non-perishable goods. It was not as if the club's crowd numbers were varying substantially and over the time the caterers have been operating in the Stadium a pattern of consumption should have become evident. He had already had a meeting with the caterers on this subject.

Andy warned, however, that the margins for caterers are being squeezed as food prices are rising. This could also be seen in the provision of beer where the Club was hearing that its supplier, Courage, was contemplating a price increase.

Andy also pointed out that there would always be a difference in price between similar goods sold inside the stadium compared to retail outlets outside as the consumer is paying for the convenience of buying the food at the game.

The price difference can be seen at all major sporting venues and a fairer comparison would be to look at prices between sporting venues.

It was pointed out that Pukka Pies were cheaper in 'Arry's than the inferior ones sold in the kiosks and Andy said he would investigate.

The fact that kiosk 3 in the West Stand was never opened has been discussed with the caterers, who say that there was not presently enough profit generated in the West to justify the wages of the five staff needed to run the kiosk. There had been a suggestion that this kiosk could be used purely for selling beer, with only 2 staff needed, but the fact that this has not been tried suggests lack of vision by the caterers. ( This has since been done at the Tranmere game)

Complaints about cold 'hot drinks' have led to Andy asking the caterers to review the operation of their boilers and things should improve in this area.

Andy saw no reason why customer satisfaction forms could not be handed out. Indeed, the caterers were embarking on their own research by conducting customer interviews. It was agreed that they should be doing both.

More appealing meal deals were also asked for again. These could be based on those commonly seen at petrol stations, for example a burger, drink and crisps. Andy would discuss this with Lindley's. He would also take the suggestion to the caterers regarding the provision of another vegetarian option of a cheese and onion pasty.

The question of providing heaters and/or stools in parts of the concourse near kiosks, was ruled as other clubs, such as Derby County had tried it without success. There are also health and safety concerns regarding ease of access.

Andy also said that Happy Hours before the game to encourage crowds into the Stadium had proved unsuccessful at other Clubs and it was very doubtful that this initiative would be trialled at The Den.

Mobile catering could be used in limited areas of the stadium, Andy will speak to Lindleys about this.

In answer to whether the caterers had penalties in their contract to deal with under-performance, Andy said such penalties do exist but they are intended to be a sanction of last resort and that point had not been reached.

It was suggested that might be a small group of supporters interested in catering could meet Lindleys as a 'focus group', It was agreed this was a good idea and preferable to discussing catering at a Fans Forum.

4/ Ticketing

Andy announced that the company has now been chosen to supply and control the ticketing system at the Club, beginning next season. There were points to be ironed out and before the deal is finally completed, a presentation by the company would be given to a group of supporters who have expressed an interest in this area, together with Peter Garston and a representatives of MSC.

The system should satisfy all modern ticket requirements with online choosing and purchasing of seats, the online selling of boxes, in house purchasing of away tickets and season ticket holders being able to reserve their seats online for home Cup games.

It will also offer barcode entry to the Stadium and will provide the Club with a much improved database for communicating with the fanbase.

As regards the MSC complementary ticket initiative, this was to be run again for the Tranmere game but has now been postponed until the new marketing manager is appointed.

5/ Away Travel

Leeds United - it was West Yorkshire Police who had insisted on the voucher system. In answer to the question of how those travelling independently by car or train, rather than on official coaches, were going to collect their match tickets, Andy replied that this will become clearer closer to the game as the exchange point/s are decided. The MSC will try to ensure that all fans are satisfactorily catered for.

Cup replay at Crewe - The cost of coach travel to this game had been reduced following a contribution made to the overall cost by the MSC.

6/ Smoking At Home Games?

Following the many complaints received from supporters about half-time smoking in the toilets, It has finally been agreed that the Club will run a trial at the Scunthorpe and Colchester home fixtures, of establishing a portable fenced area in the car park behind Block 9 to allow South Stand smokers to smoke at half-time. If this trial proves successful, it will be employed elsewhere around the Stadium.

The trial will be formally announced after the Tranmere game.

7/ Club Arrangements For The Presentation Of An Award When Neil Harris Breaks The Goal Scoring Record

Andy said that the Club would make a presentation at the next home game when Neil breaks the record. He suggested that the MSC should make its presentation at the end of the season at the Player Of The Year function.

Andy explained that pitch presentations before games can sometimes be difficult as permission is needed from the referee and the opposing team.

Bob explained that the MSC was not happy about presenting a supporters' award at the Player Of The Year dinner, preferring it to be presented in front of as many supporters as possible.

Bob will propose a course of action when the time comes.

8/ Any Other Business

• Next Fans Forum - This will be discussed with the Chairman when he flies over to attend the Crewe game, with a view to having the Chairman as well as Kenny Jackett present. Hopefully this will be before the end of February.

• The Provision Of A Sound System For 'Arry's Bar - Veronica in the hospitality department has made an appointment for a technician to visit within the next week.

• The Repair Of The Replay Facility - This represents a significant cost to the Club and the club is looking for a sponsor for this facility.

• The Tannoy System And The Concourse TVs - The Tannoy system is currently in poor condition and is likely to need some £60,000 to repair. The Club are presently looking at the options. The system is still sufficient to satisfy all health and safety regulations. Andy will investigate the poor picture quality on some of the concourse TVs

• An MSC Newsletter - The MSC would like to produce a newsletter to fans, to include involving the supporters in the design of a new MSC logo and other things. Mark Holland will liaise with Michael at the Club about the production of this newsletter

• 2009/10 Season Ticket Prices - It was decided that MSC discussions with the Club regarding ticket pricing and discounts for next season should be delayed until the full capabilities of the new ticketing system were confirmed as these will impact on pricing.

• The Playing Of Evening Reserve Games - Andy stated that this might happen towards the end of the season, due to the backlog of reserve games following the recent bad weather. The League has always been enthusiastic about this idea but Millwall do not want to see a precedent established as, in general, afternoon reserve fixtures saved the Club substantial money.

There being no other business, the meeting ended at 6.20 pm - Date Of Next Meeting 5th February 2009.