Read on Twitter
Worth a listen now that the inauguration day build up has passed. #cf97 #cffc #cf97UK https://twitter.com/Soccer_Cast/status/1351962080941920261
Just finished listening and as the information is digested, the need for 2 way trust comes to mind as it related to the Fire and the supporters of various segments--allow me to elaborate a little over the next few tweets.
For the Fire, while in ownership/business/player and global transitions, they made a HUGE commitment to change logo--sadly though, it was done with no fan involvement and felt more like a vanity project from the outside looking in. They need to get this right, and they know it.
That being said, how you navigate the 'designers' of the internet and the real-world designers (who do have their own agenda/baggage, no matter how well intending), the neigh-sayers who seem to want failure to validate their long-standing mistrust as well as
the un-under-informed fans from everywhere who just want to be a part of making something their own, rather than something encompassing & inclusive all while satisfying real world business decisions about a club at the centre of a business is a task I don't envy in the slightest.
To their credit, they have done what they feel best to listen. They have assembled a team from various scoped and perspectives (enough? remains to be seen) to inform the process, and given platform and voice to those who feel hurt by the previous process as well as
the ability for those very people and anyone else who wants to take part in the process at whatever level they can. There is genuine excitement around this on their end, and, from our perspective, the wider Fire community.
Now, on the other part-we know there are MANY long-standing fans & groups that have been wronged by the organisation & specific individuals within that structure--so we cannot take away from their view or diminish the effects those events have had on their ability to trust
Trusting the org as a whole, or this new process is an exercise in their patience and belief, such as it exists (or doesn't for many). Their challenge will be to either cut ties and leave their derision and mistrust for the benefit of the project and club OR
Decide that their life may be better if they moved on. It's hard sometimes to say goodbye, but if the well is poisoned, you can no longer drink from it and you will only get others ill or hurt from that. It it no way benefits the club.
There is a distinction between tough love and simply being antagonistic only to serve conflict rather than generate solutions and engendering positive outcomes. Many have lost sight of that in their righteous indignation.
For newer fans that may have only seen the 'lovable loser' phase of the club and may have only had a glimmer of the light from winning sides and mentality around the club, there is a renewed hope that after possibly one of the larger fau-pax's in the club's short history
there is a collaborative chance to make things better and bring us back to the first decade of the club winning and having that swagger we once enjoyed. All things possible in this, our new spring where hope seems eternal.
Those fans, as well as others who can see reason to work with the Fire (as a business who opened a previously cloistered process), will benefit from fruitful dialogue and, we hope, a final result which will represent the club, city and community.
The accountability and the process parts still have questions remaining and outstanding, but so far, the process has had thought, openness to admit mistake, resolve to right those mistakes and prevent others, take input to heart. Not really sure what more you can ask for.
Keep in mind that while this esoteric club we all love has a bipartite nature as both a business and a community, both have direct impact on one another. It may sound silly to state the obvious, but in this process, one cannot override the other.
If the business makes a poor decision, the community suffers. If the community diminishes or distrust the business, the business will not succeed nor flourish. We've got a 60k+ stadium to fill and the next year will go a long way in determining how much we fill it.
TLDNR: Bitter fans: get out of the way. Everyone else: Get your opinions and ideas in. Fire: You've still got a ways to go to earn the trust and respect of many, so keep it open and be like water (but you're heading the right way so far now). Love to you all.
