BST column: Our wishlist for Blackpool FC's future

Such a wishlist – we are calling it a ‘draft manifesto’ – articulates the hopes and dreams of fans as well as the fruits of recent experience.

The first part appeared in last week’s column; here is the concluding part.

If you have any constructive views to feed back kindly email: [email protected]

Engagement

Rebuilding the fan base: The relationship between owners and supporters will be key. The priority must be to get all boycotting fans back through the turnstiles.

Maybe there could be a proper community section to re-engage fans and start building new support for the future.

Supporter liaison: Appointing a team of Supporters Liaison Officers from among the fans would pay dividends in improving the relationship between the club and the fan base. Liaison would also include improving the experience for away fans at Bloomfield Road.

Fan representation: It will be important for Blackpool Supporters’ Trust to have a role.

It would look for formal recognition of BST by the club and two Trust-elected supporters on the board of directors, with full voting rights on behalf of the fan base. Just to clarify, BST would remain an independent and fully democratic organisation.

Structured dialogue: Regular and transparent meetings between club officials and democratically-elected fans representatives should take place every few weeks.

In addition, town hall meetings with fans should take place at least twice yearly as a forum for extended engagement and feedback.

Infrastructure

Sorting out the state of the pitch: It is not conducive to good or entertaining football.

Employ a competent groundsman and provide the right equipment and level of investment to maintain a decent playing surface.

Upgrading the training facilities: Blackpool FC really needs state-of-the-art training and recuperation facilities.

They should also act as a community hub and facility.

Stadium revamp: Bloomfield Road is in urgent need of some serious maintenance.

In addition, the East Stand will need replacing. Might that be an opportunity to install both a safe standing area and much better all-weather provision for disabled spectators?

Kit and Merchandising: Can we get back to proper tangerine shirts, white shorts and tangerine socks for home matches plus an away kit of white shirts and tangerine shorts, sponsored by an ethical business partner prepared to invest in the revival of our famous old club?

A revamped club shop with a decent range of leisure wear would do good business.

Ownership of the Ground: In addition to Bloomfield Road’s ACV status, formal consent should be required to relocate ground; this should be extended to any change in circumstances relating to ground and club’s property assets.

Match Day Experience

Ticketing: The club must demonstrate and earn goodwill in the way it structures season ticket provision.

Sensibly priced season tickets, flexible season tickets, family season tickets and even away season tickets might be made available.

Premium season tickets might offer discounts on beer, food, merchandising and hotel accommodation.

Consideration could be given to reinstating continuity of tenure privilege for those who opted not to renew their season ticket in the last several seasons.

Match day itself. It will also be vital for the club to provide a good match day experience.

An upgrading of the concourse under the South stand to make a fan zone would encourage fans to socialise before and after games and help build the income stream.

Blackpool FC Museum: The Trust is having memorabilia donated to it; it would be good to have a permanent Blackpool FC Museum at the stadium, open to all, to house everything related to the long history of our football club.

Community

Integration and community: Beyond the match day experience, the club should continue to build strong links with the local community through the Community Trust, in tandem with the Supporters’ Trust.

It needs to re-establish the links it has lost with the local business community.

Conclusion

The new board must aim to give supporters a sense of belonging to a great adventure again as Blackpool FC aims to become a beacon and ambassador for the town once more.