We are where we are..... why?

[geosname]

Lets try to take a step back for a moment and look at the position the board finds itself in….. Its not an anti board statement.

Lets forget for a moment the anti and pro board lobby, CeO, NLV, B&G, SeO, Coffin Dodgers, Mo, Simms, LB, Adams and in the main the team.

Port Vale is a business and although football is like no other business I know it still has to survive in a business context. What makes it different than other businesses can be summed up by a very famous quote “Football is not a matter of life or death, its much more important than that”

The list below is based on facts, my interpretation and opinion.

Trust…… between board its shareholders and customers

This has been lost on several fronts, lies, distorted truths; miscommunications and silence have been prevalent over a number of years. In my opinion this has lead to everything the board does, says or thinks being scrutinized to the N-th degree.

Product….. Product development

Has deteriorated year on year, no improvement or sign of improvement seems imminent. Several changes in management to facilitate improvement have resulted in deterioration with the odd blip on the way.

Price

Initially more than acceptable but the continued deterioration in the product and product development could bring this into question.

PR

Absolute disaster to none existent, false information or no information being the biggest concerns, making untrue statements brings all statements into question and discredits everything that follows.

Customer satisfaction

Deteriorated past the point of no return, when hard core customers who buy the product under any circumstances start to walk away there is a very serious problem.

Communication…… with shareholders

Has deteriorated even from its early “odd statement” days, Polls suggested but never called, meetings promised but failed to be delivered, progress reports never given, investment opportunities never explained or conveyed even its founding charter has been ridiculed and described by legal opinion as “neither here nor there”.

Prognosis….

Not a healthy business in its current format, many changes need to be made all through the business, none profitable in its present format, heavy financial investment in the product and knowledge and skill base into the business practices are needed. It appears to survive on the good will and generosity of its small remaining customer base which is deteriorating daily, due in part to the PR and customer satisfaction as above.

 

The list above is not meant to be exhaustive or give more than brief descriptions.