QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC) Committee Resigns En Masse - OSC Committee Statement

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Monday , 4 March 2013, 14:49

Statement from OSC Committee (sent by Linda Favell on behalf of all Committee Members)

We announce that, with immediate effect, the Committee members of the QPR Official Supporters Club (OSC) have resigned en masse and have no wish to continue serving in their respective roles. 

It has become evident that the role of the OSC Committee has been diminishing increasingly of late. The historical objectives and purposes as listed in its Constitution are rarely sought by the Club.  With technological media advances in recent years, the Club is able to communicate with individual supporters in ways that render the OSC Committee unnecessary.  The Committee members have been keenly aware of this decline in the recent past, feel under-utilised and consider their contributions unappreciated and unacknowledged.

Ultimately, the decision was reached as a result of the sharp disdain experienced at the recent Fans Forum where seemingly fresh topics were brought to the Forum by various supporters’ groups and individuals despite the OSC having discussed the same issues with the Club over the past 18 months.  The Club's demonstration of concern at the Forum suggested that the its executives and staff had been blithely unaware of some of these issues.  This, in turn, has also demonstrated that the efforts made by the OSC Committee in voicing concerns on behalf of supporters - in an attempt to improve the match day experience - had at best been given minimal recognition, if not entirely dismissed. 

The Committee, as a whole, has adopted the viewpoint of no confidence and stands down in the belief that working with the Club has been and will continue to be a futile exercise.

Topics raised at previous OSC meetings:

Date of meeting	Topic Raised	Comments
OSC EGM/AGM 4.1.2012	John Reid (LSA) complained that the LSA had written several letters to the Club, with no responses.	Philip Beard wanted to commit to open lines of communication with fans groups.  He wanted to arrange and diarise a set of regular meetings throughout the year.
OSC EGM/AGM 4.1.2012	Stewarding, ticket sales, loyalty points, website information.	Items to be raised at future OSC meetings (see below).
OSC EGM/AGM 4.1.2012	Fans Liaison Officer.	Philip Beard said Club needed to prioritise and would be unlikely to be able to fund necessary headcount for this role. He considered communication should be straightforward.
OSC EGM/AGM 4.1.2012	Loyalty Points	Philip Beard recognised the need to review the Loyalty Points scheme.
OSC Committee meeting 29.2.2012 attended by Becky Grote and Dan Laryea	Stewarding issues	No further action despite several individual emails to the Club.
OSC Committee meeting 1.8.2012 attended by Philip Beard, Becky Grote, Dan Laryea, Jon Davies	OSC Membership (what benefits?) and Function	Philip Beard suggested OSC membership should be “opt-in”.  He asked the Committee what it wanted the OSC function to be.
OSC Committee meeting 1.8.2012 attended by Philip Beard, Becky Grote, Dan Laryea, Jon Davies	Family Stand – OSC stated that the issue should have been handled more sensitively, with prior consultation.	Philip Beard said the decision had to be made quickly and that the Lower Loft was the easiest section to change.  The decision stands. OSC noted that the Box Office staff had worked well when moving supporters’ seats.
OSC Committee meeting 1.8.2012 attended by Philip Beard, Becky Grote, Dan Laryea, Jon Davies	Ticket Touts brought up at meeting and emailed to Box Office.  What controls in place to prevent this.  Can tickets be tracked back to individuals?	Club encouraged use of Viagogo.  Nothing could be done to stop ticket touts.
OSC Committee meeting 1.8.2012 attended by Philip Beard, Becky Grote, Dan Laryea, Jon Davies	Club tradition and history. Wanted contact maintained with ex-players and staff to keep tradition alive.	Philip Beard happy to have a viable scheme set upif there was a particular purpose.
OSC Committee meeting 1.8.2012 attended by Philip Beard, Becky Grote, Dan Laryea, Jon Davies	Hospitality too expensive for most regular supporters. Asked whether less expensive facilities could be provided for supporters’ special occasions.	All hospitality packages to be sold at maximum cost in order to accrue maximum profits.