Trust expected Willie to back Calderwood

‘We knew calls to sack Aberdeen FC boss would fail’

Published: 26/03/2009

 

THE AFC Supporters Society knew their call for Aberdeen FC’s Jimmy Calderwood to be sacked would fail.

 

But secretary Bill Ellis admitted they sent a letter of protest to Aberdeen FC director Willie Miller anyway because they felt it was important to highlight how concerned they are about the direction the club is heading.

 

Perth-based Ellis, a season ticket holder and shareholder, said: “We expected Willie would respond by backing the manager.

 

“But we felt sending the letter was the only way we could highlight just how fed-up the Aberdeen fans are.

 

“It’s not just about us getting knocked out of the Cup.

 

“We’ve had complaints, from non-members as well, about the lack of entertainment at Pittodrie most weeks.

 

“We want to see something done about it before fans start staying away and the club starts to suffer.â€

 

Dons director Miller expressed disappointment that the Society, of which he is a member, didn’t ask to meet him instead of sending a letter.

 

Ellis said: “We understand why Willie has said that because he has been good enough to meet us in the past to discuss other matters.

 

“But we’ve felt let down before.

 

“We felt they made a point of showing concern when points were made but then did little to respond to them. Doing things in a more public manner will make it less likely that happens this time.â€

 

The Society, formerly the AFC Trust, has seen its membership decrease from 600 to around 200 over the last five years, but Ellis believes they are speaking on behalf of the majority of Dons fans.

 

The Society hope to persuade more supporters to join their group.

Well they may think that they're speaking on behalf of the majority of Dons fans and that may well be the case.  But they'd sure as hell know that for a fact if they weren't so secretive about their organisation or advertised the fact a bit more.

 

Surely the 400 member drop is largely down to the fact that none of us have heard of them until that letter was sent out?

Well they may think that they're speaking on behalf of the majority of Dons fans and that may well be the case.  But they'd sure as hell know that for a fact if they weren't so secretive about their organisation or advertised the fact a bit more.

 

Surely the 400 member drop is largely down to the fact that none of us have heard of them until that letter was sent out?

 

You've never heard of the AFC Trust?

Yes, of course I have, as I'm sure we all have.  But then they disappeared more or less as soon as Willie got the job as Director of Football.

 

How many have heard of 'The Society' or anything they've done in the last 5 years?

The drop in membership is probably to do with them not reminding folk they need to keep paying a tenner a year if they want to stay a member. I joined up when it started but didn't hear a peep from them afterwards.

I wonder where all the tenners went?

 

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