Fan Forum 24/04/2025

Number of Attendees – 23

Attending from the forum – Danny Williams, Colin McKay, Laura Stewart, Dan Shek and Stuart Taylor

Apologies -Tom Welsh, Elliot Thompson  and; Darlene McDonald

Board Attendees – Matt Klase, Chet Arter, Fran Smith & Aileen Campbell.

Also in Attendance – Bev Mayer (SLO), Gus McPherson (Head of recruitment)

Welcome to tonight’s meeting at the fan forum, glad to see so many folks here on short notice. We will come onto

that in short notice.

Introduction to the top table, Fran Smith, Matt Klase andChet Arter flying from Georgia for this meeting. At the end

of the table we have Gus Macpherson, pleased to welcome Aileen Campbell also to the meeting. From steering

group, we have Darlene Macdonald, Elliot Thompson and Tom Welsh. We have Dan Shek enjoying his pie, Laura

Stewart, Colin McKay & Myself (Danny Williams)

Fran came to us a week ago to request this meeting, we appreciate it is short notice, whole purpose 2 years ago

to start this was on the back of some poor communication from the club at the time, and the then operations

manager. Felt it was good to get this on. Fran come to us to get this going. Picked tonight as a date, as it is going

to be a pivotal few weeks going forward, full focus on pitch but focus elsewhere tonight.

Steering group updates –

Couple of people stepped down, we have been going through the elections process tonight, welcoming people.

Firstly, I just want to say a few words about those who have stepped down. Mark in the front row has been a

great member of the group with great contributions and lead the way quite relentlessly regarding in with the bricks

scheme taken forward by the club, brilliant thing for those who wish to take it up. Many other contributions for

that, good to see him in attendance. Colin McCredie also who was one of the original to take it off the ground,

always came up with interesting contributions, alternate contributions, really valued his contribution, stepped back

due to work commitments and really wanted to focus on this. Also, Andrew Holden who was a level head in the

group, Andrew will continue working with the disabled supporter’s group and want to thank them for their

contributions.

Few folks stepping down, new people came in via the voting process, it did not need to come to that due to 2

people stepping forward, welcome to Darlene Mcdonald who you will be familiar with, and elliot thompson, who

you will be familiar with via the foodbank collections. Will bring a younger perspective to the group. Will be

fantastic additions, unfortunately cannot be here tonight.

Other change is that Tom Welsh has stepped down as the chairperson and secretary, he is remaining in the

group for now but is on holiday so apologies for this lack of attendance. He instigated this following some ill

feeling in the fanbase a couple of years back and has worked with 3 leading members of the club in Fran, Stan &

Ian over the last couple of years and want to thank him for his contributions.

Going forward, Danny will be chair of the group, and Stuart will be the secretary of the group. Very much

continuing on where it left off, we won’t be reinventing any wheel. Look forward to working with yourselves and

officials from the club, open to any and all suggestions.

Moving on want to highlight community works going on. Colin will link in with that.

Want to give a shout out to Gary and Possible estate agents who did a month-long cycle challenge, raising a

substantial amount for that, well done to the team there, saw ex-players and the manager getting involved in that.

We had the community day prior to the Aberdeen game, well done to the club and SITC for getting that on. Was

on the astro before for a little hand and was good to see everything for the kids and family, especially the bar.

Well done to all who got involved.

On the pitch, as we say we have a big month coming up, we would love to be saying we have another trip to

Hampden, but we still had a great run to the semi and a distraction from the league, good to see many of you

there. Unfortunately, not meant to be.

We now have 5 cup finals over the next few weeks, we wish the very best to Simo and the players going into

these games, we know it is tough but with backing we have every chance.

Before passing over to Fran, we have some house rules –

Make sure that you are respectful, let people present. At the QnA section raise your hand. Lets us make it easier,

some stuff will be passionate and we know you want to get your views over, so please be respectful.

Will hand over to Fran.

Fran and Gus are here to talk about on and off the pitch stuff. Thanks for the forum to get this on the go, and

important to do it prior to the split. Update on some projects.

Brand refresh is out, positive response to it, thanks to the fans for positive. Colour changes and badge changes

will happen over time, staff to change to new brand identity and rules. We want this to take to corporate partners,

constant brand there.

Moving onto the improvement plan, we are moving dates into the diary.

Carpark is down the priority list for now, but we want to do some things.

1 st June – New astroturf to be put in over June, Simo has made the request for bad weather and club has agreed

to this, new fence carpet, pitch, changing facility. We want to also have the women’s team play there also.

Women will move here in time for next season. 4 weeks of work to do this.

Mobility access, for accessing 2 floors and eventually 3 will be mid-June, external structure to service the main

floor up to the campbell and premier suite, eventually can cut through bridge and service lower floors also. We

will not need to have lift coming into the Muirton due to existing access. Starting this 15 th June.

All stands will be washed externally to brighten it up, will wash it then make decision on painting. We will be

painting internally and updating the concourse. Will start before the season, want this for the 1 st June.

Car park not to be fully furnished at moment, but meeting a contractor to work out other options. Full cost is

£350k, which could be spent on the playing budget, considering walkways for example.

Refresh of current areas planned.

One of the improvements we want to announce before contracts. Kiosks will now move to Pie Sports, It will be an

outsource from day to day costs. Pie sports take on handling stock, wages and staff, rather than the club.

POTY – Are we having it? We are and it is live tomorrow morning, Sunday 18 th May after the Dundee game at

home. We had the 10 th May planned but have Hearts 4 days later. We felt it would be best for the 18 th . We hope

we are not relegated and at least playoffs, it will be in the Salutation as it is the largest area we can hold and it is

reasonable costs for fan.

Season tickets – we are ready to go, but there is issues we need to resolve. Prices will be frozen, Mid to Late

May, Investigating other ticket options. We are still to finalise if we sell season tickets with or without old firm, we

will make the decision over the next week. I can say the prices will be the same regardless the division. Our ticket

prices in comparison to 6 sides in championship are in line, and we need more budgeting. May be changes to

age bracketing which we need to finalise.

Leading into hospitality and sponsorship. Jim is leaving 31 st May, sales and marketing now being handled by

external company, looking at a Monday-Friday operation to allow more money into the business.

Last few games on sale with a good option for non-season ticket holders and offered Bring a friend.

Hospitality on sale for those games also.

For next season, we hope to be able to sell some internal changes, we have the centenary, exec and premier,

looking to move these around. Centenery could be purchased online, do not need to phone it up. Exec wll be

same to now, Premier will be more of a directors club with a premium cost. Current match sponsors room will not

be serviced by the lift, so the current boardroom we use on matchday will be used on sponsor. Captain armband,

match ball sponsors also to be offered next season. All available to purchase online or by phoning up.

Sponsors launch for next seasons shirt – happening over next couple of days, will announce new shirt sponsor in

2 weeks’ time. Timeline for you fans –

Next season shirt sponsor – 2 weeks

Pie sports to be announce in next couple of weeks

POTY – Tomorrow

Season ticket announcements, Shop and museum – 1 st June Hold ups from the council. Meeting tomorrow to

design back end of it and get the best information in.

Next season shirt to be confirmed.

Any Questions –

Q - Any work to be done to the pitch – Yes plans for renovation and work to be done. 2 Years ago completely

redone and same again this season. Exact renovation to the pitch as last 2 seasons. Date is unknown and works

unknown dependent on where we finish the season. Pitch would not be in the state it was in if we did not need to

clear the pitch against Kilmarnock. (GM) We had 5 games in a short period of time and the rainfall at the time. It

did not look good. It played very well and opposing teams commented on it, perhaps in tongue in cheek, our

players did not complain on it. There was worse pitches in the league.

Q – What is the rationale for big tables for hospitality – In exec can still book your smaller tables but in centenary

we would be able to sell more and offer more places. This could lead to an extra £60-£70k per season.

*Comment from audience about these larger tables enhance the experience and make it better and would

be supported*

Q – Are the seats going to be washed and painted – Yes, but it is a hand washing job. We cannot power wash

them because of how it is built and could leak into the stands. If you want them changed to blue it is on the long-

term plan, but the cost of it means right now it is not the right thing to do. £150k to do this for the season. And if

they get broken no point to change them.

Q – Was there any plans, or dates to improve the Muirton? – Each of the suits redesigned, Muirton looks good,

but league dependent on if it is worth it, and it’s a discussion on priority, want to make it more of a pub

Environment, turn into a suite is needed, costs were £108k, but once narrowed down for correct price would

come down. Exec and Premier redesign planned.

Q – Kiosk Areas are bland, any plans to improve this for fans? – So with going to pie sports will be rebranded and

new ovens etc. still having conversations with selling beer with govt and council officials. Franklin has someone

coming in to speak about how to make it all look better.

Thanks to Fran for the Q&A

Q&A With Chet, Matt, Gus &Aileen –

Email Question from SME Marketing – with regards to meeting streaming there is an item on this coming up later

on the agenda, but this has become a but unpleasant with some folk by email, on forums and whatever. Club

officials and steering group being accused of secret society behaviours. Questions not accepted by email are due

to offensive behaviour and we will not read them out. No point in this.

(FS)Branding came up, we had one county in there at one point as we look at it from a community trust. We are

trying to get to the point it is Perth City based, we have other fans. Research done into it was done by Ryse,

came up with different ideas, spoke to the group about it, done research on what is best. Not trying to exclude

any fans out there. Could have been county but does not show we are from Perth. (MK) We will add

transparency, do not want to hold information back. When we did business in January, we wanted to get it out

immediately. (GM) – Owners wanted it out before it was confirmed to get feel good news out. Newspaper etc are

in touch with agents and will release, but once we have green light, we aim to get signings out to the club. (AC) I

am from a county, and I came back due to a gala day and I wanted my boys to support, we have a new board,

owner, CEO and an opportunity to shape the direction o the longer days.

WAP Question - Sixties Saint – Why was our fanbase split in 2 at Hampden? – (BM) 3 Different pricing

structures, so to try and assist Hampden with stewards, kiosks, we did what we did in 2021 we agreed we would

only sell each block out then open the next block, hence the large block in the middle, not ideal unless Hampden

agreed to a different model. Aberdeen had the same issues themselves.

POTY Question asked already.

WAP Question - Will SaintsTV Still be offered next season if we get relegated – (FS) Yes it will be offered still to

allow fans to watch game

You talked earlier about one club, one city, one community, I think the new shop will be great, because if you walk

through Perth you would not know there was a premier league side in the club. In terms of pre-season training,

could we get players out into the community training, or attending local days? (GM) – I agree. (FS) – Agree it is

not enough to go out with the SRTRC scheme, need to do more and will leave it with Gus to raise fans. We are

linking in with Visit Perth and Scotrail to get advertising and branding up. Want something in Scotrail

Do they still do the cage football thing? – (FS) Yes SITC and wardens in the council now deploy this in

communities, currently in Dunning and will be rotated.

How are we doing on the injuries update? (GM) – Hope we do not get anymore, Drey has still got his ankle boot

on and is non-weight bearing. Best scenario is the last game of the season, same with Zak Mitchell. Hoping to be

back for the County game but it is touch and go. Obviously there is issues in the defensive area. Bozo is in

Croatia Rehabbing aiming to be back for May for a check over, he went for surgery at a far cheaper rate than

London because he had this injury in his other leg 5 years ago he wanted to go elsewhere. Main issues

defensively. McClelland doing extremely well, had his last consultation down in London and been told clear to

step into training but will be too tight for him to be back. Will be pre-season he will be back for. Sore one for Simo

also, can accept 2-3 weeks but when it is months rather than weeks it becomes a frustration.

Any updates on player contracts? (GM) – Nope, we have 17 players under contract next season speaking to

agents just now. 3-4 have contract clauses but we are always speaking to them, agents ramping up for next

season and always ongoing.

Are you planning to keep an ideal squad size at all? Can we afford to reduce it or not? – (GM) Squad is too big

and been that way for 18 months and because of the manager turnover, overlapping contracts, Simo came in in

October and wanted his own players in, board backed them, we brought in 9 new players in January, numbers

too high and everyone agrees 20 outfield players with 3 goalkeepers, under 19’s we expect 3-4 capable or

pushing to come into next season squad. Soon as you go over that you have disgruntled players, and it is

counterproductive. Simo happy to work with a small squad with good youth and a strong squad.

Back to the saints’ shop – Is that opposite café Nero? – (FS) Yes Just around from the old ship.

Will the Ormond one remains open? – Yes

Any update from the board? –

Chet is staying over for the month. Brought over the nice weather for us all.

Colin update on FSF Update –

“Saints Fans Supporting Foodbanks continue to be grateful for your support and donations at every men’s and women’s home match.

We were delighted that as a result of the support we received from you, the fans, and the Club, that the Trussell Trust had the Scottish

launch of their National Campaign “Football v Hunger” at McDiarmid Park to coincide with the recent home match v Celtic.

We’d also like to thank everyone for their support in our recent collection for Graham Carey’s wife Rachel. Thanks to the generosity of

Steve Bright, we were able to use his artwork to raise over £1200 to help support Rachel in her cancer fight.

Obviously, with no Match-Day collections over the close season, we have tried to think of other ways to support the Foodbank, and

again, thanks to the generosity of Steve Bright, and with the permission of the Club, at our final 3 home league games, we will have a

limited number of cartoon posters if Simon Valakari, Sven Spangler, Bozo MiKulic and Stephen Duke-McKenna, each available at our

stall in return for a £10 donation to support the Foodbank”

give an update on how much we have collected, we are grateful for the support and donations we receive and we

know the staff at foodbank grateful. Outside the major supermarkets we are the biggest donator, and by that I

mean the fans. Perth and Kinross foodbank are affiliated with the Trussell trust. The Trussell trust have chosen

McDiarmid to do the launch of football v hunger campaign at the Celtic game. Was up for that and gave Balodis

advice on how to score and he did. We also want to thank everyone for the support after the livi QF. Steve Bright

came up with the Carey as a magician. Suggestion made to sell these. We got them printed and you raised

£1200 for rachel based on these posted and because of that and Steve’s generosity, he has offered other pieces

of art. We have extra prints for Sven, Bozo, McKenna and Simo, first come first serve at the stall on Matchdays.

That is on behalf of the staff at the foodbank.

(DS) – Colin forgot to mention the golf club, looking at other options to raise outside of the season, it is like

pushing open a door, local institutions, companies and sports clubs. Doing work with King James and Craigie hill

golf clubs. Island did it’s opening day and raised £780 for the opening day of the season which has been passed

onto the foodbank. Stableford open at Craigie hill day will see our gazebo up there and will be collecting also. All

is down to you fans donating week in and week out. People coming to us looking to help. We can see the impact

with the local foodbank and community assistance. Big thanks to the volunteers on matchday couldn’t do it

without them.

Stuart spoke about the streaming service at length, Highlighting many pros and cons, and issues with us

streaming the meetings.

Overall, This has been on our radar since Day one and been mentioned for quite a while, it has ramped up

recently, we do understand where folk are coming from. We want to get it out there and obstacles have been

lined out in advance. We would be losing out on a lot of good stuff in these meetings. Quite frankly again, no one

is being held back from anything, we had one particular email in about streaming meetings, then accuse us of not

being transparent and stuff like that, they all get answered. To stream, record, edit they would require good

meeting. People complained about quality of sound at the press days. Video equipment, microphones and no

background noise. As a thing personally we would like to do it and it is the fans forum meeting and not the club

meeting.

(FS) – Part of this conversation is alternate fan engagement strategy, other clubs in England and Scotland, we

can look at other methods. The club do not have a FT Videographer, we buy that service in, so we cannot offer

assistance in that, we will work with the fan forum to get this moving forward. We can look at doing recordings,

and 2 streamed meetings to the wider fanbase, there is wider options available to us. Will discuss with the

internal board and steering group to move forward.

(DS) – One of the questions we have had about meetings with guest speakers twice a year and can tie it in twice

a year and more small private meetings. Maybe live abroad, can’t make it can do that and the 2 main ones where

we can stream. Normally have a meeting pre-season so have time to work on it. It is on our radar.

(MK) – Logistical issue, I think we do it once, people see no secret society, I see the comments, we aren’t hiding

anything, and you can see it.

(AC) – Abuse shouldn’t be happening, and we need to explore how to share this and work around it. Club happy

to share this further. Danny is in agreement and there is a chat with Gus etc and people can ask question.

Mark Melloy from crowd commented feels a victim of our own success, and only his opinion is people are sitting

at a meeting getting told what is happening, and then people spreading the word and then people get annoyed

they miss out.

Danny has said we will come out with a solution.

Fan Behaviour –

Been dreading this side of it, we have to go with it, and we are here for what the fanbase want to talk about. We

got an email titled “Fan Behaviour” – came from one email coming in, and there is a few other things that have

come in. And please, bear in mind this has come from someone else, and things as whole, we are not having a

go at any group, supporters or whatever. I will leave their name out

***Email has been forwarded to Fran & Bev prior to meeting.

(DW) – You can agree, or disagree as I can, but there is a lot coming in. this is not just about the FCU. I have

heard of people being lifted for fighting who are not involved who should know better. I can now count 4 incidents

of racist abuse here or away games directed to whatever players. This should never have been here. We had a

few people who wanted to start an LGBT Supporters group. They got people just jumping at them online. They

have been put off as not promoted since. We did have contact with them and nothing since.

(FS) Just adding to that, 2 things received we had one of our disability supporters had an epileptic fit with the

flares coming over the heads, and another older gentleman who was embarrassed by the supporter. Comments

on how someone not hurt would never know. Must be on camera. There is other supporters coming back on it.

Our groundsman was abused and threatened by our supporters. He reported more racial abuse at the Hibs game

at the same time. We need this reported as it is not welcome at McDiarmid park. We have photographic

evidence. We think it is the same people abusing Chris being racist to our fans. We will not tolerate the

behaviour. We are awaiting the delegated report from Hampden, and then we will know our fate. Might not know

what it is, but one person had to jump out of the way. I have met with the FCU and had some good conversations

with them about their behavour. Pockets all over the place. It does need raised with the FCU again and other

supporters have to call out the racist behaviour.

(GM) – I was disappointed with our fans. Even celtic did not have flares. Yes they had smoke bombs, but was

under an FBO. I Should have addressed it at Livingston but I did not. Safety officer at Hampden said there is

going to be a serious issue. One woman at Aberdeen Hearts suffered a superficial injury due to open flares.

Person in crowd commented on we would be angry if our fans got injured. FCU told off their colleagues in a pub

to stop causing issue. But if anyone wants to cause injury then we should be stopping them

Was the racist abuse to our players? (FS) – Yes, 2 incidents in the east stand.

(DW) – I don’t want this to be a debate about the FCU, it is not going to achieve a single thing.

I just want to have it down on note, that email was quite vitriol about the FCU, pyro was wrong, it was not the

whole group. This whole thing about the FCU being violent, thuggish group, we are the best community ultra

group, Rachel Borthwick group, Letham community, I am speaking by my own kids that this group persuaded

kids to come along and abandon the old firm team. I feel that email was incredibly harsh.

(DS) – I can note down your comments.

(Person in the crowd) – I am proud of the FCU

(CM) – I agree on the FCU atmosphere, fantastic, noise second to none and it is not a golden ticket, Fran is in

discussion to get alcohol in and trying to. Pyro is against the law. Guys in FCU saying small minority and not

wanting to dob in mates, but someone is going to get injured and needs to be self-policed, one person online

complained about this, and one response which will be anonymous “I am glad they did it to take money away

from the club for the Celtic ticket banner” those flares burn at 2000 degrees.

(FS) – There is a split in the group causing these issues and they are trying to sort this out. I went down to a gym

to meet them, and they are trying to stop bad behaviour in the street, but one or two little incidents caused

problems.

Question – What is the solution about safe pyro?

(DW) – I like a bit of pyro, but for me you cannot let off fireworks in a ground, you cannot do that in a ground. I did

not want this to be a kicking or a focus on one group. I do not think it is exclusive to us across the fanbase, but

other ones have similar issues across society. About looking for solutions and ways to work for the whole

fanbase. Quite frankly seeing the display and then when they get launched it is down to individuals and you are

responsible for your own actions, and you do think here we go.

(BM) – The same person said many people are being turned away and that is subjective and one person’s

experience. Where we have an allocation for the group it is aimed to keep them together and then easier for the

safety officer and police to control things.

No further questions and meeting was finalised.