Back from the AGM... thoughts/highlights/ impressions

I'm not going to give you reportage on the formal, informal and downright comical business of the evening, you can find that elsewhere via the various medias both professional and amateur. Plus of course our very own BWOD appears to have done a fine job in posting the key points in almost real time.

So, what of the "Thanksgiving" AGM then? Well there were plenty of thanks; to us, to Stuart Webber, to Daniel Farke, to the various money making ventures, to Madders, to Josh Murphy and finally to Russ Martin and Wes. Okay, so the last ones were after a comment from the floor about their omission, but some real kind words and just about a confirmation on a Westimonial.

I enjoyed the single vote against Ed Balls re-election to the Board. I also enjoyed the single technical accounting question... answered rather well I thought and gave Stephan Phillips the chance to finally speak at an AGM!

Ed Balls was, as he clearly is, great in front of a crowd and able to control matters and respond effortlessly, thinking in his feet and framing his answers just the audience's liking... he is an ex-politician after all 😀

Ben Kensal was articulate and provided a positive view on how the club had faced the financial challenges head on. I found him sensible and practical.

Zoe Ward faced some tricky questions but answered them well, she appears to be knowledgeable and fighting for the Club. Thus was highlighted by her response on the recent 5 year tv deal for the EFL, where the Club pushed back against some of the long form contract detail.

Stuart Webber was brutally honest, which is refreshing. He said he wasn't a Norwich supporter and that this wasn't his dream job. However, he said he was happy, enjoying it, and had no plans to move... at the moment.

Herr Farke was charming and witty. Not easy, especially in a second language. His ability to address the penalty miss question and the long throws/punt it forward question with comedy and deflection without demeaning those who asked was as sublime as his footballing philosophy.

Positive words on not selling in January... but never say never. Also positive words about the Club keeping Webber and Farke... but no news on a contract, which surprised me a bit.

As usual there was a great little film on the Club and it's values. You can be cynical about such glossy PR pieces but there's no need. Once again it showed me why this is a great Club, why we love it and why we're so proud to be associated with it... in fact a little moistness in the eyes!

Delia and Michael WJ gave a great little cameo on theirs and the Club vision. Three really strong points here, firstly that they are "custodians" of the Club, not owners, and they recognised that it could not be owned by anyone except the community and fans. Second was their vision of Norwich being the "best" club in the world, not the most successful necessarily, but the best... that spoke to me strongly. Thirdly, was that what we are trying to do is unusual and challenging in a footballing world where short term gain is valued over long term progress.

Final interesting point came out regarding Leo Vegas and whether a betting company sponsor aligned with the Club's values and morals. Again a straight answer which was it was taken purely for the financial benefit of the club. Apparently betting companies provide three times any other type of company. I value that honesty and also the acknowledgement as to whether it was tight for the club. It has one year to run, but has a break clause if we're promoted.

Do I trust these people with the Club I love? Well I genuinely think that they have Norwich's and our best interests at heart. I feel that they all care and for the first time in a long while there was an openness, an honesty and a transparency to the messages. It's a yes from me, Colin.

I'm sure I've missed plenty, a bit like how I missed BWOD even though she was sitting only three rows in front of me! On The Ball City Wrathers, over and out 💛💚

Posted By: Worthing Yellow, Nov 23, 01:50:34