posted today on MYFC site
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I know this subject has been done to death on here in the past and no doubt on Fleet forums and Gravesham pubs in the past.
I have never really got involved in the club name issue much as it was a decision done and dusted before MYFC's time. When Will first mentioned the club as a potential purchase, I hadn't a clue who they were and it was not until the previous name was mentioned that I knew.
Is it not the case though that changing the name of the club, something that would be an emotive issue to ANY clubs fans, anywhere in the country, has done more than anything to estrange the local population from the club?
We have talked about price rises affecting gates and about results. Both no doubt have an effect, certainly in the short term, but perhaps the main issue, as many with local knowledge have said, is that the local people do not really have enough of an emotional tie with the club.
While I understand, or think I do, why the club did change its name, and that it did secure a good sponsorship deal better than it could have otherwise hoped, maybe ultimately it was a mistake.
Pretty soon the intention is to contact as many local fans as possible regarding end of season games and some mention I hope will refer to the plight of the club.
Is it not time to have this debate once again and this time ask the fans, or ex fans, or the local population generally, and ask them properly in a Gravesham wide poll.
Just doing this will create much needed publicity, get people in the area talking and thinking about the club. It could be an email based poll, advertised in our mailings and in as many papers and media outlets that we could persuade to run it. People answer by emailing the club on a particular email address.
Not only could we get the opinion of the fans and local population but we would also have contacts to for future use.
think about it, before you just groan.