mjake1234

He has to be benched. For a forward to be caught offside so often and to be unable to score from the many chances he has been given is unacceptable. We have to get someone up there who can get us goals.

Yes, CCM were without a couple of their players but let's look at the positives. A week ago we would have guaranteed a loss. JVS has only had the lads for 2 days and we got a draw against CCM at their home ground. There also seems to be a more comfortable and positive feel in the club, with the players and with the supporters (I am certainly more excited). Now all we need is some decent forwards who can take the chances they are offered. The match next week against Perth will show us better what our immediate future is going to look like.

Totally agree with earlier comments. Epping is definitely too remote and Latrobe is not much better. Glenferrie is very close to the centre of Melbourne, so it (or another venue nearby eg the Camberwell Sports Ground) would be the ideal. At Glenferrie there is also good transport and shopping and ample opportunity for administration etc to included close. The NIMBY problem could always be countered by offering parking close by and running a bus service to the ground. I think the ground is owned by the council who would no doubt welcome an offer of extra income. As a sweetener the ground could also be developed to include some community facilities to complement the new swimming pool complex the council have just built next door.

Agreed we should go for an overseas coach for the experience and playing style they would bring. We should also try to go for someone who has a recognised name for the publicity that will generate. Yes, the money is a problem but just imagine how much attention we would get from having an Alex Ferguson etc etc - we believe so we should dream.

JA GONE. Whoo hoo. Was feeling so depressed, frustrated and impotent. Now we can have Heart and start to Believe again. Can see why "nice guy" JA gets the support he does but he was pretty stupid staying on. He could have left with dignity instead of being sacked. Lots more to do to get this great club flying, but this is a fantastic start. I am now looking forward to the game against CCM. Thank you kom.

This is the problem. The board seem to have little or no understanding of a football club and are certainly not developing the "community" that we desire. Worse is that they are unwilling to tap into the incredible depth of feeling, knowledge and rational thought of the members as shown on these forums. Like JS1739 I had also put forward some thoughts to the club, initially to SM then to PS. All I finally got was a 2 page letter of platitudes from SM and a call to stick with the club. When will they realise that we are all on the same side, want the same things and could be so helpful to each other in growing this club. Nothing of any note seems to be happening except our growing frustration.

Thank you to Scott Munn for sending out such a pathetic, condescending and, actually, insulting letter to your members. The response here shows that there have been many members trying to help “management” develop and grow the club yet receiving in return inaction, platitudes and disinterest. Sure we haven't been performing well on the field but I would say that poor performance at the production end is indicative of poor performance higher up. And, in our case, this does not end (or begin) with the coach. I, and some of my friends, joined Heart because we thought it had a solid community ideal and that it had “heart” but we are now all seriously questioning whether we want to continue to be involved with something that is looking so dysfunctional. As members all we want is to be part of a successful club, to be entertained and feel we are part of a cohesive organisation that is developing a sense of real community. This is simply not happening. Members ARE the club and they need to be treated properly, listened to and involved. In the 4 years of this club's existence the A League and other clubs have grown yet we have failed to attract members, failed to obtain adequate attendance figures, failed to make a statement – in fact FAILED. It really isn't money that is needed but a complete reappraisal by the club of what we are trying to achieve, how we should do it and (dare I say) getting some basic understanding of what a football club is all about. Something has to seriously change and quickly or we won't last this season out, let alone be here next year.

It looks like the membership is stalling - only an additional 21 in a week. And why? Melburnian I think you are spot on with your comments. Until we enhance the product, message, image and style we won't get to where we want to (and should) be. Important though it is, this does not just mean performing on the ground. It particularly means promotion, attracting and following up people and then giving them a real experience. It is disappointing to see the number of posts where membership referrals and enquiries are left hanging. Compare this to MV. Like many of you I went to the derby and have since been followed up three times by them even though I told them I have a Heart membership. Don't take this as a negative post - I am passionate about Heart and really applaud the enthusiasm and family friendly feel at the games and certainly love the committment of the Heart supporters (as witness the comments on these forums). But I continue to despair at the low attendances (and now the membership) neither of which have seen any real movement in 4 years. The complimentary game ticket is at least one great idea to help introduce people to the game but there needs to be more (lots more) done to get ourselves "out there" to attract and then retain the crowd. Too many of my friends who are not involved with The Game remain unaware of Hearts activities. Other than encouraging our friends to join what other initiatives could we be trying? No excuses - a membership and crowd of 10,000 is really not that huge a target.

6,000 by Derby day (today) - hope so. A great boost over last year. Tommykin, you seem really good in collecting membership numbers. Do you know how our increase compares with the other clubs? Wondering if we are seeing the effect of an increase in interest in the sport generally. Irrespective it's all good. Looking forward to a great atmosphere at the game today. Come on you boys in red.

"Membership just passed 5,000". That's great but we need more - and we should be aggressively targeting the number 10,000. What I find fabulous is the number of passionate supporters on this forum and the great ideas they have to increase the membership. But how do we get the club to address these ideas and utilise the passion? Maybe they could extract the ideas and send us all a summary of what they can do, what they can't and what they need help with AND/OR they could have a forum for us to meet at and air our ideas with them. It is currently sad that we express our views here and don't have a formal feedback mechanism. For example, I have always been keen to establish local supporter groups which would help people who are interested in the game but don't want to go "alone". This could even turn into a fun "clubs within a club" thing ie The Box Hill Heart supporters group. I am more than willing to put in some time and help out with something - as I am sure most of you would be. Go Heart 2013

Is there any advertising that is around for use at a local level to build numbers? We could have people who would be willing to be contacted by people who would like to go to a match but dont know anyone - ie local membership officers. I am willing do this and will try to put a notice up in the local shopping strip.