Just adding my reply to the exact topic on EA forums, a bit of late.
(A little bit of off topic from this topic, but something relevant, you might find overall.)
Gathering quality players in a "new" clan nowadays, is one of the most difficult things in VC:MP. Mostly quality players won't join an old or a new clan, just because of high level of toxicity from majority of player base, and shit loads of drama(not talking about healthy debate/dramas, but talking about serious high level toxic shit, constant degrading, etc).
I, as leading RT, managed to get only a few players, I could've gotten a lot more, but I kept it limited to quality players, its not that I'm against accepting newbies or something, but I'm against adding toxic players in my clan, that's why it has less players, but all are quality ones, and non-toxic, at the maximum rate(at least for me). My main goal of starting a new clan, was to develop some high level competition and activity in VC:MP(not normal activity, the activity of wars), but it doesn't happen in few months, for sure, at least not in VC:MP. It'll take time, determination & a lot of dedication to do that. There are still good players left in VC:MP, who are trying to help the clans grow, develop serious competition in VC:MP, but it will take time, and hopefully, I don't think so that VC:MP will die just like that, ups & downs came all the time, and yet, people are here, from 5-10 years, even having modern games, and more stuff, still they give time to this beautiful small community. Some clans, communities, everyone, is putting their efforts in this community, some might be doing this thing wrong, but at least they're trying, and eventually, things will surely get better.
//Edit:
Adding a bit more, players are really afraid to join clans, because either they had a terrible experience in their past clans(or group, w/e), or they're afraid also because of watching these "toxic" dramas in VC:MP, that they had lost interest in joining any sort of clan, even there are still good ones for them to join, but they're just afraid to do it, thinking it might end up real bad. Its up to them totally, whether they want to join or not but, just life real life is all about taking necessary risks, the virtual life as well depends upon what steps you take, how big the risk you can take, and how much of it you can actually afford to have. So, just calm down, this community had ups & downs every now & then, just try to be a little more open and try to find your way into something, hopefully, it will turn out good for you, even if it didn't, it won't really hurt much, to move and start something now.
1 positive player can handle negativity of 10 negative players, if he has that will to do it.