Supporters Direct contact
 

I have made contac twith Supporters Direct who offer assistance and guidance to bodies of fans who wish to increase their input with their clubs.

As I have stated previously I have/had reservations about being personally involved with such a movement due to the increase in workload. However, having had a lengthy chat with someone at SD I have a lot more confidence in what exactly can be acheived with a Supporters Trust. I wanted to know, in a nutshell, what the main differences were between an ST and an OSC.

Predominantly an ST is a more legal entity that can own shares, or use others shares by proxy. It can also own property. It is regulated by the Financial Services Authority and becomes an Industrial and Provident Society (Co-operative societies are run for the mutual benefit of their members, with any surplus usually being ploughed back into the organisation to provide better services and facilities).

The upshot of this is that an ST is equipped, if necessary, to buy a club and run it. There are grants available for start up costs for printing leaflets, hiring rooms etc. The parent body (Supporters Trusts are run under the umbrella of Supporters Direct) offers support and training, if necessary, for members throughout the entire process and this is an ongoing process.

I was also informed that in our current 'crisis' there are two very positive points. One is that our ground is not owned by anybody other than the local authority who are very unlikely to ever take that from us and the other is the apparent lack of 'directors loans' given to the club whenever a wad of cash was required.

The timescale for such a movement to take place is as follows;

1. private meeting held between supporters who wish to begin a Supporters Trust - work out the details of what you want to happen and set a date for ...
2. a public meeting at which point the motion is voted in and a Supporters Trust has begun
3. Supporters Direct will register your rules or constitution with the Financial Services Authority.

I would suggest that Ilyas' meeting will become point number 1.

Re: Supporters Direct contact
 

What time scale are we looking at, Rob? I agree that a trust is a good idea, but aren’t you looking at weeks if not months of preparatory work?

If the worst happens next week and the R&C demand immediate payment of arrears on the basis that we have already reneged on a previous arrangement, then won’t it come down to cash in hand?

I can see why people are reluctant to throw their hard-earned at an ad-hoc fighting fund without the legal backing of a trust. But if the club receive a final demand a week today, what alternative is there?

Could SD confirm whether it’s possible for some kind of promissory safety net to be established at short notice? For example:

(a) that the club can confirm its intent to issue new ordinary shares (with all relevant details) alongside a legally-binding pledge that donations made immediately will be so honoured in due course;
(b) that a fighting fund, accepting cash from supporters on the understanding that it is used solely to purchase new shares, can transfer the shares to a ST once it is established.

I know this is very ‘pie in the sky’ (would Ilyas commit without full disclosure of liabilities?) but I’m sick with worry that the R&C might hit us with a red letter for the whole lot, in which case something has to be in place. Please deconstruct/ridicule/improve at your pleasure, but we have to pull together and be prepared for any eventuality, no alternative.

Re: Supporters Direct contact
 

I know some people are treating the winding up order from HMRC as a bit of a slap on the wrist to the club, and maybe it'll turn out that way. But it does show a breakdown in dialogue with the club, and HMRC do not view this well.

Appreciate the work you have done Macca, and Phil's post raises further points that need addressing.
As stated in previous post we need to pull together, and use whatever skills we have.