Ryman scapegoat can carrying

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

The Isthmian League Limited’s Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday night at The Hilton Hotel, Gatwick Airport, and the biggest shock of the evening came when league secretary Nick Robinson, who came under considerable pressure over various issues last season, failed to gain re-election.

 

The main points of interest at the AGM included…….

 

1. Members expressed their concern at the substantial trading deficit during the financial year 2003. In the fourteen years prior to 2003, the Isthmian League Limited had traded successfully and accumulated assets and reserves in excess of £47,000. But during 2003, the company lost over £41,000. This deficit wiped out 87% of the company’s reserves and assets, leaving the company barely solvent with assets less liabilities of just £6,000. League chairman Alan Turvey acknowledged the very poor trading results and assured the meeting that every effort was being made to retrieve the company’s previous good trading position.

 

2. League chairman Alan Turvey was then re-elected, unopposed.

 

3. Former league secretary Nick Robinson was unsuccessful in his re-election, failing to secure the required 51% of the votes.

 

4. Rules changes drafted by the Football Association were passed at the meeting that provide in the future for the league secretary to be appointed by the league’s board of directors.

 

5. The Isthmian League’s board of directors then proposed a special resolution to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting during the course of the Annual General Meeting to change league article 18.1 to provide for the league secretary to be appointed by the league’s board of directors. For the special resolution to be successful, it required the support of 95% of the members. Although the special resolution received the support of the majority of members, it did not receive the required 95% support, with former league secretary Nick Robinson among those who voted against the resolution. It is understood that an Extraordinary General Meeting will now be called in accordance with league article 8.1 to change league article 18.1 to provide for the league secretary to be appointed by the league’s board of directors in due course.

 

6. Representative of Harrow Borough, Staines Town, Leyton, Heybridge Swifts, Metropolitan Police, Croydon Athletic and Windsor & Eton football clubs were elected to the league’s board of directors.

 

The long-serving Nick Robinson came under fire during the 2003/04 season over issues such as restructuring, the farce involving the play-offs in May and the situation with Enfield Town's admittance and then rejection.

 

Although, no doubt, Mr Robinson wasn’t solely to blame for any of the above, he has been left to carry the can.

 

[AFF]

So EFMTFTV.

 

If I understand that lot correctly, Nick Robinson 'did not gain the necessary level of support' by all of the clubs at the AGM to be re-elected Secretary. Then, it was put to the vote [of all the clubs] that the Secretary could be elected by the league's Board of Directors. That proposal 'did not gain the necessary level of support', either. In accordance with the rules a 95% level of supporrt is required in those circumstances.

 

An unsatisfactory state of affairs.

 

So. They then decide to call an EGM at which the same proposal will be put to the clubs. I wonder if a different percentage level of support is required in those circumstances?

 

If so, the proposal will be carried, the league's Board of Directors [all 8 of them] will look around to find someone with a proven track record of success as the Secretary of a Non League football league and decide that the very man for the job is in their midst. Nick Robinson.

 

Democracy in action.