Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Liam, The point of the Trust is that it has the legal personality to take over and run the club in the event of the current ownership withdrawing. When the Thornes [****!!****] off at the end of 97/98 there was a big void. Either a new consortium had to come in or the club was over. Now the ownership of the club could be transferred to the trust. That's the point. The problem with the Trust is that has largely carried on in the guise of a supporters club and that is largely down to two reasons. The same people are involved and they have carried on much as before and two the membership has allowed it to happen. The trust has been going for three years but aside from one year from BFR, one year from Gary and now one year from Radders/Dom the trust board is exactly the same with the exception of me. If you want to change things stand for the board and get things done. I've repeatedly said at meetings that I think the minutes should be published but I lose the vote. So what the [****!!****] am I supposed to do? Resign? The current situation is that if the club asks for money it is for the Trust board to vote on. The last two votes have gone against the club. At the EGM the question was asked point blank - do you the membership want us to form a new club for next season. The risk there is that you tear the club in half. Slough Town FC keeps going with half the fans and AFC Slough starts up with the other half at the bottom of the pyramid. The consensus at the meeting which came from the members was that we should stick with the club in its current guise and hope. That is all we can do. It is amazing how regularly we have this conversation and why does it always come after a tanking? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Gary, Trust board members already run the draw, help operate the turnstiles, sell the programmes, work on the PA system, work as temporary groundsman and ball boys etc etc. What else does Roy want done? Offers have been made as you are well aware that have been turned down. I don't understand the logic re the minutes either. I've sat at meetings and said they should be published. Join the trust, join the board, attend the meeting and lets have a vote to get them published and see what happens. The trust is imperfect but it is the only thing we've got. I find it deeply frustrating but I find it more frustrating that loyal and passionate supporters of the club such as yourself Liam and Roger are not prepared to join the trust. If everyone joins the Trust and pulls together we can keep this club alive long term as oppossed to lurching from one season to the next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Scott Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 But what exactly did the Trust do while I was a member? Absolutely nothing, no evidence of plans for the future, no contingencies, diddly squat? Why should I believe that it's suddenly going to change just because you say it will? Why is the trust going to be any different just because a few new members join? Has anyone actually considered that many fans won't join the Trust because from the outside looking in they have done precisely bugger all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I could have sworn the Trust raised money whilst you were a member. Trying to build a reserve of funds should we ever need them. I vaguely remember six nutters walking to Worthing and raising a couple of grand. Then there was the fun day, race nights, quiz nights, raffles.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Scott Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Highly commendable. Doesn't help the club's future though does it? Doesn't sort out the things which might matter in the summer? Doesn't sort out as to why I got two poxy newsletters and a drip feed of chinese whispers as a source of information when I was a member? Still doesn't answer as to if there is a plan in place should the club go belly up does it? It's all fine and well being a glorified charity, but this is a Trust where one of the primary objectives when it was formed was that it should be able to take over the running of the club in the evntuality that that was needed. And yet three years that I have not heard or seen any evidence whatsoever that a plan has even been considered, let alone written down. And until it is, no money from me I'm afraid chaps.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Money is kind of important to any future. These reserves would be used for league fees and pitches, advertising and other set up incidentals. The Trust has budgeted for running the club at the current level and it is clearly something that we could not afford without massive outside help. The reserves would let us start again at the very bottom playing on little more than park pitches. But [****!!****] it your right. I hereby tear up my trust membership card. Isn't that Trust just [****!!****]? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Scott Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 why do you have to take eveything so bloody personally? Do you really think you and only you are the only bloody person with something invested in this? Grow up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I'm not taking it persoanlly. The last paragraph of my previous post was of course sarcasm. You are criticising the Trust from your position of sitting on the sidelines hearing "chinese whispers." I am trying to respond to your critcisms. I happen to think the Trust is a good idea from a legal and social perspective. I don't think our trust is doing a great job but then it is being run by 10 blokes with other things in the lives with bugger all help except from a few loyal souls. I've yet to hear any reason to justify why you can't hand over £10 to join the Trust. But that's your decision and I respect it. Ultimately, I've decided that there is little point on being on the board of the Trust - I'm 1 vote out of 10 and am essentially powerless so what's the point. Except for the fact that when it came to the vote as to whether player fines should be paid it went 5-4 and without me it would have gone to a casting vote. That is a good example of democracy in practice and shows how you need to be involved in order to have any kind of say. We are both passionate about the club and want to see it survive but I can't see any logical reason not to be in the trust. It costs £10 which is nothing and should the worst happen you've got a chance of some input. What have you got to lose by being a member and what are you proving by not joining? Perhaps you should form an independent supporters association like at Windsor although I suspect you would get more than the one member they can muster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Scott Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Of course the Trust is a good idea but you're missing my main criticism. The Trust have not, in my eyes while I was a member, put in place any sort of contingency plan no matter how small, to outline the short, medium and long term future of the club should the present owners bail out and they have to step in. I brought it up constantly every summer and it fell on deaf ears. Until they do and from my own personal standpoint I don't see the point of giving them my money. Simple as that really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorshamRebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 One member, now that is an Independent Association ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 The thing is Liam, if the club were handed over to the club it would doubtless be at the last minute so we would need to take a season out of football anyway before coming back at the very bottom having had a year with nothing else to do but sort out sponsorship, outside investment, ground use and playing budget. I can't ever see the club being handed over in its present form so if the Trust ever gets involved it will be reformed club starting from scratch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staines-upon-Thames Rebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 So why not start a fresh now and have things in place for 07/08 with AFC Slough! Some times a fresh start works! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 At the EGM the board asked the members if they wanted us to do that. The members said no. They wanted to wait and see what develops with the club in its current form and for us to support it as much as we can within reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staines-upon-Thames Rebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 That is why the club will die as people wont bite the bullet and take the step forward. There needs to be a positive move with a "slough" club and whilst the current management are involved this will not happen. Whilst the trust continues to allow the current management to allow this to happen by bailing them out the suffering will continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 But those who are prepared to bite the bullet and stand forward and argue for it are no longer members of the trust so have no say in the direction it takes. The board can't just squander the members money by pursuing its own agenda. The agenda is set by the members who elect board members knowing what they expect and have now further clarified this at the EGM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staines-upon-Thames Rebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 So does this mean the effectiveness of the trust is also in terminal decline? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brighton_rebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Problem is Staines, we could well end up with two clubs just like Enfield, which would do no one any favours. Anyway, i thought at the EGM the Trust voted not to bail out the club financially anymore until they see accounts (cue laughter). I think a lot of the criticism of the Trust is more about personality issues with those on the board. But i'm with Martin, i just do not understand why supporters who go to home and away games, watch us even when we know we are going to get thrashed again, aren't members of the Trust. The Trust are the supporters - 'i paid my 10 pounds and nothing happened' is [****!!****]. It's up to all supporters to make things happen. I don't know when the next Trust elections, but I hope people like Sue put themselves forward and get themselves on board to become peacemakers. If our dwindling fanbase can't even agree, then we are bloody doomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staines-upon-Thames Rebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 You are correct BR, why are the likes of myself, Gary, Roger, Liam...... not memebers of the trust? All of the above are passionate about the club and want a future for a club that represents the town - yet dont see the trust as a way of achieving that. Join the trust and get on the board! - yes I have seen Martins frustration when he cant even get the minuites published!!! - is that the forward thinking that is needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brighton_rebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 What's the alternative? Get involved and help change it. Martin has, and got minutes published of the last meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staines-upon-Thames Rebel Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Only the EGM minutes and then not offical ones! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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