TrustSTFC - direction & AGM

[RobertT]

I actually thought James Phipps did a pretty good job of articulating the ground ownership and responsibilities in his interviews.  The previous Board were very close to the project around purchasing the ground, and struggled a little to offer the same calculated separation of responsibilities, so I can understand some fans being a little confused.

It is now clear that the JV is the owner and custodian of the land upon which the football club operates.  The JV approves leases and development requests, and in both cases has provided a long term lease to STFC whom must determine their plans for development. 

The JV risks having to offer the ownership back to the Council if certain triggers are not met (although it seems unlikely the Council would actually force a sale back to them).

The club is expected to present plans to the JV (where they have a say as joint owners, but nor a controlling interest).  The JV's other partners (the Trust and Eady Estate) have a desire to push for development due to their common interest in seeing STFC be a success.

The only grey area for me, is whether or not the JV has the ability to enforce action - for example, if the club leaves the ground to fall into a state of disrepair, can the Freeholder enforce maintenance?  I would presume it can.

[ThreeDrawsMentality]

I've not seen anything wrong with his tweets, trying to explain in more detail.  The exchange I saw was around a fan claiming the trust had to fund 50% off all developments, which is wrong but the fan wouldn't have it.

That wasn't the tweet that causes the furore though. That tweet clarifying 50% funding was completely fine.

The one that did was where he was gaslighting fans to lower their expectations of ground redevelopment, specifically replying to a tweet which was the plans the actual club outlined in 21/22.

[Bennett]

If anyone wants to ask Tom and I non-cheese related questions on the LSPOD, you have any opportunity
https://x.com/LoathedStranger/status/1778053297028403589

[Bob's Orange]

That wasn't the tweet that causes the furore though. That tweet clarifying 50% funding was completely fine.

The one that did was where he was gaslighting fans to lower their expectations of ground redevelopment, specifically replying to a tweet which was the plans the actual club outlined in 21/22.

Keith Melon sees what he wants to see. He also used the cleaning of the Rolex clock as an example of what the money for ground maintenance was for.

[reeves4england]

Interesting snippets from James Phipps in the Adver this morning. Apologies if this is old news from previous interviews but it was new to me:

“What we have tried to do is to say that these are the lines we want you to know."

 “I can’t force somebody to give honesty, but what we can say is that if you are not honest and it is clear you are not honest then you are going to be challenged by The Trust on that.

“If you break the rules, which you did both with HMRC and the Football League, etcetera, then that is not going to go unanswered by The Trust.”

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/24245789.truststfc-become-critical-friend-swindon-town/

[STFC_Manc]

That wasn't the tweet that causes the furore though. That tweet clarifying 50% funding was completely fine.

The one that did was where he was gaslighting fans to lower their expectations of ground redevelopment, specifically replying to a tweet which was the plans the actual club outlined in 21/22.

That's the one I saw, and he seemed to get a bit of stick for that. I've not seen the one you mention.

[Oaksey Moonraker]

That's the one I saw, and he seemed to get a bit of stick for that. I've not seen the one you mention.

I thought his tweet was more like Reg's old line on Ground redevelopment 'wait until the diggers and builders are on site before believing it's happening'.

[Nemo]

The LSPod Trust Q & A pod is up with Bennett and Former Drummer Boy (Andy & Tom).

It's certainly one for any connoisseur of nervous laughter.

[iParadise]

The LSPod Trust Q & A pod is up with Bennett and Former Drummer Boy (Andy & Tom).

It's certainly one for any connoisseur of nervous laughter.

Cant wait to listen on the way home with gritted teeth!

[Leggett]

A good listen I thought, answered the questions they could.

[Nemo]

A good listen I thought, answered the questions they could.

I thought it was alright. Bit concerning how seemingly unprepared they are for anything going south, but I'm not *surprised* by that. Most of Twitter seems to think that it was pure Clem apologism.

I do think quite a lot of the online fanbase simply won't be happy unless the Trust issue a statement that just reads "they're all a bunch of crooked cunts" in size 72 impact at this point.

[Quagmire]

They didn’t actually answer many questions though, it was very MP esq.
Lots of pivoting.

We still have no idea if the club has missed a rental payment for example.

[Bob1978]

Surely the rent within 30 days needs to be in the terms of agreement and if it’s not they’ve made a mistake.

[swindonmaniac]

Surely the rent within 30 days needs to be in the terms of agreement and if it’s not they’ve made a mistake.

Admin error.

[Batch]

Surely the rent within 30 days needs to be in the terms of agreement and if it’s not they’ve made a mistake.

This has now been explicitly stated by the Trust.

I reckon payments didn't reach the account on the day they thought, but since "late" was loosely defined until now, at least publically, then this is a clean slate with a clear bounding and consequence.

Fair enough IMO