Thetownend.com

Text of e-mail sent out today

AGM Monday 8th February 7pm at the County Ground  

This will be a crucial meeting of the Trust: the present chair and vice-chair are to stand down because of work and family commitments. This leaves 4 members of the existing Trust board willing to continue but they cannot keep the Trust going on their own. We need reinforcements: unless more volunteers join the board there is a real possibility the Trust will fold. So please:

• Renew your membership either via Paypal at the TrustSTFC website http://www.truststfc.co.uk/merchandise.php or by renewing on the night

• Come along to the AGM

• Put yourself forward to join the Trust board

Why the Supporters Trust is still important

Before Andrew Fitton’s consortium bought the club the Trust adopted a high profile, campaigning role in an effort to remove the previous board. This reflected supporters’ concerns about the way the club was being run.
Now that the club is being honestly, efficiently and correctly run, the Trust no longer needs to adopt a confrontational approach and this means that we receive less publicity.
But the primary purpose for having a supporters trust is as valid as ever: to be the vehicle for giving fans a say in how our football club is run.
At the AGM the retiring board will ask members to agree to the following priorities for the coming year: to buy shares in the club in the name of TrustSTFC; to raise money for the Red Army Fund; and to represent to the club the supporters’ views on plans to redevelop the County Ground.

STFC rights issue

We intend to take up the club’s offer to sell us shares, which they have reserved for us from the recent rights issue. Pending members approval, we already have £10,000 set aside for this purpose and will use this to buy 10,000 shares in the Trust’s name. Eventually the aim is to have a minimum shareholding of 5%. This percentage will enable the Trust to call an AGM if STFC has not called one within the correct time frame. While the current owners are acting correctly, if they were sell in the future then a new owner – being majority shareholder – would have no need to call an AGM, so this shareholding would enable us to bring them to account if required. We’d also hope to be able to claim a seat for a supporters’ representative on the STFC board in the future. In the meantime there are regular meetings between the Trust’s officers and Nick Watki ns, Chief Executive of STFC, at which we can put forward fans’ views. These will carry more weight the more shares the Trust owns in the club, so we need your help to buy them.

We will discuss at the AGM how to raise the necessary funds to purchase the extra we require.
We are aware that some small shareholders were disenfranchised by the club’s recent share consolidation and others were aggrieved at seeing their shareholding reduced. We believe that they and other supporters who would like to own a stake in the club but who cannot afford to lay out substantial sums would be better served by helping the Trust increase its shareholding and influencing STFC decisions through the Trust.

Red Army Fund

The Trust manages and raises money for the Red Army Fund (RAF), which is made available to the club to increase the playing staff in times of need. Funds from the RAF are donated to pay all or part of the transfer fees or wages of new or loan players. The importance of this was shown last season, when we spent a substantial amount of the RAF to help bring in Gordon Greer on loan at a time when the manager’s budget was low. He proved to be a crucial signing, and has of course since gone on to become club captain. Building up the RAF will be another key objective in 2010.

County Ground Re-Development

2010 should see the next phase of the board’s ambitions to develop the County Ground. The Trust has a track record in this area, having drawn up its own plans for redevelopment in 2006. We have made these available to the club and we will ensure that members’ views are strongly represented as the situation develops.

We look forward to seeing you on the 8th Feb

Are there other ways I can renew my membership and/or make a donation, bank transfer?

What's wrong with paypal? You don't have to have a paypal account I don't think.

So you do need a PayPal account?

You can pay through paypal with your debit/credit card and no need for a paypal account. At least you could before. Try and and see what happens I guess 

I've asked someone to post an answer for you

You can pay direct to the TrustSTFC bank account :

Sort code : 08-92-99
A/c no. : 65076396
A/c name : TrustSTFC

Please quote your membership number on the renewal, so we know who the payment is from.

Or just PM me once the payment is made with your details.

Cheers, will try and sort it out after payday.

nothing but trouble makers. Is it a co-incidence that we only ever hear them when bad news comes out of the club?

NO TO THE TRUST

whos standing down? ive lost track of whos on the board.

Me for one. Unfonrtunately work has to take priority at the moment.

Its a shame because there is a real opportunity to achieve things which have been aims of the Trust for a long time lilke gaining a sizeable shareholding in the club, influencing the development of the County Ground etc...

People seem to have the idea that the Trust is only there to oppose bad management of the club, whereas it can achieve just as much if not more when the club is being run well.

Thanks for all the hard work!!

What happened to the trust message board?

At present the board is :

Andrew Hounsell, Andy Tuck, Alan Jones, John Ward, Paul Robson, Paul Wardell & Phil Stokes.
As it stands three or four of us are able to stand for re-election. Some definitely need to & will stand down & will no doubt let you know when they have finalised their decision.  Several of us also don't really have the time at present & would be willing to stand aside if someone else wishes to come on the board, but are willing to continue until that happens.
We therefore need others who are willing to join the Trust board & help out. If you are able to let us know.

I'm pretty sure I speak for us all though, when I say that we all still strongly belief that there is a need for the Trust. Not only to put forward supporters views & work with & help the club (eg. the Red Army Fund ), & any future ground redevelopments, but also to gain a shareholding & therefore a greater influence on the club. (ie Our initial aims & are objectives are still relevant if not more so)
Whilst we are fully supportive & appreciative of the current owners of STFC, we are also aware of how over time these things can change in the future. (eg. Portsmouth ).

It was virtually unused for months, then developed a problem with one of the database files. I didnt see much point in fixing it when the only use is got was Gerald winding people up!

Relaunch slogan (for those who remember the old Yellow Pages ad):

"The Trust, it's not just there for the nasty things in football"

Thats what made it so good. 

Maybe some one can send him the link to TEF, I really think he would get crucified on here though, well even more than on Truststfc.

No no no! That cunt has been on here already.

His grammar is appaling , we dont need him  .

His grammar is appalling, we don't need him.

 :D

come on TT.

Thats why i worte it like that

Yes he may be slightly blinkered in ALL of his opinions but it just adds to the whole excitement of football forums.

Slightly?

Ok, he is a complete nut job.  But you need to see a bit craziness to make everything else feel oh so much more sane.

Mad as a drain!

I refer you to this

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,24701.0.html

On a similar note what ever happened to Maverick !

i used to see him at games quite often, not lately though. but that might be related to the fact i don't go anymore

I thought that was quite mild really compared to threads when I first starting viewing this site.
It also reminded me how much Sonic hated my guts then, doubt if there has been any change.

ahhh gizzus a hug you old softie

He still goes


I had a chat with him at Fulham

Yeah, I keep bumping into Mav at away games, too. Nice bloke

I wondering whether Maverick still harbours feelings of Mike-Love.  I don't miss those days.  One bit.

Dell - you wound me up something proper back then, but you're alright now.

Yeah maybe I had forgotten just how bad he was.

does anyone remember STFC_Jeffrey?

What a twat!

Was that the guy who pretended to be in the know about the take over/everything else, pissed off most town fans but had his picture and home address listed under the same user name on another website?

I concur with that.

That'll be the one

What was really shocking was the huge number of people who fell for his bull shit on the Adver site.  Just shows what a bunch of morons they are

Reg Smeeton as positive as ever

To be fair to Reg, it did look distinctly shakey at times due to "certain individuals connected to the club" (was that how Wise put it?) who seemed determined to fuck any hope of salvation if it didn't involve them getting the massive pay-off they felt they'd richly deserved. As opposed to the tarring and feathering they actually deserved

To be fair to Maverick he was never actually pro Diamandis.

But looking back it's great now that we have a club that is run properly etc etc. However, back to the original post we still need a "watching brief" in case someone else ever comes in, hence the need for the Trust to maintain & increase influence / shareholding.

I bet two/ three years ago any one of us would have swapped our owners then for Mandaric who was at Portsmouth.
Would we now though ? I think not

I bloody wouldn't. I think we were all pretty wary of the dangers of the "Anyone But Diamandis" factor and rightly so - look where that's got Portsmouth, to use the same example

It'd be interesting to know what would have happenned if the BEST lot had taken over, I'm not sure that they were the most upstanding of chaps.

Lovely use of understatement Nemo. I think a quick look at the Notts County thread, except without the intial hope or any payment of debt would be a reasonable guide

It'd be interesting to know what has happenned TO the BEST lot.

Weren't they looking at Tranmere or somebody like that just after us? I'd love to know the whole story behind them too.

I particularly liked the fact the previous board made a big thing about the proposed Trust backed investor being "american and not a fan of the club" when trying to uncover Bill Power. Only for themselves later to reveal Jim Little as the front man for their preferred takeover!

Still thank gos those dark days are gone now.

Coventry, Tranmere and a couple of others IIRC. But I think Jim Little bailed shortly after they left us. He's back in PE in the US now I think, I'd imagine the rest of the Portugeezers have gone back to being dodgy agents

He's a PE teacher ?????????????

Private Equity, as you well know, you scamp

Incidentally the e-mail was sent out to all past Trust members of the Trust as well as current. If anyone didn't get their e-mail (because we have the wrong address or it's been changed etc) you can let us know the correct e-mail address either by sending me a PM

Did we ever find out what the final deal was when the club was bought by Fitton?

I don't think the full details were ever officially released, no. But I think it was pretty much "Here's a quid for the majority of your shares and we'll take on all the debt you've managed to incur" plus the indemnity against ongoing legal actions, some agreements about how/when Fitton and co would pay down the CVA/IR etc and no ongoing ties (ie no retained interest in future ground development etc). I'm sure the detail was more complex than that :)

Cheers Paul

We can now confirm that the venue is in the Chairmans Suite (County Ground) @ 7pm next Monday evening at 7pm.
You are all welcome, & can join on the night if not already a member.

I've just realised I can probably make it. I might turn up with Maverick.

BUMP !

Fuck me! The Trust meeting in the Chairman's suite at the County Ground. Whoever thought we'd see the day?

The times they are a-changin'

It's not Monday yet?

Tis monday now !

Any news to report ?

It was a good meeting, & fairly positive. Minutes will be on the Trust Website.  The main thing is that we are going ahead with an initial purchase of shares in the club, & want to buy more. If any one has any shares that they wish to donate/ proxy or any ideas for raising money obtaining more shares they would be welcomed. The main details will be communicated to members via the monthly newletter we are starting.
It was also agreed to keep membership at £1 per year, but because of this most communications will need to be by e-mail (to keep scosts down). If any one out there should be getting e-mails from the Trust & you aren't it may be that we have an old e-mail address. If so please PM me with your name & latest e-mail address.

Sorry, I had intended to go but I'm still too busy with work and other private stuff (and catching up on my sleep) so I decided not to.

I will read the minutes with interest. I thought it may seem a bit pointless for increased fan involvement with the running of the club when we have some decently transparent owners but it may not always be that way on reflection, which is one of the reasons I wanted to attend. Plus things like the reduction of town end prices may have happened sooner with more consulting etc.

It'll be particularly interesting to see if the Trust, Supporter's Club and general fans get any involvement in redevelopment plans. Given that they're unlikely to simply be in the head of Mr Whippy it's probably not that necessary but I suppose the aim is to get more people in the ground, Fitton should listen really.

This probably seems a bit apathetic but I'm just enjoying things being about the football for once. But fair play for people keeping things going.

I know that Nick Watkins has received a copy of the Trust plans a few years ago, and since those plans were done in conjunction with people from the local community and the council, I would hope they would definately use them as a very good starting point.

I also think there was never anything in Mr Whippy's head but hot air.

Remember when Mr Whippy valued the club at around £12m (I think that was the figure) just for the share capital of the Club, at one of the Trust meetings?

Classic Whippy.

Oh those were the days of having incompetent directors and forever ripping the piss out of them fro being so incompetent - I wonder what Mr Whippy is up to know

I remember when he came to the Moonraker for a Trust meeting. (Before I knew who he was) he approached me outside & asked to swap an STFC hat for my Orange one. I duly did the exchange & then put another orange hat on.
So I now know that Mr Whippy has an Orange hat which may give him away.