Thetownend.com

Hi all
You may have seen the adver publishing an open letter from the Trust today asking the club for openness and honestly and a plan regarding the current financial situation at the club. Article 1 of 2 is here https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/19080928.truststfc-asks-swindon-town-owners-provide-honesty-clarity-open-letter/

We at the Trust would be interested in your views and very much welcome everyone's support.
COYRs
Thanks

Season tickets for the 2021-22 season are due to go on sale and no doubt the funds from this would provide a much-needed financial boost in these difficult times. But it is not that simple.

Thousands of supporters purchased season tickets for the 20-21 season and over the last six months have heard nothing from the club. No options have been offered - no refunds, no discounts, nothing.

Season-ticket holders are given access to watch matches on TV through the iFollow system, but at £10 a match this is valued at £230 per season. This short-changes these loyal supporters significantly, especially those who may have purchased multiple season tickets for family members.
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Other supporters will refuse to purchase a season ticket because they have trust issues in relation to financial dealings at the club.

Personally don't think the Trust is asking for too much really. Sports clubs rely on the income of the ('customer') fans who put in a lot of time, effort and money so surely the least they deserve is openness and honesty as to what is happening.

FWIW, I think I saw something on Twitter yesterday about Plymouth Arygle opening up their books to their fans which was rewarded with a very positive response. What were your thoughts about that and presumably this would be the route you believe STFC should go down?

Saying all the right things for me, just hope one or more of the parties involved actually speaks up. Clem is the strange one for me - seems willing to talk to individual fans but not organised groupings? (not on the record anyway!) With Power you know where you stand as he has no interest in any of it!

Yes we as a board saw the Plymouth approach and thought it was excellent,  their chairman seems very much open and transparent and that is certainly what we would like to see the club do, until they take this approach we fear people will not want to buy season tickets so for many reasons it's in the clubs interests and would certainly start rebuilding trust with the fans.

Totally agree and that's the point Batch made above. Loyal supporters of many years are drifting away from the club and at a point in time where income to the club is vital, honest and open communication simply HAS to happen to get people onside.

Fair play to the work you guys continue to do.

Absolutely true, its a pivotal point in the clubs history right now, make or break.
Again very much this.

Wake up Power, you won't be able to rely on season ticket sales this year. But then do you really give a fuck ?.

The current evidence seems to suggest the answer "no" to this.

Somebody has to ask the questions, and while the OSC probably want the same answers its not really thier MO to be asking them.

I know the club monitor the TEF, and whover is reading this, for the love of God please get the point across to Power.

This next bit is so vitally important, without genuine transparency you are going to struggle with ST sales next season.

It could be of course Power doesn't care, is selling up anyway, whatever. But there are good staff in the CG, staff that need to pick up the pieces regarless.

Absolutely this. We apparently sold 3300 season tickets this season, I'd imagine that went a fair way to keeping the club going, along with bailouts etc. If season tickets go on sale in the next couple of weeks, I'd fear they might not even reach four figures given the current climate. Something needs to move.

One positive aspect to JS's tenure is that at least we are not having to pay win or goal bonuses very often, which obviously benefits the bottom line.

One positive aspect to JS's tenure is that at least we are not having to pay win or goal bonuses very often, which obviously benefits the bottom line.

Especially as Werdale Assets have just come into quite the windfall.

I did a bonus pod with Rob Angus (vice-chairman of the Trust) last night.

https://soundcloud.com/lspod/247-rob-angus-trust-stfc?ref=clipboard&p=a&c=1&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing