TrustSTFC AGM & Members Meeting - Monday 17th November

[Don Rogers Shop]

We don't have one

[pauld]

Re Cox (or any player): Clearly if someone offers silly money it's a different kettle of fish. Everyone has a price, but the lad Maynard's fee was mentioned so one assumes that is the ballpark we would be talking about. Lets be honest, a £2M+ bid is an attractive one for the club!

I think we'd be talking more than that - Maynard was mentioned as someone who the club feel Cox is worth more than and IIRC the only figure mentioned was "If we got an offer of around £3m, we'd have to listen". But I don't think that was in terms of a "match this fee and we'll talk", more an indication of a firm determination not to lose him. When Nick Watkins was intially asked would we sell Cox, he just said straight out without pause "No". Dave Byrne also emphasised Cox doesn't want to move - he loves it here, he's a first team regular, he's banging the goals in and making a name for himself. Why would he want to move? I'm assuming both their answers apply more to January than the summer to be honest, but it certainly heartened me and was very different from the "selling club" spin the Adver tried to put on Fitton's comments at the AGM.

EDIT: Nick Watkins did admit that when we come to renegotiate Cox's contract if we want to keep him beyond his current one, it will cost us a lot more as he's clearly shown his worth as a player.

And I'd like to echo Fred's comments re Nick and Dave giving up their free time to come along and answer questions so openly and frankly.

[Summerof69]

- Byrne was excited about a 14 year old kid currently in our centre of excellence who "will be better than Theo Walcott". The best part about this is from my point of view is that the kid and his parents were persuaded to stay with Swindon by Fitton when there were 6 figure deals on the table from Chelsea and Liverpool.

And the fact they've already turned down a 6 figure fee for him, and Byrne is sure that he'll break Paul Rideout's record of the youngest ever Swindon player...and Jutkiewicz had texted Byrne about coming back to the CG on loan.

[sonic youth]

not sure if anything monumental was said after i left but must say i was impressed with byrne. for all his theatrics on the touchline, he comes across as articulate and a good understanding of football as a game and as a business. i wouldn't be disappointed if he was appointed, depending on results in the interim.

thank you to nick and dave for giving up their time and it was great to hear lots of positives. it was kind of strange, a trust agm held at the club with a board member AND manager present. bizarre.

many thanks to paul for all his hard work over the last few years as well.

[janaage]

Come on fellas let's be honest, DB wasn't doing it out of the kindness of his heart was he. I'm sure he sure the potential worth an hour or two of talking to fans could do for his career development.  He is trying to save his job at the least, and trying to get the top job at the most.  If I were in his shoes I'd be doing everything I could to get as many fans on side as possible too.

He's also aware of the stick MM got for not being "fan friendly" so being the confident fella that he is he must love doing this kind of thing - not a dig just a observation really.

[Samdy Gray]

You're very much a glass half-empty man aren't you Jan? If you had come to the meeting last night I'm pretty sure you'd have a very different opinion of Byrne. It was never simply a PR exercise. He comes across as genuinely having a lot of passion for this club.

[janaage]

No I'm not a half empty glass man at all Sam.  I'm just saying that DB turning up to the trust meeting and giving his time to answer fans question is almost perfectly timed from his point of view (career wise).  He's sat there in front of the club's fans, next to his boss and giving the people what they want.  Fair play to him.

[sonic youth]

Come on fellas let's be honest, DB wasn't doing it out of the kindness of his heart was he. I'm sure he sure the potential worth an hour or two of talking to fans could do for his career development.  He is trying to save his job at the least, and trying to get the top job at the most.  If I were in his shoes I'd be doing everything I could to get as many fans on side as possible too.

He's also aware of the stick MM got for not being "fan friendly" so being the confident fella that he is he must love doing this kind of thing - not a dig just a observation really.

you're probably right and i don't see how it's a bad thing whatsoever. it's clear he wants the job which can only be a good thing

[janaage]

Absolutely SY, it isn't a bad thing, I suppose I was just picking up on the "how nice it was of DB" kinda vibe coming on the back of his visit, that's all.

[Nemo]

Yep, I though Bryne came out of it very well I thought, the only thing that hasn't been mentioned here already was that when he was asked what positions he'd like to strengthen he mentioned central defense and central midfield- two of the positions I'd say we were fairly well stocked up on, even if their form hasn't been brilliant. That sounds to me like Timlin might be looking at that left back position longer term if Byrne hangs around. He also named Graham Kavanagh as the one player he would realistically sign, which was generally agreed with.

I still don't think he'll get the job long term and I'm not sure he'd be my first choice still, but I'd feel a lot better about him coming off the back of that. He also guarenteed us three points on Saturday

[sonic youth]

well, it was nice of everyone to turn up...

[Sussex]

Do we know who got elected/re-elected/booted out on their arse?

[leefer]

Fair play that Budgie was there...didnt go but good on you who did,personally ide like the trust to keep strong its important that the people running the club understand how supporters feel...we know from past experience how easy it is for people running the club not bother about us lot.....i am determined to go to the next meeting.....but i better renew first!

[sonic youth]

paul d, andy ratcliffe, tony norris and myself stood down.

andy tuck, sam binstead, alan jones, paul wardell and andrew hounsell were re-elected/remain on the board.

nickie (sam's missus), phil stokes, john ward (not that one) and someone whose name escapes me were elected.

[janaage]

I've also heard from another source that he plans on sticking with Phil Smith for Saturday.  Not sure I agree with that call, think he's causing some problems at the back.  There were times on Saturday when our defenders were treating the ball like a hot potato and Smith wasn't halping matters with a handful of very poor clearances.