Statement from Sir Seton Wills

[BrightonRed]

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

I would like to say I am pleased to still be involved with Swindon Town Football Club and that we have managed to survive the most traumatic period in the Club's history and have managed to keep the Club going despite the many problems that it has had to face.

I am still committed to keeping the Football Club financed while we are seeking the Council's assistance in developing different ideas to enable the Club to prepare itself for the future, and to have the type of facilities that now are available everywhere up and down the country.

I am requesting everybody who is a fan and a shareholder to positively lobby our council for their support in the coming months with the ideas that we are about to submit.I believe once again we have managed to over achieve relative to the funds we have at our disposal.Last year myself and fellow funders subsidised each ticket sold by £6.00.I have studied the figures over the last few years and even taking into account the fact that we were in the play offs last year, the figures have grown each year despite the fact we have put substantial price increases through.

When I read comments being made by the Football Trust is personally upsets me.It is unresearched, it is personal comment and creates an atmosphere of failure and disappointment.It is the single biggest upset that my family and I have.All the staff at the Club work extremely hard with much reduced numbers.

However the Swindon Football Club Supporters Group who are non political, have been superb supporters.Over the last five years I understand that they raised over £100,000 and it heartens me.

I personally would be happiest never to hear any more about the Football Trusts's opinion on ticketing.

Over the last three years of their existence, I believe they have raised £8,000 and are not really material funding to the business of running a professional football club at Swindon.The amount of press they receive is disproportionate to their importance.I have asked the Club to establish how many members they have and I have asked the Board to facilitate meetings with them so that a communication channel can be opened.

It is my wish that they do not ask or apply for a directorship unless they are invited.

Yours sincerely,

Sir Seton Wills

[Kinky Tom]

Seton taking the law into his own hands

[BrightonRed]

I'm assuming he's referring to our friends at Trust Stfc?

[Kinky Tom]

It seems so.

[yeo]

source?

[Kinky Tom]

I'm looking forward to reading what Reg has to say about this to be honest.

[BrightonRed]

I personally would be happiest never to hear any more about the Football Trusts's opinion on ticketing.

It is my wish that they do not ask or apply for a directorship unless they are invited.

He's not a happy bunny! I suppose he's perfectly within his rights to be upset considering the investments he's made over the years.

[BrightonRed]

source?

Just posted on the official site.

[Reg Smeeton]

I'm looking forward to reading what Reg has to say about this to be honest.

 I blame Justin Tomlinson for upsettimg SSW.....he carried out the putsch, that turned the Trust into a political organisation....even Sonic Youth posts on their forum.

[Dazzza]

Not happy at all is he.

I think in recent memory including this one I have only ever seen three official statements from Sir Seton Wills.  One being an end of season interview for the match day programme the other being a condemnation of the Trust after they slammed Mike Diamandis's involvement and approached DD to I believe utilise his shares.

Think the key paragraph has to be:

When I read comments being made by the Football Trust is personally upsets me. It is unresearched, it is personal comment and creates an atmosphere of failure and disappointment. It is the single biggest upset that my family and I have. All the staff at the Club work extremely hard with much reduced numbers.

Clearly the Trust's ticket price proposals have hit a raw nerve and upset a few people behind the scenes.

 The recent comments over Diamandis’s ex-employee Sandy Gray also appear to have not gone unnoticed.  Although to be fair to the Trust this has purely been mentioned on message boards and not been released as an official statement, or in any way part of anything official from the Trust.
 
Considering what they have recently achieved on the stadium development front, if you believe it's motivated or not, it's a bit of a harsh condemnation.

[yeo]

Ask yourself this...

Why have all these 'happy stories' come out this week?

What harm would a supporters rep do if you never had something to hide?

Sir Seton wills has done fantasticly for this club but the guy shouldn't be untouchable.I do agree with Reg though, the viabilty of the Trust has been comprimised by JT's involvement.But he is no longer involved and ask your self what have the Trust got to gain?

They are after a sucsesfull STFC and nothing else,what does everyone else want?

[Ben Wah Balls]

It's not the first time Sir Seton's had a go at the trust and in some way I think he has a fair point, I didn't think there figures on ticketing were that well researched, as I've said before, I don't think they've taken everything into account with the attendances and it's based on too much conjecture.

Sir Seton is hugely important for the future of this football club, his family control the club and have loaned us millions, I can't see any viable alternatives so the trust should be careful with what they're saying.

[yeo]

So why no supporter on the board?

the Trusts figures may not add up (they do) but whats to stop a fan on  the board?

they are hiding something and this broadside at a supporters orginisation proves it.

[Dazzza]

Do agree Yeovil.

While the praise for the supporters club is well justified the political comments regarding the Trust really boil down to the fact that both organisations have very different defining roles.

Whether you agree with the Trust or not I think it’s vital that a body of sorts exists to question the decisions that affect us all.  Clearly some of the questions being asked are not to the liking of those in charge.

Rather than release such a public denunciation I think the board and Sir Seton would have been far better served had they looked to actively engage some of the comments made and if they are so unresearched and politically motivated then set the record straight.

Personally it looks like the club are trying to discredit the Trust and drive a wedge between it and the fans.

 To give this message any credibility it was made by the one person who fans hold in the highest regard (or in any regard in some cases) involved with the club, Sir Seton Wills.

I think it’s a real shame that he’s felt the need to do this but it doesn’t in any way effect the respect and appreciation I have for all that he’s done.

[le god cuervo]

sir seton probably didnt even write it, i expect some other PR person at the club did it, just like the letter from willie carson thats comes with the season ticket promotion & accounts & stuff. carson doesnt go near it yet it still has his name on it

like you said, just using his name to try & give it respect