Igitur
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 2,294 
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Post by Igitur on Aug 24, 2015 8:33:40 GMT
This idea should not be automatically dismissed as unworkable or unrealistic. Something has to be set up as a formal bridge between the fans and the club anyway or for the unfortunate event that the club heads towards real financial problems or worse still administration.
The 'supporters’ directors' are widely acknowledged as being neutered by the BOD and unable to influence matters. BRSC does a fantastic job at doing what it does, but could it resurrect the club, I don't think so? Is it truly independent?
What is required is a group with a constitution ready to help move things forward. It does not necessarily need a black book of oil billionaires, far eastern syndicates, hedge funds etc although that would be worked on. When administration looms, and you can discuss whether that is an option or not for ages, things move incredibly fast as the process is put in place quickly. It is better to have an established framework ready.
There are obviously models in some clubs and assistance/advice is provided by Supporters Direct, as mentioned by SE5, and already known to the group discussing the plan:
supporters-direct.org/wiki/index.php?title=Handbook:Setting_up_a_Supporters'_Trust_%E2%80%93_The_three-stage_model
It could be a contender to take over the club should the board sell up, which is not likely soon unless UWE fails irretrievably.
But a trust should not be viewed purely as potential owners, it can be an independent link between supporters and the club with the common purpose of improving the club in good times and bad.
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Post by fanatical on Aug 24, 2015 8:55:01 GMT
Hi Dave, Can i recommend you get in touch with Jacqui Forster at Supporters Direct if you haven't already. They are the body that have helped all supporters trusts get off the ground and have also had a key role in the handful of clubs that have achieved outright supporter ownership. In response to a few posts on here, it's important to distinguish between the desire to set up a supporters trust and doing what Bath City fans are trying to do and take complete control. Supporters trusts can have a lot of influence and benefit the whole club without having a majority or even significant shares. Bambers right in that the existing share scheme and supporters club complicate things a little but i don't think it creates a barrier that can't be overcome. Dare I say it, but it's worth looking south of the river to see whats happened with their supporters trust. They set up ten years ago at a time when the club had already had an existing and active supporters club (like ours). They operated alongside each other for a number of years and have recently merged. Obviously Lansdown owns pretty much the whole show but they still manage to get his ear and get things done. I'm not a member of the supporters club, I'm sure some on here are and will no better than me but i know the potential merits of converting to a supporters trust were discussed at an Executive Committee meeting last year, they decided against it but i imagine it is still something they may consider. If some fans take the initiative and get the ball rolling and drum up support for a trust then perhaps they'd be more likely to look at it again. There's been a few threads like this on here in recent months so there is clearly a fair bit of interest. Let us know Dave when and where you are meeting. I for one would be interested. Good luck to anybody who stops talking and actually tries to make a difference. I don't mean this in a nasty or disparaging way, but the commitment needed to make something like this work is huge. Unless a few people of the calibre of Kim Stucky, John Malyckyj, Clive Farquhar and Roger Cooper can be unearthed and those people are able and willing to give all of their spare time then this simply won't get off the ground. Too many with the ability to make something like this happen have been thwarted time and again by Twatola who has an uncanny knack of influencing the BOD - for anyone to waste their time. Until and unless the current Board changes no progress will ever be made. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2015 9:03:03 GMT
Good luck to anybody who stops talking and actually tries to make a difference. I don't mean this in a nasty or disparaging way, but the commitment needed to make something like this work is huge. Unless a few people of the calibre of Kim Stucky, John Malyckyj, Clive Farquhar and Roger Cooper can be unearthed and those people are able and willing to give all of their spare time then this simply won't get off the ground. Too many with the ability to make something like this happen have been thwarted time and again by Twatola who has an uncanny knack of influencing the BOD - for anyone to waste their time. Until and unless the current Board changes no progress will ever be made. You over estimate Watola. |
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The Gas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 484
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Post by The Gas on Aug 24, 2015 10:06:06 GMT
Too many with the ability to make something like this happen have been thwarted time and again by Twatola who has an uncanny knack of influencing the BOD - for anyone to waste their time. Until and unless the current Board changes no progress will ever be made. His period of tenure is coming to an end. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2015 11:41:42 GMT
You over estimate Watola. His period of tenure is coming to an end. Is that something that you know, or just wishful thinking? |
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Post by markczgas on Aug 24, 2015 19:40:35 GMT
Anyone wishing to get involved, you can contact me (pm).
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Post by Surrey Gas on Aug 24, 2015 20:58:37 GMT
In recent years we have seen Supporters Trusts have a very high profile, sadly particularly when clubs are in financial trouble (eg. Portsmouth, Hereford, and Merthyr). A group of fans is looking at setting up a Supporters Trust for Rovers. I am aware that there was an attempt to do this with the Gas Trust over a decade ago, but that project got 'strangled at birth' by the Club launching the (in)famous share scheme. However that was then, time has moved on, and many fans feel the time is right to have another go at this model which is used by supporters of many clubs up and down the land. The question is, do we start from scratch, or do we seek to revive the moribund Gas Trust which may still be legally constituted? If anyone knows anyone who was involved with the Gast Trust can they please get in touch with me (preferably by personal message), so that those wishing to pursue this idea can make contact with them. I think the folk behind the Gas Trust disappeared off to AFC Wimbledon many years ago when they didn't get their way at the Mem. |
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Post by splitter on Aug 24, 2015 21:02:49 GMT
In recent years we have seen Supporters Trusts have a very high profile, sadly particularly when clubs are in financial trouble (eg. Portsmouth, Hereford, and Merthyr). A group of fans is looking at setting up a Supporters Trust for Rovers. I am aware that there was an attempt to do this with the Gas Trust over a decade ago, but that project got 'strangled at birth' by the Club launching the (in)famous share scheme. However that was then, time has moved on, and many fans feel the time is right to have another go at this model which is used by supporters of many clubs up and down the land. The question is, do we start from scratch, or do we seek to revive the moribund Gas Trust which may still be legally constituted? If anyone knows anyone who was involved with the Gast Trust can they please get in touch with me (preferably by personal message), so that those wishing to pursue this idea can make contact with them. I think the folk behind the Gas Trust disappeared off to AFC Wimbledon many years ago when they didn't get their way at the Mem. I'm sure that snipey sort of bulls**t comment is what caused the trust to fail in the first place. |
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Post by Jon the Stripe on Aug 24, 2015 21:12:46 GMT
You over estimate Watola. His period of tenure is coming to an end. Autumn is my favorite season. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2015 21:48:28 GMT
I think the folk behind the Gas Trust disappeared off to AFC Wimbledon many years ago when they didn't get their way at the Mem. I'm sure that snipey sort of bulls*** comment is what caused the trust to fail in the first place. If a bit of internet sniping caused the trust to fail then it may have been fatally flawed to start off with? |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2015 22:56:10 GMT
Rather than look wt the past, isnt it better to concentrate on the proposal?
Sadly the proposal is not linked to the problem...It never was
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 8:45:35 GMT
Rather than look wt the past, isnt it better to concentrate on the proposal? Sadly the proposal is not linked to the problem...It never was It's a pipe dream and will go the same way as Black & Gold and those meetings at The Welly. |
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Post by Curly Wurly on Aug 25, 2015 8:49:10 GMT
Rather than look wt the past, isnt it better to concentrate on the proposal? Sadly the proposal is not linked to the problem...It never was It's a pipe dream and will go the same way as Black & Gold and those meetings at The Welly. Regretfully, I agree with you. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 8:50:47 GMT
Rather than look wt the past, isnt it better to concentrate on the proposal? Sadly the proposal is not linked to the problem...It never was It's a pipe dream and will go the same way as Black & Gold and those meetings at The Welly. I wouldnt be that harsh as we dont know what the objective is. Therein lies the issue, it was the same for the original Gas Trust, its all too woolly To get people on board ou have to define the objective, saying that they want fans to be involved, but to do what exactly (and I am a believer)? |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 8:57:01 GMT
It's a pipe dream and will go the same way as Black & Gold and those meetings at The Welly. Regretfully, I agree with you. Don't get me wrong Curly, I would be delighted to be proven wrong and for this group to surface again in a few months with a Trust in place, funded and constituted, with proper objectives defined and a plan to deliver. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 9:05:34 GMT
It's a pipe dream and will go the same way as Black & Gold and those meetings at The Welly. I wouldnt be that harsh as we dont know what the objective is. Therein lies the issue, it was the same for the original Gas Trust, its all too woolly To get people on board ou have to define the objective, saying that they want fans to be involved, but to do what exactly (and I am a believer)? This is exactly the point. But not just the objectives, you need a plan to deliver that people will buy into as well. |
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Angas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,069
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Post by Angas on Aug 25, 2015 11:23:17 GMT
I think the folk behind the Gas Trust disappeared off to AFC Wimbledon many years ago when they didn't get their way at the Mem. I'm sure that snipey sort of bulls*** comment is what caused the trust to fail in the first place. They dished out plenty themselves, I'm sure you will remember. Father Jack Hackett demonstrates that perfectly further up this thread. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 12:29:45 GMT
You'll probably get someone like Nobby, backed by the board, publicly trying to bribe you to fold fairly early on (yes, that really did happen). And in that sentence you sum up for me exactly why the original gas trust had problems winning over the fan base. Wrong time, wrong people, I'm afraid. Ann, I can empathise with the gist of that thought, but sadly I don't think the response it received was entirely down to who was involved, or when. There have been too many similar reactions to other people at other times. There's an intrinsic vein of Tall Poppy Syndrome at the club that triggers a wall of suspicion and resistance to anyone who might seek to do 'something' / instigate improvement / rock the boat / get above themselves / cause trouble / be in it for themselves [delete according to personal infection by the syndrome] |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 12:56:48 GMT
And in that sentence you sum up for me exactly why the original gas trust had problems winning over the fan base. Wrong time, wrong people, I'm afraid. Ann, I can empathise with the gist of that thought, but sadly I don't think the response it received was entirely down to who was involved, or when. There have been too many similar reactions to other people at other times. There's an intrinsic vein of Tall Poppy Syndrome at the club that triggers a wall of suspicion and resistance to anyone who might seek to do 'something' / instigate improvement / rock the boat / get above themselves / cause trouble / be in it for themselves [delete according to personal infection by the syndrome] I think thats right and has become progressively worse |
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The Gas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 484
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Post by The Gas on Aug 25, 2015 16:44:12 GMT
There is an existing supporters group called Bristol Rovers Supporters Club with in excess of 1,800 members.
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