regarding the takeover (or not) is the lesson of all this that we need a Supporters' Trust to protect The Valley at the very least?
It might be my inherent Curbslike realism but I feel the Club is distinctly vulnerable as a rich man's plaything and I mean no disrespect by that remark.
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http://www.supporters-direct.org/page.asp?p=2074#3
[b]
What is a Supporters Trust?[/b]
The basic definition of a Supporters’ Trust is a democratic, not-for-profit organisation of supporters, committed to strengthening the voice for supporters in the decision making process at a club, and strengthening the links between the club and the community it serves. Although in some ways it may look like a charity, and has the name ‘trust’, it is not a charitable organisation.
[b]
What's the role of Supporters Direct?[/b]
Supporters Direct help fans form trusts by offering advice on how to get it off the ground. We ensure that as many supporters get involved as possible. Having worked with fans setting up over 140 trusts since 2000, we advise fans on what works and what doesn't and give examples of good ideas from other places. As the fans who get involved are volunteers, it's important that they don't get disheartened or feel they wasted time on something that hasn't delivered. We help them avoid going up blind alleys and instead spend their time on things that will be positive and make a difference. We also take some of the load off their hands, as we have full-time staff who are at the end of a phone to advise if needed.
We also pay for all the legal costs of setting up a Trust and provide small grants, to cover things like advertising, printing, and room hire etc.
[b]Why form a Trust?[/b]
How does it differ from an Independent Supporters' Assocation?
We'd categorise the main difference between a Trust and an ISA as being twofold – ‘attitudinal’ and ‘organisational’.
The organisational one is easy: It's our belief that an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) offers the best way forward for supporters’ groups as its legal assets can be owned 'corporately' in a group rather than being vested in individuals. Members also get the benefit of limited liability (and so do the elected officers in most cases) – members are only liable for £1 if anything goes wrong – for example, if the Trust is sued.
As a corporate body, the full force of the law can be brought to bear on anyone who misappropriates the funds. It's also democratic and not-for-profit and states clearly and boldly that a key aim is the securing of representation and strengthening the links between club and community. It's got the 'big idea' that helps get an organisation off the ground - the idea at the heart is "why always be criticising, when we can be running and participating – we think we can bring huge benefits to the club, so give us a chance – to own the club we love (or a part of it)".
As an IPS can own shares or property, it is a vehicle that can ultimately own the club, and at the very least, own a significant shareholding. It can sign contracts with the club for shares received and set the terms of the deal. An ISA (Independent Supporters Association), supporters club or other supporters’ group which is unincorporated is on much shakier ground in that regard. So an IPS is robust and can grow with you. The powers exist to employ staff, contract pensions and manage people within a democratic structure. There are businesses that are IPSs that are much bigger than supporters’ trusts and clubs. The Co-op Group for example has a turnover of approximately £9 billion each year.
The fans at Stockport and Exeter City were able to take advantage of their situation by being an IPS. An ISA would have been equally concerned about the situation at those clubs, but might have struggled to actually buy the club – so just who would have bought it exactly? They would have raised money and campaigned and wanted to secure the future of the club, but would they have seen it as something they could and should do? That’s not to disparage those sorts of groups, just to indicate that instead of it being something they might do, it’s something a Trust is explicitly there to do.
Finally, the people who get involved in a trust as members know that their money is protected; it can't be spent on anything other than what the constitution says, and anyone who does this can be taken to court.
However, an ISA could still be a trust in the sense that it could convert to be an IPS and want a place on the board – this is where the attitudinal side comes in; it's about putting a professional face to the club and saying 'we're capable, skilled people with something to offer the club.’ That doesn't mean that you're unable to criticise or beholden to the club – as a democratic organisation, the members determine your policy and stance towards the club.
An IPS imposes certain disciplines on a group that we think can only be a good thing – democracy, accountability and transparency, and this can only reinforce the points you make. Basically, it comes down to what you want a body to do. In our view, an ISA, whilst a perfectly legitimate form of organisation, often becomes identified with a small band of individuals and might always seems to be criticising (even if it isn't in reality!). It is also limited in how it can grow, and how secure that growth is. A trust, constituted as an IPS stays in existence until its members decide to dissolve it, and so they have greater ability to stay around. Often, ISA;s go into a lull when key individuals become inactive. All these are of course applicable to a trust, but the disciplines we mention above make it more likely that weaknesses are identified and rectified. For starters, the act of becoming an IPS is a collaborative effort so you need a good team from the off.
Surely somebody who almost made The Apprentice is more suitable?;-)
But more seriously....
This is probably a good way forward. It will need someone with the drive and skills to be able to organise a diverse and disperate group of fans and supporters and take them forward with a common purpose.
It happened 25 years ago, it CAN happen again.
We all got together once to help save this place, perhaps it's time to invoke the same spirit?