Trust news from around the country

RamsTrust Protest Update - 8th September 2005

The Derby Trader has made this week's edition a 'Protest Special' with an extended column from local 
investigative journalist Neil Hallam and an editorial about their protest from the front page onwards. 

The Neil Hallam column is first and then the editorial part.

There comes a time in any football club when even the most tolerant and 
trusting supporters are compelled to confront the reality of a desperate 
situation, ruefully conclude that enough is enough and raise their voices with a 
short and simple message for those they believe have failed them.

For Derby County fans that time surely came with the cloak and dagger farce 
of Grzegorz Rasiak's sale to Spur for £2-million a few minutes before midnight
  on last week's transfer deadline day and the message for the Rams' board
and  their associates is as short and simple as it gets. “Go.”

It is fast approaching two years since John Sleightholme, Jeremy Keith and 
Steve Harding somehow contrived to take over the club for less than it costs to
  park there on match days and if recent events have proved anything about the
  current situation it is that the game is up for them, for finance director 
Andrew Mackenzie and, above all, for the club's canny and plausible director
of  football Murdo Mackay.

Any shreds of credit these gentlemen may have gathered from the more easily 
impressed supporters in the last 22 months must surely have been exhausted by 
the Rasiak transfer and the rift it revealed within Pride Park, leaving the 
board with nothing but crisis, debt and division to show for the bold promises
  they voiced on arrival and leaving fans with no reason to trust their 
stewardship for one day more.

This administration's credibility has been dismantled brick by brick while 
debts have soared and rows have surfaced.

Now the departure of Rasiak in circumstances that forbade any possibility  of
the recruitment of new players with the proceeds has once again thrown a 
revealing spotlight on a deeply worrying situation.

If the controversial circumstances of Rasiak's departure were deliberately 
contrived, then the fans are entitled to regard the whole business as a
betrayal  of them. If it all happened without premeditation, then it must be regarded
as  evidence of wretched misjudgement or proof that the club's finances have
been  allowed to become so desperate that there was no option but to accept
whatever  was offered before the deadline.

The fact that Derby were in no position to reject bids for one of the best 
players could hardly be counted as a shock. If it hadn't been Rasiak it would 
certainly have been somebody else because skint clubs are always prey to those
  with greater resources and clubs which are as deeply mired in debt as Derby
more  often than not have their desperation for cash used against them.

What made the Rasiak deal especially depressing was that it raised so many 
awkward questions about the state of affairs inside Pride Park and that 
statements made to supporters were so conflicting that they created more doubt  than
reassurance.

Not to put too fine a point on it, many fans undoubtedly took the view that 
the Rasiak deal with Spurs was deliberately delayed until after the Football 
League's transfer window closed to give the board, or one section of it, an 
excuse for not signing the players the manager desperately needed to fill an 
alarmingly increasing number of gaps in his squad.

Mr Keith, however, disputes this scenario and claims that nothing was heard 
from Spurs until 7pm on deadline day.

He also dismissed widespread rumours of deepening financial crisis by 
claiming that the club was “under no pressure to sell from the bank,” inevitably 
begging the reply: “Then why do it when there was no time to sign a 
reinforcements for an already depleted squad? What happens if Marcus Tudgay or  Paul
Peschisolido gets injured or suspended.”

Without evidence to the contrary, the fans – like the manager and director 
of football – must take Mr Keith's word on the timing and circumstances of the
  Rasiak transfer.

What they do not have to do is pretend that any of what he said makes sense 
to them or that what transpired just before midnight on deadline day can be 
satisfactorily explained by anything except an urgent demand for debts to be
cut  or else.

As for all the other questions, the fans are still waiting for explanations 
that do not sound like evasions or excuses.

Were Mackay and manager Phil Brown really excluded from the negotiations 
and, if so, why? 

Was the decision to take Spurs' money made without reference to the playing 
administration and again, if so, why? Does the club not provide the manager
with  a mobile phone?

How come Spurs were able to succeed with a bid smaller than the 
£2.25-million previously agreed Wolves?

How much smaller? Was it really £2-million or is there truth in suggestions 
that Derby actually got considerably less than this “up front” and will only
get  more if certain conditions are fulfilled later?

Did Rasiak and his agent have any prior knowledge that Spurs would come in 
with a last minute offer when the Polish striker turned Wolves down earlier on 
deadline day? Had they been primed to sit tight, reject Wolves' terms and wait
  for Spurs to move in?

It hardly matters that these questions are unlikely to be answered with the 
sort of detail the long-suffering paying punter would like or that the
chairman,  Mr Sleightholme, has apparently taken Trappist vows at a time when he
should  have been making explanations and attempting to allay the fans' fears
because  the truth is that the vast majority of fans have already drawn their own 
conclusions.

They have made up their minds about the Rasiak deal just as they made up 
their minds about the sale of Tom Huddlestone against the publicly stated wishes 
of former manager George Burley, about the ludicrous circumstances of Burley'
s  departure, about the club's withdrawal from the Premiership Reserve
competition  and about the reason for the parlous state of the club's finances.

The conclusion, inevitable with such a catalogue of misjudgement to 
consider, is that many fans would dearly love to see the back of this board and  the
sooner the better. Ideally, indeed, they would have liked to keep Burley and 
Rasiak and got rid of the owners and their appointees.

Now, with Burley taking the Scottish Premiership by storm with Hearts and 
Rasiak set for his debut for Spurs, the fans will simply settle for creating a 
situation in which new owners prepared to invest in the club can take over, 
ideally without being saddled with all of the debt accumulated by the current 
administration or that operated under previous owner Lionel Pickering.

Are such investors waiting in the wings? Are those wealthy local  businessman
who stepped forward with offers of £10-million before the current  owners got
lock, stock and barrel for three quid still interested in taking  over? Who
knows?

All supporters can do is keep their fingers crossed that when this 
administration does make way, somebody local with an established provenance of  service
to Derby County and a great deal of cash as well as business expertise  is
prepared to step forward and return to the club to its roots. And no, I am  not
referring to Stuart Webb, the man whose answer to a previous crisis was 
Robert Maxwell.

For the moment, simply seeing the back of this board would be regarded by 
many fans as reason enough for celebration.

The truth is that they have regarded the current regime with mistrust since 
the day they arrived and very little Messrs Sleightholme, Keith or Mackay have
  said or done has succeeded in diluting suspicion of their motives or a
concern  about their previous business record and the source of their take-over 
funding.

Now, it seems, the Rasiak fiasco has finally succeeded in galvanising a  mood
of protest among the fans, with a well-briefed and strongly-motivated 
RamsTrust to the fore, and the board can expect a rude reception the next time  they
present themselves at a home game.
As for Mr Keith, the rudeness  started as soon as Rasiak left, with Mr Mackay
launching a personal attack on  the chief executive for wanting to be “
heavily involved on the football  side.”

Mr Mackay added: “That is his right but you do not need two directors of 
football.” In a properly structured club, I would argue, you do not need one 
director of football and I keenly await the outcome of his suggestion that he 
might be compelled to quit Pride Park as a consequence of Mr Keith's involvement
  in playing matters.

Mr Mackay did, of course, make a similar suggestion when his own  involvement
in playing matters was cited as Burley's reason for resigning but  come the
new season and he was back at the microphone, pointing the finger at Mr  Keith
for the lack of new signings and pledging, in effect, to help new manager 
Phil Brown sort it all out.

In other words, he cleverly painted himself as the Mr Fixit who would get 
the manager, and the fans, what was needed while, by inference, suggesting that 
Mr Keith's attempt to involve himself in playing matters had proved a 
failure.

Actually, Mr Keith's credentials for an involvement in playing matters seem 
every bit as good as Mr Mackay's – indeed rather better since, unlike the 
director of football, he had not run a failed soccer-related business venture 
prior to his arrival at Pride Park.

Will Mr Mackay go this time? I'm not holding my breath, especially since 
reading that he had offered an apology “to the board and chairman” for  “
disrespectful comments made in anger and frustration.”

My own view is that those comments, and the situation which led to Burley's 
departure, should have made Mr Mackay's position untenable and I trust that 
those fans who answer the call to protest will not exclude him from their 
attentions.

I hope too that they spare a word or two for the Co-op Bank, whose  readiness
to instal a group of strangers at Pride Park almost two years ago has 
proved, in the eyes of most supporters, to be a disastrous misjudgement and one 
which may yet impact adversely on their own shareholders.

The time for passive resignation has surely passed. The time for protest  and
pressure has arrived and I look forward to hearing a spirited rendition of 
the Moody Blues' classic “Go Now” delivered by several thousand decidedly
moody  black and white fans when the directors take their seats for the next home 
game.

**********************************

Trader  editorial

A TOTAL of 20,000 placards with the slogan ‘Board Out'  will be distributed
before Derby County's home match against Southampton on  September 18.
And 2,000 more are set to be handed out at the Rams' next match  with Crewe
Alexandra at Gresty Road on Sunday.

These are the opening shots from disgruntled and frustrated Derby fans,  who
have turned on the club's board following the sale of star striker  Grzegorz
Rasiak to Tottenham last week.

The protest, being “facilitated and supported” by independent fans  group
RamsTrust, will call on people to hold the A4 sheets above their  heads
before, at half-time, and again at full-time during the matches - both  of
which will be shown live on Sky Television.

RamsTrust member Nigel Owen, who has followed the Rams for over 20  years,
has helped to co-ordinate the demonstration.

Mr Owen (28), from London, told the Trader: “This is not just a  protest
about the sale of Grzegorz Rasiak, although I think it's fair to say  that's
been the straw which broke the camel's back for a lot of  supporters.

“You only have to read the message boards or listen to the radio  phone-ins
to pick that up.
“This is about the last two years where the  club's financial position has
not improved and now we've seen Rasiak and  Pablo Mills gone from the squad,
with nobody coming in. This whole thing is  finally starting to affect the
playing side.

“Starting with the Crewe game on Sunday, we are asking fans to hold  these
placards up before kick-off, at half-time and again at full-time.  During
the game we urge them to support the manager and the players.”

However, Mr Owen is at pains to impress on supporters how important it  is
for the demonstration to remain peaceful and lawful.

He added: “We want no violence and nothing illegal. We simply want to  get
our message across that this board is no longer welcome at Derby  County
Football Club.

“This is a sustained campaign to remove this board, not just a  knee-jerk
reaction to the Rasiak sale. If we can get that message across in  front of
the Sky cameras, it will give us more exposure in the media.”

RamsTrust Statement on Protest - 2nd September 2005

RamsTrust  has responded to unprecedented supporters' concerns regarding the
circumstances  surrounding the sale of Grezgorz Rasiak and the ongoing and
well documented  financial pressures on the club. The Trust calls for all Derby
County supporters  to unite in protest to effect positive change in the
direction and ownership at  the club.

The outright anger being expressed by Rams fans towards the  current owners
at the timing and motivation of Rasiak's sale is the culmination  of many
months of mistrust of the current occupants of the  Boardroom.

More and more fans of Derby County consider it to be in the  best long term
interests of the club if the ownership changes, before the team  and the fans
suffer any further.

RamsTrust calls on all influential  parties, particularly the Co-op Bank and
financial supporters of the club, to  act positively for change in this
growing crisis of confidence from all  stakeholders.

We urge any parties with an interest in taking over the  club to make their
intentions known quickly, so that the club can move forward;  RamsTrust will be
more than keen to play their part in supporting any such  positive change.

A protest is being organised and facilitated by  RamsTrust - actions to allow
all Derby County fans to voice their grievances  with maximum exposure and
effect. More details of the protest will be provided  and we ask fans to follow
these details in the coming days.

This will not  be a knee-jerk reaction, but a well-planned and ongoing effort
of pressure on  those whose actions have contributed to the current state of
our football club  and are now starting to affect the team on the pitch


The ultimate aim  is to ensure the best interests of Derby County are
maintained, which we now  believe begins with a change of ownership, relieving the
club from the unwelcome  situation which currently exists.

RamsTrust can be contacted on 0870 4321  871 or mail
_ramstrust@ramstrust.org

RamsTrust Reaction to Agents Fees Report

Following the publication of the Football League Agent Fees Report covering the period from January 1st to June 30th of this year, RamsTrust members have been sending in their reactions. These have been put to the club, and their responses are included below.

The survey has shown that during this period, Derby County has paid the highest amount in Agents Fees of any League Club in all 3 Divisions.  This was during a period when the club was struggling with massive debts, and was still in the process of reducing the size of the playing squad.

During the period, Derby spent roughly the same amount as all 2nd & 3rd Division clubs put together, and approximately 25% of the entire agents fees paid in the 1st Division. Club representatives have argued that they made one of the highest numbers of 'deals' (including new signings, new contracts, cancelled contracts & loans) - although not THE highest.

However, the number of deals is only 7% of all in the division, and it is worth noting that in 88% of all deals done by League Clubs, it is claimed that no payments were made direct to agents.  Many fans have therefore concluded that Derby is paying over the odds for Agents' fees. Even the average fee Derby paid per transaction is the 3rd highest of all League
clubs in the report.

The report details only payments made direct to agents from the club; payments applicable to players' own agents are paid directly by the player concerned. It is illegal for an agent to be paid by both parties in a financial deal (as there would be a clear conflict of interest).  As a result many fans have been asking whom these payments have actually gone to.

Murdo Mackay - the Rams' Director of Football, and a former agent himself, has stated that he has not received a penny from any deal involving the club, and that Andrew Mackenzie has been responsible for making all agents' payments. A club spokesman has reiterated to RamsTrust that DCFC "has acted with integrity in all its dealings and has been transparent in its declarations regarding agents' fees."

One conclusion is that these payments have gone to some 'third party' agents acting as intermediaries between the club (with a Manager, a Director of Football, and a Financial Director) and the player's agent.  Can the club confirm exactly whom these payments are going to?

When the club employed an ex-agent as Director of Football, the expectation from many supporters was that he would know how to avoid this kind of payment. The Club has stated that "each transfer of a player can be different and have unique elements and also a transfer involving a transfer fee is a very different situation to one where no transfer fee is involved."

It now appears that the fans are paying for: a Manager to decide whom to buy, a Director of Football to ring a third-party agent, the third-party agent himself, the player's agent (indirectly), the player himself, and a Financial Director to actually write the cheques to all these people.  All of these payments have been made at a time the club is struggling with massive debts, and has not spent a transfer fee on any player since the club asked fans to buy season tickets early to fund team-building.

Murdo Mackay has stated that these figures are owing to the standard of players who have been signed. Many RamsTrust members have some sympathy for this position, and have applauded the standard of players brought in - although they were nevertheless predominantly free or 'nominal fee' transfers.

RamsTrust does not doubt that "the club has acted prudently, ethically and with integrity at all times in the process of obtaining players", but fans are still concerned by the amount of our money being spent in this way. The Club has also indicated that it feels other clubs may not have been as honest as Derby in submitting their figures. If there has been any 'massaging' of the figures by other clubs, maybe this is something Chairman John Sleightholme could bring up at the next meeting of the panel looking into 'Fit & Proper Persons' to run Football Clubs.

The Club has stated that, in most cases, the agents' fees are split across the length of the contract rather than in up-front fees, but being faced with these payments for two or three years to come, along with the bank repayments on the loans, is an additional concern for fans.

Many fans have raised the concern that either Mr. Mackay has a greater acceptance of agents' fees and willingness to pay them, or that the new Board has been naïve in accepting these hidden costs where other clubs have not.

RamsTrust members urge the club to continue being 'transparent' and, in order to judge the relative merits of payments to agents, to reveal to whom and for what, each was made.

We also ask the club to consider taking the same approach as a large number of League clubs (such as promoted Crystal Palace and Crewe Alexandra) in refusing to pay agents' fees.  In the current "buyers' market" for player transfers, this seems an unnecessary overhead. If agents are needed it should surely be the players and not the clubs who have to pay for them.

It would also send out the right signals, and hinder these characters from taking money out of the game.  Also, it could help the Rams' financial position to the tune of over half a million pounds a year.

There are still a number of direct questions of concern to RamsTrust members:

These have been put to the club, who declined to comments further.
*  Can the club reassure fans that Derby is not paying over the going rate in Agents fees?
*  Can the club confirm exactly whom the Agents Fees in this report have gone to?
*  Can the club confirm the breakdown of the figures in the report - whom the payments have been made to and for what purpose?
*  Will the club consider taking the same approach as a number of League clubs and refuse to pay Agents' fees in future?

Jim Wheeler - RamsTrust.

Darlington Trust

A new era is starting today at Darlington Football Club, with the new owners recognising the need for the supporters' voice to be heard at its heart.

Darlington Supporters' Trust has been invited to join the new board of the club - the first time it will have had an elected fans'
representative in its 121-year history.

The Trust is delighted to accept the Sterling group's offer, as
supporters, management and owners of the club look to move forward to a secure and positive future, in a spirit of mutual cooperation.

Trust chairman Tony Taylor said: "This is very positive news, after what has been an intensely anxious and fraught period of the club's history.

"An objective of any supporters' trust is to achieve fans'
representation - with the firm belief that supporters can contribute a great deal to their football clubs and their communities. A few months ago, that seemed an almost impossible dream at Darlington, but now it is becoming a reality and fans can and will have a significant input into the future of the football club."

We believe that this is an important day for Darlington Football Club and for the Trust.

We are proud we have achieved one of our objectives. We feel we have acted in a dignified, professional and responsible manner, sometimes in difficult circumstances. From our discussions so far with Sterling, we believe they share that assessment. It is clear they have a commitment to the club, are open to ideas and wish the club to move forward, a success on and off the pitch. We are delighted to take up their offer.

The Trust launched a Crisis Fund back in January, to become part of a consortium of local businessmen looking to take over the club, which was in administration. That raised £55,000 up to March. Circumstances changed with the advent of Sterling's involvement at the club. The Trust has in the meantime met regularly with the local consortium and continues to maintain those links.

To achieve membership of the Darlington FC board has not cost the Trust or its members a penny. Sterling have recognised the value of our input - they have not asked for any money. As we set out when we started fund-raising, there are a series of options under different circumstances for which the money can be put to use, which can be of benefit to the football club. Quite rightly, our membership will be fully consulted as to the best course of action and what should happen with that money.

This is an added bonus and we can assure fans that people's hard work and money won't be wasted.

We will be meeting Sterling again in a few days' time. We are not
wasting any time. We want fans to get involved, we want opinions and ideas - now is the time to start thinking and to start letting us know! Issues like transport to the ground, facilities, anything of concern.

We have nearly 1,400 Trust members, but still want more - and now, more than ever, is a time to come aboard.

The supporters' trust representative will be elected by our
membership and we hope to announce details soon. In the interim, Trust treasurer Peter Ashmore, who has been acting as liaison with the consortium and Sterling, will continue in that role until an election is held.

We are proud to be a member of a movement of more than 100
supporters' trusts across the country, and will become the 38th to secure supporter representation within the boards of their football clubs, since Supporters' Direct was set up.

The last few months have demonstrated that the Trust, along with our friends at the Supporters' Club, the local consortium, and the players and management, will stop at nothing to ensure the club has a future.

We are confident that, working together with the new owners and reaching out to the local community, we can push on from here.

* The Trust would like to add a special thanks to Supporters' Direct and to all those Trusts and their individual members who have offered their support over the last few months. It has been much appreciated and won't be forgotten.

Steve Duffy
Darlington Supporters' Trust
www.darlotrust.co.uk

Telford United

Everyone at Supporters Direct, and I'm sure across the trust movement, would like to express their sorrow at the liquidation announced today of Telford United.

The past few weeks has seen a hectic schedule to set up the Trust - with the brilliant support and work of their Development Officer, Jacqui Forster, and Phil Tooley - and also a series of highly successful fundraising events.

In the end it seems that there were just too many problems for the Trust to be able to prevent this from happening, with the attitude of a small minority of the playing staff being cited for their refusal to come to a settlement over wages.

I know everyone's best wishes will be with the Trust and Telford United fans as they seek to re-establish themselves, and I know that we will do all we can here - and I'm sure that goes for all of you - to ensure that Telford United continues as a senior club in this country.

The trust now run the Telford FC website which can be found at:  http://www.telfordutd.co.uk

If you want to send a good luck message, then you can email here: office@telfordunited.com

Telford is dead, long live Telford.

Kevin Rye
Development Officer (Press and Communications)
Supporters Direct

On Thursday May 13th at Valley Parade, Bradford City Supporters Trust calls for all supporters to attend the vigil at the memorial outside the ground from 5.45pm

This week sees a critical time for the club, with its status as a Football League Club hanging in the balance.

Chair of the Trust, Mark Boocock, said, "This is an absolutely critical time for Bradford City Football Club at Valley Parade. The fans and the community of Bradford need to show how much this club means to them."

The Supporters Trust calls on all sections of the community to attend wearing City colours and if possible, bring a whistle.

The vigil will be followed by a public meeting organised by the Trust at which Mark Boocock, Phill Marshall, Vice-Chair and Kevin Rye from Supporters Direct, will discuss the way the Trust and fans can play a part in the future of the Club.

Boocock said "Fans have already seen this club on the brink of extinction before. I cannot over emphasise that this situation is more serious than it has ever been. We need the community of Bradford to unite to save its football club."

The Trust and Supporters Direct are currently working with the club to explore ways of securing the future of Bradford City Football Club at Valley Parade.

Kevin Rye, Supporters Direct caseworker for the Trust said, "What the Trust is doing is vital to securing the future of the club, but it cannot do this without the support of Bradford City fans and the community of Bradford."

The Trust calls on all those interested in securing the future of Bradford City at Valley Parade to work with the Trust and the club to ensure this never happens again.

City needs Bradford. Bradford needs its City.

Supporters Trust call for Valley Parade crisis talks with Council

Bradford City Supporters Trust today called for Bradford City Council to join in the fight to save Bradford City AFC and Valley Parade.

The Trust presented their case in an emergency appeal to a full council meeting on Tuesday night, just 17 days before a meeting of creditors is due to decide the fate of the club, in its centenary year. The appeal was made because there is a real chance that the club could go to the wall, and professional football cease to exist in the City.

In an emotional statement, read out by Vice Chair Philip Marshall, the Trust appealed to the council to provide tangible support to their efforts to put together a realistic rescue plan and so restore certainty to the club after two years of financial turmoil. The Trust called for all groups within the council to unite to tackle the crisis in hand, saying, "No other sporting institution in Bradford brings the same level of local, national and international recognition that Bradford City Football Club brings. Football is this city's and the nation's number one sport."

The statement went on to evoke the memories of the tragic fire at Valley Parade on the 11th of May 1985, where 56 fans lost their lives, saying: "To this day the ground remains a fitting memorial to them. Do not forget also those people who live on with the memory of that day, those people who survived the tragedy. We will never forget that day and this is one reason why we call for action to be taken to help the football club." The statement went on, "We, Bradford City supporters, are not merely customers of a failing business – we are its lifeblood".

Official spokesman, Mark Boocock, called for the council to work with them and local partners, to secure the future of Valley Parade, saying: "We had a crisis two years ago after relegation from the Premier League. This is yet more serious, but we are not simply asking for the Council to sink money into the club. We understand their concerns, and their requirement to be diligent with the use of public funds. What we are proposing is a solution that would allow Valley Parade to become a true, community asset, with the stakeholders deriving real and tangible benefit from it. An arrangement of this type has already been made at
Halifax Town's ground, the Shay, and it was a key recommendation in the cross-party Commons All Party Football Group (APFG) report in February. It would demonstrate that the whole community of Bradford - the council, fans, local business and the ordinary population of the City - want their football club to be a real and active part of it."

The Trust is already discussing with Supporters Direct - the national umbrella group for over 100 supporters trusts, and other colleagues in the trust movement, what form such a scheme could take, and is hopeful that the council will join them in this work.

Boocock continued, "This is not about one single person - whether fan, shareholder, councillor or businessman. It is about securing the future of Bradford City AFC, and we call on the whole community to unite for the future of our football club, Bradford's football club."

City needs Bradford. Bradford needs its City.

News from Supporters Direct and our member trusts - 19th March

Gordon Brown brings more good news for Supporters Trusts (Supporters Direct)
The Budget gave supporters trusts more good news this month. Following a review of the tax position of Supporters Trusts, the Treasury has pledged to work towards finding a way of assisting trusts to maximise the money that they receive from their members.

Shareholders United, as reds break all records (Manchester United Supporters Trust)
Shareholders United's monthly purchase of shares in Manchester Utd plc have surpassed the £100,000 barrier for the first time in March 2004 (for a single monthly purchase), and membership looks like passing 10,000 by April this year. Supporters Trusts - not just for the little clubs

Right Turn, Clyde! (Clyde Supporters Trust)
Clyde Supporters Trust have committed to raise at least £100,000 over the next few weeks to be part of a consortium seeking to take over the Scottish First Division club, currently favourites for promotion to the SPL

Bess United poised for buyout (Brentford Trust)
Bees United, the Brentford Supporters Trust, have revealed that they are in talks to buy the club from current owner, Ron Noades' company, Altonwood. They have already been running the club day-to-day for nearly a year and recently posted a surplus for the first time in living memory.

Halifax place ground in trust (Halifax FC and Halifax RLFC Supporters' Trusts)
The long-term future of Halifax Town FC and Halifax Rugby League Club has been secured with the 'Shay Stadium Trust' buying the home of both clubs. This not-for-profit company follows a recommendation by Supporters Direct to Calderdale Council in 2002.

Trust Oldham, as fans take a stake (Oldham Athletic Supporters Trust)
Trust Oldham, the Oldham Athletic Supporters Trust have taken a 3% stake in their club and have a Director on the Board. This follows the takeover last month, led by two US-based, British businessmen.

Worcester join up (Worcester City Supporters Trust)
Fans of Worcester City, 4th in the Dr Martens Premier Division, have registered their trust. This continues the impressive expansion of the trust movement into the grassroots of the game, seen in recent months

Oldham - 3rd March 2004

Trust Get Shareholding in Latics!

After long and detailed negotiations, the Directors of Trust Oldham and the members they represent are proud to announce that formal agreement has been reached with the new owners to obtain a shareholding in the club and the necessary funds have been put into place for this to occur.

This is an historic day for both the club and the town and we are immensely delighted at the manner in which Simon Corney, Danny Gazal and Simon Blitz have received us from the very first day that they arrived in the town.

They are transparent in their views and outlook and have been very keen to work with us from the outset.

We are also delighted that unconditional invitation has been extended for
the Trust to be represented on the main Board of Directors and Barry Owen the Vice-Chairman has been unanimously elected by his colleagues. This is a unique situation because throughout the country trusts are usually only invited onto main boards were there is an ongoing financial crisis. At Oldham the owners have placed the club on a sound financial footing. It is to their credit that they have the forward vision to see the benefit of trusts within football.

The Directors acknowledge the confidence that has been placed in them and intend to honour that position with endeavour and integrity to assist the club to become successful once again.

This is only the beginning of challenging times ahead and special thanks must be extended to Sean Jarvis, Neil Joy, Alex Metcalfe, Dave Hudson, Adrian Stores and John Stockwell, who during those very difficult times in the summer put into place measures to ensure the existence of Trust Oldham. Without their efforts we would not be here today. We are also grateful to Business Link North Manchester and the European Development Regional Agency who provided the mean and expertise to formulate the trust.

Every Director of Trust Oldham has worked tirelessly in the past months and there efforts are a benchmark for those who want to continue helping the club.

It is hoped that spectators continue to join the trust to promoted its strength and realise that their membership is important to the future of Oldham Athletic 2004 Association Football Club.

Brentford - 2nd March 2004

Bees United have an option to purchase the majority shareholding
from Ron Noades company for £1. Bees United have issued the following press release today:

"Following recent discussions Bees United can announce they are
currently working with Altonwood on the details of an agreement
which would enable Bees United to acquire Altonwood's majority
shareholding in Brentford FC Limited in the near future.

Former owner Martin Lange has also agreed that his company's 25% shareholding in Brentford FC Limited can be acquired by Bees United at the same time. This would give Bees United more than 85% of the shares in Brentford FC.

Full particulars of these new developments will be released when
details are finalised."

News from Supporters Direct and our member trusts - 27th February

Sports Minister announces funding increase at Scottish annual conference

Supporters Direct in Scotland have had their funding increased to
£90,000 a year from the current £75,000. Scottish Executive Sports Minister, Frank McAveety described the work Supporters’ Direct have done in Scotland as “exemplary”

Arab Trust (Dundee United) – Trust get shareholding and Director

The Arab Trust have purchased 510 shares in Dundee United FC, becoming one of the 10 biggest shareholders and will take a seat on the board on Monday

Cambridge Fans United (Cambridge United) – Trust gain fans director

Cambridge Fans United have elected their first supporter-director after the purchase of 15% of the club’s shares. This makes them the second biggest shareholder in the club

Darlington Supporters' Trust (Darlington) – Darlo set ambitious target

Darlington Supporters Trust have set a £250,000 fundraising target to be reached by the end of March. The figure currently stands at approximately £40,000, with main fund-raising initiatives still to come

Enfield Town Supporters Trust (Enfield Town FC) – Trust call for funds

The trust owned club, who broke away from Enfield FC in 2001, have launched a campaign to raise funds to meet a £100,000 legal bill.

Ipswich Town First (Ipswich Town FC) – Share scheme a massive hit

A share-save scheme to buy shares in the club has been fully subscribed a week early, with fans unable to afford the club’s £200 share minimum paying £100 of shares over 10-months.

K’s Trust (Kingstonian FC) – Trust in talks to buy club

K’s Trust are in the process of negotiating the purchase of Kingstonian FC from Rajesh Khosla

Up the Port – (Newport – IoW) – New fans director at club

The Newport Trust have taken their first place on the board, just weeks after the club’s ground was sold by owner, Bill Manuel

Watford Supporters Trust (Watford) – Trust up for Co-Op award

Watford Supporters Trust have been recognised in the Supporters Direct “Trust of the Season” awards, sponsored by the Co-oOp Bank. The award will be presented at Saturdays’ home match

NEWS EXTRA!

Brighton and Hove Albion FC – Brighton fans in nationwide ground hop

Supporters of Brighton are to visit every football match in the league on the 6th of March to tap into the nationwide support for their proposed ground in the City, currently under consideration by John Prescott.