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WOLVES SUPPORTERS TRUST I am in the process of trying to set up a Supporters Trust for us. I have been a Wolves Supporter all my life, so for 24 years, I live, breath and will die gold and black. I have a season ticket in the Northbank. I am also a football researcher and work for an organization called Supporters Direct who help to set up football trusts. |
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It exists to enable us to play a responsible part in the life of Wolves FC, through partnership with directors, local business and the Local Authority. It exists to co-operate and NOT to confront. THIS WILL NOT in anyway be instead of or in competition to the Independent Wolves Supporters Clubs, who have a different role to play.
Supporters' Trusts are essential for fans to have their say, just look at York City or Northampton Town who could not have survived without theirs.
At Wolves we appear to have a good Board set up but that is now. What happens if this wasn't the case anymore? We all remember the whole Bhatti fiasco and Sir Jack Hayward is not going to be around forever. I don't doubt that the majority of the Board have the right heart now but we have to think of the future for Wolves as supporters. We wouldn't want to encounter a situation like the Bhatti's again. Even it wasn't to occur isn't it about time we had some sort of say in the club… Wolves is essentially OUR football club and we should want to play a role.
There are 45 Supporter's Trusts currently established with another 15 in development. Clubs like York who are in trouble have one and Wimbledon has one, but other clubs like Norwich are in the process of establishing one and they don't have any problems really do they even albion and nuneaton borough have one! Kidderminster Harriers are also setting one up.
At the moment I am trying to set up the Trust which involves
1) holding a Public meeting, advertised well, to discuss the idea and get a mandate to proceed and that everyone is happy. You can also invite anyone who wants to be involved to take things further, your friends, family, anyone who is interested. This is what I have been trying to do, making things public. I have advertised the concept on the message board at www.wolves.co.uk and I have asked Charles Ross if he can advertise it in ALOB, he has agreed. Look out for the next issue of ALOB. I am also going to advertise the idea on the rivals site and various other sites and I have written to independent wolves clubs.
2) At this meeting we could go over the options, come up with a constitution based on our recommended model (Industrial and Provident Society) and get the bank account opened and the Trust legally registered. I can explain this in more detail if you want me too, just e-mail me.
3) Once we have decided who the Committee for the Trust should be etc etc - we can have a Launch meeting to open the doors for membership, fundraising and so on. We would get a mandate from Supporters Direct at the meeting that whoever was in the initial steering committee should continue until the first elections which should be no more than 6 months later (3 months preferably) when everyone on the committee resigns and elections are held. This will all be explained in detail as well.
The process can of course be tinkered with depending on the urgency of the situation - but a crucial aspect is the making sure that you're keeping people informed with what's going on and taking people with you and not alienating. Supporters Direct will only work with groups that meet this requirement - Their 3 specific criteria are:
1) A group must be democratic
2) It must be representative of all supporters (or seek to be so)
3) Affordable to all fans
If you would like to be a part of the Wolves Supporters Trust please e-mail me at: or visit www.wolvestrust.co.uk
Katie Wright