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Cardiff City Supporters Trust |
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Questions and Answers section Any questions can be posted on the Trust message board (www.ccmb.co.uk/fudforum/)
Supporters Direct (www.supporters-direct.org) have been of great assistance and help in putting some of the groundwork in place to get a Trust up and running. They’ve also spent some time answering questions from the steering group. Kevin Rye, from Supporters Direct has answered a number of questions for us and you can find the questions and answers reproduced below.
1) How and when should we seek legal advice on the trust’s setting up and if we should is there any local advisor that trusts use in Cardiff that would have the knowledge to help us so that the trust complies with all legal requirements? (Kevin Rae) Should the fans of Cardiff City vote to establish a trust, all of the support, advice and paperwork that you need is supplied by Supporters Direct. This includes amendments required to the ‘Model Rules’, which all our other organisations operate using, and the registration of the rules themselves. The only legal advice you will ever need as a trust will be related to any activities you choose to undertake, and even then SD are in the final stages of developing a legal helpline offering free and discounted legal advice through our own solicitors, Cobbett’s.
2) When the trust becomes an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS), you stated we can claim a grant to assist with the initial funding costs of the Trust. If that is so is there any forms that he can supply to us for applying for the grant and should we do it through them directly or with a legal advisor. (KR) As a supporters’ trust, you will be entitled to claim up to £1,000 (50% per-receipt) for start-up costs, however you will have to claim the money after you have spent it, on the production of receipts. This would be for items such as hire of a venue for the open meeting/launch, cost of mailings, promotional costs and other such items. All of this can be discussed with Supporters Direct, and we have more information on our website.
3) We are aiming to be as inclusive as possible and are making every effort to do so. Should we only allow full membership to adults on the establishment of the trust, or in being inclusive should we offer junior membership straight away. The inclusion of a junior membership may be a way to raise money to get shares in the club but initially it might be simpler to just have a full adult trust until the first AGM, at which point who so ever is elected can then add a junior section. (KR) Because of the law, only adults (Over 16) can be full members (own a share). However, we would always encourage supporters’ trusts to have a junior section, as it helps to bring new members through, something vital to a supporters’ trust.
4) A lot of people say a Supporters Trust is a waste of time, how do you answer that? (KR) I’d say that question is probably not based on the facts. A supporters’ trust works if the fans want it, and are determined to make it work. I would ask this question: what’s the harm in giving it a go? You could end up joining the other 80+ supporters’ trusts with shareholdings in their clubs, and the more than 40 with board positions, and exercising a real and meaningful influence on their clubs for the long-term. The potential at Cardiff City for a vibrant, representative, successful supporters’ trust, with a shareholding and real influence – I hope eventually through acquiring a seat on the board of the club – is there; the level of interest amongst supporters’ already is extremely impressive, and shows that the desire is there. Obviously, it takes a long-term commitment to make it work, but that is an excellent start.
5) Would a supporters’ trust have any influence in board decisions at our club? (KR) This is something you need to work at, as influence can take time to build. It is a numbers game in many respects; the more of you that join, the more influence you can have. But obviously, there is little point in having influence without ownership of some form; by owning shares, you are entitled to a say in the way the club is run, and if you own them collectively as a trust, you can exert more influence together. Ultimately, gaining a full voting director on the board of the club is the aim for any trust, and one that acquiring shares can be a step on the road to.
6) How much of a percentage of shares entitles a trust to a place on the board or what percentage would be required to have a vote at board level? (KR) That depends on what are known as the ‘Articles of Association’ of the company. This would be something you would need to find out, and Supporters Direct can assist in this.
7) Why should I personally join the trust? (KR) For all the reasons I’ve outlined. If you (eventually) want to see your club run for the benefit of supporters and local community, then you should join. If you want to ensure that directors and administrators, who come and go, as do players, are operating the club with you in mind, then join. Nothing can be guaranteed, because each situation is different, but supporters’ trusts are organisations with an already impressive track record in the game, and ultimately, this could bring tremendous benefits to the fans of Cardiff City.
8) Who decides who runs the trust and will it be jobs for the boy’s organisation? (KR) Most definitely not. As a member, you would decide who to vote for, and provided you are over 18, you can stand for the board. The organisation is democratic and transparent: As a member you have the right to have a say, and the organisation belongs to all of those who join.
9) We already have a very good supporters club...why do we need a trust as well? (KR) Supporters’ clubs have done some tremendous work at clubs over the years, however there is an almost endless list of groups who have, year after year, ploughed thousands and thousands of pounds and man hours into helping their clubs in some way, but are very often left with nothing more than a thank you; in fact in a number of cases, clubs have been perfectly content to completely shut such groups out of the club when it suits them. The status and aims of a supporters’ trust makes this almost impossible. Also, as a corporate (legally accountable) 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 has that '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)".
Did you know? Some facts about Supporters’ Trusts
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