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Keith Morgan, Trust Chair

Trust chair Keith Morgan reports to Trust members on a meeting held before yesterday’s match against QPR between the club and fan groups

Dear Member,

As I promised, here is a note of the meeting that took place prior to the QPR game between Mehmet Dalman and representatives of Fan groups

Attending from the club were Mehmet Dalman (Chair), Ken Choo (Chief Executive), Phillip Jenkins (Finance Director), Wayne Nash (Director of Operations), Amy James (Head of Fan Experience), Mark Denham ( Head of Communications), Paul Corkrey (Supporters Liaison Officer).

Members of the Supporters Trust, Supporters Club, Disabled Supporters Group and Travel Group were also present.

Mehmet Dalman welcomed everyone to the meeting and stated his intention to hold more informal meetings to improve links with fans over and above the formal meetings that already take place.

A broad range of issues were discussed in a very informal and positive atmosphere. It was agreed by all that the season was commencing in a very positive light and everyone was looking forward to the new league campaign.

The issue of new signings was raised. MD was hoping that 2 further signings, one permanent one loan, would be made before the window closes.  There would also be further players being loaned out. He also paid tribute to the vision and efforts of Steve Borley in the recruitment of Aaron Ramsey.

MD stated that the litigation with Nantes and the Club’s Insurers is continuing.

The question was raised concerning the projected financial position for the current season. Phillip Jenkins stated that the expectation was that the club would trade within the permitted limits of Profit and Sustainability. He reminded the meeting that the payment in full of the Emiliano Sala transfer was covered by the provision made in the balance sheet in the 2018/19 accounts. He also mentioned that the financial position of the club would be under close scrutiny by the EFL to ensure our compliance.

Phillip Jenkins stated that current season ticket sales were 14,200, a position that the club was very pleased with given the poor season we had last year.

Wayne Nash outlined the club’s approach to a Fan Advisory Board which is one of the recommendations of the Fans Led Review of Football. He referred to consultations he had had with Supporters Groups and stated that he envisaged a Fan Advisory Board meeting 4 times per year. There will need to be further discussions to move this issue forward. Wayne also stated that there would be a twice-yearly Fans’ Parliament open to a wider group of fans as well as the usual Supporter Liaison meetings.

Ken Choo emphasised the club’s continuing commitment to producing a programme. He mentioned that they would be looking to utilise more recycled paper in its production which is in line with the Club’s pursuance of the EFL Green Clubs Scheme.

Keith Morgan 

Chair 

We’re delighted that Cardiff Bus has re-instated the shuttle bus from Cardiff City Stadium to the city centre before and after league games, starting with the QPR game.

The Trust has been very pro-active in raising the issue with Cardiff City officials after members told us how valuable they found the service w. The club also had positive discussions with Cardiff Bus and details of the service can be found on the following link to the Cardiff Bus website: https://www.cardiffbus.com/ccfc-shuttle-bus

As will all these services its long-term future will depend on how well it is used by supporters.

Keith Morgan, Trust Chair

As the new 2023-24 season is nearly upon us just a quick word from me.

Firstly, many thanks to all our members for your continued support for the Trust board and all we attempt to do on your behalf. It is much appreciated. The more members we have, the greater our voice in club and general football matters. We would ask members to encourage their friends and relatives to join us.

Our involvement in matters such as the recent Government White Paper has helped lead to big changes in the way clubs will be required to liaise and consult with their fanbases.

Therefore, in order to best implement and push through those changes, we are always looking for new members to join the Trust board. Please email us or call into the Trust office, near Gate 5, on match days if you would be interested in this.

Through the summer break, the Trust has remained busy with involvement in ongoing projects, such as the Memorial Garden and the Disabled Supporters’ Room at the ground, plus the Cardiff City Academy building in Llanrumney.  In addition, there is ongoing dialogue relating to the formation of a Fans Advisory Board at the club giving fans a far greater voice in club decisions impacting on them.

In football terms on and off the field, we have seen a number of major changes in recent months with a new manager in Erol Bulut and some new player signings, including of course, Aaron Ramsey, despite the club being under an EFL restriction that prevents it from paying permanent or loan transfer fees for players until January 2024.

When I was writing this article, it was great to hear that Josh Bowler had been signed on loan from Nottingham Forest for the Championship campaign.

An agreement with FC Nantes regarding the Emiliano Sala transfer was also completed to avoid a repeat of sanctions in the future.

As fans, all we can contribute is our ongoing support for the team and the manager even if and when results do not go to plan as it may take a short time for the new-look team to gel together.

Personally, I can’t wait to get back to my seat in the ground with my mates and cheer on the team. Let’s hope we have a great season ahead.

Keith Morgan, Chair

Trust chair Keith Morgan reports on the first Supporters’ Liaison meeting of the 2023-24 season which took place at the Cardiff City Academy at Llanrumney and commenced with a tour by Steve Borley. This gave members of the group a first opportunity to view the impressive facilities that have been created in partnership with Cardiff University, Cardiff Council and House of Sport. Trust board members had already been afforded an opportunity of a guided tour a week or so earlier but it was still useful nevertheless. 

A number of issues were discussed at the meeting and here is a summary of some important items:

Tragedy Chanting 

There is a momentum in football whereby the clubs in partnership with the Police are clamping down on “Tragedy Chanting”. This is the distasteful incidence of chanting by fans that makes light of a past footballing disasters or fatal accidents. Liverpool supporters have endured chants relating to Hillsborough on multiple occasions during the 2022/23 season. Tragedy chants could be heard by both Manchester United and Leeds United fans during a game between the sides earlier this year. The chants referred to the Munich air disaster and the murders of two Leeds fans in Istanbul. Cardiff fans, in the past, have been subjected to chants relating to Aberfan and, more recently, the tragic death of Emiliano Sala. This initiative is not confined just to chanting but also includes a ban on provocative banners, flags and clothing.

The club have now included the following in their Customer Charter.

“Cardiff City Football Club will not tolerate “Tragedy Chanting” and it wants our fans to understand the impact it has on family, friends, and football supporters in general. Those closely associated with loss and tragedy and many other fans can become deeply distressed when hearing such chants and it is therefore totally unacceptable behaviour!  

We advise that offenders will be sanctioned by the Club, in accordance with our Ground Regulations, Customer Charter, Code of Conduct and Club Sanction Policy. Incidents are also likely to be Investigated by the Police for such chanting and associated negative behaviour is now considered a Public order offence.  

It is also important to note that fans who engage in ‘Tragedy Chanting’ or attempt to enter the stadium with flags, banners, or clothing that could be seen as offensive will be refused entry to or be ejected from Cardiff City matches Home or Away following agreement with fellow clubs.  Thereafter behaviour WILL be considered for further action as identified above.” 

Contravention of this element of the code will be considered to be a Level 3 breach of the code i.e. Matters dealt with by the Police and / Or Stewards that may lead to arrest or summons. These transgressions will result in a Medium Club Ban.

The Trust very much supports this initiative and we hope that this element of the Customer Charter will never need to be enforced.

Season Ticket Update 

It was announced that season ticket sales so far had reached 13,900. Club officials pronounced themselves happy at this figure given the poor season we had last year, the cost of living crisis etc. This figure is more than at this stage last year and is not far short of last season’s total of 14,500 which included half season tickets.

Fans’ Advisory Board 

Members will recall from articles in the Trust Magazine “Moving to a Different Beat” that we have been very much involved at a national level in the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance. One of the recommendations of this review, now included in a Government White Paper with cross-party support, is the formation of Fans Advisory Boards to enhance Fan Engagement and give fans more of a voice. In the case of Cardiff City, such a board would include representatives of the Supporters Trust, Supporters’ Club, the Disabled Supporters’ Group plus elected members from the fanbase. The Premier League has already created its own model for such a board which falls somewhat short of what the Football Supporters Association (FSA)consider to be best practice.

Definitive guidelines from the FSA are still awaited but, in the meantime, the Club gave us what they describe as a “heads up” at the meeting to indicate that they are giving a Fans Advisory Board (FAB) serious consideration and they also outlined some of their initial thoughts. The Trust will be contacting the Supporters Club and Disabled Supporters Group so that a joint approach from Supporters Groups can be formulated. The definitive guidelines from the FSA will be critical in determining the structure and operation of the FAB and as soon as they are received I will update members.

Shuttle Buses – CCS to Cardiff Central Station 

The Trust asked for an update on discussions with Cardiff Bus on the reinstatement of a bus service linking the Stadium with Cardiff Central Station. Wayne Nash reported that meetings with Cardiff Bus had been successful and that the service will recommence from the start of the season. I will try and ascertain timetable details and update members as soon as they are available.

Green Issues 

In response to an advance question from a Trust Member Wayne Nash updated the meeting on initiatives being adopted in the forthcoming season. He stated that he had met with Forest Green Rovers FC, probably the leaders in the field of football stadium green issues, who provided helpful guidance. He stated that there would be some quick wins in providing more bins to enhance recycling and would be looking at solar power installations. The club are pursuing the EFL Green Clubs scheme which is an accreditation scheme that assesses clubs’ environmental rating and offers steps for continual improvement.

The South Wales Echo report on the passing of Keenor statue sculptor Roger Andrews.

It is with great sadness that we have to inform fans that Roger Andrews, the sculptor who created the fantastic Fred Keenor statue at the Cardiff City Stadium, has passed away suddenly at the age of 74.

The Trust worked closely with Roger, who was from Llantwit Major, as we spearheaded the fundraising of more than £85,000 to pay for the tribute to our 1927 FA Cup-winning skipper. The statue was unveiled in November 2012 after a fantastic fundraising campaign.  Roger also created the statue of Sir Tasker Watkins that stands outside the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Trust Board Member Phillip Nifield, who was a member of the Trust’s Statue Appeal Committee, said: “Roger produced a brilliant statue of Fred Keenor which was a fantastic tribute to his skill. It is a landmark for all fans that come to the Cardiff City Stadium.

Fred Keenor 3ft with Roger Andrews

“We worked closely with Roger throughout the process and even visited his studio in Llantwit Major to see the work in progress. Nothing was too much for Roger – he was always very accommodating and a really lovely man. We offer our deepest condolences to his family.”

Fred Keenor Statue

• A funeral service will be held at St Illtud’s Church in Llantwit Major on Friday at 2pm.