Lynda, you are taking this the wrong way - nothing in Mo's post is a dig at LISA or yourself. We all realise the hard work you do with little help but he is just stating that membership has fallen alot since the early years and that the Trust could have been an option for LISA to re-brand - raising the same money from existing members but at the same time maybe attracting many new members to a new venture, something that LISA cannot do in it's present form. At the end of the day all money goes to the Centurions and the board will decide where it's spent (players, youngsters, gas bill etc) regardless of what we think the money is going to.

Trevor Barton wanted to set up the original supporters trust. I am sure that he will still have the contacts and paperwork. The majority of LISA members present did not want to join though there were not many in attendance and the chance to launch the trust at the same time of opening the ground was lost. Its still not too late to start the trust, perhaps Maurice should start by contacting Trevor and take it from there. Membership forms in the programme and leaflets handed out at the ground could get people joining at say £25 per month including a season ticket, it might even attract some LISA members. Count me in any supporters trust

I think we are all jumping the gun here ,lets see what happens before acting ,LISA is doing a great job ,always has done , along with the other fundraising efforts , dont lets destroy them ,whatever happens keep these going ,Lynda ,Derek ,myself and others have worked hard to get to this point.

If others want to pledge more cash then by all means do,good on you, my only interests are what is good for Leigh Centurions, i thank Arthur for what he has done ,but life goes on ,we WILL survive ,someone will pick up the Baton ,and carry it further,with all our help ,tome Leigh Supporters are the BEST ,and will pullout all the stops ,we need to stay calm,and see what rises up in the next few weeks .

Well said!

However, wouldn't this be a wonderful opportunity, for whoever takes over, to harness the willingness of supporters to get involved (financially or otherwise) to give this club a real boost?

It’s only in these situations that these things get discussed, and provided people don’t take them personally, then it should be good to debate the options, whether anything comes from them or indeed is even needed only time will tell.

Dont need one

In my opinion the club needs a stable financial backbone at this very moment in time.

A supporters trust should focus on youth investment and development in the local area be it through bursaries, kit sponsorship or training equipment and bringing the community closer to the club and giving a community 'slant' on potential decisions made by the club.

The ISA is currently funding two players salaries to my understanding and focuses its attention on new players

After reading heavily into it for the past hour in work (yes I know I really should do some work now) these two are completely different and would have completely different method statements and focuses

Personally a supporters trust should not be a 'fixed' amount but rather a fixed+'what you can afford'. I think maurice you may of gone about this the wrong way and maybe an in depth discussion should of taken place rather than saying 'PM me'

I was at a Warrington squadbuilder quiz night last night (some people will know why if they know who I am) where over 250 people turned up for the event at £4 per person £1000. Done.

Warrington have 'squadbuilder' and a supporters trust, squadbuilder is for supporting the development of youth in the area whereas the supporters trust raise money and have the control of where the money is spent be it marketing or towards facilities for the club. As Warrington have a substantial larger base than Leigh could the ideas not be combined into one and made tiered?

£12/month or £144/annum - quarterly meetings to gauge ideas and discuss and online ability to review minutes of the monthly meetings
£25/month or £300/annum - monthly meetings to discuss ideas gauged quarterly and progress of the trust also go to the quarterly meetings

Subscription split 50/40/10.
[list[*40% for youth and community development[/*
[*50% for operations towards promoting the club and improving club stature in the community[/*
[*10% donation to Leigh-ISA which goes directly towards the cost of players[/*[/list

I am not the one trying to gauge interest from members here however I seem to be the only one to throw an idea in the fire so to speak. All you have said maurice is 'Whoever wants to throw £50 a month in PM me'. Come up with something more substantial and people may listen.

A supporters trust does not necessarily have a representative at club board level and only 50 out of 134 supporters trusts have a seat on the board through invitation. This seat is strictly in a non-voting capacity and is there to provide dialogue between board and fans only. Under 10 out of 134 supporters trust have significant shareholdings in a club. This is a way of providing community and club integration and NOT controlling a club.

To control a club you should be a successful businessman and if you cannot afford to buy the club in the first place, then you are not successful enough to run it.

Running a sports business is nothing like running a ' real ' business , what area of ' real ' business will prepare you to run a ' sports ' business ?

I meant it as a generic statement apologies, though having never run a business I cannot put myself in that situation where some may be able to compare real business to a sports business through experience.

I suppose my statement depends on role the owner takes?

Simon Moran owner of SJM and multi-millionaire, stands in the south stand with supporters, nips upstairs to directors lounge pre-match has some grub, doesn't socialise and will simply say hello to visiting directors then leave promptly to take his place in the stand. He would rarely come up after the game and leaves after the game. The running of the club is down to the Chief Exec and the obviously have regular contact but there is an example of a 'real' business Businessman running a 'sports business'? Is it not?

Read those 2 bits again

He still has overall control though. He also wouldn't be able to own WW if he hadn't been successful before purchasing the club.

I worded my original statement with you 'cannot control a club without being successful before hand' which I believe I may of worded wrong maybe however it bears the question:

How would that individual come to be in control if he had not been successful prior to taking control? And also I feel a business man in the real world would have more experience to face challenges in a sports business?

I don't seem to be able to explain myself properly but the statement boils down to investment.

I am not looking for an argument here, I simply wrote an idea out which stemmed from being frustrated reading maurice' posts about this £50. I posted an idea in my head which is probably utter boll***s but the I was raising a point I threw an idea on the table stating the supporters trust should not look to take over but help out.

I am not looking to start a supporters trust personally I was simply saying look I can throw an idea out in the open why can't you?

Lynda, you do a great job keep it up, this has nothing whatsoever to do with LISA. Apologies if you have read it that way.

To be honest lisa is as good as the club can get,its established know to the people of leigh

We don't need any more smoke and mirrors thanks

Maurice 8 people chipping a few quid for a couple of months before it dies will not amount to much,if you do collect more than tipster ste sponsored walk I'd be amazed

Brilliant, keep up the positivity