We do have the option to buy a block of shares in the Trusts name, just not as individuals. We felt that it was unlikely that we would raise a sufficient sum to make this work.

The idea of linking it to club 1873 has been run past our parent organisation - Supporters Direct - and they are comfortable with it providing we get the place on the BoD.

In essence we:
a) don't have to cough up a cash lump sum
b) avoid risking a 'Bradford' situation
c) bring in ongoing funding to the club - whilst we keep the membership up, we keep our place on the BoD
d) if all fails - we stop the funding
e) all those joining have a chance to win prizes
f) the more that join = the bigger the prizes

We gave this some thought, but none of us could see any major negatives in the idea - now we just need to get the word out and start to build those numbers!

Wow thats tenuous!

You have to concede its fairly contrived though.
I can see how you could encourage people to join club 1873 and have an effect there, but surely people should join for the reasons that are inherent in the benefits of club 1873, not just to get a member of the ST on the board.
Surely if the supporters wanted that they only need to join the ST and then perhaps there would be enough people to provide enough money to buy the block of shares.
Equally i would add that if MC wants the expertise of anyone from the ST on the board he could just allow it without the need of any caveat?
I just can't see how any of this adds up.

I tend to agree.
I like the initiative but I just can't see how it will work.

Seems pretty simple to me. 1000 extra people sign up to 1873 and the fans get a representative on the board. Indirect investment if you will. I don't think there is any need to dissect it. It's an generous offer from the board so allow supporters to have an influence on their club.

Agreed. If MC is happy will a supporters rep on the board to get their take on things why not just invite the trust chairman (or whoever) on now? To come up with a plan that it will only happen if the trust manages to more than double the club 1873 membership seems a way of being able to say, 'well you had your chance and failed, tough'.

I'm ok with the financial side of it. I just can't see what the fan's rep will offer.
Will they represent me personally any more than MC does now?

If the fans want a representative on the board why not join the ST?
1000 extra club 1873 is far from simple, after all we have only encouraged 200 to join the ST (i think thats right?)

Because being a member of the BoD is a privilege most earn through direct investment. We don't have that cash - would you give us it to buy shares? - but we can work as field troops for the club in generating more support for club 1873 - which is producing dividends already in the young players coming through at our club.

Win win win all the way!

Without someone on the BoD, are we happy to let the club continue in its own direction and then live with the consequences if it all goes pear-shaped once again (not that there are signs of that currently). If you support the idea of the Trust and its prupose, then please support this campaign - you'll be helping the club at the same time and, in particular, the junior development side we all wish to see flourish!

Isn't it simply that most clubs see the lottery side of running a club as a very good, reliable income stream, apart from special circumstances people tend not to throw out, I'd see it as a means to an end, more regular money to the club, one person sitting on the board (who inevitably will end up as secretive as any other board member) so really nothing changes apart from more income.

But we have not pushed the ST as much as we could / should to date as we seemed to be going nowhere under AG/JE. Now we have a real chance to become involved and we will work to push those numbers higher from hereon in.

We are not limited to ST members either, we will be working with the club to push this out to all last years season ticket holders.

The numbers being targeted are approximately at the level they peaked at previously - therefore this is far from an impossible task - tough maybe, but not impossible.

You will see changes in the Trust and the way we operate over the coming months - trying to give some value back for membership.

So you don't think that we would have been able to see the position the club was heading for under AG if we had someone on the BoD?

Yes, the person sitting on the BoD will have certain 'responsibilities' but that includes ensuring the protection of the interests of supporters. As long as I can remember supporters have considered themselves to be the 'poor relation' at the club. We can't guarantee that we can change everything, but we would be in there trying - on our behalf!