Agreed. RL clubs have always been run by a small number of enthusiastic supporters. Some people are prepared to chip in cash but do no work.

What's the alternative ? Wait for a rich bloke to come along?

that works doesn't it???

No. Exactly my point.

This may have been read on the other post but I m doing it anyway. Taken from the Hornets Supporters Trust.

The new club is a Supporters’ Trust - registered as an Industrial & Provident Society in January 2009. Its full title is “Rochdale Hornets Rugby Football League Club Society Limited”. But as that would make for a very large badge, it’s much easier to call it ‘Hornets Rugby League’.

Where we differ from other clubs in the Co-Operative Championship and Super League is that - as an IPS - we are owned entirely by our members.

Any Rugby League fan over aged 16 or over can become a full member of the Trust. By becoming a member you will be issued with a £1 share in the Trust. This will give you an equal share in the ownership of our club with other members. No-one can own more than one share.

An IPS is a special type of company that is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Members of an IPS are protected from any liabilities that the Trust may incur - your liability only extends to the £1 share that you own.

Our annual membership scheme will enable us to raise much needed funds - and the first £1 of your membership covers the purchase of your share. As a member you will be the owner of one share, which will entitle you to one vote at General Meetings, and also in board elections. In addition, membership entitles you to stand for election to the committee if you want to get more involved.

Our basic annual membership type is Bronze. This costs only £15 per year, and includes full membership of the Trust.

Fundraising and donations will be absolutely key to our survival, so if you want to give more to help Hornets Rugby League, please sign up to be a Silver or Gold member.

Silver and Gold members have exactly the same share ownership and voting rights as regular bronze members, but also have the benefit of knowing that they are contributing more to the financial wellbeing of the club.

Silver membership costs just £10 per month; Gold membership costs £20 per month. You can either pay this as one lump sum each year, or set up a standing order to ensure we get the money each month.

Membership payments are absolutely vital to our survival as they give us a guaranteed income stream - and if we could raise £10 per month (only £2.50 per week!) from 100 members, that would raise a crucial £12,000 for Hornets.

100 members on £20 per month (only £5 per week) would give us £24,000 which would put us well on the road to a secure future

This must be worth giving it a go and personally I would want the Supporters Trust to look at running the club itself and remove all the current administration. I m not sure how or if this could be done, but I m prepared to contact Laura Harrison for more information.

Currently I m paying £8 a month for the lottery and winning bugger all, I d rather know it was going to ensure the clubs survival, because I ve no idea how much money the lottery is earning or how much it is costing to administer.

Doncaster Dragons Supports Trust - was formed, registered, fund raising tried, members enlisted (about 30 if I remember), held a very successful memorabilia sale, but it was just left the that same group of 30-40 stalwarts.

To try and reform again, the cynic in me says it will go the same as the DDST and fold which it did with the demise of the Dragons to Lakers.

Been there, bought the T Shirt, beginning to loose heart.

I agree. As I said earlier in the thread, it will always be left to the same few and quite a few of those have now got to the 'sick animal' point.

To be fair the point of a Supporters Trust is I believe to effectively run and own the club, not just hand money over to the club's owner(s) which went on in the past and we know want happens everytime we ve done that.

But theres the sick animal point or no club.

Just so everyone is aware, I have been in contact with Laura Harrison over the weekend and she has emailed me back with some information.
Laura says if we do decide to go down the road of organising a supporters trust, she will support and advise us through the process.

Laura also recommends we get the ball rolling sooner rather than later as well.If we do decide amongst a few of us to get something started , how many of you would want to be involved?

I dont know if Gary or Bruce want to put this on a separate thread or just leave it on here, but what does everyone think?

I've also spoken to Laura,and i ask anyone who wishes to become involved to please make themselves know.

I'm interested in it Bruce

Have you recieved the email ive sent to yourself and Gary , Bruce?

I would be interested Bruce.

You will also be able to get support from the Social Enterprise Team at Doncaster CVS and from Business Link Yorkshire.

The old Supporters Trust raised money in a bid to buy shares and a controlling stake in the club...it still technically exists