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Chris Peacock believes the creation of a Supporters’ Trust at Wanderers will give fans a voice regardless of what happens with the ownership of the club.
Though much is to be decided in the boardroom, talks intensified by the looming deadline to pay a £2million-plus tax bill on January 18, a show of 1,000 hands on Wednesday night might just have proved a historic step.
A packed meeting at the Premier Suite was primarily the work of a three-man working group, Peacock taking the vocal lead, with local businessmen Mike Smith and Ian Bridge also heavily involved.
To what extent the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust is incorporated will depend on which ownership model Eddie Davies selects in the coming weeks but former Labour councillor and lifelong fan Peacock reckons its very existence is a landmark moment.
“It is a case of seeing where it takes us,” he told The Bolton News. “Without the trust we couldn’t even have those conversations.
“The trust is not the silver bullet that is going to cure all the ills of the football club, let’s make no bones about it, but it could be part of the solution.”
Finance will play a part in where the BWFCST goes from here. More than 200 people have already volunteered their skills and time but inspired by the model used at Portsmouth, Peacock makes no secret that investors are now being sought.
“There is no individual out there who wants to buy the club outright,” he said.
“But the question has to be asked if there are any Wanderers supporters out in the community who are willing to put some money in – maybe some business individuals who would like to have a say in the future of the football club but who have not got sufficient wealth to take it on entirely?
“That is what happened at Portsmouth and that’s what can be achieved.
“Whatever happens to this club, whether it’s sold to a consortium, an individual or if the worst case scenario were to happen and it went into administration, we need to make sure the trust is there to represent the supporters and make sure their voice is heard.”
Supporters Direct have taken the reins and will now make sure the trust is legally registered. A steering group of around a dozen people will be selected before a full-elected hierarchy is then installed.
Some scepticism still exists among some Wanderers fans, and the creation of a trust by no means guarantees its success. Peacock hopes to gather enough like-minded people in the coming weeks to try to win over some of the doubters.
“There will always be some people who don’t believe that a supporters’ trust can have an active role, whether that’s because they think it won’t be listened to or that it isn’t credible,” he said.
“People all support the club in their own way. They might want to just come on a Saturday, or not even do that, but I hope there will be enough who come together and want to get behind the trust to ensure we have a voice.”
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Though much is to be decided in the boardroom, talks intensified by the looming deadline to pay a £2million-plus tax bill on January 18, a show of 1,000 hands on Wednesday night might just have proved a historic step.
A packed meeting at the Premier Suite was primarily the work of a three-man working group, Peacock taking the vocal lead, with local businessmen Mike Smith and Ian Bridge also heavily involved.
To what extent the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust is incorporated will depend on which ownership model Eddie Davies selects in the coming weeks but former Labour councillor and lifelong fan Peacock reckons its very existence is a landmark moment.
“It is a case of seeing where it takes us,” he told The Bolton News. “Without the trust we couldn’t even have those conversations.
“The trust is not the silver bullet that is going to cure all the ills of the football club, let’s make no bones about it, but it could be part of the solution.”
Finance will play a part in where the BWFCST goes from here. More than 200 people have already volunteered their skills and time but inspired by the model used at Portsmouth, Peacock makes no secret that investors are now being sought.
“There is no individual out there who wants to buy the club outright,” he said.
“But the question has to be asked if there are any Wanderers supporters out in the community who are willing to put some money in – maybe some business individuals who would like to have a say in the future of the football club but who have not got sufficient wealth to take it on entirely?
“That is what happened at Portsmouth and that’s what can be achieved.
“Whatever happens to this club, whether it’s sold to a consortium, an individual or if the worst case scenario were to happen and it went into administration, we need to make sure the trust is there to represent the supporters and make sure their voice is heard.”
Supporters Direct have taken the reins and will now make sure the trust is legally registered. A steering group of around a dozen people will be selected before a full-elected hierarchy is then installed.
Some scepticism still exists among some Wanderers fans, and the creation of a trust by no means guarantees its success. Peacock hopes to gather enough like-minded people in the coming weeks to try to win over some of the doubters.
“There will always be some people who don’t believe that a supporters’ trust can have an active role, whether that’s because they think it won’t be listened to or that it isn’t credible,” he said.
“People all support the club in their own way. They might want to just come on a Saturday, or not even do that, but I hope there will be enough who come together and want to get behind the trust to ensure we have a voice.”
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