Home
By their own frank admission, the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Trust are still “new at all this” and there were times in their first AGM that the inexperience showed.
Failing microphones, confusion on the motions being voted upon, and a slightly saggy running order were all forgivable, of course; this is proper democracy in action.
Back in January the trust had been formed in front of a packed-out Premier Suite by 1,000 people who felt it was the best way to save their club. It was seat-of-the-pants and, as chairman Ian Bridge freely admitted, “We ran before we could walk.”
Right from the off it was clear it wasn’t for everyone. It left a nasty taste in the mouth, for some, that such a hastily-assembled group found themselves in the headlines as Wanderers battled for its very survival. For others, it was a way to take a stand, to have a say. But, with backing and encouragement from Trevor Birch, the BWFCST carried on regardless and though a solvent purchase of the club was beyond them, had the Whites gone into administration it could have been very different.
After Dean Holdsworth and Ken Anderson took over, the trust manoeuvred itself into different position, one of a watchdog. While ownership was still being ratified by the Football League an open list of questions caused a stir, with some accusing the trust of trying to destabilise their efforts.
“It was done with the best intentions of the club and its long-term stability,” said Bridge. “It was not a point-scoring exercise.”
One of the big challenges for the trust going forward is to bide by its members’ wishes on how much to challenge the established authority. Results of an internal survey are due soon which should give an indication on how far the envelope will be pushed in the future.
In the meantime, talks have continued with both owners.
“The first thing Ken Anderson said was that the club ‘didn’t need any money,’ but we are still in contact with both parties,” said Bridge. “We have a relationship with Paul Aldridge and John Pelling and we will take things forward.”
Anderson’s recent admission that he was on the lookout for investment and had held brief talks with interested parties from the Far East suggest there could yet be scope for the trust to, quite literally, get on board. The idea of a creating extra shares for new investors has been discussed, though it would require the blessing of both Anderson and Holdsworth – whose slice of the pie would be diminished – and a fair amount of legal work.
For the trust to buy in, due diligence appears the most obvious obstruction.
The meatiest subject matter was reserved for the end of the night, as the various professional voices around the room had their say.
It was refreshing to hear Bridge and fellow board member Maggie Tetlow apologise to those who had felt slighted by the selection process for the initial steering group. More than 600 expression of interest forms were submitted and some of the snap decisions left some noses out of joint.
The creation of three more board posts, plus an officer’s role, gives people a chance to step forward in the coming months as the organisation looks to expand and diversify.
Anderson and Holdsworth had sent their apologies but the assembled audience were keen to put across that the club should “get its act together” by establishing a proper board and submitting overdue accounts.
“I am sensing from the room that you are very concerned,” Bridge said. “It is duly noted and will be passed on for the good of the club.”
The BWFCST’s relevance was questioned in the lead-up to the Thursday night’s meeting and whether apathy would eventually prove its undoing. It is for the trust to ensure that is not the case and it seems a period of reflection in the last few months has had a re-energising effect.
They may be new-born. But the trust may now be ready to take its first steps.
Source
Failing microphones, confusion on the motions being voted upon, and a slightly saggy running order were all forgivable, of course; this is proper democracy in action.
Back in January the trust had been formed in front of a packed-out Premier Suite by 1,000 people who felt it was the best way to save their club. It was seat-of-the-pants and, as chairman Ian Bridge freely admitted, “We ran before we could walk.”
Right from the off it was clear it wasn’t for everyone. It left a nasty taste in the mouth, for some, that such a hastily-assembled group found themselves in the headlines as Wanderers battled for its very survival. For others, it was a way to take a stand, to have a say. But, with backing and encouragement from Trevor Birch, the BWFCST carried on regardless and though a solvent purchase of the club was beyond them, had the Whites gone into administration it could have been very different.
After Dean Holdsworth and Ken Anderson took over, the trust manoeuvred itself into different position, one of a watchdog. While ownership was still being ratified by the Football League an open list of questions caused a stir, with some accusing the trust of trying to destabilise their efforts.
“It was done with the best intentions of the club and its long-term stability,” said Bridge. “It was not a point-scoring exercise.”
One of the big challenges for the trust going forward is to bide by its members’ wishes on how much to challenge the established authority. Results of an internal survey are due soon which should give an indication on how far the envelope will be pushed in the future.
In the meantime, talks have continued with both owners.
“The first thing Ken Anderson said was that the club ‘didn’t need any money,’ but we are still in contact with both parties,” said Bridge. “We have a relationship with Paul Aldridge and John Pelling and we will take things forward.”
Anderson’s recent admission that he was on the lookout for investment and had held brief talks with interested parties from the Far East suggest there could yet be scope for the trust to, quite literally, get on board. The idea of a creating extra shares for new investors has been discussed, though it would require the blessing of both Anderson and Holdsworth – whose slice of the pie would be diminished – and a fair amount of legal work.
For the trust to buy in, due diligence appears the most obvious obstruction.
The meatiest subject matter was reserved for the end of the night, as the various professional voices around the room had their say.
It was refreshing to hear Bridge and fellow board member Maggie Tetlow apologise to those who had felt slighted by the selection process for the initial steering group. More than 600 expression of interest forms were submitted and some of the snap decisions left some noses out of joint.
The creation of three more board posts, plus an officer’s role, gives people a chance to step forward in the coming months as the organisation looks to expand and diversify.
Anderson and Holdsworth had sent their apologies but the assembled audience were keen to put across that the club should “get its act together” by establishing a proper board and submitting overdue accounts.
“I am sensing from the room that you are very concerned,” Bridge said. “It is duly noted and will be passed on for the good of the club.”
The BWFCST’s relevance was questioned in the lead-up to the Thursday night’s meeting and whether apathy would eventually prove its undoing. It is for the trust to ensure that is not the case and it seems a period of reflection in the last few months has had a re-energising effect.
They may be new-born. But the trust may now be ready to take its first steps.
Source