I joined the Trust yesterday... (4 Viewers)

[theferret]

...not something I expected to do if I'm honest.

I have come to the view though that all this bickering is achieving nothing, and the time is right for the fans to come together and try and form a strong and independent voice that acts in the interests of the club, the fans and the city.

I doubt I'll agree with everything they do or say, but so what. That's life. In a political party they'll be opposing views on lots of issues, but ultimately they will work together for a common goal. Same will apply to an organisation like this.

Besides, the people involved seem a decent bunch. Gary is a top bloke and I am more than happy for someone like that to be representing me. At least these people are prepared to get off their arse and do something proactive. So I have thrown my quid into the hat and I wish them well.

 

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[skyblu3sk]

Ditto, A year or two ago there was no chance of me joining. Now though we are in for a bumpy ride so need someone fighting The football clubs corner.

 

[TurkeyTrot]

...not something I expected to do if I'm honest.

I have come to the view though that all this bickering is achieving nothing, and the time is right for the fans to come together and try and form a strong and independent voice that acts in the interests of the club, the fans and the city.

I doubt I'll agree with everything they do or say, but so what. That's life. In a political party they'll be opposing views on lots of issues, but ultimately they will work together for a common goal. Same will apply to an organisation like this.

Besides, the people involved seem a decent bunch. Gary is a top bloke and I am more than happy for someone like that to be representing me. At least these people are prepared to get off their arse and do something proactive. So I have thrown my quid into the hat and I wish them well.

I'm on the board of the trust and guess what, I don't agree with everything either, you are absolutely right, it's about a common purpose. The more fans that join the louder our voice becomes and also the direction we take will be in line with the, dare I say, largest minority of fans. Every suggestion/ question we get from members we discuss and have taken many on board. We, and I'm not talking about the board or the Trust but fans in general, have our own views but what tends to happen is issues are discussed and out the other side comes a sensible approach.
The worse that can happen is we fail and we've all lost a quid, but just think if we don't fail and we make some inroads whereby we get a fans voice and we're actually listened to or we do manage to purchase a stake in the club. We now have over a thousand members, lets get 10000 members. We only won't change things if we all sit there saying we won't change things. Lets at least have a go.

 

[ampthill_sba]

Can you please explain how to join and what the financial commitments and meeting schedules are?

 

[TurkeyTrot]

Join on line for a quid, we have an open meeting once a month and a board meeting once a month.

 

[skyblu3sk]

Just go to the site http://www.skybluetrust.co.uk it is £1 to join which can be paid via Paypal during registration. Meetings appear to be once a monthish people who have been members longer may know better.

 

[luwalla]

Yep I joined up thus weekend too

 

[Bennets Afro]

I just joined

 

[Snozz_is_god]

I joined yesterday online, easy peasy.

http://www.skybluetrust.co.uk/

We should all do it, our club is in peril and it's time to fight this together.

 

[TurkeyTrot]

And let's be clear on one thing. There's been a bit of criticism about the board members not having the skill base to take this forward. I'm in awe of the skills that have come together and the professionals that have offered support and advice.
I don't include myself in the above, I'm there for the alcohol

 

[ampthill_sba]

Join on line for a quid, we have an open meeting once a month and a board meeting once a month.

Thank you

 

[ampthill_sba]

I've joined too.

 

[covkid69]

joined here too....could be the best £1 i've ever spent :claping hands::claping hands:

 

[warwickcccfc]

The SBT is the way forward. I hope they take over the club. Is Natalie Cox still a senior figure? Isn't she the media spokesperson or the face of the SBT or something?

 

[TurkeyTrot]

The SBT is the way forward. I hope they take over the club. Is Natalie Cox still a senior figure? Isn't she the media spokesperson or the face of the SBT or something?

Nat stepped down some time back,
Great that fans are joining, I'm not gonna patronise you by saying thanks, the second you join it's your trust as much as it is mine

 

[rob9872]

Do you vote on issues and if the majority voice disagrees with the lead members do they still voice that opinion or their own agenda when meeting board members? I guess I'm a little cynical but the posts I've seen do appear self promoting as opposed to democratically elected and as a voice that is supposed to represent my interests I do struggle to stand behind it. I guess I'm just too opinionated to conform.

That said I'm pleased they are in existence and fully support their stance that they are doing what they believe to be the best way forward.

 

[Nick]

I didnt see them?

 

[grego_gee]

I joined 12 months ago,

......... it didn't make much difference!!!

Maybe we should make it £1 a month on DD, with enough of us that might accumulate to a surprising amount over a few years...?

imp:

 

[Black6Osprey]

I've mentioned before I'm all for supporters having a voice and better communication with the club but I get mixed messages from this venture that you don't want to take over the club but you do want a share, siting Swansea as an example. Reading about Swansea it appears their 20% cost the Trust £200k so are you all ready to part with the other £199 each or are you hoping to get it for free like SISU?

 

[TurkeyTrot]

Do you vote on issues and if the majority voice disagrees with the lead members do they still voice that opinion or their own agenda when meeting board members? I guess I'm a little cynical but the posts I've seen do appear self promoting as opposed to democratically elected and as a voice that is supposed to represent my interests I do struggle to stand behind it. I guess I'm just too opinionated to conform.

That said I'm pleased they are in existence and fully support their stance that they are doing what they believe to be the best way forward.

Rob, there's no one more opinionated than me!
Yes, now remember I'm speaking as someone who's been a member of the trust from day one (my membership number is no1 ) and I've been a board member for a number of years.
Yes everything is voted on after debate. Members are encouraged to attend open meetings and can put forward any motion they feel. But if no bugger turns up then the debate can be some what limited.
The dark days where six board members would turn up have gone (hopefully for good) but I and a number of others would turn up and yes, go through the motions just to keep the trust going, I was going to say active but that's probably the wrong word We done this because we knew the trust would be needed at some point and by having the wheels in motion it would save 2 to 3 months due to all the legalities of forming a trust.
The reality is trusts thrive when clubs fall into difficulty and that's why it was kept going, infact I remember using the term mothballed. As far as self promoting goes its a double edged sword. We need a media person so we have to push that and in turn push our aims and views but it should be about the trust. I'm sure there will be a few folk that have sussed out who I am by now. Folk from the old GMK days but not from the trust. What I'd love to see are numbers attend the open meetings, they can listen to what the board has to say, listen to what the floor has to say and put there own point across. The greater the cross section of ideas the better consensus of opinion we have. The board HAS to drive the vehicle. But for it to work the members should be keying in the SATNAV.

 

[SkyBlueSwiss]

...not something I expected to do if I'm honest.

I have come to the view though that all this bickering is achieving nothing, and the time is right for the fans to come together and try and form a strong and independent voice that acts in the interests of the club, the fans and the city.

I doubt I'll agree with everything they do or say, but so what. That's life. In a political party they'll be opposing views on lots of issues, but ultimately they will work together for a common goal. Same will apply to an organisation like this.

Besides, the people involved seem a decent bunch. Gary is a top bloke and I am more than happy for someone like that to be representing me. At least these people are prepared to get off their arse and do something proactive. So I have thrown my quid into the hat and I wish them well.

Well said that man - couldn't agree more. Ultimately we are all fans, irrespective of owners, debt, councils, rent, food & beverage etc. etc.

 

[TurkeyTrot]

I've mentioned before I'm all for supporters having a voice and better communication with the club but I get mixed messages from this venture that you don't want to take over the club but you do want a share, siting Swansea as an example. Reading about Swansea it appears their 20% cost the Trust £200k so are you all ready to part with the other £199 each or are you hoping to get it for free like SISU?

Black6, we have to be realistic, it's not about taking over, as a trust it would be difficult if not impossible to raise the sort of capital needed on our own. We have to look at all eventualities and one of those could be the club goes into admin or even worse. We've a number of people looking at ways of raising capital through different means which would involve individuals, local business and large investors. This would mean coming up with a community share scheme for fans, looking for investment for local business then speaking to the usual suspects who have links with the large investors.
Seeing how we can link the three to make it a viable option.
Also we have built a good relationship with the parties involved to be able to sit down with them and talk about what is available.
It could fail, it might not be needed, but I think we should give it our best shot just in case we can do something positive.

 

[SkyBlueSwiss]

Black6, we have to be realistic, it's not about taking over, as a trust it would be difficult if not impossible to raise the sort of capital needed on our own. We have to look at all eventualities and one of those could be the club goes into admin or even worse. We've a number of people looking at ways of raising capital through different means which would involve individuals, local business and large investors. This would mean coming up with a community share scheme for fans, looking for investment for local business then speaking to the usual suspects who have links with the large investors.
Seeing how we can link the three to make it a viable option.
Also we have built a good relationship with the parties involved to be able to sit down with them and talk about what is available.
It could fail, it might not be needed, but I think we should give it our best shot just in case we can do something positive.

I am not rich, but should the situation arise where fans can again buy shares in the club that are meaningful and mean that as fans and shareholders we can actually participate and have a say in our club, then I would definately buy a number of shares.

 

[TurkeyTrot]

I am not rich, but should the situation arise where fans can again buy shares in the club that are meaningful and mean that as fans and shareholders we can actually participate and have a say in our club, then I would definately buy a number of shares.

Me too, I just not gonna tell the wife.

 

[Flying Fokker]

You could after the event. It usually means being frozen out for a couple of weeks but they get over it. New motor arrived like that.

 

[shropshirecov]

just joined.

 

[TurkeyTrot]

You could after the event. It usually means being frozen out for a couple of weeks but they get over it. New motor arrived like that.

I'll wait til the warmer weather!

 

[win9nut]

Me too, I just not gonna tell the wife.

I would buy some too...

Out of interest, would it be worth the SBT finding out how much capital it could raise from its members?

PUSB

 

[TurkeyTrot]

I would buy some too...

Out of interest, would it be worth the SBT finding out how much capital it could raise from its members?

PUSB

Absolutely!
This is something that is already taking place. We'll be e-mailing members shortly and also going through the usual media outlets to take this forward.

 

[Hcut PUSB]

Just joined,I would buy shares as well. I currently own a lot of other shares but none that I care about these would matter to me and too an awfull lot of other fans.

 

[rob9872]

I would buy shares if it was one vote per share.

 

[torchomatic]

Ferret, yes I joined on Friday. Again, not sure why as I've not particularly agreed with their stance and their rhetoric in the past, but really since ACL made their announcement it's made me think, well why not? What harm can it do?

We'll never agree on the whys and wherefores of our current plight, but we can surely agree that CCFC need the support of us lot like never before.

 

[coundonskyblue]

Its nice to have something that isn't dividing fans for a change.

 

[MichaelCCFC]

Thanks to everyone who's joined the Trust this weekend! I still haven't got all the forms back but I think total membership is now up to 1,100.

If people are starting to talk about shares, has anyone looked at the Pompey scheme eg http://www.communitypompey.co.uk/files/PST-Supplement.pdf

As I understand it, each Pompey share is £1k which can be paid upfront or with £100 upfront and then a savings scheme to take you up to the required £1k. If you put in over £20k you becoome a 'President' and then there are a seaparate group of co-investors putting in larger sums. Would that kind of approach work here?

 

[warwickcccfc]

I thought it was a movement on the march under Natalie Cox. The SBT wouldn't be where it is today without people like Natalie who has laid the foundations for what it is today.