If any of you lot want some input into what is really involved in setting up a ST, let me know? We did one at Bradford last year.
Please don't underestimate the statutory and legal stuff. I was responsible for dealing with most of it, so I know.
But I'd say definitely go for it. Sounds just what you could do with.
Good luck!
Thanks for the offer and we may take you up on it.
We are well underway and have had meetings with SD and ready to move provided we get a mandate from Supporters but we are wise enough to accept advice for those who have been there. Probably be in touch.
Was that in conjunction with Supporters Direct or Independently??
I ask because I believe SD deal with a lot of the legal stuff.
In conjunction with SD. But you would be surprised just how much stuff we had to do or work out ourselves, and it was a good job its one of my areas of expertise. If anyone wants to PM me I will give you some gen on it, and a short list of points you could do with being aware of that we had to sort out for ourselves that might help you to move along a bit quicker.
In conjunction with SD. But you would be surprised just how much stuff we had to do or work out ourselves, and it was a good job its one of my areas of expertise. If anyone wants to PM me I will give you some gen on it, and a short list of points you could do with being aware of that we had to sort out for ourselves that might help you to move along a bit quicker.
have sent you a pm. thank you. How did you get on today and did Oli Elima play ? Spoke to him Friday forgot to ask him if he was playing
have sent you a pm. thank you. How did you get on today and did Oli Elima play ? Spoke to him Friday forgot to ask him if he was playing
Hi, and replied.
We were ahead 10-8 at HT and not looking anything that clever. Just like most of last season, indeed... And 'Fax looked pretty good in much of the first half.
We went on to win 50-8, running away with it second half as our combinations started to gel and they tired.
Bear in mind of course that we were playing part-timers and who were missing a number of their winning squad from last season. Maybe as important, this was almost a new Bulls team - well we had I think it was 8 new signings plus various promoted from the Academy in the squad, and this was their first ever game. So was bound to take some time to start to gel.
Elima did not play, sadly - was looking forward very much to seeing him. Not sure why, but neither did a number of other probable first teamers - mainly because they were still coming back from close-season surgery.
I've sent some notes to a couple who sent me PMs. mainly covering some things that need to be done and some things to watch out for, from our own experience.
More generally, if I understand correctly all I have read, Wakey is crying out for a Supporters' Trust right now.
You have a totally different situation (for now!) than Bradford, and we pitched our own Trust primarily as a vehicle for raising funds for junior development and secondarily as a conduit between fans and club. Modeled very much on the Warrington Trust, in fact. We did not set a primary objective as being represented on the Club board or owning shares in the club, since we'd never make any headway with that at the moment and the club anyway does not need it - although that remains an aspiration maybe down the track a bit.
However, it looks to me that you may need to raise and inject funds via a ST to save the club. A rather more urgent and serious undertaking! Supporters' Direct have plenty of experience in helping to set up Supporters' Trusts with this objective primarily in mind, and you definitely need them to work with you to go down this route.
I would also urge you to try and rally as much experienced support, across the various disciplines that you will need (financial, legal, company secretarial, marketing, PR, IT, website, fundraising, networking etc) as early as possible, and try and get as many of such disciplines properly represented on the Society Board.
And, very importantly, make sure that anyone who stands for the Society Board is there for the long haul and is prepared to make the hard yards. This isn't something to get you kudos and show how important you are as an individual - its hard (but rewarding) work for the greater good. And needs a reasonable degree of commitment. In particular, I suggest you need to make sure whoever takes on the three principal offices - Chair, Secretary and Treasurer - are fully aware of what those offices involve, and what expertise is required.
It takes time to get a Supporters Trust set up and registered- not least because you have to wait on the FSA - so if time is of the essence you need to get moving ASAP.
I hope this does not come across as lecturing, because its not meant to be. Its meant to be trying to help by sharing experience, both from our own trust and from my wider experience of such organisations.
I've seen various people posting on this forum who are clearly very clued up and experienced across various fields (even if one or two have from time to time chosen to have a go at me), so I'd doubt you'll want for the necessary experience and expertise.
Good luck guys, and my very best wishes and hopes for your success.
150 mile round trip for me, and a bit of a fag after work, but I'm aiming to be there. Could someone pm me if it gets cancelled though. I would be pretty hacked off if I got there and no one was there.
I have a 80 mile round trip everyday to work. Someone with your knowledge should try and make the meeting mate.