Thoughts on Club Donations

[Miami Seagull]

I have some concerns with what the club are doing. They may raise a substantial sum of money from supporters in this way yet the supporters will have no voice on the board. It concerns me that a club about to (hopefully) embark on the contruction of a major stadium don't have the funds to get us to construction. Surely there is going to be a need for the club to put in substantial funds at that time and I feel supporters should know that this funding exists. It also concerns me that this plea for funds hasn't been made in addition as a plea for private investors, which is really what the club needs.

This is what I would propose.

Those supporters providing contributions would be grouped together in some form of association. An election would then be formed and one member would be elected as Chairman and would then have a seat on the board of the club (as a donation of this size would apply to anyone else) and a small percentage of the club would belong to the association..

The Association would then have full access to all board meetings. I understand that their would be some issues that would be confidential, but at least we'd have someone there.

I am sure that many more donations would be forthcoming if this were the way this was carried out. This system does exist at other clubs where fans have a real voice at the club.

Just an idea....

 

[C1 BHA]

 

[B.M.F]

It would certainly stop another Archer fiasco happening at our club.

Great call Miami

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

sounds fair enough to me

 

[Seagull73]

It also concerns me that this plea for funds hasn't been made in addition as a plea for private investors, which is really what the club needs.

Agree with what you have said. I like the idea.

However, the club in it's letter does state that if you know anybody who is willing to invest in the club, the club would be happy to hear from them, in complete confidentiality if they wanted.

 

[Miami Seagull]

Thanks for that, I hadn't seen the letter.

 

[Donk the Seagull]

 

[Miami Seagull]

I still think that they should be making a bigger play for private investors, a note in the letter is hardly enough in my mind.

 

[Citrus]

 

[Miami Seagull]

Its time we did have some representation on the board, particularly if the fans are on the point of handing over (not loaning) as much cash to the club as any of the directors or the Chairman. Another major concern is the fact that DK's letter does make it clear that all monies for Falmer will be raised through "grants, sponsorship, marketing and investment". I think this is risky. There are always additional costs when embarking on a project of this size and you need the financial clout to complete it. I'm not sure that we have that.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

a lot of clubs are doing this now its a good idea

 

[Dave the OAP]

DO

what "supporters groups" turned this down?

I was not aware that supporters groups were offered a place on the board. Why did not someone make this information available?

I would have quite happily sat on the board as a supporters representative if someone had asked.

As we are told as school governors, we are a critical friend to the school. Perhaps that is what is required.

 

[Sweetie]

Out of interest is there a supporters trust scheme in place?

 

[zefarelly]

its seems to me that the supporters of most clubs are being increasingly requested to help funding asides general football admission and merchandising so not having any internal represantation seems a little unjust ?