The Posh Supporter's Trust has been removed from all positions related to Peterborough United with immediate effect. The invitation to Leigh Porter to join the advisory board has been withdrawn and we will no longer be running the club shop on match days or supplying and organising the ball boys. The Trust counter in the Family Stand is to be discontinued and our banner will be returned to us.
All those familiar with our activities know that the Trust board and other members have given, for free, enormous amounts of time and effort to help the club, particularly in the club shop. We have also proposed many ways for the club to increase its revenue through the shop and through other activities. Nobody who knows us could be in any doubt that we have the interests of the club as our core priority, and we feel that this action by the club directors is unjustified.
Our aims are written, widely available in our literature, and are the same as those of many trusts at UK football clubs and have not changed at all since our inception. We have continued to try to understand the financial structure of the club by asking questions at the club AGMs and resolve such issues as the non-registration of the lease between PUHL and PUFC. We do this as shareholders in PUFC Ltd.
The Posh Supporter's Trust will continue to vigorously promote their vision of a community orientated club which would receive support from all parts of the community, both in Peterborough and in the surrounding areas, and which promotes football amongst all sections of society particularly the young and disadvantaged. We believe that this type of approach will win back the fans to the club. To this end we will look for companies, voluntary organisations, the city council and individuals to support these aims but, as we have always done, not in such a way as to undermine the existing sponsorship of the club.
We intend to maintain a close dialogue and working relationship with the other supporters groups.
As stated in the last and most long term of our aims, we "remain alert at all times to the possibility of gaining control of the club on behalf of all the supporters". and the community as a whole, a view supported by the current club owner in past reported statements. Such clubs already exist and are run successfully at Chesterfield and Lincoln City amongst others, and are shining examples of supporter involvement, community ethos, local council support and successful financial management in difficult circumstances.
Our philosophy is one that encourages a strong voice for fans, democratic principles, an open accountable style of operation with high integrity coupled with a professional approach to all aspects of our activities. We hope that by sharing these ideals and objectives we will continue to gain support and encourage an increased membership.
Please contact the Trust on our website www.theposhtrust.com or email us at theposhtrust@yahoo.co.uk
The Board of the Supporter's Trust
Members of The Posh Supporters' Trust heard guest speaker, Phil Tooley, the Acting Managing Director of Supporters Direct, describe graphically how trusts at Cambridge United, Rotherham United, Swindon Town, Exeter City, Lincoln City and others had acted positively in many different ways to save their clubs from oblivion.
(These stories will be covered in a separate news item on this website.)
He then went on to explain how, three years since his own trust had acquired Chesterfield FC, the club had carefully nurtured the support of the fans, to the extent that attendances were now the highest for 24 years. In addition it was actively pursuing a community-based programme including Surestart clubs, a drop-in health centre literacy groups and other initiatives.
In response to many requests for information, Peter Lloyd, the chairman of The Posh Supporters' Trust, described what the board had been doing in its preparation for the day, whenever it came, that it would take over Peterborough United Football Club.
The Trust was gradually increasing its profile by joining the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce and Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service, while making contact with the city council. All this activity was designed to demonstrate to the city and the community that the trust was a professionally-run organisation that could one day be a credible owner of the club. It was raising money through the Gold Bond Super Draw, subscriptions, the sale of programmes, books, magazines and trust merchandise, while an announcement would soon be made about a new on-line shopping facility for trust members. This money would be required to cover a wide range of legal and accounting expenses should the need arise.
As a shareholder in the club the Trust was pursuing various enquiries concerning the lease between PUFC and PUHL, the covenant on the ground and the club's published accounts.
Unlike some supporters' trusts, the Posh Trust had the luxury of time to formulate a comprehensive plan - dubbed the "disaster plan" - that could be implemented if the club encountered a financial crisis or Barry Fry decided to walk away. [The sections of the plan are listed in the appendix below, together with a list of the aims.]
Peter went on to say that the Trust had produced a draft company brochure that could be distributed to local businesses. It had also developed a loan note scheme that could be utilised in the event of a bid to acquire the club.
Peter apologised for the fact that the website had been out of action for a month or so and promised that it would be up and running "next week". He reiterated what the Trust did for PUFC (manning the shop and providing the ball boys) and emphasised the need to co-operate with the club.
Questions and answers
Geoff Callen asked about the value of the Trust's shareholding in PUFC. PL advised that it was "not high", on account of the debt position.
Barry Bennett expressed concern about the covenant on the ground and suggested that members should write to their councillors to make it plain that it should not be overturned. Tony Broughton agreed with this point.
Walter Moore felt that the Trust was not doing enough fund-raising and urged members to provide help and ideas.
Barry Bennett referred to the splitting-up of the club into PUFC and PUHL and suggested that the Trust should write to PUHL to ascertain whether it would sell the ground to the Trust. PL agreed to consider this, adding that the covenant must remain sacred.
Another member asked what was the point of Leigh Porter's being on the advisory board. Leigh explained that there had been no announcement yet as to who else was on it, but that the Trust should be involved.
The evening ended with a quiz, which was (to his amazement) won by Peter Williams. The questions (and the answers) are posted for your entertainment elsewhere on this website.
We thank Peterborough United FC and the catering staff for their excellent facilities and services.
APPENDIX
THE POSH SUPPORTERS' TRUST
"DISASTER PLAN"
REACTION TO THE TRUST MEETING ON www.posh.net
On 4 February a report was posted on www.posh.net by "Mitchster", who attended the meeting. Whilst it was a fair report, we would like to clarify one or two minor misconceptions.
The report stated:
"The Trust is committed to finding ways to purchase the club".
Comment: We are not in a position to purchase the club at the present time, but we want to be prepared should the situation arise. We want to demonstrate to (a) the existing owners, (b) the city council, (c) local businesses and (d) other potential buyers that we are a viable alternative owner in those circumstances.
"A corporate brochure has been prepared and will be sent out shortly. Corporate sponsors are actively being sought...."
Comment: After more than nine months in preparation, a draft brochure has been prepared, but there is no intention for it to be issued at the present time. We are of course interested in identifying businesses that share our community-oriented aims and might support us in the longer term. But we have no intention of undermining the club's relationships with its existing and potential sponsors by trying to obtain donations.
LEIGH PORTER LEAVES POSH BOARD
Leigh Porter relinquished his position on the board of Peterborough United FC on 31 December 2004. This is the text of the club's official Press Release issued to announce the fact:
"The Board of Peterborough United FC has invited Leigh Porter to join its proposed Advisory Board as the Posh Supporters Trust and supporter Director. This is the first appointment since the proposal for such an Advisory Board was announced and then confirmed at the club's AGM and recognises the role that the Supporters' Trust has played, and will continue to play, in helping the club develop in future, particularly with Community matters. Leigh will thus leave the Football Club Board which is part of the move to have a smaller Board, whilst also recognising the need for broader community interests and supporters to be represented on the Advisory Board. The Board is grateful for the input and time given by Leigh in the last 12 months and for the support given by the Trust and expects to continue to have a good relationship with both Leigh and the Trust."
THE TRUST'S OWN PRESS RELEASE
Soon afterwards The Posh Supporters' Trust issued the following Press Release to comment on the club's announcement:
"The Trust recognises that the club wishes to operate with a smaller board focused on the financial needs of the club, and is content to accept a position on the Advisory Board as proposed by the club. It is disappointing that the club Board feel unable to continue with the enlightened, if short lived, policy of supporter representation on its main board which has also been one of our principal aims since launch. This is also the reverse of the general trend in football with around 40% of clubs in our division having supporter representation on their football club main boards, a dramatic increase. The Trust was not set up as a financial donor organisation for the club, but was mandated to give support, which we have done consistently. As well as continuing with this support, we intend to step up our efforts to ensure that the club is safeguarded in the long term. To this end we are actively engaged in planning how to acquire the club for the community in the longer term, and are developing contingency plans should the club run into financial difficulties in the short to medium term. This will include fund raising plans to be announced shortly. We will continue to gather support for our community based approach and will do all we can to ensure that all parts of the community are aware of, and support, our approach and ambitions."
Home | News | Shop | Support The Trust | Smile Tickets | Gold Bond | About The Trust | Minutes of Meetings | Newsletters | Links
material © The Posh Supporters Trust
design © 