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Notts County Supporters Trust |
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Frequently Asked QuestionsQ1 What is Notts County Supporters Trust? Q1. What is Notts County Supporters Trust?The Notts County Supporters Trust is a democratic, not-for-profit organisation, committed to strengthening the voice of supporters in the decision making processes at Notts County Football Club, and strengthening the links between the club and the community it serves. top Q2. How many supporters’ trusts are there?At the time of writing there are around eighty Trusts, at a diverse range of clubs, from Barnsley to York City, and Manchester United to Aylesbury United. Because of the help and involvement of Supporters Direct, this number is ever increasing. top Q3. Who are Supporters Direct, and what is their role?Supporters Direct is a government backed and funded scheme aimed to enabling supporters to take a more active role in the running of their football club. Supporters Direct have helped fans form Trusts by offering advice on what form it should take, how to get it off the ground and how to ensure as many people get involved as possible. They also provide financial assistance, offering small grants to help pay for all the legal costs of setting up a Trust and covering expenses such as advertising, printing, room hire and so on. top Q4. How is Notts County Supporters Trust different to other fan organisations, such as the Supporters Club?The main difference between the Trust and, say, the Notts County Supporters Club, is organisational. The Notts County Supporters Trust was set up as an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) which offers the best way forward for fans groups – its legal assets can be owned ‘corporately’ in a group rather than being vested in individuals. Members also get the benefit of limited liability (and so do the elected officers in most cases) and the full force of the law can be brought to bear on anyone who misappropriates the funds. The Notts County Supporters Trust is democratic and not-for-profit, and clearly states that one of its primary objectives is the securing of representation and strengthening the links between club and community. As it can own shares or property, it is a vehicle that can ultimately own the football club, and at the very least, own a significant shareholding. It can sign contracts with the club for shares received and set the terms of the deal - an ISA or supporters club, which is unincorporated, is on much shakier ground in that regard. So it's robust and it can grow with you as your organisation grows. It can ultimately 'be' a football club, and has become so in some cases - the powers exist to employ staff, contract pensions and manage people within a democratic structure. The fans at Chesterfield were able to take advantage of their situation by being an IPS, as were supporters at Lincoln City. An ISA would have been equally concerned about the situation at all of those clubs, but might have struggled to actually buy the club - just who would have bought it exactly? They would have raised money for sure, and campaigned and wanted to secure the future of the club, but would they have seen it as something they could and should do? That’s not to disparage those sorts of groups, just to indicate that instead of it being something they might do, it’s something a Trust is explicitly there to do. The Trust is an Industrial and Provident Society, regulated by the Registrar of Friendly Societies. As such it will operate in a totally democratic, accountable and transparent manner, and is open to participation by anyone interested in the long-term success of the club. top Q5. What are the aims of Notts County Supporters Trust?Its members confirmed some of the main aims of the Trust on the 4th April as:
Q6. Do you have to be a shareholder in Notts County Football Club to join the Trust?No. The beauty of a Trust is that you get the best of both worlds. Fans who have a small number of shares can proxy them to the Trust so they are voted en bloc and make a bigger difference. Any shares given to the Trust for proxy voting, would still belong to their owner. Fans who aren’t shareholders can just join, and all the members own any shares the Trust buys or acquires collectively. top Q7. How much does it cost to join?Membership is just £10 a year for adults (£5 if aged over 65). Junior membership (aged under 16) is £5 but this does not carry voting rights. top Q8. What happens to my membership fee?The first pound makes you a shareholder in Notts County Supporters Trust and gives you a vote in all Trust matters. After paying for essential running costs (administration, printing costs etc) all remaining money goes into an investment fund, which may only be spent with the members’ consent. At a number of Trusts this money has been used to buy shares in their football club. top Q9. How can I become a member of the Trust board?At the moment there is an Interim Board, made up largely of individuals who took a lead role in the formation of the Trust. The Interim Board were given a mandate at the official launch of the Trust on April 4th 2003 to form a Supporters Trust and will serve until the first AGM (Annual General Meeting). The first AGM must be held with in six months of this launch meeting. Elections will be held annually, and anyone wishing to stand for election to the Board may do so. Each year 50% of the Board will be elected. Once elected Board members will serve for two years. top Q10. Why do we have to go through all these bureaucratic procedures?To qualify as a Trust under the terms of Supporters Direct, and an Industrial and Provident Society, regulated by the Registrar of Friendly Societies, there are certain legal hoops we must jump through. It might seem to be long-winded and frustrating, but it will provide a solid foundation for Notts County Supporters Trust, and will give us the credibility we need to effect real change at the club. top Q11. I don’t want to be on the board, but I’d like to help the Trust achieve its aims. What can I do to help?Great! In the first instance, contact us via the website and tell us if you have any specialist skills. We are particularly keen to hear from people with professional expertise who feel that their experience could be of use to Notts County Supporters Trust, but we also need enthusiastic people who will help with tasks such as distributing newsletters or stewarding at public meetings. A Supporters Trust aims to unite all those who have an abiding passion for their football club. It seeks to bring together the skills, energy, ideas and passion that football supporters can contribute to the running of their club, and to make sure that the club listens. top Q12. Must members be over 16 to vote in elections or meetings?Because the Notts County Supporters Trust is a legal entity, minors aren’t allowed to be full voting members. However, the Trust offers junior membership specifically for those aged under sixteen, which costs £5 and which means young fans can do everything except vote at the AGM and in the elections. top Q13. Can Notts County Supporters Trust really make a difference?Supporter's Trusts have had significant success at other clubs, most notably at Chesterfield and Bury where they have been instrumental in the survival of the football club. There are now in excess of eighty Trusts at football clubs up and down the country. Their involvement varies from having representation on the board of Directors to holding a financial stake in the club in a fair number of cases. Most importantly in all situations the Trust is consulted and seen as a factor in the decision making process and a direct communication link to the supporters. Already at Notts the administrator, Paul Finnity, has had discussions with the new Trust. top Q14. Who is on the Notts County Supporters Trust Interim Board?See the Trust Board Members Page. top Q15. What about supporters without Internet access? Aren’t they going to feel excluded?No. Digital communication is fast and cheap, so if you have Internet access we will use electronic communication. However, more traditional forms of communication are equally important to Notts County Supporters Trust. We are committed to producing regular newsletters, holding fans surgeries where members can ask questions, and publicising Trust activities in the local media. top Q16. So how can I get involved?By reading this, you have started already! Fill in a Membership Form, send it off to the Trust complete with membership fee and any possible donation, and help get involved in the local community, and the running of Notts County Football Club. top |
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© Notts County
Supporters Ltd 2003-2006 • Notts County Supporters Limited is registered as
Industrial and Provident Society No. 29559 R. |