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[VALAIRIAN]

Thanks for the update Macca

[lancsdave]

The one thing that stuck out for me was that despite the fact there appears to be many succesful trusts, the list of failing trusts got prgressively longer as the night went on. Maybe the trust rules should suggest that ego's are banned

[maccawozzagod]

I thought the main negative point of the night was the 'understanding' that a trust isn't there to raise money for the club like a Supporters Club would do. This was a sticking point for some.

The main purpose of the trust is there to ensure the long term viability of the club (for the club and for the fans). There are ways and means of still raising funds for the club such as every event is held at the club and they get money via the bar, the trust could buy match tickets for the needy and the club have benefitted that way etc etc.

But the overriding factor behind all these ideas is that the trust gains a wedge of money in its account which will stay there for as long as necessary (war chest was the phrase used). That sounds mercenary but in the long term it means that funds are available should shares become available. If Peter Marsden wanted to sell his shares tomorrow then a trust would step in and buy them to prevent the wrong type of people bidding for them. Over a period of time the shareholding gets bigger until such time as the trust becomes a serious entity. It can also hold the proxy vote for all the smaller shareholders. So for example Tin Monkey (and the dozens like him) who all only hold 1/4 percentage or so can retain ownership of the share but allow the ST to use its power (or lack of). It wouldn't be unfeasible for the Trust to be worth 49% by this time next year. It might not be enough still to swing a vote as the 51% still holds the power - but it is a significant voice.

A Trust could also do a lot of remedial work within the community. It could pass a motion that it only deals with local suppliers for all its purchases - even if that means paying slightly more. But long term it is building bridges with the community and helping to safeguard jobs. The fringe benefit you hope for is that the businesses you work with then reciprocate the goodwill with sponsorships or cheaper product for the football club etc.

For my mind its all good, as long as the right sort of people get behind it. Skills are required at every step of the way so if you have a notion that you want to get involved then please do so.