As the CPer's have worked so closely (and effectively) with the new owner in the past, they could be portrayed in the future as being "too close" to be truly objective and independent.

Whilst everyone seems to be best of buddies at present, it must be remembered that the aims of the owner and of the fans might not tally so much in the future.


As for the Trust representing all fans, I would point out that 25%-30% of the average gate at the bottom of the League (and a mere 10% of the gate in better times) is not an overwhelming mandate.

I agree regards the closeness "familiarity breeds contempt".I can understand this meeting taking place, no doubt as a thank you and informing the CP team more details on the way forward. The majority of the fans are not yet represented, the trust is the largest body that represents 1500 aprox fans, they must stay independent and focus on increasing the membership at present there does not seem any proactive advertising to increase the membership .The sooner the trust get an elected committee and get a mandate the better at present it looks like there are a clique of people given their views.

Unfortunately during the last couple of months prior to takeover there wasn't a lot of time for forming committees and sub comittees, holding elections and to pontificate. It required a small band of doers who got off their arses and showed tremendous dedication and will to succeed, giving up all their free time to help save the club. I am sure once things have settled down a more democratic way forward will ensue.

Reading between the lines as we eare encouraged to do, seems to me a JB sponsored lunch as a thank you to the CPers. However, by calling it a meeting, avoids tax issues, like "benefits in kind".

Not sure anyone could deny someone else a free lunch.

Business entertainment is non deductible Tony, meeting or no meeting.

Thats why you dont call it entertainment:)

If you want that, go to the cinema!

All I can ask as far as the Trust is concerned is patience. We are under going a change on the board and there will have to be a change of focus. We have our first meeting tomorrow since the departures and top of the agenda is the election. In my view this must happen as soon as possible.

We were invited to the meeting today by James Brent (represented by Gareth Nicholson) and all indications are that he does want dialogue with the Trust and we must see this as a positive. As I said on another post, we welcome James and will be supportive of him but challenging when necessary.

If the fans' ultimate route is to be an informal, unelected representation from the leaders of pasoti, GTs & people gathered on the way (brilliant or otherwise as they may be) then so be it. This would make the Trust redundant as an organisation. Consequently, if those people wish to include as many views as possible there would have to be a much wider sweep of the possible active fan base than exists at present.

If the fans are to be given voice via an elected body accountable to its members then Mr Brent, as he seems an eminently reasonable man by all accounts, would also go along with this. This would give the Trust a role.

My view is that the GTs should carry on with its excellent fund-raising, pasoti should carry on being the vibrant talking shop it is - with the inevitability of both of those organisations answering the call in any future time of need. The Trust and the club should then sort out its recruitment, elections and policies and chat with the club about how it is to be represented.

If Mr Brent wants to thank the people with whom he dealt throughout the buying process by buying them a nice dinner - good on him and good luck to them. He may even ask their advice. And that's fine also. It's the next steps that are important.

As the CPer's have worked so closely (and effectively) with the new owner in the past, they could be portrayed in the future as being "too close" to be truly objective and independent.

Whilst everyone seems to be best of buddies at present, it must be remembered that the aims of the owner and of the fans might not tally so much in the future.


As for the Trust representing all fans, I would point out that 25%-30% of the average gate at the bottom of the League (and a mere 10% of the gate in better times) is not an overwhelming mandate.

I agree regards the closeness "familiarity breeds contempt".I can understand this meeting taking place, no doubt as a thank you and informing the CP team more details on the way forward. The majority of the fans are not yet represented, the trust is the largest body that represents 1500 aprox fans, they must stay independent and focus on increasing the membership at present there does not seem any proactive advertising to increase the membership .The sooner the trust get an elected committee and get a mandate the better at present it looks like there are a clique of people given their views.

Unfortunately during the last couple of months prior to takeover there wasn't a lot of time for forming committees and sub comittees, holding elections and to pontificate. It required a small band of doers who got off their arses and showed tremendous dedication and will to succeed, giving up all their free time to help save the club. I am sure once things have settled down a more democratic way forward will ensue.

Exactly!

Just one week into the new era I can't believe there are those who doubt the integrity of those who are presently on the Contingency Group Committee. If it had been left to democratic elections in our hour of need there would have been no club.
If the CP are being engaged in talks with JB it is because he sees them as the most relevant individuals who can represent the fan base at present. I don't remember any other body being put forward to be the voice of fans and I suspect the majority approve of what the CP have been doing and just glad that someone came forward.

As the CPer's have worked so closely (and effectively) with the new owner in the past, they could be portrayed in the future as being "too close" to be truly objective and independent.

Whilst everyone seems to be best of buddies at present, it must be remembered that the aims of the owner and of the fans might not tally so much in the future.


As for the Trust representing all fans, I would point out that 25%-30% of the average gate at the bottom of the League (and a mere 10% of the gate in better times) is not an overwhelming mandate.

I agree regards the closeness "familiarity breeds contempt".I can understand this meeting taking place, no doubt as a thank you and informing the CP team more details on the way forward. The majority of the fans are not yet represented, the trust is the largest body that represents 1500 aprox fans, they must stay independent and focus on increasing the membership at present there does not seem any proactive advertising to increase the membership .The sooner the trust get an elected committee and get a mandate the better at present it looks like there are a clique of people given their views.

Unfortunately during the last couple of months prior to takeover there wasn't a lot of time for forming committees and sub comittees, holding elections and to pontificate. It required a small band of doers who got off their arses and showed tremendous dedication and will to succeed, giving up all their free time to help save the club. I am sure once things have settled down a more democratic way forward will ensue.

Jerry I could not agree more if it was not for that group of people I doubt we would be here now, my point is we need asap get the trust up and running again get an elected body that doese represent ther majority of fans

All I can ask as far as the Trust is concerned is patience. We are under going a change on the board and there will have to be a change of focus. We have our first meeting tomorrow since the departures and top of the agenda is the election. In my view this must happen as soon as possible.

We were invited to the meeting today by James Brent (represented by Gareth Nicholson) and all indications are that he does want dialogue with the Trust and we must see this as a positive. As I said on another post, we welcome James and will be supportive of him but challenging when necessary.

Wosser thanks for the update(crucial you do this on a regular basis) my fear is that the trust will start to lose membership if we don't see some sort of action.

All I can ask as far as the Trust is concerned is patience. We are under going a change on the board and there will have to be a change of focus. We have our first meeting tomorrow since the departures and top of the agenda is the election. In my view this must happen as soon as possible.

We were invited to the meeting today by James Brent (represented by Gareth Nicholson) and all indications are that he does want dialogue with the Trust and we must see this as a positive. As I said on another post, we welcome James and will be supportive of him but challenging when necessary.

Wosser thanks for the update(crucial you do this on a regular basis) my fear is that the trust will start to lose membership if we don't see some sort of action.

We all agree mate. We will be addressing this issue at tomorrows meeting and should have a statement ready by the end of the weekend.

[monkeywrench]

All I can ask as far as the Trust is concerned is patience. We are under going a change on the board and there will have to be a change of focus. We have our first meeting tomorrow since the departures and top of the agenda is the election. In my view this must happen as soon as possible.

We were invited to the meeting today by James Brent (represented by Gareth Nicholson) and all indications are that he does want dialogue with the Trust and we must see this as a positive. As I said on another post, we welcome James and will be supportive of him but challenging when necessary.

Wosser thanks for the update(crucial you do this on a regular basis) my fear is that the trust will start to lose membership if we don't see some sort of action.

Out of interest Dunlop, what sort of action do you mean?

As the CPer's have worked so closely (and effectively) with the new owner in the past, they could be portrayed in the future as being "too close" to be truly objective and independent.

Whilst everyone seems to be best of buddies at present, it must be remembered that the aims of the owner and of the fans might not tally so much in the future.


As for the Trust representing all fans, I would point out that 25%-30% of the average gate at the bottom of the League (and a mere 10% of the gate in better times) is not an overwhelming mandate.

I agree regards the closeness "familiarity breeds contempt".I can understand this meeting taking place, no doubt as a thank you and informing the CP team more details on the way forward. The majority of the fans are not yet represented, the trust is the largest body that represents 1500 aprox fans, they must stay independent and focus on increasing the membership at present there does not seem any proactive advertising to increase the membership .The sooner the trust get an elected committee and get a mandate the better at present it looks like there are a clique of people given their views.

Unfortunately during the last couple of months prior to takeover there wasn't a lot of time for forming committees and sub comittees, holding elections and to pontificate. It required a small band of doers who got off their arses and showed tremendous dedication and will to succeed, giving up all their free time to help save the club. I am sure once things have settled down a more democratic way forward will ensue.

Exactly!

Just one week into the new era I can't believe there are those who doubt the integrity of those who are presently on the Contingency Group Committee. If it had been left to democratic elections in our hour of need there would have been no club.
If the CP are being engaged in talks with JB it is because he sees them as the most relevant individuals who can represent the fan base at present. I don't remember any other body being put forward to be the voice of fans and I suspect the majority approve of what the CP have been doing and just glad that someone came forward.

I think you are a little ascrew there my friend, no one is doubting anyone's integrety. The perfectly reasonable question is how do we progress. The manner in which we progress will ultimately decide its sucess and that's why its important to raise this issue. Perhaps this wasn't the post with which to raise it on. I am sure most of us are singing from the same hymn sheet, its just the choir might need a decent conductor and the choir a bit of fine tuning...

............
I think you are a little ascrew there my friend, no one is doubting anyone's integrety. The perfectly reasonable question is how do we progress. The manner in which we progress will ultimately decide its sucess and that's why its important to raise this issue. Perhaps this wasn't the post with which to raise it on. I am sure most of us are singing from the same hymn sheet, its just the choir might need a decent conductor and the choir a bit of fine tuning...

Exactly. Love the image!

All I can ask as far as the Trust is concerned is patience. We are under going a change on the board and there will have to be a change of focus. We have our first meeting tomorrow since the departures and top of the agenda is the election. In my view this must happen as soon as possible.

We were invited to the meeting today by James Brent (represented by Gareth Nicholson) and all indications are that he does want dialogue with the Trust and we must see this as a positive. As I said on another post, we welcome James and will be supportive of him but challenging when necessary.

Wosser thanks for the update(crucial you do this on a regular basis) my fear is that the trust will start to lose membership if we don't see some sort of action.

Out of interest Dunlop, what sort of action do you mean?

Monkey the first action is to have a membership drive! I fear now the club hase been saved membership may dwindle,the goal must be to get all supporters members the second wosser has already answered to get an elected committee I hope in an open forum.
And from a personal point of view start a campaign to get the malignant 7 accountable for what their actions has damged our club

As the CPer's have worked so closely (and effectively) with the new owner in the past, they could be portrayed in the future as being "too close" to be truly objective and independent.

Whilst everyone seems to be best of buddies at present, it must be remembered that the aims of the owner and of the fans might not tally so much in the future.


As for the Trust representing all fans, I would point out that 25%-30% of the average gate at the bottom of the League (and a mere 10% of the gate in better times) is not an overwhelming mandate.

I agree regards the closeness "familiarity breeds contempt".I can understand this meeting taking place, no doubt as a thank you and informing the CP team more details on the way forward. The majority of the fans are not yet represented, the trust is the largest body that represents 1500 aprox fans, they must stay independent and focus on increasing the membership at present there does not seem any proactive advertising to increase the membership .The sooner the trust get an elected committee and get a mandate the better at present it looks like there are a clique of people given their views.

Unfortunately during the last couple of months prior to takeover there wasn't a lot of time for forming committees and sub comittees, holding elections and to pontificate. It required a small band of doers who got off their arses and showed tremendous dedication and will to succeed, giving up all their free time to help save the club. I am sure once things have settled down a more democratic way forward will ensue.

Exactly!

Just one week into the new era I can't believe there are those who doubt the integrity of those who are presently on the Contingency Group Committee. If it had been left to democratic elections in our hour of need there would have been no club.
If the CP are being engaged in talks with JB it is because he sees them as the most relevant individuals who can represent the fan base at present. I don't remember any other body being put forward to be the voice of fans and I suspect the majority approve of what the CP have been doing and just glad that someone came forward.

Agreed, mate.

Perhaps those of the Eeyore persuasion would be better served with a group of their own. And they can all sit, in some grim little garret in Estover, nursing their halves of Mackeson, chewing the ends of their hankies in unison, while the rest of us get on with backing our club, James Brent, the GTs and the Trust.