Notts County Supporters Trust

A New Beginning

DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION

The Board of Notts County Supporters Trust (NCST) recognise that the recent
momentous changes that have taken place at Notts County mean a new beginning
for the Trust. Whilst continuing to seek to be an independent voice for all Notts
County Supporters the Trust needs to consider its future role in greatly changed
circumstances where it no longer has a shareholding in the club. This draft document
has been prepared based on recent discussions of the Board, including consideration
of suggestions received from a small number of members of the Trust. It was felt that
this should be shared with the wider membership ahead of the forthcoming AGM in
order to give all members an opportunity to comment upon the proposed way
forward. The Board will consider any feedback received by 11 October before
finalising a document to present to the AGM on 29th October.

Since its formation in January 2003, Notts County Supporters Trust (NCST) has
played a part in helping Notts County survive one of the most turbulent periods in the
club’s history. Following a record breaking 18 month period in administration the
Trust, with the support of members and the wider community of Notts County
supporters, became part of the consortium that saved the club in December 2003.

However, difficulties persisted both on and off the pitch culminating in a period of
instability and disagreements within the Trust prior to the takeover of the club by
Munto Finance.

Despite the difficulties faced by the Trust over the past few years it is important to
recognise what has been achieved:

· Being part of the consortium that helped to secure the survival of the Club for
future generations of supporters.

· Electing Supporters Directors that played leading roles in helping to stabilise
the club post-administration.

· Facilitating the takeover of and investment into the club.

The Trust is now at a crossroads faced with a number of possible directions,
including:

1. To allow the continuation of recent disagreements such that the Trust
continues to be largely irrelevant both to the membership that it should serve
and to the new owners of the club.

2. To dissolve the Trust by seeking the consent of three-quarters of the
members in accordance with rule 105.

3. To refocus the efforts of the Board and wider membership around a future
strategy built upon the original objects of the Trust.

The remaining Board members do not believe that the Trust should be dissolved as it
can still play in an important role in providing an independent voice for supporters
and helping to represent the interests of the wider community served by the club.

However, if the Trust is to successfully fulfil this role there needs to be a new
beginning in order to restore the credibility of the Trust and engage with members to
move forward in a positive manner. An outline strategy for this is set out below.

The Trust’s objects as set out in the Rules of Notts County Supporters Limited are as
follows:

1. to strengthen the bonds between the Club and the community which it serves
and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club;

2. to benefit present and future members of the community served by the Club
by promoting encouraging and furthering the game of football as a
recreational facility, sporting activity and focus for community involvement;

3. to further the development of the game of football nationally and
internationally and the upholding of its rules;

4. to encourage the Club to take proper account of the interests of its supporters
and of the community it serves in its decisions;

5. to encourage and promote the principle of supporter representation on the
board of any company owning or controlling the Club and ultimately to be the
vehicle for democratic elections to the board;

6. to promote, develop and respect the rights of members of the community
served by the Club and people dealing with the Society as set out in the
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, having regard in
particular to the need to provide information to members and conduct the
affairs of the Society in accessible and appropriate ways.

These objects remain as valid now as when the Trust was formed, although with the
Trust having taken the decision to gift its shareholding to Munto Finance the potential
for supporter representation is now more of a long term aspiration. The following
strategy is proposed for refocusing the efforts of the Board and wider membership in
meeting these objectives:

· Developing and enhancing links with the community served by the club and
through this seeking to represent the interests of the community to the club
and becoming a focus for community involvement.

· Improving communications with and engagement of the membership of the
Trust, and actively seeking ideas and involvement with regard to community
links.

· Acting as guardians of the history, tradition and ethos of Notts County,
seeking to ensure that the best of this is retained alongside the changes
underway and that the club is run in a way that is not detrimental to its long
term future.

· Seeking to establish links with new owners of the club, specifically with regard
to representing the interests of supporters and the wider community.

· Working with the Supporters Club, Supporters Direct and other Trusts to
share learning and ideas, specifically with regard to community involvement
and establishing links to the club.

· Refreshing Board membership and reviewing governance arrangements in
order to restore the credibility of the Trust and enable it to deliver its stated
objectives.

The outgoing Board of NCST call on members to endorse this vision for the future of
the Trust, to renew membership and to move forward in a positive spirit of
cooperation as an open democratic body.

We welcome and encourage your comments and observations,please contact: chair@nottscotrust.org.uk

Glenn Rolley
Trust Chairman

The Trust lost all credibility when it stopped representing its members' interests in regard to the management of the club.