Over the last few weeks the Trust Board has been working on delivering the answers to your questions.

The Fans Forum instigated by the Trust Board, was an exciting opportunity for all fans to ask their questions. The night was a great success with a distinct mood of extreme optimism echoing around ‘Wheelers’. Questions together with the answers raised at last nights forum can be found below.

Over the last few weeks I have had discussions with Peter Trembling. This with a view on how the Trust, and in fact all supporters, can be recognised for their endeavours over the last few years.

I found the meetings to be very open and encouraging and that our club will be in capable hands should the vote be positive next Monday.

In recognition of the Trust and supporters, we looked at possible sponsorship links of key areas in the way Notts County can move forward. A number of possibilities were discussed and these will hopefully be finalised over the next few months.

A particular area suggested to Peter was the possible erection of a statue of our greatest ever manager, Jimmy Sirrel. This idea was received warmly. This would give the Trust and supporters, a permanent recognition, a true focal point for future generations. Peter has since acknowledged that he would like to pursue this venture and the statue should take pride of place at Meadow Lane. Although this would be very expensive he has not dismissed the idea.


Forum 24 June 2009

Questions

What is in it for Munto?

Very little. You have to understand the style of the people concerned.Munto want to take the World’s Oldest League Club to the Championship and ultimately the Premiership. They want to build something up. They want to create a model football club.

Are the other 40% of the shares being gifted?
Can you give a clue about how much money?

JAH said he understood John Mounteney is gifting his shares – cannot speak for the others.
With regard to money, it runs to 7 figures.

Can you clarify the source of the cash?
Where does it come from?
What will be the constitution of the Club after the take-over?

QADBAK has a number of investors from Middle East families. We must respect their privacy. RP and JAH went to meet them.
Blenheim 1862 Ltd. will still exist. Peter Trembling will be Chief Executive and Peter Willett a Director. JAH said he would step down as Chairman straight away. JAH said this was the best deal in the Club’s history.

If the Trust says “yes”, how quickly can things happen?

There has been planning for several weeks now, with a fall back position for if the take-over does not go through. JAH announced that work on the new training ground will start next week.

Haydn Green was a supporter – Munto are not. Why are they asking for 100% of the shares?
Why are they not prepared to have Supporter Directors on the Board?
If they have so much money, would it not be more sensible for them to buy the shares?

Munto want 100% control, they want to spend millions. Fans helped save the Club and the channel for that support was the Trust. The Supporters Club also made a big contribution. The Club is a Football Club, not a social experiment. The choice is between a future and no future. People who are honest people are recommending the deal.



Will this put this Club in a position where we can have a right good laugh over those over the Trent?

Yes.

Are you sure Munto know they are buying the Club and not the land?

Everyone is well aware that the Head Lease is held by the estate of Haydn Green and the Sub lease is held by Blenheim 1862 Ltd. The Club is very fortunate in this. This is not a property deal.

Haydn Green loaned money to the Trust to buy shares. What about the loan? Why do they want the Trust to gift the shares?

If the Trust sold shares, they would need to repay the money. Munto will honour any obligations to the Haydn Green estate.

Will there be a reserve team next season?

The target next season is to have regular reserve matches. The earliest a team could be in a league would be 2010 or 2011.

What about the Rugby Club?

There is a deal in place for next season. Do not know beyond that.

Could Roy Parker tell us what he will do with his shares?

RP answered by saying that it was a great opportunity for the Club. He said it will be good for everyone, supporters, staff and especially for the Manager. RP said he had tried to raise money for the Club for 6 years.


Would the Football League need to sanction any take-over?

Blenheim 1862 Ltd would still be in existence so no problem there. There is a “fit and proper person” test for Directors which would be carried out by the League.. In addition, the Football League would be made aware, on a confidential basis, of who the investors are.

Question for Glenn Rolley: how will the Trust get over to the new owners its objectives of fan and community involvement?

GR said he had already had had conversations with Mr Trembling on the subject - to say he had been encouraged would be an understatement. He said that Mr Trembling is a self-confessed Derby fan who was distraught when he found out Forest were giving away shirts and one went to his son. GR said he had suggested that the contribution made by the Trust and other fans to the Club should be recognised in some way. Something being very actively considered is a statue of Jimmy Sirrel. Mr Trembling thought that was a great idea. JAH added that since then, statues of Jimmy Sirrel together with Jack Wheeler were on the agenda.

Have Munto given assurances that there will be money for the playing squad?

Absolutely. The aim is to be in the Championship by the 150th anniversary.

Do they have to have 100% shareholding?

They want 100% to be able to push their plans. Looking around the ground, the stadium is looking “tired” and money has not been available to update, for instance, Wheeler’s. This will change.

Do we get the top of the KOP back?

JAH said that if sufficient season tickets were sold, he felt sure that things could be done to facilitate that.

Munto said they wanted the Club to be self-sufficient in 5 years – what if it isn’t?

Munto want to enhance the infrastructure and bring in more people to “sell” the Club. We will see big rebranding changes within weeks. The family of Notts County fans has seen more strife than any other club. It is a chance we have got – we must grasp it.


Glenn Rolley
Trust Chairman

Thanks for that I am now convinced to vote for the agreement on both count and have just posted my vote. I hope if my vote is needed it reaches you in time

quote:

Haydn Green loaned money to the Trust to buy shares. What about the loan? Why do they want the Trust to gift the shares?

If the Trust sold shares, they would need to repay the money. Munto will honour any obligations to the Haydn Green estate.

Which obligations are Munto honouring? Are they going to pay back the loan? Why not just sell the shareholding to Munto at the exact value of the loan and clarify everything? This worries me ethically and legally.

Thanks Glenn.

Saying IN PUBLIC that Munto are honouring all obligations to the HG family is enough.

I VOTE YES

Magpie 64

Are you actually reading what they are saying?

Whilst the Trust Board are stating clearly that Munto will honour any obligations to the Haydn Green estate (& I'm not certain that they are authorised to speak for Munto), it is evident that they do not consider there is any obligation in respect of the loan to the Trust to acquire the shares if the shares are "gifted" to Munto. Therefore they are not suggesting that they will refund the loan.

Whilst not a lawyer, I suspect that the only comeback could be against current trust Board members. The Trust will have no assets and individual members have limited liability, but board members might be liable if they can be shown not to have taken necessary care. I suspect that some may have assets such as property that could be claimed as damages.

Therefore if the moral question is significant to you, I don't see how you could vote YES. If the moral question is not significant, then this matter will not stop you from voting YES though - to my mind, there are a number of unanswered questions that could stop you supporting the proposal.

Simon

Simon,

Munto have said through JAH and the Trust that all obligations will be honoured.

I am more than satisfied.

VOTE YES

No. JAH & the Trust Board have said that Munto will honour obligations. They have not been clear if they are referring to Blenheim 1862 obligations or Trust obligations or both. I suspect that they only mean the former. In any case, I don't believe that Munto have made any commitment as they have made no public statement since the offer was announced.

JAH & the Trust Board have also been clear that they do not consider there is any obligation to Haydn Green's estate unless the Trust sell the shares. We're then dependent on the legal definition of sell - or whatever term was used in the agreement between Mr Green and the Trust Board.

From my personal viewpoint. the moral position is clear and the behaviour of the Club / Trust Boards in allowing the agreement to be drawn up in this way is duplicitous. I am not prepared to agree to them doing this in my name.

I struggle to understand why this wasn't sorted out with Mr Green's estate before the Trust Members pointed out the issue. Had they been treated with appropriate respect from the outset, they might have been willing to support the deal in the way John Mounteney - but not apparently the other shareholders, has.

After all, I think there is no contention that Mr. Green's only motivation was to secure the future of the club and it is possible that the Munto deal could do this. Unfortunately the failure of the Club & Trust Boards and Munto to explain the offer properly leaves sufficient doubt in my mind that it has substance.

The Trust has failed to provide the stability we have all sought from which to build, but at least we have the option to remove those leading the Trust - & the vote at the SGM was not an overwhelming endorsement of JAH and the others despite their claims. Once we hand over the club to Munto (or anyone else), that's it. We have to choose the right people.

Simon

I thank God Simon that you will be in the minority come this time tomorrow.