Supporters Trust Meeting Thursday 21st March 1930

[new2rovers]

Open to members and non members alike. Only existing subscribed members can vote on proposals though.

Agenda to follow via email to members.

Location of the meeting is the Gordon Dishington lounge.

[mildrover]

Thanks to the Supporters Trust for organising this discussion on the question of possible fan ownership. It would be great if there was a good turnout to help shape a possible way forward.
Thanks to the Trust for their cooperation and interest to date

Ronnie

[Nanook]

Unfortunately geographically challenged, apologies for absence.

[mark13]

Isn't it a bit late for invites (94 years)? 😀

[jordancampbell]

A few things:

• Quite incredible that, with ten full days notice, the turnout at the meeting was so poor. Less than 20, with 6 who would have been in the stadium anyway (media team, Directors, and a volunteer).

• This was the best opportunity (to date) to openly discuss the merits and “plan” for fan ownership in an honest, open, and transparent way. Utterly baffled at why so few actually bothered to turn up. Including some who are particularly vocal on this forum and elsewhere.

• The Interim Chairman (Bobby) was very clear indeed re: the Boards collective position and reasoning behind this. Despite this, he was subject to ridiculous scrutiny and was interrupted on a few occasions from certain quarters.

• There is utter contempt (particularly from Ronnie Boyd) towards anyone who holds a considerable amount of shares but doesn’t turn up “week in, week out” or contribute “significant finance”. Absolutely no understanding of personal circumstances, emotional ties to the Club, or any other mitigating factors.

To me, it was a well rehearsed and tedious stage play. Nothing new was learned re: fan ownership, tired old lines were repeated, and a few people in the room attempted to dominate proceedings and railroad the Trust members into backing their position.

Oh, and a threat to “walk away” was made repeatedly along with litany of sarcastic comments and applause. The last person to threaten that? I’ll leave it with you.

I’d urge everyone who can (and is willing) to step and up and support the current Board of Directors in any way they can ahead of next season. It is clear to me that, after last night, there needs to be unity and not division. There also needs to be a laser focus on next season and diverting all our attention towards making it a success.

Division is not the answer.

[rab]

Mar 22, 2024 11:24:45 GMT jordancampbell said:

there needs to be unity and not division

Division is not the answer.

Said with no sense of irony by one of the most divisive people at the club! And after yet another bitter post continuing a divisive vendetta against Ronnie.

I wasn’t at the meeting due to geographically challenging reason. I gather that Bobby Cameron said the Board would not allow any transfer of shares to a fans’ group and would not give any reasons for doing so. Strange that this would not be said regarding Paul Reilly but is said about the club’s own supporters.

I think the penny has now dropped with me that the club has always had contempt for its supporters. This starts with the major shareholders, who are far more concerned about their own status and position than they are about anything else. The attitude is ‘give us your money, as much as you can, but don’t expect to have a say in anything’. It’s always been like that and this doesn’t look like changing any time soon. It’s hardly surprising if some are getting disillusioned. 

[jordancampbell]

Knew you’d rock up, Rab! I don’t think I’m particularly divisive, you learn something new every day…

I don’t think there’s any bitterness in my post, either, just my view on what happened last night and the ongoing jostling for positions and relevance which is now becoming tedious and boring.

To suggest that the current Board shows contempt towards the fans of the Club is quite the accusation. I’m sure you’ll retract that, particularly if aimed at Bobby and Hugh - two long-standing supporters who are knocking their pan in every single day for the Club.

[MaxG82]

Mar 22, 2024 11:24:45 GMT jordancampbell said:

A few things:

• Quite incredible that, with ten full days notice, the turnout at the meeting was so poor. Less than 20, with 6 who would have been in the stadium anyway (media team, Directors, and a volunteer).

• This was the best opportunity (to date) to openly discuss the merits and “plan” for fan ownership in an honest, open, and transparent way. Utterly baffled at why so few actually bothered to turn up. Including some who are particularly vocal on this forum and elsewhere.

• The Interim Chairman (Bobby) was very clear indeed re: the Boards collective position and reasoning behind this. Despite this, he was subject to ridiculous scrutiny and was interrupted on a few occasions from certain quarters.

• There is utter contempt (particularly from Ronnie Boyd) towards anyone who holds a considerable amount of shares but doesn’t turn up “week in, week out” or contribute “significant finance”. Absolutely no understanding of personal circumstances, emotional ties to the Club, or any other mitigating factors.

To me, it was a well rehearsed and tedious stage play. Nothing new was learned re: fan ownership, tired old lines were repeated, and a few people in the room attempted to dominate proceedings and railroad the Trust members into backing their position.

Oh, and a threat to “walk away” was made repeatedly along with litany of sarcastic comments and applause. The last person to threaten that? I’ll leave it with you.

I’d urge everyone who can (and is willing) to step and up and support the current Board of Directors in any way they can ahead of next season. It is clear to me that, after last night, there needs to be unity and not division. There also needs to be a laser focus on next season and diverting all our attention towards making it a success.

Division is not the answer.

Jordan, it baffles me how arrogant you are.
People that are involved with the club you choose to rival them due to the spite of jealousy you have towards them.
I get the impression you hide behind certain people and cannot name names, in simple terms for you to understand you are coward.

As soon as the meeting ended you ran away like a little boy in the substitution of having a conversation with people that have the best intentions of the club.

Nothing but jealous coward.

Ps. Tell the fans that it was you that gave Paul Reilly the share register.
You were caught out by a certain individual that you are scared to name.
You admitted to this and the board informed the individual that it was you that released the share register.

Max Gillooly

[samtennentjnr]

Mar 22, 2024 11:24:45 GMT jordancampbell said:

A few things:

• Quite incredible that, with ten full days notice, the turnout at the meeting was so poor. Less than 20, with 6 who would have been in the stadium anyway (media team, Directors, and a volunteer).

• This was the best opportunity (to date) to openly discuss the merits and “plan” for fan ownership in an honest, open, and transparent way. Utterly baffled at why so few actually bothered to turn up. Including some who are particularly vocal on this forum and elsewhere.

I believe the trust only has around 30 members at present many of whom don't live in the local area so 20 seems a decent number to me.


I don't agree with the Chairman's harsh line but can respect his position. If only the previous board had come out so strong against Paul Riley maybe so many people wouldn't be worried about the perilous state we are in in terms of who owns our club. Thats what it this all stems from.

We can't even have a meeting about of maybe perhaps looking into the possibility of fan ownership without it becoming a farce. Great work.

[Nanook]

Settle down, everyone.

Let us have differences, we don't have to agree on everything, but we can all try to see the other person's point of view.

I think fan ownership should be investigated, not for, not against, don't know enough about it yet to have a position.

What I do know is that at least some of the clubs who have dropped out of League 2 ended up having huge rammies among the board, sponsors and supporters and all the bad feeling that goes with that.

We don't have to do that!

[raintownrover]

Totally agree with Nanook

[terrygillooly]

I haven’t been involved with the fan ownership group but was really interested to see what came of it - the idea of possibly hav ing our destiny in our own hands appealed to me. Worth also pointing out that although I am not involved I am very comfortable with group that are - any group that includes Sam T, Sam G, and Ronnie Boyd is good for me.
A few questions for anyone who was at the meeting last night-
If the board do not allow share transfers does that mean fan ownership is over?
Is there a specific reason why the board are against it?
Did our previous board hand over a register that contained my details to Paul Reilly?
Regarding our current major shareholders, I totally understand and appreciate the shares are theirs, but emotional ties will not get us back to the SPFL or indeed pay the bills in the Lowland league.

[Rovergrant]

Back in October I wrote to the BOD....here is the letter

Sirs,

I understand the Club has passed on personal details of shareholders ie names, addresses etc to Mr Paul Reilly who by all accounts is heading up a consortium of individuals about whom we know nothing, but who wish to take control of the club.
I have spoken this morning with the Information Commissioners Office who have advised that potentially you may have breached GDPR regulations by passing on personal details to a third party without the express permission in writing from the individuals whose information has been given out without any guarantees as to how it may be used now, or in the future.

I therefore require, within seven working days, a detailed response, including any legal advice you may have acted upon, as to why you saw fit to deliver above details to a third party.

Yours sincerely,

Grant Cullen

Here is the response. The Club complied with legal advice. To accuse Jordan Campbell of `handing over the shares Register to Paul Reilly is outrageous and slanderous - he is due an apology

Dear Mr Cullan,

We act on behalf of Albion Rovers FC. We refer to your email dated 18 October 2023.

In terms of the Companies Acts the shareholders register of all private limited companies in the UK are open for inspection by members of the public subject to some minimal safeguards. 
The Company recently received a request from a third party for access to its Shareholders Register. Following careful consideration of that request the Board took the view that the request was a lawful one and should be granted. You may wish to consider the case of Fox-Davis v Burberry www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/5b2897a72c94e06b9e197f1b

Fox-Davies v Burberry Plc, [2018] Bus LR 332 | England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division), Judgment, Law, casemine.com
Get free access to the complete judgment in Fox-Davies v Burberry Plc on CaseMine.
www.casemine.com
which explains the situation. 
John Carruthers Solicitor Advocate

Oraclelaw

1A Helena House,

Busby Road,

Glasgow,

G76 7RA



Office: 0141 404 1091

Mobile: [phone]

[terrygillooly]

So legally they had to hand over the register?
What would have happened if the refused?

[Rovergrant]

Indeed that`s what they were advised, Terry, I don`t know what sanction they could have faced if they hadn`t tho`. The club would have had to pay for that legal advice and possibly would have asked what would happen if they hadn`t released the register. The list of shareholders names, and numbers of shares they hold is on the ARFC Confirmation statement pages on Companies House, but no addresses are shown on CH. I would suggest that these questions be asked under `Any Other Business` at next week`s AGM