Questions to BRSC Director & Year end Players Awards

Tilly,

They are all extremely good questions - deep breath and I will do my best to give you a precis of the situation.........

The Articles of Association do give the right for the Supporters Club to appoint an "Associate Director". The definition of an Associate Director is contained in the AoA but I am not in the office at the moment and I do not have direct access to quote from them. However, I believe that the definition confers the right to attend FC Board Meetings but does not confer voting rights or legal responsibilities to the FC. To a certain extent the AoA are a red herring in this.

In addition to the AoA, there is a separate Legal Agreement between BR(1883)Limited and the Supporters Club which entitles the SC to put forward 2 Full Directors of the FC who will sit on the Board as Full Non-Executive Directors and will have voting rights and will assume the full legal responsibilities of any "normal" Company Director. The legal agreement emanates from the "SC Share Scheme" which effectively permitted Supporters Club Members to purchase Shares in the FC at a time when we were in financial difficulties.

The "SC Directors" have to be members of the SC and are elected by a vote amongst the SC Members. However, under the terms of the SC Share Agreement, the FC also have the power to veto any individual selection, in the event that they do not deem the individual to be an "appropriate person". The SC election of Helen and I, as SC Nominated Directors, took place in and around the COVID pandemic which caused obvious problems. One of the consequences of this was that the FC were unable to undertake their due diligence checks on us as individuals. Because of this, amongst other things, it was agreed that, in the first instance, we would serve as "Associate Directors" only. Our first Board Meeting took place via Zoom in December 2021. Since then we have built up what I would like to think of as a good working relationship with the FC and, at the AGM in January 2023, it was announced that both of us were to be offered full directorships in compliance with the SC Share Agreement.

Hopefully, we have served well in these positions but it has also been a learning curve for all parties at a time when the management structure of the Club has gone through massive structural change. On the Pitch we have suffered a Down and an UP with lots of mini peaks and troughs along the way. However we share exactly the same ambitions as every supporter, every member of the Board and every member of the Staff for the future of the Club.

Being a Supporters Representative on the Board of the Football Club has its own difficulties;

1)    Whilst needing to represent the interests of the Supporters of the Club we can be privy to information that our responsibilities as Company directors mean that we cannot immediately share

2)    There can be conflicts of interests - which we as individuals need to be able to reconcile.

3)    We need to be able to accept the legal responsibilities that are placed on us.

4)    We need to be able to make a difference.

I sincerely hope that we can achieve these things.  I would like to hope that I can rely on you as Supporters to continue to support the Club - we have the greatest set of supporters in the world and this has been more than shown by the attendances and atmosphere ate the Mem this season.  Long may that continue.

When can we expect further updates on the new stand and is it really going to have a 4,000 seat capacity as suggested publicily by David Bright?

Any reasons for radio silence on here? Scdave gives us reports of things going on but nothing from yourself since October?
Not picking, just wondering.

SCdave is a well respected and prolific poster on here.
He is a volunteer for the supporters club over many years , a fundraiser and true supporter of the football club.
I think it’s fair to say he is very well known by many supporters unlike some executive members of the supporters club.
Although it would appear the new leaders of the supporters club are trying to improve its image, I think it is fair to say that the recent shananagins by the previous regime of the supporters club has left a very nasty taste in the mouth of many fans.

What benefits do you get for joining if you never use the away travel and you already have a season ticket ? I was a member many yrs ago but can’t see the point at the moment. Would genuinely like to be persuaded to join ….. sell it to me and others ! 

You typed my reply quicker than me.

A tad embarrassing you admit to not knowing who scdave is he has been around for decades works on matchdays selling 50/50s programmes etc

He was Social secretary organising lots if events and may not be on the Committee his choice I believe but a valued Sc member indeed.

In fact Steve your biography on your official website needs something other than your name! A photo and brief biography as I as a longstanding Sc member have no idea who you are or what you look like

I feel your openness may have opened old wounds on here and some posters who never ever had any interest or intention of joining your merry band may take this opportunity to wind you up.

I sincerely hope your efforts to improve communication continues but why has it taken this long?

Where does all the money the SC raises go as I've never seen them hand any money over to the club they are supposed to be supporting? What happened to the £50K(?) they were squabbling over last year? If I buy a replica shirt etc I know the mark up goes straight to the club, I've no idea what the  SC do with membership fees etc.  

1) Why is there no SC Player of the Year presentation event at the Mem?

It is very well the club having an event for the hoi polloi, but what about the ordinary fan.

Over £80 (including VAT) is a mammoth amount for some. What if you wanted to go as a family?

Surely a club that loses so much money wants to try and raise as much funds as possible.

You only have to see the delight on young kids faces if they manage to get a selfie with the players in the car park after the game.

I would expect a post season relaxed informal barbecue event would be very well attended. (Maybe on cup final day, so you can watch with the players?)

If it was just a nominal £2 a ticket entry, with it doubling as a raffle ticket with prizes of say, the next seasons kit, coach travel for 2 for the first away game, free SC membership etc, it would raise a bit of money for any SC initiatives, the FC would benefit with money over the bar and it would help build a better rapport with players and officials.

Fans could also meet the SC exec committee and have face to face discussions.

2) what feedback does the SC reps give the club about the 50/50 and programmes?

The cashless situation has caused a big drop in 50/50 sales and someone seems to have a bright idea that it is good if we continually sell out of programmes by 2.15. Surely it is clear there is demand to get more printed which would mean more money.

3) why are SC events held in Frenchay? Surely using the Mem increases bar profits for Rovers.

4) is the ShareScheme completely scrapped now? I thought I heard a rumour Tom/Wael didn't want it and I haven't heard anything about if for ages, but I was sure some of my mates still contribute?

5) not your remit, but do you know what had happened to the Young Pirates?

6) Do you have any input into the Open Day? It used to be a Fun Day where you could take the family and have a good few hours entertainment.

Now it we just a wait in a massive queue for the shop to buy the new kit and if your lucky, watch a bit of a training session.