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Post by slam on Apr 19, 2023 14:07:34 GMT
Hi All, It is a very long time since I posted on here but I thought that I needed to break my "Radio Silence". As some of you might know, I am one of the Supporters Club Directors on the Board of the Football Club. I understand that some of you might not know me, but there are historic reasons for that. So, one of the purposes of this e-mail is to advise you and, any other gashead, that it was approved at the recent Supporters Club EC Meeting that I intend to make myself available for Q&A's on a monthly basis with effect from the start of next season. Initially it is anticipated that this will happen on the first Saturday Home Fixture of each month. The venue of these sessions will be advertised in due course. In the meantime, I am happy to respond to questions in here (perhaps the moderators could facilitate this in some way) or received via my BRSC e-mail address. Please note that there are areas where my legal responsibilities as a Director will not permit a direct answer - but you already know this. The second reason for this post is that I would like to draw your attention to the Players Awards for the end of the 2022/23 Season. Full details are posted on the Supporters club website, the Supporters Club Facebook page and the Supporters Club Twitter Account. Links to each of these pages are shown below:SC Website: bristolroverssc.co.uk/vote-in-our-end-of-season-awards/SC Facebook: bristolroverssc.co.uk/vote-in-our-end-of-season-awards/?fbclid=IwAR2uK9c_Xr9XGkb6xzC0_trai3xP8ryyLpaWNSzLCoULN4plWVSu0JlhTy0 SC Twitter: twitter.com/BristolRoversSC
All votes will be gratefully received.
UTG!!!
Steve Lamble
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Post by Tilly's Thighs on Apr 19, 2023 14:49:10 GMT
Hi Steve
Please could you confirm if we have two Supporters Club Directors on the Board?
The Bristol Rovers 2023 Articles of Association state:-
"The Bristol Rovers Supporters Club ("the Supporters Club") acting by its officers or a majority of them shall be entitled to nominate in writing given to the Board one person to be an associate director of the Company (the "Supporters' Appointee"). Any person so nominated shall remain as the Supporters' Appointee until removed from office by written notice served on the Board. Any person in respect of whom such notice shall forthwith cease to be the Supporters' Appointee.
The Supporters' Appointee shall not be entitled to appoint any alternate to attend any meeting of the Board on his or her behalf"
The Supporters Club website lists both yourself and Helen as Fans Directors, however, you are the only one who has been registered with Companies House.
All rather confusing, with mixed messages.
Thank you.
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Post by slam on Apr 19, 2023 16:57:12 GMT
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.
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Post by otleygas on Apr 19, 2023 17:58:07 GMT
Slam. A clear and well articulated summary. Thank you.
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Post by Topper Gas on Apr 19, 2023 18:06:12 GMT
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?
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Post by herbertblake on Apr 19, 2023 18:21:21 GMT
Just in case you don't click on the link I know many don't like it as often spam or dodgy scammers but this is genuine and reproduced below
Bristol Rovers Supporters Club are now taking votes for their Player and Young Player of the Year and Goal of the Season awards.
Any player who has made a first team appearance can be voted for.
Young players eligible this season are Jed Ward, James Connolly, Lewis Gibson, Lewis Gordon, Jarell Quansah, Lamare Bogarde, Luca Hoole, Jerry Lawrence, Ryan Jones, Josh Coburn.
Please email your vote to sharescheme@bristolroverssc.co.uk Don’t forget to include your choice of goal of the season with your vote
Voting closes at 5pm on 29th April
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Post by Somersetgas on Apr 19, 2023 18:28:58 GMT
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.
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Post by slam on Apr 19, 2023 19:37:58 GMT
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. In retrospect, I might have been wrong about the radio silence bit - but it has been difficult to differentiate between the activities of the Supporters club and the responsibilities of an "Associate Director" of the FC. I think I have been concerned that if I can't fully differentiate between those roles then how the hell can I expect you to understand the role in which I report things. I do not know who SCDAVE is and, although he does report on SC Matters, he definitely isn;t a member of the Executive Committee of the SC. If I am being honest, I think I assume that most of you will get your info about the SC Activity by directly reading the content of the Supporters Club Website - This contains the majority of the information that you need. Everybody on the Executive Committee is a volunteer (Including myself and Helen). They all work tirelessly for the benefit of the FC and the SC and I would ask you to give them the true respect that they deserve for the hours of work that they put in. I would urge you to keep an eye Out for SC News and SC Initiatives by keeping up to date with our website and twitter/facebook feeds. I had two great wishes when I joined the SC: 1) That we could grow the membership of the SC to be a truly representative group of all of the supporters of the FC. It is the most effective way in which you can pass your views back to the FC via the SC Directors. I would urge as many of you as can to join on this basis alone, although there are other benefits of membership.
2) To see a greater number of fans attending the games. The fact that we are now running at near capacity is not down to me BUT it remains massively important that we continue to turn up week in week out. It not only improves the atmosphere but in the fickle world of football finances, the more bums that we get on seats, the stronger we can become as a club. Please don;t stop in your support and bring your friends and family!!!
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Post by bidefordgas on Apr 19, 2023 19:48:05 GMT
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. In retrospect, I might have been wrong about the radio silence bit - but it has been difficult to differentiate between the activities of the Supporters club and the responsibilities of an "Associate Director" of the FC. I think I have been concerned that if I can't fully differentiate between those roles then how the hell can I expect you to understand the role in which I report things. I do not know who SCDAVE is and, although he does report on SC Matters, he definitely isn;t a member of the Executive Committee of the SC. If I am being honest, I think I assume that most of you will get your info about the SC Activity by directly reading the content of the Supporters Club Website - This contains the majority of the information that you need. Everybody on the Executive Committee is a volunteer (Including myself and Helen). They all work tirelessly for the benefit of the FC and the SC and I would ask you to give them the true respect that they deserve for the hours of work that they put in. I would urge you to keep an eye Out for SC News and SC Initiatives by keeping up to date with our website and twitter/facebook feeds. I had two great wishes when I joined the SC: 1) That we could grow the membership of the SC to be a truly representative group of all of the supporters of the FC. It is the most effective way in which you can pass your views back to the FC via the SC Directors. I would urge as many of you as can to join on this basis alone, although there are other benefits of membership.
2) To see a greater number of fans attending the games. The fact that we are now running at near capacity is not down to me BUT it remains massively important that we continue to turn up week in week out. It not only improves the atmosphere but in the fickle world of football finances, the more bums that we get on seats, the stronger we can become as a club. Please don;t stop in your support and bring your friends and family!!!
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.
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Post by The Equaliser on Apr 19, 2023 19:49:10 GMT
If I’m honest (and with total respect) I’m not sure what the Supporters Club does anymore, or what difference you make?
Could you enlighten us who know little about your services/actions. Thanks in advance.
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Post by yattongas on Apr 19, 2023 19:57:34 GMT
If I’m honest (and with total respect) I’m not sure what the Supporters Club does anymore, or what difference you make? Could you enlighten us who know little about your services/actions. Thanks in advance. 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 !
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Post by Somersetgas on Apr 19, 2023 20:01:27 GMT
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. In retrospect, I might have been wrong about the radio silence bit - but it has been difficult to differentiate between the activities of the Supporters club and the responsibilities of an "Associate Director" of the FC. I think I have been concerned that if I can't fully differentiate between those roles then how the hell can I expect you to understand the role in which I report things. I do not know who SCDAVE is and, although he does report on SC Matters, he definitely isn;t a member of the Executive Committee of the SC. If I am being honest, I think I assume that most of you will get your info about the SC Activity by directly reading the content of the Supporters Club Website - This contains the majority of the information that you need. Everybody on the Executive Committee is a volunteer (Including myself and Helen). They all work tirelessly for the benefit of the FC and the SC and I would ask you to give them the true respect that they deserve for the hours of work that they put in. I would urge you to keep an eye Out for SC News and SC Initiatives by keeping up to date with our website and twitter/facebook feeds. I had two great wishes when I joined the SC: 1) That we could grow the membership of the SC to be a truly representative group of all of the supporters of the FC. It is the most effective way in which you can pass your views back to the FC via the SC Directors. I would urge as many of you as can to join on this basis alone, although there are other benefits of membership.
2) To see a greater number of fans attending the games. The fact that we are now running at near capacity is not down to me BUT it remains massively important that we continue to turn up week in week out. It not only improves the atmosphere but in the fickle world of football finances, the more bums that we get on seats, the stronger we can become as a club. Please don;t stop in your support and bring your friends and family!!!
As a normal fan, why would I want to rejoin the Supporters Club? What does it offer the regular fan and how are the fans voices heard? I was last a member in 2002, what relevance does it have these days? Scdave reports on here week after week about activities, 50/50 draws, lack of people to sell tickets and programmes etc, he is the Supporters Club voice on here. When I look at The Supporters Club website as you suggest, all I see is Away Travel and the Cap thing not much else.
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Post by Somersetgas on Apr 19, 2023 20:01:55 GMT
If I’m honest (and with total respect) I’m not sure what the Supporters Club does anymore, or what difference you make? Could you enlighten us who know little about your services/actions. Thanks in advance. 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.
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Post by Topper Gas on Apr 19, 2023 20:05:24 GMT
Why isn't their a shortlist for the goal of the season with links to videos of the goals, as I sense most of us haven't a clue goal to vote for without some pointers.
Also how are this season's awards going to be handed out given the issue with last season's presentations?
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Post by herbertblake on Apr 19, 2023 20:16:13 GMT
In retrospect, I might have been wrong about the radio silence bit - but it has been difficult to differentiate between the activities of the Supporters club and the responsibilities of an "Associate Director" of the FC. I think I have been concerned that if I can't fully differentiate between those roles then how the hell can I expect you to understand the role in which I report things. I do not know who SCDAVE is and, although he does report on SC Matters, he definitely isn;t a member of the Executive Committee of the SC. If I am being honest, I think I assume that most of you will get your info about the SC Activity by directly reading the content of the Supporters Club Website - This contains the majority of the information that you need. Everybody on the Executive Committee is a volunteer (Including myself and Helen). They all work tirelessly for the benefit of the FC and the SC and I would ask you to give them the true respect that they deserve for the hours of work that they put in. I would urge you to keep an eye Out for SC News and SC Initiatives by keeping up to date with our website and twitter/facebook feeds. I had two great wishes when I joined the SC: 1) That we could grow the membership of the SC to be a truly representative group of all of the supporters of the FC. It is the most effective way in which you can pass your views back to the FC via the SC Directors. I would urge as many of you as can to join on this basis alone, although there are other benefits of membership.
2) To see a greater number of fans attending the games. The fact that we are now running at near capacity is not down to me BUT it remains massively important that we continue to turn up week in week out. It not only improves the atmosphere but in the fickle world of football finances, the more bums that we get on seats, the stronger we can become as a club. Please don;t stop in your support and bring your friends and family!!!
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. 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?
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Post by The Equaliser on Apr 19, 2023 20:24:06 GMT
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. 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? Nobody is seeking to wind anyone up, however your constant pompous posts do not help.
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Post by Topper Gas on Apr 19, 2023 21:22:32 GMT
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. 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.
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Post by Tilly's Thighs on Apr 19, 2023 21:46:41 GMT
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.
Thank you very much for taking the time to explain the situation. Part of the reason I became confused was because Helen's registration with Companies House has not appeared yet, so it made me think that maybe you were the sole Fans' Director. Your clarification is very much appreciated, good luck to both of you with your roles.
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Post by mftc on Apr 19, 2023 21:59:41 GMT
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.
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Post by The Equaliser on Apr 20, 2023 20:17:39 GMT
If I’m honest (and with total respect) I’m not sure what the Supporters Club does anymore, or what difference you make? Could you enlighten us who know little about your services/actions. Thanks in advance. Hi slam, have you gone back into your radio silence? I hope you haven’t taken my question as an attack on you or the SC, I genuinely would like to know more, and until myself and others realise what you all do how can we become involved? many thanks.
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