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What is a "Supporters' Trust"?
In 2000, there were just six Supporters‚ Trusts but the next three
years saw over 90 new Trusts established and registered. The vast majority
have opted to become Industrial and Provident Societies (IPSs), and this
is the model now firmly recommend to all. Of the models available, the
IPS is the most democratic and transparent, and the best regulated.
Legitimate objectives of Supporters‚ Trusts will include:
- Influence - the
formation and running of representative bodies for supporters.
- Ownership - the acquisition
of shares in the football club to pool the voting power of individual
supporters to further the aims and objects of the Supporters‚ Trust.
- Representation - securing
the democratic election of supporters‚ representatives to the boards
of directors of individual football clubs.
To achieve these goals a Trust must be:
- a) The organization
must be fully democratic, not only in its constitution but in the way it
conducts its affairs on a day-to-day basis.
- b) It must be not-for-profit, and the property
of its members. No member should be in a position to benefit financially
from membership, other than through paid employment.
- c) It must be inclusive, i.e. open and welcoming
to all supporters of the club and to all other bona fide supporters‚
organisations associated with the club. In effect it should be an umbrella
for them all, and representative of all who choose to join.
- d) It must be affordable
to all fans. Our guidelines are that the minimum annual subscription should
not exceed the average price of attending one home game. This should also
apply to concessionary categories such as the elderly, the young, those
with disabilities and the unwaged. No one should be excluded because they
cannot afford to join.
Donations over and above the subscription will, of
course, always be welcome.