Minutes of T.I.Y. Members' Meeting held on Thursday, July 8th

1.Minutes of previous board meeting.

Most matters were covered elsewhere but thanks were given to the friend of member Steve Montgomery who had offered to pay for advertising in the Southport Visiter for matches throughout the season. The adverts would also mention T.I.Y. but at no cost to the Trust.

2.Finances – Phil Carder gave a detailed hand out of accounts

At present the balance stood at £11,371.81 but this was before the outstanding £3800 for the reserve team manager’s expenses had been  paid.

Without that the reserve team funding provided totalled £ 7,894

The net SURPLUS on coach travel on the season was £791.

The hosting fee for the Trust website had been paid to the end of May 2012.

There was an outstanding invoice for £3800 from the club for the reserve team manager. At the meeting with the club assurances had been received about the invoices. They did agree with the original T.I.Y. estimates and it was agreed to pay money for that amount.

With the shares received so far and with the further amount due the Trust would become the fourth largest shareholder.

The T.I.Y. brochure ‘A Season to Savour’ to celebrate the Championship success had been very well received and was selling very well. Thanks to Rob Urwin, Julia Urwin and Alan Jones and all members involved in its production.

Membership.

Bill Sloan reported that membership now stood at 199. The next month was very busy in terms of memberships being due for renewal and letters and email would be sent out reminding people to rejoin.

3.Feedback and discussion from meeting with club and actions to take forward.

A report was given on the meeting with the club which had taken place on Wednesday, 16th June after the club AGM.

The Trust had been represented by Martin Robinson, Rob Urwin, Nick Catterall, Julia Urwin and Bill Sloan. The club by Charlie Clapham, Sam Shrouder and Liam Watson.

The Trust had suggested this date to the club because we had been waiting so long for another meeting. Even so there was only limited time for discussions.

 

Discussions centred on three issues.

1. The Trust asked for confirmation on some of the invoices received from the club for the reserve team. In particular the £3800 for expenses for the reserve team manager. The representatives of the club confirmed the accuracy of the invoices.

2. In respect of next season’s reserve team, Mr Clapham explained that neither the board nor the manager saw a reserve team as a priority in terms of the first team. Also the Youth set up would be much reduced in the coming year making it even less important to have a reserve team. As a result there would be no reserve team in the coning season.

Mr Clapham thanked the Trust for their support in the past season. It was agreed that any funding the Trust  might give in the coming season would therefore be in other agreed areas.

3. Two possible areas in which the club and Trust might cooperate were discussed.

Firstly a long term project to improve facilities, for instance floodlighting.

Secondly a short term project in which the Trust could work with the manager to provide additional money for his playing budget in the coming season.

The Trust emphasised the importance to them of obtaining shares in the club in return for money raised.

Tonight’s meeting then discussed what action to take on these points.

As mentioned in the minutes under finances, it agreed to pay the outstanding £3800 for the reserve team for last season in return for shares.

On the issue of the withdrawal of next season’s team, the club Chairman wanted to issue a joint statement from the   club and Trust. The meeting agreed that any such statement should emphasise the point that it was the club’s decision not to run a reserve team.

The meeting agreed the following statement to be sent to Mr Clapham.

‘At a meeting between Board members of the club, manager Liam Watson and representatives of Trust In Yellow, a discussion took place about the reserve team. The recent trial season in which the reserve team had been funded by ‘Trust In Yellow’ had, from a league position point of view, proved a success and the club would like to thank the Trust for their support  on this project. However, at the present time the club and manager do not see that the reserve team is a priority and it would not be running next season. Therefore, it was agreed that any funds that the Trust can commit would be better used in specific areas to be identified and agreed by Liam, the board and the Trust’.

The meeting then discussed the possible ways forward for working with the club.

On the first area of a long term project, various possible schemes were suggested including cover on the popular side, floodlighting etc; It was agreed that it would be important to have a definite target if fund raising was to succeed. Floodlighting seemed a good idea but further discussion would be needed with the club before the Trust came to a final decision about their preferred option.

Such a scheme might involve the Trust raising money, the Club raising money and money being obtained through grants. For example, if a project like floodlighting was to cost £80000, then the Club might raise £20000, the Trust £20000 and £40000 be obtained in grants.  

Any money that the Trust should raise for the scheme should be held in Trust funds until the project was completed and then the money given by the Trust in return for shares. All agreements with the club would be made in writing.

 There was general agreement from the meeting that we should be involved in such a project and it was agreed to ballot members on the issue by asking the question:-

‘ Do you agree that the Trust should start discussions with the club with the view to working on raising money for a long term ground improvement project such as new floodlights, covered  terracing, etc; ? (The Trust to obtain shares in the club for any money given for this project)’.      

 Lengthy discussion then took place on whether the Trust should organise events to support ‘Liam Aid’ a project to raise money to boost the playing budget of the manager.

There were a range of arguments given both for and against the idea.

Many members were keen to give support to the manager to help in the difficult season ahead against teams with much larger budgets. On the other hand it was argued that the playing budget should remain a club issue and was not something that the Trust should become involved in. It might threaten the long term independence of the Trust. We should only be involved with schemes where we obtained shares for moneys donated.

However, it was mentioned that several other trusts had run similar schemes. It was suggested that such a project might enthuse members. Others felt it might cause members to resign.

It was suggested that it might be better for ‘Liam Aid’ to function as a separate group that individual Trust members could support if they wished. However, some felt that the scheme would work better if organised by the Trust.

 After much debate it was decided to ballot members on the question:

 ‘Do you think the Trust should organise fundraising events in the next few months to support ‘Liam Aid’ in providing additional money for the manager’s playing budget?’

 4. Coach travel Phil issued three sets of quotes he had received for coach trips in the coming season. Arthur’s quotes remained the cheapest although it was felt that on some of the longer journeys a more luxurious coach might be preferable.

It was left to Phil and Alan Scarisbrick to decide on the appropriate company for particular trips.

 5. EventsRace Night. Martyn O’Hara agreed to lead the organisation of such an event and a provisional date of Saturday, 18th September after the Rushden game was agreed. An earlier starting time of 6-00pm was suggested to enable the players to attend

                      ‘Football Fanatical’ One man show by Graham Lloyd (from Talksport). It was agreed to go ahead with this. Rob Urwin to agree some possible dates with Graham.Possible ‘Players v Supporters’ Cricket match.  Phil suggested a possible date of Sunday 1st August at the Rookery.  Phil to check date with Rookery and Rob to check with Liam. The idea was that supporters would pay to play on the Supporters team.

 6. AOB Sponsoring player for next season. Various names were suggested for T.I.Y. to sponsor in the programme next season. It was agreed that we should sponsor Tony McMillan if he was still without a sponsor and if not Matty McGinn.  .

(since the meeting it has been found that Tony McMillan has already been sponsored so T.I.Y. will be sponsoring Matty McGinn)

 7. Next meeting – The next members meeting would be the AGM and it was fixed for THURSDAY, 19th AUGUST.

A meeting of the T.I.Y board was fixed for Wednesday, 4th August.

RSS Feed