Supporters Trust Idea Re-emerges.

The idea of setting up a supporters trust at Hereford United has re-emerged this weekend. Backing the plan is long-time supporter Graham Johnson who is currently canvassing views as to its viability.

The first attempt to set up a supporters trust was in May 2002 not long after Graham Turner had asked for help in keeping the club afloat. It was also suggested at the time that Turner might have sold his shares and the hope was that a Supporters Trust could obtain enough shares in the club to exercise at least some control.

Initially a supporters consortium was launched. They arranged for a meeting to take place with a representative of Supporters Direct, a Government funded body which specialises in helping supporters form Trusts and take a more active role in their football club.

The meeting duly took place on May 10th. In essence it was agreed to investigate the possibility of obtaining as many shares as possible collated together under one scheme, which would include buying Graham Turner's share and investigating the whereabouts of many others. Eventually, the supporters would be in control of the club, running it seemingly as a not-for-profit organisation.

A second meeting was held in June. In the meantime a HUISA postal ballot had taken place backing the idea that a trust should be formed. It was agreed that a working party would be set up to organise the launch and constitution of the association. Eleven people were named and the party would disband on the launch date, when a new committee and working party would be set up at a meeting. It was hoped the launch would be within about six weeks.

It didn't happen.

So what were the aims of the Trust back in 2002:

- to strengthen the bonds between the Club and the community which it serves and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club.

- to acquire and hold shares in Hereford United FC and act as proxy to existing supporter shareholders, with the express intention of gaining elected representation from the Trust to the Board of Hereford United FC.

- to benefit present and future members of the community served by the Club by promoting encouraging and furthering the game of football as a recreational facility, sporting activity and focus for community involvement.

Today's reasons for looking at the formation of a supporters trust are somewhat different from five years ago. Graham Johnson gave Bulls News an
over-view:

My reasons for looking into the viability of forming a trust have been re kindled following a posting on the hereford united independant fans forum,and subsequent requests for help in setting up a trust.

I attended the original meeting 5 years ago when the idea was first looked into, but it never materialised. Since then, our club has had a remarkable turn in fortunes that has seen a return to the football league and a healthy balance sheet. But what if things hadn't been so good? Who knows where we would be now? As they say, football is a funny old game, as supporters of Leeds United would testify to. And i don't think any Boston United supporter 12 months ago could have predicted which league they will be playing in next year.

So back to our supporters trust. Why wait until we have severe problems to think about forming one, lets get organised now and plan for the future. It means the supporters and the club actively working together for the benefit of both. We as fans know the club has financial constraints, but working together we could help eliminate problems before they occur and maybe increase revenue. We all know of the Edgar Street Grid redevelopment plan. What we don't know is when and how, but a supporters trust actively promoting Hereford United in the community and involving the community more in our club would help our cause when it comes to getting things moving on that front.

I strongly believe the trust is the way forward for Hereford United and if enough of you feel the same then we can get things moving. The only way to guage opinion is for you to reply, so please do so to the address below.

At the end of the day, it's the long term future of our club that is important.

Graham Johnson can be contacted at grahamhufc@hotmail.com

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