Airdrie fans meet the board of Directors.
By Chris Mac
June 28 2005
Minutes for the board of Directors and Supporters Trust meeting has now been released to the Broomfield Stomp. Due to problems with the Trust website we have been asked to place it on here.
Wednesday 22nd June 2005
Airdrie United Directors/ Supporters Trust and Fans Meeting
Airdrie Workmans Club
Top Table: - Ann Marie Ballantyne, Veronica MacGregor, Jim Ballantyne, Walter Spiers and Gavin Spiers.
Veronica MacGregor introduced the top table and thanked every one for attended the meeting. The chair was passed to Jim Ballantyne.
Jim started the meeting by making two main announcements, the first the club had run at a lost £80,000 during season 2004/2005. This loss was due to over estimating the gates due to our success the previous season. Unfortunately the home attendance stayed between 1100 and 1500 for the majority of the season. This lost was also met by the Board of Directors and the club is operating with no debt.
Every team in the first division has to cut budgets due to the departure of Falkirk and Partick Thistle and it is this that is forcing the club to look at budgets and finance.
The second announcement concerned the stadium: - We have signed and agreed a 25 year lease with the stadium company. We have sole rights over the stadium. Our agreement works on a sliding scale depending on which division we are in, lower costs if we drop a division higher if we manage to get promoted.
Stadium Situation: -
What is the present situation regarding the Stadium, and who are the new owners?
The stadium situation has been stated above and the stadium owners are a Jersey based Stadium Company.
Although pressed no further details were presented.
Has anything been done about the poor tannoy system at the Stadium?
Once again we will bring this up with the Stadium Company.
Can anything be done about the restricted view of disabled supporters, caused by children standing down at the front?
Now that the deal with the stadium is complete this can be looked at once again, we have had contact with Morton who have managed to get together some private funding that allows disabled fans to sit maybe a meter of the ground. We will be speaking to them to see what was done to achieve this.
Season Tickets: -
Could arrangements be made to start paying next year’s season ticket in advance?
If fans want to pay money up front towards season tickets the club will of course make every effort to accept monies as pre-payment. We are also looking at setting up a system of dues, so that fans can begin to pay up season 2006/2007’s season tickets well in advance.
If an existing season ticket holder introduces a new season ticket holder, could the new member be given a discount e.g. 20%?
This we think will be possible and will announce details of such an agreement shortly before the season tickets go on sale. We will also be looking at a voucher scheme with in the season tickets that will allow an adult in to a game for £5. This voucher will only be available to full season ticket holders and those using the bonus ticket will have to register its use before match days.
The club has asked that every fan try to encourage at least one person they know to try and take a season ticket for the forth coming season. It is the life blood of the club. We will be looking at ways to encourage the sale of tickets.
When will season tickets be available for collection?
We hope they will be going on sale and ready for collection on the 2nd of July, the dates and times for this will be announced in the local press and on the Official website.
Commercial: -
Are any other individuals being considered for a place on the board?
If there is any one out there who wishes to speak to us confidentially about becomes a share holder or board member they are welcome to come forward and we will consider all possibilities. We would prefer that those involved should be Airdrie fans first and foremost.
What is the club doing to encourage sponsorship of any kind, particularly from businesses?
We are contacting firms around the Airdrie Area at the present time, most of the advertising boards around the stadium are up for renewal and we will be using this as an opportunity to meet the with local business community.
Will match day programs be produced?
This is something we have taken a lot of thought on and will have announcements on this towards the beginning of the season.
A show of hands was asked for all those that take part in the Clubs lottery.
It was then brought up that the club would also encourage everyone to take part as either and agent or to simply buy one ticket. It is now possible to set up a standing order for the purchase of tickets, pay by cheque or by cash.
Prizes were being maintained at £800 and £300.
It was also brought up that between 80-90% of tickets were bought by non-Airdrie United fans.
Official Website and reserves,
It was asked that the reserve fixtures be given more prominence on the official site and around the area as many fans still like to attend these fixtures.
As the reserves will now come under the domain of Ann Marie it will be easier to confirm arrangements prior to games.
Will there be a new top for the coming season?
Yes, there will be a new away top that we hope to have for the beginning of the season; it will be red with a white Diamond.
Footballing Future and Youth Development: -
Are we going to have an Assistant Manager?
This is to be Sandy’s decision and at the moment he will be running with two first team coaches rather than appointing an Assistant manager. The two first team coaches will be Jimmy Boyle and Kenny Brannigan.
We have lost 5-6 quality players in the closed season, how do we plan to address this:-
As we stated above the budget for players had to be addressed and Sandy has his budget for this season. It is down to Sandy who he thinks he can afford and who he can’t, Jim sated that fans would be surprised with some of the signings towards the end of the season.
It has been noted that Sandy is not here, is there any plan for him to meet with the fans?
Yes a meeting will be held before the season begins, Sandy is disappointed to be missing this meeting due to holiday commitments with his family.
The departure of Marvyn Wilson is it an embarrassment to the club?
Not at all, it was all down to money in the end, Hamilton offered way over the odds and Sandy decided he couldn’t match that for one player. It would also be unfair to discuss individual players when they were no longer with the club.
Compensation for Alan Gow when should we expect to hear something?
At the moment due to the new regulations this is being seen as an experiment and will not be settled until the beginning of the new season.
Are there any plans to go part time?
The club has not even considered going part time this season or next, but this will depend on attendances during season 2005-2006.
What are the pre season arrangements?
18th Away to Stenhousemuir 7.30
20th Home to Motherwell 7.30
23rd Away to Alloa 3pm
A few other closed door pre-season friendlies will also take place.
Is the Lanarkshire Cup to be re-launched?
This is something the club has looked in to and may be something for the future.
Are there any arrangements for us play a game on 30th July (Challenge Cup games take place)?
The only team who will not be playing on this day will be Dumbarton and we have spoken to them to try and fix up a match.
What is the club’s policy on Youth Development?
We will be running with reserves and under 19’s pro-youth this season. This is due to the time and arrangements involved are setting up fixtures and parks. We will still be encouraging the youth set up by continuing our funding through the Airdrie United Lottery.
We are also trying to develop a template for the future that will allow us to develop a youth program that will take us in to the future.
What is the club doing to become more active within the community e.g. youth organisations, schools etc?
Every player that signs for Airdrie United in the coming season will have police vetting carried out so that we can allow them to attend youth groups and schools. These checks must be carried out before players or staff can attend any event involving children.
We would also like to announce that if you would like player to attend any event the club requires at least six weeks notice to make arrangements.
Please contact: -
Ann Marie Ballantyne
Airdrie United Football Club Ltd
60 St. Enoch Square
Glasgow
G1 4AG
Tel: 07710 230775
Fax: 0141 221 1497
E-mail: annmarie@airdrieunitedfc.com
Do the club have any plans to meet or set up supporters groups?
If a supporters group would like us to come and meet them or attend an event an application should be made to the club, we will endeavour to come to a meeting and answer any questions.
Request should be made through Veronica MacGregor of the Airdrie United Supporters Trust. Again we require a fair amount of advance notice to arrange these meetings.
Do the club have any further plans to encourage fans to come to games?
At the moment we are in discussions with bus companies to arrange transportation to the stadium on match days.