Aston On: Ipswich Town 1st


By Aston
March 23 2007

In a rare move, I’ve decided to do something that almost resembles an opinionated column, this one about the Ipswich Town independent supporters trust.

You may have seen last week on Singing The Blues that I suggested the fans should club together to form a holding company and buy the club or at least invest heavily in it, since that article I have had a few e-mails suggesting that the Independent Supporters Trust could be such an organisation to do just that, well in my opinion its not.

 

Towards the end of last year the Independent Supporters Trust (hereafter referred to as ‘the trust’) was far from impressed with the fact Town chairman David Sheepshanks took a bonus of £25,000 for the last financial year despite placing the club in administration four years ago. That to me shows a complete lack of business knowledge, business does not live in the past for very long so to suggest to someone that he gives up his bonus for something he did 4 years ago is just plain stupid and Mr Sheepshanks is not the first businessman to take a large bonus despite the business making a loss, Adam Crozier the Chief Executive of Royal Mail got a bonus of £57,400 at a time when the Royal Mail had made a loss of £611million and he had only done two months work.

 

The worst thing about the trust is this from Colin Kreidewolf, the secretary of the trust, saying he had no problem with Derek Bowden, Anna Hughes and Andrew Goulborn getting their bonuses for meetings targets just like Mr Sheepshanks, he said: “Derek Bowden arrived at the club only just before we went into administration and the other two were appointed directors last year.

 

“They were all given targets to meet and these triggered the bonuses. There is nothing wrong with that - frankly their salaries are not huge in terms of some other businesses of the same size.”

 

After a visit to the trust website I found out what they want (not how the plan to achieve anything just what they want) their aims are as follows:

 

 

 

So those are the aims of the trust but nowhere can I find anything suggesting how they plan to achieve these aims and to be honest those aims are not far removed from those of the club in the first place, so six aims all six I take issue with.

 

Aim one: “To empower and unite the supporters of Ipswich Town Football Club ("Club") by providing a proactive body with real influence for the benefit of both the club and the wider community.”

 

My reply: Currently the trust claims to have around 1,000 members so how can a group of people that small after three years have any real power or influence? Yes fair enough they own shares but only 300 and these are ordinary shares and 50 of those came in the last share issue, I have to ask why only 50 when they still have money to spend, if they want to be taken seriously put more money where your mouth is.

 

Aim Two: “To enable the views and interests of supporters to have a greater influence in the decision making of the Club through acquiring shares and voting rights in the Club or other Company that controls the Club, and through having elected and accountable representation on the Board of the Club”    

 

My reply: As above buy more shares then. That was easy

 

Aim Three: “To strengthen the bonds between the Club, the supporters and the community and aid communications in matters of interest”

 

My Reply: Ok this one has me a little bit stuck, anything that needs communicating to the fans is always done so through either the clubs own website, the Evening Star and EADT, BBC Radio Suffolk and SGR and of course websites such as this, so what would you lot add to that? Answers on a post card please.

 

Aim Four: “To be the conscience of the board and to protect the integrity of the Club”

 

My reply: Yes because the board of course want the club to be investigated by the Inland Revenue for tax evasion and the immigration people for employing illegal immigrants.  

 

Aims Five: “To support and encourage existing and future youth and community initiatives”

 

My reply: Like any board member or supporter of the club would want.

 

Aim six: “To encourage the Club to compete at the highest level”

 

My Reply: As above really, maybe these last two were just put in the list to fill some space.

 

If any one from the trust ever becomes aware of this article could you please answer me these questions:

 

How do you raise money?

How do you plan to achieve the aims you out line?  

Would you suddenly go quiet if Mr Sheepshanks stepped aside?

What did you expect from the clubs financial results this year?

Would any of the trusts board members be willing to invest in the club with their own money?

 

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