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Jul 31

Mersey Ferry Stockport

Mersey ferry

It reminds me of that old pub quiz question: “Which professional football club is closest to the Mersey?” (Obviously, asked before last season).  Punters ponder over Liverpool or Everton, or then could it be Tranmere – when the answer is in fact that it’s actually Stockport County. 

Yesterday’s pre-season friendly was a victory over Accrington Stanley, and at Edgeley Park. My elation was somewhat deflated by a wondering about the regime running ‘County’ and our future.  I’m just one supporter in a sea of blue and white that could have our fears removed by just a little more light on the facts.  You’ll recall I wrote about it before and National Media has continued pushing at that door since.

I suppose that it’s this ‘not knowing’ that means we continue to have reservations, despite the lads on the field putting it all in this fixture.  Scepticism breeds the worst accusations – and I note that of five new signings, Ryan Fraughan, John Miles, Sean McConville, John Nolan – they have come from Liverpool, Fazackerley, Liverpool and Huyton respectively.  Are we ferrying them in from Merseyside or is this just the Manager exploiting his connections?

Jul 25

Punk Finance S'PORT
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FCUM punk

Initially, I wondered why ‘punk’?  Instant perceptions hardly pertinent to trustworthy, reliable finances and professionalism – I refer to music groups, the likes of Sex Pistols, The Stranglers, Cockney Rejects, Angelic Upstarts etc.

But “Punk Finance” is a new branding allocated to the concept of community groups and societies raising funds without the need to approach traditional ‘High Street’ lenders such as banks and building societies.

Inherent in the formation of this terminology is FC United of Manchester somewhat resulting from its own successes in generating funds towards its objective of owning its own stadium.  It has raised over £1.2 Million from shares so far.  Andy Walsh, General Manager at FCUM says “The community shares model we have developed with Co-ops UK and the legal framework that we have put together with Cobbetts [solicitors] offers a route to financial stability.”

It is thought that FC United’s model can be adopted by many other smaller organisations and in partnership with Cobbetts it has produced a booklet which promotes the ‘punk finance’ model.

I have already started to look at its application in football, athletics and multi-sports capital projects that I am working on or might be commissioned towards shortly.

Jul 15

Supporters' Direct Conference
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Restored faith

I attended the ‘Supporters Direct Fans Weekend’ today, in Chester.  A great venue, The Queen’s Hotel (opposite the train station), for anyone planning a short break.  I have to say the whole experience restored my faith that most people there were representatives and delegates for the right reasons.

Chester was a favoured location, being home to the phoenix club post the League Club’s demise.  Since, being reconfigured, some three leagues below it now boasts average crowd attendances of over 2,500.  The last Football League gate was circa 1,000.  So better governance, more community focus, despite lower league football has brought supporters back.

After recent activities, the Chair of SD said her colleagues had wondered if the Conference would indeed go ahead.  There was a rallying call somewhat akin to a communist ‘together comrades we can achieve’ speech from former days and a presentation of unity amongst fans of different clubs.  The Guardian’s journalist Louise Taylor took a verbal kicking for her editorial, in her absence.

The recently resigned Dave Boyle’s name got a rapturous applause. Notable milestones announced included: 170 supporters’ trusts formed, the active engagement of more than 270,000 fans and 26 trusts having achieved majority equity stakes in the clubs in which they are involved.  Trusts are now established under the auspices of SD in ten European Countries. Short-term funding shortfalls for the likes of this event had been plugged by the Co-op Group.  The preamble concluded with the message, naturally, “that the supporters’ trusts movement is alive and kicking”.

New directive paper 3 was formally launched “Financing Supporter Community Ownership” – with the caveat ‘Achieving club ownership always requires supporters’ trusts to be able to finance that ownership’.  Topics covered in this publication are: community share schemes, fighting funds/transferable shares/loan notes/bonds, share issues in Ltd.co, minority shareholdings, fan share schemes, community interest companies and fundraising.  How I would like to have written that last chapter to extend the possibilities based on my experiences in sports. A novel idea of ‘supporters’ class of shares’ was aired.  This could have a role in any critical vote to veto such as a ground sale to property speculator.  Nice to have in place with uncertainty at E.P?

Paper 4 followed: “Business Advantage of Supporter Community Ownership in Football”.  Contents were: strategic partnerships, sponsorship, Co-op added value, resilience, finance, facilities, spending, supporter satisfaction, volunteering and participation, supporter spending, donations and transparency.  12 points but represented on a PowerPoint slide as 11 to try and fit with a team positions
formation.  Was 8 repeated twice on purpose?

The sample size and methodology of paper 4 I will have to look into. It didn’t seem particularly ‘deep’ despite being presented by a consultancy called Substance?  The panel of speakers put credence on the achievement of £2 average secondary spend in stadia, such as AFC Wimbledon and AFC Telford.  Give me a project to increase that figure any day.

A really good point on the day was one that opposes my beleaguered County’s approach to liaison with local government.  Established trusts are now approaching their respective local authorities with structures and governance that means they can assist in being catalysts, partners or providers of community benefits.  Rather than approaching with a ‘begging bowl’.  FC United and Brentford FC’s trusts recognised as examples of best practice in the process.

Missing ‘tools’ from the comrades were a request for SD to add advisors from financial/accounting professions – to avoid any pitfalls in longer term planning.  A ‘community club kitemark’ may be in the pipeline also – watch that space!

It was good to meet two academic friends of mine namely: Coventry and Birkbeck.  The Chairman of Newcastle’s Supporters Trust explained the Club under Mike Ashley.  FC United’s General Manager kindly introduced me to the Editor of FC Business whom seemed genuinely interested in my fundraising prowess and FC Sports Marketing’s work in Turkey.

Fate took me by luck to a dinner table with two representatives of Stockport County Supporters’ Co-operative where we shared stories on common ground.

Jul 6

S'PORT PM
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Turkey ban has legs

Just feel the need to “talk Turkey” today, as not been reporting much on happenings in that Country in this Blog.  As if by magic, a scandal unfolds, in no small way – as only the Turks can!  How often does Baba look at me with that expression when I ask why something has happened with the phrase “burası Türkiye”.

I am referring to the massive corruption that has been found to have legs.  Last week saw the arrests of three Club’s Presidents, Fenerbache’s being the highest profile. In addition, more than sixty others from the profession were targeted under allegations of match-fixing. Fenerbache has since put out a statement pleading innocence.

The investigation continues and is also looking at the decisive league game last season in which Fenerbahce secured their 18th title of the Turkish Süper Lig with the victory over Sivasspor.  In connection with this match Sivasspor’s goalkeeper has been taken into custody.  The whole scam includes looking into players and managers. 

Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, himself a dedicated supporter of Fenerbahce has said “it is a decision of the judiciary and police”.  Talk about stating the obvious.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has said it would be following the investigations closely (I recently shared a stage with them). This story clearly will run and run.

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