by MellowYellow » 10 Jan 2018, 20:52
The question for Torquay supporters is what they want their club to become. Whilst there appears a body of committed and hard-working supporters campaigning towards fan ownership, it has to be acknowledged that the critical mass is probably absent.
Let us say a plan is to transfer ownership over a five year period, during which Osborne is paid back hypothetically £1m in loans. The aim for a yearly figure raised of around £240,000, would need around 2,000 members paying on average £10 per month. Is that achievable? and what of those who sign up but who membership lapses and no longer contribute financially.
Lets not kid ourselves it would be a lot of hard work, so are there dedicated individuals out there who would be determined to make it work? The irony of a fan-based ownership is that you would have to think like Clarke Osborne - yes I said it! abeit without a property developers mind-set. As a Community-owned club supporters will be required to think about how the club can become a viable social enterprise . which not only puts out a competitive team on the park every week, but also is financially sustainable rather than rely on injecting significant capital (which we all seem to expect CO to do) and delivers social and community benefit such as: new stadium, 3G pitches, football academy, sports club etc. Can it be done? Well other clubs have shown it to be possible. What would be needed is to raise the bar on awareness (by whatever means) so supporters and the community as a whole can be proud committing to a community ownership bid which deliver real benefits to the town.
However, the question was raised about my preferred solution. I will put on record that I am not an avid fan of community ownership. Crowdfunding is one thing (and God know that is hard enough within itself) but one also has to think long and hard about running the business structure of the football club which is a whole different dimension and requires expert business skills in all areas of management (something lacking over the last decade). For me personally, the fans' investment is their support, while their return comes in the form of the emotional gratification all football fans desire, be it through chasing promotion, surviving relegation or a cup run. In order to guarantee this return, all a football club needs to do is exist. Whist we are sceptical of CO ulterior motives the club still exists and if GI accounts are anything to go by will continue to exist under the current owner or a new owner: "The Directors are in advanced negotiations to dispose of Riviera Stadium and it’s underlying investment in Torquay United AFC Ltd”.
The above said, should I be presented with the ultimatum of fan ownership or no club at all, I would not hesitate to transfer my allegiance to a fan-based society. Ultimately, though, for Torquay United, it is for the fans to decide what they want.
The question for Torquay supporters is what they want their club to become. Whilst there appears a body of committed and hard-working supporters campaigning towards fan ownership, it has to be acknowledged that the critical mass is probably absent.
Let us say a plan is to transfer ownership over a five year period, during which Osborne is paid back hypothetically £1m in loans. The aim for a yearly figure raised of around £240,000, would need around 2,000 members paying on average £10 per month. Is that achievable? and what of those who sign up but who membership lapses and no longer contribute financially.
Lets not kid ourselves it would be a lot of hard work, so are there dedicated individuals out there who would be determined to make it work? The irony of a fan-based ownership is that you would have to think like Clarke Osborne - yes I said it! abeit without a property developers mind-set. As a Community-owned club supporters will be required to think about how the club can become a viable social enterprise . which not only puts out a competitive team on the park every week, but also is financially sustainable rather than rely on injecting significant capital (which we all seem to expect CO to do) and delivers social and community benefit such as: new stadium, 3G pitches, football academy, sports club etc. Can it be done? Well other clubs have shown it to be possible. What would be needed is to raise the bar on awareness (by whatever means) so supporters and the community as a whole can be proud committing to a community ownership bid which deliver real benefits to the town.
However, the question was raised about my preferred solution. I will put on record that I am not an avid fan of community ownership. Crowdfunding is one thing (and God know that is hard enough within itself) but one also has to think long and hard about running the business structure of the football club which is a whole different dimension and requires expert business skills in all areas of management (something lacking over the last decade). For me personally, the fans' investment is their support, while their return comes in the form of the emotional gratification all football fans desire, be it through chasing promotion, surviving relegation or a cup run. In order to guarantee this return, all a football club needs to do is exist. Whist we are sceptical of CO ulterior motives the club still exists and if GI accounts are anything to go by will continue to exist under the current owner or a new owner: "The Directors are in advanced negotiations to dispose of Riviera Stadium and it’s underlying investment in Torquay United AFC Ltd”.
The above said, should I be presented with the ultimatum of fan ownership or no club at all, I would not hesitate to transfer my allegiance to a fan-based society. Ultimately, though, for Torquay United, it is for the fans to decide what they want.
