MP Andy Burnham explains how supporters' trust could help Everton
EFC Shareholders Association meet at Goodison Park to discuss the possibility of an Everton Supporters Trust
MP Andy Burnham was among the guest speakers as Evertonians gathered at Goodison Park for a meeting about the club’s future.
The lifelong Blue and member of the Shadow Cabinet, Burnham explained to the Blues Shareholders’ Association how a supporters’ trust could help Everton.
Burnham played a key role in setting up Supporters Direct, the independent body which has encouraged the development of fan trusts at clubs, large and small, up and down the country, and is backing the hopes of Trust Everton.
The Trust, led by Tony I’Anson, have developed the idea of a supporter-owned co-operative community interest company (CIC) to become landlords of Everton’s training ground and other “real estate assets”.
I’Anson and a group of other volunteers have been working on the project for the past three years and last night delivered their proposals to the club’s shareholders held in the People’s Lounge.
Burnham was on hand to explain the virtues of a supporters trust and Kevin Rye, Campaigns and Communications manager for Supporters Direct, also travelled from London to join the debate.
I’Anson said: “The challenge facing any supporters’ trust, particularly those linked to clubs in the top divisions, is how to make a significant, long-term and sustainable difference to a club that is not in a financial crisis and without simply duplicating the work already carried out by existing fans’ groups and other organisations.
“Trust Everton sees the CIC model as one way of achieving that goal.”
Speaking ahead of the meeting last night, he added: “The aim is to inform the trust debate by describing the characteristics that have led to a CIC-based approach here and at other clubs such as Hearts and Rangers, and describing how a pilot project might be put together for Everton FC.”
Trust Everton’s mission statement on their website reads in part: “Trust Everton’s mission is to see the future of Everton FC secured for the current and subsequent generations of Evertonians.
“The initial rationale for Trust Everton is to explore thoroughly the feasibility of a supporters’ vehicle providing sustainable long-term funding for the real-estate assets of the football club.
“The two that spring to mind are the training ground and the stadium.”
Members looked to answer a series of questions at the shareholders’ forum over its plans, aims and to canvas opinion about whether supporters would want a trust.
Topics for discussion also included potential monthly subscription fees and pilot projects the Trust could undertake.
To progress beyond this first phase Trust Everton will need to raise and manage safely a considerable d management will need to be of “industrial strength” in order to do this.
The initial rationale for Trust Everton is to explore thoroughly the feasibility of a supporters’ vehicle providing sustainable long-term funding for the real-estate assets.
