please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Chairman's AGM Address please log in to view this image Privileged and Confidential - Chairman's Update Dear Welcome to the AGM of the Swans Trust at the end of what has been, once again, a long year of change for the Trust with some long-standing members standing down in the summer allowing for some new blood to be elected through the annual election process. So it seems only right that I start tonight with a thank you to those people who stood down in the summer. That includes the names of two former Trust Chairmen in Ron Knuszka and Alan Lewis. Ron was largely responsible for many of the good things that we did in the early days of the Trust which would include the season ticket “piggy-back” scheme and the Ivor Allchurch statue that stands outside the Liberty. Both excellent achievements and, in reference to the latter, a lasting memory of one of Swansea’s greatest sons. Alan was Chairman for the first seven months of 2018 but offered so much more to the Trust over the years during his time as Media Officer, where he worked to raise the Trust profile in the media and was responsible for many presentations both in this country and abroad. He took the Trust forward in the mediation process regards our share position that I will touch on shortly and is a well-known face amongst many Swans fans both for his time at the Pod on matchdays and particularly at away trips where he is usually in attendance. Finally, Viv Williams put in many hours for the Trust, particularly around the commercial side of our operation. He was instrumental in the Robbie James Wall of Fame, International Honours boards and the displays that can be seen in the Riverside Lounge. Viv is a great believer in recognising our club’s past and did a superb job to bring that to the fore for both old fans and the next generation. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of me, the Trust Board and all our members to thank Ron, Alan and Viv for, what is close to, 30 years of combined service to the Trust and know that they will continue to be supportive of what we do. It is also appropriate to thank the rest of the Trust board for their work over the past 12 months which is wide and varied whether you look at the Schools Initiative, Membership drive, involvement with the Disabled Supporters Association or the burning issue that still hangs over us in regards the share sale of 2016. All that work, and more, is invaluable to us as a Trust and as a collective I thank you for your work towards the organisation. A special mention must go to Stuart MacDonald who is our representative in the boardroom. Stuart spends many hours of, what I am sure he thought would be, a peaceful retirement working on behalf of our members, and all fans, within the club and, whilst this is often a thankless task, I am sure his efforts are appreciated by everyone in this room. I would also like to thank our affiliate board members – Finance affiliate Lisa Clement and Legal affiliate Dai Little for their tireless work in helping us make progress in resolving the issues around the 2016 share sale. That issue is something we will come back to in a moment. Finally, I have one special thank you that I must bring to the fore this evening because it will likely be the only official chance that I get to do so. Nigel Hamer, our long-standing Trust secretary has informed the board that, after 18 years involved with the group stretching back to our formation, he will be standing down as secretary to the board at the end of this current Trust year. It is safe to say that without Nigel’s input over the years we would be nowhere near the organisation we are. He will be sorely missed by all of us on the board and has left us with very large shoes to fill. The search for Nigel’s replacement will begin in earnest very shortly but I thought it only right to take the chance this evening in front of you all here to thank him for his work over the years and to wish him a very happy ‘Trust retirement’ – Thank You Nigel. Now for the update that I have been promising regarding the issues relating back to the share sale in in 2016 which saw ownership of the club transfer from local ownership to that of an American hedge fund headed by Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien. interesting
There is more, with a final date to when the motion to vote for legal action against the sellers if mediation fails to satisfy the Trust members (end of February ) and then in early March there will be be vote to see is the membership want to take legal action .The reason its dragging on is because the sellers have failed to respond to the Trust in nearly all aspects of the process that and the other evidence against the yanks and sellers , which won't put them in a good light should it go to court
