Philip Buckingham meets chairman Mark Gretton to discuss the aims of the Hull City Supporters Trust. WHEN Hull City supporters descend on the Liberty Stadium this weekend, ending the longest away trip of their season, a section of the travelling fans will be envious of their hosts. Not because Swansea City are already assured of another season in the Premier League but because their fans hold a privileged position in running their club. The Swansea City Supporters Trust holds a 21 per cent stake and a place on the Swans' board. Although other shareholders are left to make the key decisions shaping the club's future, the collective voice of supporters can always be heard in the corridors of power. Fanciful as it might sound, this is a model the Hull City Supporters Trust (HCST) would now like replicated at the KC Stadium. Founded at the turn of the year with a merger of fans' groups Tigers Co-operative and City Till We Die, a new independent body already comprising of over 800 members is thinking big. HCST do not wish to run City, now or in the future. All they ask for is a voice. Other Premier League clubs, such as Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Arsenal, already have supporters trusts banging the same drum and HCST hope their formation can eventually see them share the same influence enjoyed in South Wales. "One of the Supporters' Direct stated aims is fan ownership of clubs or fan representation and we share those ambitions," explained HCST chairman Mark Gretton. "It's important for fans to have a greater voice across football, not just your own narrow patch. "I think it's fair to say for most clubs it's a long distance away with the way we're regarded by owners. They're never going to invite us onto their board. "But at some stage they're not going to be the owners and it would help us to have a good, strong supporters Trust in place. "New owners might be more likely to listen and at some stage having fan representation or part ownership is not out of the question. "Swansea are a good model. It's not just a token thing. They don't have a controlling interest but it's substantial enough where they need to be listened to." Following Swansea's lead will not be easy. Their trust was founded with the club at its lowest ebb in 2001. The only way was up when they accepted a shareholding and a seat in the boardroom. City are a different proposition entirely. A Premier League club with an annual turnover of £84.4m is owned solely by chairman Assem Allam and he appears to have little intention, nor motivation, to pull out a chair for the HCST. Their vocal and continued opposition to Hull Tigers name change saga means they will remain on the outside looking in, but Allam's insistence that City remain a club up for a sale leaves HCST planning for all eventualities during its first year. So how realistic is a future shareholding in the club? "I don't know is the honest answer," said Gretton. "Without sounding defeatist, I can't imagine Hull City will be in the Premier League forever, no more than I think Swansea will be. You don't know what will happen to the club so you have to be ready. "The vision I have for the Trust is that if there are problems in the future then there's something strong there to help. "If that doesn't happen we're relaxed about it. I don't have any desire to run a football club. "Regardless of what happens the Trust has a role to play, to give a voice to supporters. An active independent Trust is something we've never really had during my time following the club and it can only be a positive thing." Some good has already come from the formation of HCST. A cash pot of £18,000 was left in reserve by Tigers Co-operative and has since been divided evenly between the Hull Boys' Sunday Football League, Teenage Cancer Trust and the East Riding County FA. From that, a cheque for £2,500 went to the Electric Eels Powerchair Football Club. Over 800 supporters, committing £1 to be a shareholder and £4 in annual membership, have already signed up and points towards them, in time, becoming the most influential fans' group at the KC. "I'm optimistic about what we can achieve," added Gretton. "As we stand I don't believe the club has any liking for us as a group. I don't think that will come as a surprise. I believe they'd prefer not to engage with us. "But we're now on the Fans Working Group, with a representative involved. The same member is on the Safety Action Group. Perhaps that is the start of a better relationship but we get the impression we'll always be kept at arm's length. "People can talk about it being a business but a football club is more than that. It's not about where you shop, there's a much greater tribal feel than that. "It's almost like a family. People feel close to it, but they should also have the right to a say when things don't go right. We believe that's the value of an independent fans group." http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...tory-26262139-detail/story.html#ixzz3W382yp1v http://hullcitysupporterstrust.com/join/
The trust wants to be a voice and be involved in decision making without risking any personal assets or cash of their own. They want a club that's finally managing to make money, and is worth more money than it's ever been, to hand over a slice of that pie. The club doesn't want to have much to do with you? Nor do the majority of the fans by the looks. Even less than CTWD had. What a sad opportunity just used up by a small group of self serving individuals. Next few months we'll see exactly where we stand with HCST or CTWD. I'm genuinely disappointed with how this trust came about, who is on the committee and what it will do to undermine our club in the future.
We both know its only interested and listens to the ones that agree and talk about the exact same narrow views they hold.
"Gobby dimwitted gnomes?" Judging by the take up, Id suggest you've set out to appeal to as few people as possible. Like I said, this is a wonderful opportunity ruined. Isn't it time for another "this <thing> has massively increased our membership" again? Shame Mark didn't take the opportunity to apologise or justify or even just explain the offensive hip flask. If I was Dr Allam or Ehab I wouldn't want anything to do with him either.
there's some real party-poopers on here with **** all in the way of imagination or helpful or original thought.
How **** am I? 13? I was miles off, only reply 8 before the hip flask was brought up. I'll know next time.
I do if they are Mcvities particularly the orange ones which are on special offer at Tesco. A pack of 8 for £1.
Woah. Nice one OLM. Editing your post to read "gobby" instead of "gob" is one thing, editing mine is an entirely different thing. That's ****ery of the highest order. You really do not have a sense of humour if you cant laugh at yourself, although on the bright side, the rest of us can still laugh at you. No one tells you what you can edit do they?
