Off the top of my head-supporter owned clubs. AFC Telford, one of only 4 BSP clubs playing part time and inexorably drifting to relegation. Ebbsfleet (full time, I think) but the same. Exeter slipping after relegation. Swansea are the only leading light but with the natural advantage of being a large city and captive hinterland.
Feel free to add to this list-good or bad. The key generally is owning your own ground. (Chester could still go the way of Darlington etc)
KDS, i think your missing the point...fan owned clubs doesn't mean you are guaranteeing success, that's all down to the manager and players he sign's, and of course funds available, but it is by no missed point that Swansea, Wrexham and Chester are doing very well...and owning your own ground helps in what way?.. maintenance bill's, up keep, regeneration after a few years, modernization a massive drain on resources, and as soon as you need to put it up for surety that only means one thing your in dire trouble aka Darlington & Wrexham etc....the Chester way, owned by the council and they pay a peppercorn rent but Chester council pay the upkeep, Wrexham owned by Glyndwr University and rented back £110.000 a year, but Wrexham get £112.000 a year sponsorship off them so a free ground, and because Glyndwr are a registered charity they get Welsh and European grants to plough back into the ground, again with no upkeep to Wrexham football club ...you mentioned Chester can just as easily end up like Darlington ..NO!! they now got that covered its owned by the fans for the fans, if they struggle they can just put more money in the pot, but the supporters being owners don't mind that because its their club and no board of directors that are skimming the cream off.
WE are the ones who could easily end up like Darlington in a few years time if we have someone come in like a George Reynolds, Mark Gutterman and Steve Vaughn..this list of shysters goes on and on in football take overs, when Rowland decides to retire, he alone will choose who to sell
our club too, and there's not one thing us supporters can do about it!!..then what worth is the bloody ground!!....every single penny that goes into these clubs goes directly to team building, the only wages are players and coaching staff, the fans who as i say are owners feel a big part of the club and get to vote who goes on the board ever year....no, i agree it doesn't buy you success on the field, but it give's you a bloody good advantage over your rivals....and wouldn't you like to be a part of Shrewsbury football club instead of being on the peripherals? ...I would..