Exeter City

[ShotOnTarget]

The sad thing is there has been more than enough like minded people to see a Trust successful at Aldershot. Our current debt is squandered money in my opinion.

I worked closely with the chap who was overseeing the Trust bid whilst I was on the Trust board. He shared the same opinion as to the likely success of a Trust run club. He was very enthusiastic. The naysayers have a lot to answer for.

I’m not knocking what you’re saying, SOT, but here’s a question. If there had been no consortium in 2013 and the only bid on the table had been The Trust’s do you believe that they would have had enough money to put in a serious offer that would’ve been acceptable to all of the creditors? Do you know how much The Trust had to hand at that time?

I was not involved with the Bid as I had long since left the Trust board after realising that a correctly run Trust was something that the club at the time would not countenance. As for the details of the bid, you would need to check with those on the Trust board at the time and perhaps with the football supporters association, with whom Supporters Direct merged. My post is based upon a conversation I had with the official who was putting the bid together at the time, a person whose judgement I trusted.

My own opinion remains that the destiny of Football in Aldershot will rest with the supporters.

[Birdman]

I worked closely with the chap who was overseeing the Trust bid whilst I was on the Trust board. He shared the same opinion as to the likely success of a Trust run club. He was very enthusiastic. The naysayers have a lot to answer for.

I’m not knocking what you’re saying, SOT, but here’s a question. If there had been no consortium in 2013 and the only bid on the table had been The Trust’s do you believe that they would have had enough money to put in a serious offer that would’ve been acceptable to all of the creditors? Do you know how much The Trust had to hand at that time?

I was not involved with the Bid as I had long since left the Trust board after realising that a correctly run Trust was something that the club at the time would not countenance. As for the details of the bid, you would need to check with those on the Trust board at the time and perhaps with the football supporters association, with whom Supporters Direct merged. My post is based upon a conversation I had with the official who was putting the bid together at the time, a person whose judgement I trusted.

My own opinion remains that the destiny of Football in Aldershot will rest with the supporters.

Ok, thanks. The reason why I asked was because I have wondered occasionally what would have happened if The Trust had been ‘the only game in town’.

[ShotOnTarget]

I’m not knocking what you’re saying, SOT, but here’s a question. If there had been no consortium in 2013 and the only bid on the table had been The Trust’s do you believe that they would have had enough money to put in a serious offer that would’ve been acceptable to all of the creditors? Do you know how much The Trust had to hand at that time?

I was not involved with the Bid as I had long since left the Trust board after realising that a correctly run Trust was something that the club at the time would not countenance. As for the details of the bid, you would need to check with those on the Trust board at the time and perhaps with the football supporters association, with whom Supporters Direct merged. My post is based upon a conversation I had with the official who was putting the bid together at the time, a person whose judgement I trusted.

My own opinion remains that the destiny of Football in Aldershot will rest with the supporters.

Ok, thanks. The reason why I asked was because I have wondered occasionally what would have happened if The Trust had been ‘the only game in town’.

Me too. We'll never know how it would have gone but who knows what the future might bring.........

[Josh]

I wish the Trust had been in charge rather than what we have now.

[Birdman]

I’ve done a bit of googling and I’ve possibly found the answer to my question re The Trust :- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23097932

Also this :- https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south ... iquidation

And finally :- https://www.business-sale.com/news/admi ... ion-191638

[ShotOnTarget]

I wish the Trust had been in charge rather than what we have now.

'A Trust' rather than 'The Trust' would probably form a better sentiment. From the way I see it, by the time the Trust was dissolved, it had been pilloried from all quarters and was busying itself with trying to survive the sustained attacks and was severely weakened and was not in a position to fullfil it's potential as an organisation.

Certain people couldn't hide their glee that the Trust was not likely to survive. Some amongst the fan base celebrated, jumping on the Trust-bashing bandwagon, not having the where with all to see what was going on and understand the long-term implications.

They might just reflect on it when it's all too late, but I find myself doubting even that.

[Aldershot_Rob]

Certain people couldn't hide their glee that the Trust was not likely to survive. Some amongst the fan base celebrated, jumping on the Trust-bashing bandwagon, not having the where with all to see what was going on and understand the long-term implications.

They might just reflect on it when it's all too late, but I find myself doubting even that.

That first point you make is why I feel like a Trust run club will never exist. Our support base, for whatever reason, never fully embraced the Trust ethos and it was all too easy to demolish what could have been the start of something special for our football club.
I don't see a change in mindset or perspective from our support base and sadly, we've got the club we deserve, which for the record, is currently swimming upstream a river full of s##t , with no paddle and a gaping hole in the raft.

[CH]

Wasn't the 80k raised with serious fundraising efforts from Terry Owens, and then when it became clear it wouldn't be enough, was kept, ringfenced, and after a vote used to prop up Shahids bid which was also short?

Maybe I'm mis-remembering.

[Birdman]

Wasn't the 80k raised with serious fundraising efforts from Terry Owens, and then when it became clear it wouldn't be enough, was kept, ringfenced, and after a vote used to prop up Shahids bid which was also short?

Maybe I'm mis-remembering.

Mis-remembering I feel. The administrators said that the consortium’s bid needed another £50k (my words/interpretation, ‘to get it over the line’). That’s when the fundraising started and I think that TO said it would be ring-fenced for when it was needed. I’d need to go back and read Graham Brookland’s book again for more clarity.

[Sean Chambers]

I wish the Trust had been in charge rather than what we have now.

'A Trust' rather than 'The Trust' would probably form a better sentiment. From the way I see it, by the time the Trust was dissolved, it had been pilloried from all quarters and was busying itself with trying to survive the sustained attacks and was severely weakened and was not in a position to fullfil it's potential as an organisation.

Certain people couldn't hide their glee that the Trust was not likely to survive. Some amongst the fan base celebrated, jumping on the Trust-bashing bandwagon, not having the where with all to see what was going on and understand the long-term implications.

They might just reflect on it when it's all too late, but I find myself doubting even that.

Great post SOT, I was on the Trust Board up until it dissolved, you are quite correct when you say some celebrated its demise and some of things that were said I haven’t forgotten.
Yes mistakes were definitely made by both sides, but to say that we didn’t care about the club etc was absolutely ludicrous.
You only have to read the Trust’s statement from 2018 on the reasons why they relinquished their seat on the board, which was a decision that wasn’t taken lightly.
However that ship has well and truly sailed now and seven years on look at where we are.
Anyway onwards and upwards, I still think we will stay up and we might finally have our day in the sun in May but I’m not mentioning the W word.

[Graham Stovold]

No doubt there were some good people with good intentions running the trust in the beginning, as the famous quote goes - recollections may vary, but imo there was a clash of egos between the 2 chairmen.

TA stood down from the board citing differences of opinion as to how the club was moving forward, the apathy set in & it was a downward spiral for the trust.

We will never know what might have been, but it was a shame the two parties were unable to work together.

[ShotOnTarget]

I’ve done a bit of googling and I’ve possibly found the answer to my question re The Trust :- https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23097932

Also this :- https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south ... iquidation

And finally :- https://www.business-sale.com/news/admi ... ion-191638

Good work Birdy! I am guessing my conversation would have been when it was anticipated that pledges would be translated into funds.

The amount raised would be 'too little, too late' but it rather demonstrates the perennial problem with Aldershot finances - fans DO contribute massive amounts through the gate and the supporters *could* have accumulated significant funds over the years via the Trust, with small amounts being donated regularly over a long period. But it is the comparatively small amounts that are injected in times of crises (crises that are not of the supporters making) that garner publicity as they are seen to have 'saved the club'.

[ShotOnTarget]

No doubt there were some good people with good intentions running the trust in the beginning, as the famous quote goes - recollections may vary, but imo there was a clash of egos between the 2 chairmen.

TA stood down from the board citing differences of opinion as to how the club was moving forward, the apathy set in & it was a downward spiral for the trust.

We will never know what might have been, but it was a shame the two parties were unable to work together.

The antipathy towards the Trust/Trust Principles/Trust Movement was in place right from the point at which the Trust and Supporters Club merged. It is clear that the majority of Trust successes in respect of other Trusts are in situations where they have been able to operate unfettered.

[James Frazer]

I wonder where we would be now if Shotsweb charged £1 per gripe and paid the proceeds into a trust fund.

[ShotOnTarget]

I wonder where we would be now if Shotsweb charged £1 per gripe and paid the proceeds into a trust fund.

You'll need to set up the Trust first. That's if you have the appetite for around 3to 6 months solid work and a thick skin.