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Reply | is this 2 fingers up to the trust?
at 23:01 18 Jul 2018
I posted the words below in response to a question to me on the Facebook Trust Members Group yesterday. The most important priority is dealing promptly with shareholding/legal action, followed in my opinion by "resetting the Trust" as described below:
Post:
The Trust has become opaque / distant / invisible to broader supporters over time and it is not surprising that people are reluctant to join. If elected I will table an aggressive drive to recruit members to “reset” the Trust … for example one approach could be waiving the Trust membership fee for 2018/19 for a 3 month window (and refunding people GBP 10 who have already paid) … supporters would only have to sign-up with the required contact information … they would be reached through various media … online, social media, matchday programme, flyer at matches, Evening Post, etc. With only about 1,200 members the revenue lost to the Trust would only be GBP 12,000 for one year … a small investment if the membership could be significantly increased for this important year and for future years. I know there are risks with this approach (e.g. unchecked sign-up by anyone) and a Trust bye-law may need to be overcome, but I think the Trust should find a way to make ideas like this work. In my view the Trust can’t wait around for incremental membership increases to have true influence over the majority shareholders. [NB — I should add that the work of several new Trust board members over the past year has notably improved the Trust’s online presence — well done for that!]. [Post edited 18 Jul 2018 23:02]
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Reply | is this 2 fingers up to the trust?
at 22:55 18 Jul 2018
Whether deliberate or not, this initiative can have the effect of marginalising the Trust in the minds of the broader supporter base. Of course, the Trust has not been reaching the broader supporter base very effectively recently. Like with many things in life, if you do not claim your territory then someone else will take it.
I would have thought this initiative would have been discussed with the Trust Supporters Director.
Can any Trust board members advise if the Trust was aware this initiative was going to be launched?
This initiative might not amount to much, but for maximum effectiveness the Trust needs to be seen by the broader supporter base as representing them. |
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Reply | Trust Board election — Rupert Thomas
at 08:40 14 Jul 2018
Thanks, and if elected I will do my best. I am encouraged to see many people standing who seem minded to make real change happen. |
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Thread | Trust Board election — Rupert Thomas
at 20:29 13 Jul 2018
Hello: Please find below the statement I submitted for the Trust board election. There was a sentence removed in the papers sent to members for voting (the sentence that describes my experience from being Chairman of the Board of IPIECA, an industry association). Please let me know if you have any questions for me, either publicly here or privately to rupert.thomas@shell.com and I will respond. Thanks for your consideration. Rupert Thomas.
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I am 52 years old and grew up in Swansea. I have supported the Swans all my life through the good years as well as the difficult times.
We are now entering a challenging and uncertain period for both the football club and the Trust, and there are a number of complex issues ahead. I would like to put my energy and experience into ensuring that the Trust plays a strong and positive role in representing Swansea supporters to secure the best possible future for the football club. I believe the Trust membership needs to be expanded significantly and transparency improved in order for the Trust to more effectively represent Swansea supporters and to become more credible.
In my professional life I work for Royal Dutch Shell plc in a Vice President role. I have worked for the company for 29 years in operational, commercial, finance, communications and strategy roles. I have mainly worked in the UK, the Netherlands, and the USA. I have negotiated multi-decade commercial agreements and am experienced in legal and governance matters. I have worked closely with members of the Board of Directors of Shell. I am myself currently chairman of the Board of Directors of IPIECA (an industry association).
I live near London and visit Swansea twice a month to watch the Swans and visit family and friends. If elected I can readily attend the monthly Trust Board meetings and related activities.
Following the Swans has been an important part of my life and I would like to ensure our supporters have a club that we are proud of going forward.
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For the record, based on what I know, my view is that the Trust should take all legal remedies that are still available, including direct legal action against the current majority shareholders and former owners.
I previously answered some questions in the thread at the link below:
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/forum/226166/trust-board-—-
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Reply | Trust Board — will you nominate me? Please respond today.
at 22:07 9 Jul 2018
Hi, thanks for the encouraging comments. I voted for legal action in the members vote last summer. If there was another vote tomorrow, I would vote for legal action again. If elected to the Trust board, based on what I know, I would press for prompt legal action. Cheers. |
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Reply | Trust board elections
at 17:41 5 Jul 2018
(I posted my draft 250 words on here on Sunday in another thread ... what I submitted was essentially the same with a few minor adjustments) |
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Reply | Trust Board — will you nominate me? Please respond today.
at 17:38 5 Jul 2018
Thanks to all the people who nominated me over the weekend. I submitted a completed nomination form that reached Nigel Hamer by the deadline.
I hope there are a good number of nominations that result in meaningful vote and a strengthened Trust board. |
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Reply | Trust Board — will you nominate me? Please respond today.
at 10:36 1 Jul 2018
Hi Loyal - good questions, I will try to be brief:
I believe it is past time for Huw Jenkins to move on. He has been the primary driver behind Swansea's successes over the past 15 years, however, nothing lasts forever and his historical contributions do not justify continuation of the status quo based on performance over the past few years. Obviously a proper succession and transition plan is needed with a credible replacement found and the Trust should be closely involved in this appointment ... to avoid jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
If nominated/elected, I would personally press for greater Trust involvement and influence through our 20% shareholding and seat on the Board of the football club. As mentioned in my 250 words, apart from the Trust being stronger in its expectations, to accomplish this the Trust needs to reach and represent the broader fan base and not a narrow cross section as is currently the case. Following the co-opted appointments earlier this year, with the number of Trust Board seats currently up for election, I am optimistic there will be a shift in make-up of the Trust Board to help accomplish this.
Let me know if more needed - thanks. |
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Thread | Trust Board — will you nominate me? Please respond today.
at 09:04 1 Jul 2018
Good morning,
I need 6 people who are paid-up Trust members as of 16 June to support me standing for election to the Trust Board. Below is my draft 250 words. If you are willing to support my nomination, please send an email note to me at rupert.thomas@shell.com stating the following (this is the required text from the nomination form):
Quote: “I, [insert your name], of [insert your address], support the nomination of the candidate Rupert Thomas to stand in the forthcoming election to the Swansea City Trust Board for a period of one or two years if successful.”
Thanks in advance. Due to the prehistoric request for physical signatures it is not certain that email confirmation of nomination will be accepted, but let us see.
For the record, based on what I know, my view is that the Trust should take all legal remedies that are still available at this late stage. I may include that in my statement … although I suspect it will lessen the chances of being elected. I have been on Planet Swans for many years although do not post often. I think the only person on here I have met is Garyjack (I’m the bloke you gave the old programmes to — thanks again).
Thanks for your consideration. Below is the draft 250 words.
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I am 52 years old and grew up in Swansea. I have supported the Swans all my life through the good years as well as the difficult times.
We are now entering a challenging and uncertain period for both the football club and the Trust, and there are a number of complex issues ahead. I would like to put my energy and experience into ensuring that the Trust plays a strong and positive role in representing Swansea supporters to secure the best possible future for the football club. I believe the Trust membership needs to be expanded significantly and transparency improved in order for the Trust to more effectively represent Swansea supporters and for the Trust to become a more credible representative of supporters.
In my professional life I work for Royal Dutch Shell plc in a Vice President role. I have worked for the company for almost 30 years in operational, commercial, finance, communications and strategy roles. I have mainly worked in the UK, the Netherlands, and the USA. I have negotiated multi-decade commercial agreements and am experienced in legal and governance matters. I have worked closely with members of the Board of Directors of Shell. I am myself currently chairman of the Board of Directors of IPIECA (an industry association).
I live near London and visit Swansea regularly to watch the Swans and visit family and friends. I co-own a season ticket with my brother. If elected I can readily attend monthly Swans Trust Board meetings.
Following the Swans has been an important part of my life and I would like to ensure our supporters have a club that we are proud of going forward.
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Reply | Sunday
at 23:32 9 May 2018
You’re right, there was a commitment to stay on for a minimum period. Can’t see HJ having the stomach for what is to come. |
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Reply | Michael Laudrup.
at 23:30 9 May 2018
What is Tutumlu hinting at? That Jenkins undermined Carlos by looking for a replacement over the past couple of months? |
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Reply | Sunday
at 23:17 9 May 2018
It is worrying to think who the yanks might replace HJ with. Surely this would be something our Swans Trust would be involved in ... oops forgot ... we don’t have a proper supporters Trust ... just a facade that has done nothing of significance regarding the real issues of recent years. |
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Reply | Sunday
at 23:11 9 May 2018
I can’t see Jenkins staying on ... this is a convenient moment for him to slip off into the shadows ... as he knows we may well sink fast down the leagues. I thought he hinted a few months ago that he would be calling it a day at the end of this season. |
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Reply | Sunday
at 22:59 9 May 2018
This almost made me laugh in the gloom that is today ... he means of course “It is time to come out of hibernation” |
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