trust open letter to Mike Garlick and board

[andgarod]

https://www.robinstrust.org/posts/open- ... -the-club/

Good to see the trust writing to the board members in an open letter about the communication or lack off
They need to follow up with more questions such as kit manager or lack of one
What will the forward plan be re CEO/DOF

[andgarod]

Also this shows the importance of a strong trust
If you are not a member why not

[Ihearye]

It pains me to say it, but I am coming to the conclusion that the board, or rather some of them, do not particularly believe the fans should have an opinion or a voice. We should be grateful and know our place and just be ready to donate / hand over our money when the club needs it. Which we do. I am left wondering, if it was Flynn who was the one to go yesterday, would we be being told he was a scapegoat? As the letter says, silence does nobody know good, No need for scapegoats if we had even an inkling of what was going on. Looking forward to a victory tomorrow.
happiness happiness

[Jerry St Clair]

I agree Ihearye. There is a chasm between the Board and supporters at the moment.

The current crisis in the relationship stems from the disastrous, car-crash fans forum in April 2024. Unbelievably, it has deteriorated further since then.

[Fuller]

Looking forward to a victory tomorrow.
happiness happiness

Have they moved the kick off?

[Ihearye]

Looking forward to a victory tomorrow.
happiness happiness

Have they moved the kick off?

You do realise you have just ruined my day!!!! So it's not Friday?

[HamTown]

Would love to know what their genuine reaction is to this when they read it.

Probably an ironic "lets not respond"

[Robin]

I strongly suspect the response is along the lines of "why are they trying to make a problem when it's not there" completely oblivious to fans frustrations and concerns. There are good people in the board room but why they refuse to listen to fans or even accept there is a lot of discontent beyond results is frustrating.

[Si Robin]

Real life video of last Friday's board meeting

[everyman]

https://www.robinstrust.org/posts/open- ... -the-club/

Good to see the trust writing to the board members in an open letter about the communication or lack off
They need to follow up with more questions such as kit manager or lack of one
What will the forward plan be re CEO/DOF

It would be a good idea for Mr.Garlick to introduce himself to the fans before a game by spending a few minutes in the main bar so we know he`s real ? Unlike the previous "owners" who when they did rarely visit the club remained incognito within ivory towers,preferring to remain unknown to the people who are the heart of Ctfc.

[everyman]

https://www.robinstrust.org/posts/open- ... -the-club/

Good to see the trust writing to the board members in an open letter about the communication or lack off
They need to follow up with more questions such as kit manager or lack of one
What will the forward plan be re CEO/DOF

It would be a good idea for Mr.Garlick to introduce himself to the fans before a game by spending a few minutes in the main bar so we know he`s real ? Unlike the previous "owners" who when they did rarely visit the club remained incognito within ivory towers,preferring to remain unknown to the people who are the heart of Ctfc.

[Shade]

Cue a short video from Bloxham in about 5 days that says just enough to appease most fans for a couple of months.

[longmover]

Cue a short video from Bloxham in about 5 days that says just enough to appease most fans for a couple of months.

his days of appeasement are long gone, its worn too thin and the majority want some proper action taken from this board not just complete waffle.

[Robin]

They've pulled up the drawbridge to the ivory tower and don't want to talk to us peasants I'm afraid.

[TheTownClub]

Cue a short video from Bloxham in about 5 days that says just enough to appease most fans for a couple of months.

To save time, here's what he is going to say: "It's important to remember we do this voluntary and are all fans of the club", "punching above our weight"... etc.

[horlickfanclub]

The Trust elected Director should be conveying these questions to the Board.

[TheTownClub]

I know the Trust are not there to comment on the coaching staff, but there is an interesting question here.

When you have supporters in the ground chanting for the Director of Football to go, when almost all messages on social media are wanting him out, when you have 32 players in a squad, 7 loans, are bottom of the league, and there's still gaps in the squad, why would the Board of Directors be "disappointed" at his departure and thank him for his "positive contribution"?

Does that not suggest a serious disconnect between the ambitions and perceptions of the board, and those of the club's supporters?

[Si Robin]

The Trust elected Director should be conveying these questions to the Board.

Maybe he has been and feels like he's banging his head against a brick wall because no one is listening!!

It's also not the Trust Elected Director now, but the Trust Appointed Director. Not sure what the difference is, but it was made very clear to me last week to get it right on the podcast.

[Jerry St Clair]

I think it’s something to do with the title and perceptions of the the status. Some people didnt think the Fan Elected Director (FED) was a proper Director so Trust Appointed Director is intended to convey the fact that Dave is as much a Director as anyone else on the Board.

[Fuller]

I think it’s something to do with the title and perceptions of the the status. Some people didnt think the Fan Elected Director (FED) was a proper Director so Trust Appointed Director is intended to convey the fact that Dave is as much a Director as anyone else on the Board.

Whatever the title, some serious feather ruffling is required on behalf of the supporters.

[WhaddonIrregular]

Real life video of last Friday's board meeting

I have to disagree with this in the strongest possible terms.


You have to be competent to be evil.

[everyman]

I strongly suspect the response is along the lines of "why are they trying to make a problem when it's not there" completely oblivious to fans frustrations and concerns. There are good people in the board room but why they refuse to listen to fans or even accept there is a lot of discontent beyond results is frustrating.

Constructive critisism is pointless when it falls on deaf ears ??

[horlickfanclub]

I think it’s something to do with the title and perceptions of the the status. Some people didnt think the Fan Elected Director (FED) was a proper Director so Trust Appointed Director is intended to convey the fact that Dave is as much a Director as anyone else on the Board.

Whatever the title, some serious feather ruffling is required on behalf of the supporters.

To me "appointed" does not give any indication of democratic involvement of members. I wonder how much time was spent renaming the role that seems to be bypassed in this letter.

[Jerry St Clair]

Real life video of last Friday's board meeting

And today....

[asl]

Where's Comical Ali when you need him...?

[Si Robin]

Just for you asl.

[hookyrobin]

I think it’s something to do with the title and perceptions of the the status. Some people didnt think the Fan Elected Director (FED) was a proper Director so Trust Appointed Director is intended to convey the fact that Dave is as much a Director as anyone else on the Board.

Whatever the title, some serious feather ruffling is required on behalf of the supporters.

To me "appointed" does not give any indication of democratic involvement of members. I wonder how much time was spent renaming the role that seems to be bypassed in this letter.

The name change was agreed for a stunningly boring and bureaucratic reason, to be honest: the role is still elected from within the Trust membership, but looking at the rules as they existed, it became clear that there could possibly be a situation in which the Director chosen by that route was unavailable for any reason (illness, etc) at the point at which an important vote is to be taken by the Club Board. As the 'Fan Elected Director', a future dodgy Club Board could remove the Trust's vote in this situation until the full process for a new election took place, allowing them to potentially push things through without a 'FED' being in the room.

While reviewing and updating our rules with the Football Supporters' Association last year we tweaked the arrangement slightly and changed the name to 'Robins Trust Appointed Director' in order to allow the Trust to nominate a proxy with the same voting rights in this very specific and unlikely scenario. Better to have it and never need to use it than the opposite.

The role is, and will continue to be, elected from within the Trust membership.

As Jerry St Clair mentioned earlier, it is also a useful way of underlining that the RTAD, a full Director of the Club Board, is also backed by and representing what is now the second largest owner of the Club.

Since publishing the open letter, the Club have responded to us and I believe that the issue is set to be discussed at today's club board meeting, which is great to hear. I've seen a bit of 'isn't this what the FED/RTAD is for?' - to put it diplomatically, I think the answer to that lies in the third paragraph of the open letter.

The Trust is an incredibly broad church and publishing an open letter carries a significant risk for us regarding those members who feel that it is our job to stay quiet and unfailing be positive and supportive about everything that happens at the Club (and this is a decent number of people, who contact us with their concerns).

We don't publish open letters or statements lightly. In this instance we felt that it was incredibly damaging for the communication issue to not be given a high priority as soon as possible. Something that the folks on the Robins Report have also covered brilliantly on episode 153.

There has been some really unpleasant stuff coming from one particular social media platform about the Trust's motivations and failings (elections to the Trust Board will be announced very soon, folks, and there are spots available - come and join us, build the Trust that you want to see) - but we have to navigate the path between the two poles of those members who think the Trust should hold a public vote on Club staff (employees of a private business) and those who think that any open criticism is beyond the pale.

It's quite the tight-rope, but the view is great.

COYR

Jaimie
Co-Chair
Robins Trust
info@robinstrust.org

[andgarod]

Thank you for communicating the update
I assume that more difficult decisions will be made by the board today

[Si Robin]

Whatever the title, some serious feather ruffling is required on behalf of the supporters.

To me "appointed" does not give any indication of democratic involvement of members. I wonder how much time was spent renaming the role that seems to be bypassed in this letter.

The name change was agreed for a stunningly boring and bureaucratic reason, to be honest: the role is still elected from within the Trust membership, but looking at the rules as they existed, it became clear that there could possibly be a situation in which the Director chosen by that route was unavailable for any reason (illness, etc) at the point at which an important vote is to be taken by the Club Board. As the 'Fan Elected Director', a future dodgy Club Board could remove the Trust's vote in this situation until the full process for a new election took place, allowing them to potentially push things through without a 'FED' being in the room.

While reviewing and updating our rules with the Football Supporters' Association last year we tweaked the arrangement slightly and changed the name to 'Robins Trust Appointed Director' in order to allow the Trust to nominate a proxy with the same voting rights in this very specific and unlikely scenario. Better to have it and never need to use it than the opposite.

The role is, and will continue to be, elected from within the Trust membership.

As Jerry St Clair mentioned earlier, it is also a useful way of underlining that the RTAD, a full Director of the Club Board, is also backed by and representing what is now the second largest owner of the Club.

Since publishing the open letter, the Club have responded to us and I believe that the issue is set to be discussed at today's club board meeting, which is great to hear. I've seen a bit of 'isn't this what the FED/RTAD is for?' - to put it diplomatically, I think the answer to that lies in the third paragraph of the open letter.

The Trust is an incredibly broad church and publishing an open letter carries a significant risk for us regarding those members who feel that it is our job to stay quiet and unfailing be positive and supportive about everything that happens at the Club (and this is a decent number of people, who contact us with their concerns).

We don't publish open letters or statements lightly. In this instance we felt that it was incredibly damaging for the communication issue to not be given a high priority as soon as possible. Something that the folks on the Robins Report have also covered brilliantly on episode 153.

There has been some really unpleasant stuff coming from one particular social media platform about the Trust's motivations and failings (elections to the Trust Board will be announced very soon, folks, and there are spots available - come and join us, build the Trust that you want to see) - but we have to navigate the path between the two poles of those members who think the Trust should hold a public vote on Club staff (employees of a private business) and those who think that any open criticism is beyond the pale.

It's quite the tight-rope, but the view is great.

COYR

Jaimie
Co-Chair
Robins Trust
info@robinstrust.org

Thanks for the clarification Jaimie.

I should point out that you and Dave did tell me this before we recorded last week, it had simply slipped my mind as to why.

[TheTownClub]

Thanks Jamie, I can't imagine which soXial medXa platform you're referring to.

Anyway, in my view, the Trust have been setting a great example of constructive engagement with the club and transparent communication with the wider supporter base. If that's making some in the boardroom uncomfortable, then good.

[asl]

To think, in the past, The Nest was regarded as 'toxic'. I've said it before: this forum is the moderate voice of reason as far as Cheltenham Town fans are concerned, today.

[art vandalay]

Just a thought, but I wonder if the board turned down the Trust’s offer last summer of a comprehensive review because they didn’t want such a review to reveal how abysmal the club’s communications are, as well as revealing inadequacies in other areas.

Where most people saw this as an opportunity for the club to improve, including the identification of low hanging fruit that could have been acted upon very quickly, perhaps they saw it as a list of failings that would make a sale for difficult. Better to kick the can further down the road and make it someone else’s problem?

[Fuller]

Just a thought, but I wonder if the board turned down the Trust’s offer last summer of a comprehensive review because they didn’t want such a review to reveal how abysmal the club’s communications are, as well as revealing inadequacies in other areas.

Where most people saw this as an opportunity for the club to improve, including the identification of low hanging fruit that could have been acted upon very quickly, perhaps they saw it as a list of failings that would make a sale for difficult. Better to kick the can further down the road and make it someone else’s problem?

Art, from my own personal experience with the board over the last couple of years, you might well be right.

[Shade]

Thanks Jamie, I can't imagine which soXial medXa platform you're referring to.

Anyway, in my view, the Trust have been setting a great example of constructive engagement with the club and transparent communication with the wider supporter base. If that's making some in the boardroom uncomfortable, then good.

I personally find the comments on Facebook worse and more ignorant than on twitter, but maybe I haven't seen the right/wrong accounts.

[Warwickshire Robin]

Just a thought, but I wonder if the board turned down the Trust’s offer last summer of a comprehensive review because they didn’t want such a review to reveal how abysmal the club’s communications are, as well as revealing inadequacies in other areas.

Where most people saw this as an opportunity for the club to improve, including the identification of low hanging fruit that could have been acted upon very quickly, perhaps they saw it as a list of failings that would make a sale for difficult. Better to kick the can further down the road and make it someone else’s problem?

Art, from my own personal experience with the board over the last couple of years, you might well be right.

Agree. Also my main worry is that the people Mr Garlick will have been talking to the most pre and post takeover are the same board who keep trying to tell us everything is marvellous and just a few extra quid will mean hitting the mythical 'next level'. However we know this is not all true and I am just hoping Mr Garlick sees through this quickly and starts making the necessary big decisions before he finds himself the majority shareholder of a non league club.