Recent Posts

Perhaps if you are unhappy with the response it’s because you didn’t express your views in the most productive manner. Pressure groups and lobbyists seem very common in the democratic process, some have been spectacularly successful even if it has taken a number of years for their activities to bear fruit. I think you underestimate the effectiveness of this approach, it may yet turn out to be the most likely way to instigate change. Still, with you working on the inside and others working on the outside we can perhaps return the Trust to the organisation it once was. Good luck with it.

I can't apologise for being blunt about the situation or spelling out the reality of a course of inaction.

At the end of the day, in a democratic process, doesn't it all end up with someone having to stand for election?  

The forecast looks horrendous for tomorrow - heavy rain all morning and then 45 mph wind in the afternoon.

Maybe that was because KT said that if the Trust wanted a seat on the board then, in his words, "It was a deal breaker"


While I'm posting, so Dale (Melbourne) are you saying that Tom Cliffe is just a puppet with no say or influence ??

Not at all, I’m saying you won’t be privy to anything that people don’t want you to hear, whether you are in the board room or not.

I would be the first advocate of a more fan involved structure in league football. Unfortunately, there is no appetite for within the current structure.

I honestly think it is way past the time where we drop Exeter as a shining example. The combination of huge transfer fee input. Assistance from the University and the luxury of literally hundreds of volunteers, offers a very unique model. That example is poles away from a level playing field. Not only comparative to us. But comparative to virtually every English league club.

In terms of volunteers and encouraging investment from the support. Well, surely this is exactly where the Trust should be at the forefront. I have not seen one single obvious representation, from one Trust board member at a game since well before COVID. The current Trust set up, is one of a political arm to the support. A role that was neither asked for, or indeed needed. I can only go back to my posts dating back for several years now. You will always attract more bees with honey, than you will with vinegar. Rather than concentrating on the shortcomings of the club. And there are some. Concentrate on starting the movement and action you want from your end of the deal. There is nothing stopping the Trust dipping it's toe in the water and starting to action some of the things it wants.

Hi Nigel

Thanks and some of us are starting to do this, hence my recent posts

The one problem is that the owners do not want anything to do with the Trust, especially anything that would gain the Trust praise and support.

And that has been the case since they arrived, when they refuse to honour the previous agreement of a place ot two on the board.

There has been numberous examples of ideas, offers of help, big ideas, small ones and to my knowledge, none have ever been actioned. Ask Roger he can tell you many examples no doubt.

Yes some of the Trust has wound the club up (obviously myself a main player) and you could argue we have played into their hands, but again I ask any supporter to give me examples of something that the owners have done that they didn't want to do

Further more to that note how KT reacts when asked of something he does like, (there are a few examples in the recent open forums)

I understand fans want to blame us (and me especially) but we are now deemed of no use to the owners so we are a bit stuck at the moment

The Trust is engaging in a few small projects, Charity based.

I suggested the Trust / fans help with improving some matchday facilities, like the womens toilets for example but this was rejected.

If anything I feel disappointed that they are a toothless and irrelevant entity these days. Whoever's fault that is it's a shame. I don't recall much noise at the time when they relinquished their seat on the board, although I know they blamed KT for that too.

Maybe that was because KT said that if the Trust wanted a seat on the board then, in his words, "It was a deal breaker"


While I'm posting, so Dale (Melbourne) are you saying that Tom Cliffe is just a puppet with no say or influence ??

Totally agree Peter, none of our previous owners have ever really moved the club forward so I was suggesting perhaps looking for another way, thats all

We all expect a change of owners soon, just really don't want to have more of the same

As I said, us and the council are the constant and was asking supporters for their views on a long term plan

Shame some (not you), as usual, prefer just to attack myself and Trust, rather than engage with their ideas and views

What you mean like the email that didn’t get answered. Sorry, forgot, I live in the wrong country to have an opinion. You need to take a long hard look in the mirror before you play the victim.

I don’t want to join a pack attacking Derek which I why I wrote a gentle note suggesting it was perhaps now time to back off and conserve his undoubted passion for future positive and attainable action - sadly he responded with more of the same.

It’s frustrating he doesn’t seem to realise his ideas (not all unreasonable but usually uncosted) are never going to happen with the current owners who not only have a different (yes less ambitious) agenda but also will clearly never work with the organisation he represents.

Totally agree Peter, none of our previous owners have ever really moved the club forward so I was suggesting perhaps looking for another way, thats all

We all expect a change of owners soon, just really don't want to have more of the same

As I said, us and the council are the constant and was asking supporters for their views on a long term plan

Shame some (not you), as usual, prefer just to attack myself and Trust, rather than engage with their ideas and views

I’m amazed people put so much store in the Trust having a place on the Board of the club. I don’t know what people imagine goes on in there but take it from me, a Board meeting is a glorified press conference for people in the business to go on the record with their reports and recommendations. No one is going to say anything that they don’t want heard as a matter of record, and you only get told what people are prepared to allow you to hear. No controversial discussions or real decision making takes place in the Board room, it’s the place where they get rubber stamped. Don't get hung up on getting back in there, its fairly irrelevant in the scheme of things.

Del boy alert.

So in a nutshell, we have a lot of people moaning about an organisation that they think could do something positive, but chooses not to.

All the while missing the simple fact that they could choose to do something positive about that outcome, but choose not to.

The solution to all this is so laughably easy, and I get mocked every time I make this argument, but the fact remains...

Ten people standing for the board in February could COMPLETELY change the direction and outlook of said organisation to become something more positive, but you collectively choose not to do that.

TEN people. There's about 20 of you on here who do virtually nothing else but moan about the Trust. But you choose to do nothing about it.

Hundreds of people signed a petition last year, but only three bothered to stand for the board. You all collectively chose to not do anything about it, and here we are 12 months later in exactly the same position. If this isn't the Trust you want, it's certainly the one you now deserve.

You all waste countless hours on here moaning - fill in a paper form, stand for the board and change it. It will take up less of your f***ing time.

Well said.

As someone who has been involved in junior and senior football, junior and senior golf, snooker, bowls and cricket, I say you might be surprised how much satisfaction you can have improving situations!

I hope enough people are motivated to get involved for the benefit of the Trust and eventually NTFC!