Well... Let me give you an idea how.
Even if fan ownership is achieved the club will stand just as still as it is now, unless they can do something that no club has ever done in lower league football without significant external investment. Namely, make money from gate receipts alone. By making that parcel of land an asset of community value, it most likely will deter external investment into building on it. It's bad enough that you've got to encourage someone to buy a football club that won't show a return on its own. Let along invite in all sorts of covenants around building on the land.
A fan ownership model under any guise, has to be based on bringing in another owner at some point. So in many respects the club will be in exactly the same position if owned by fans, as it is today. The only major advantage, is that supporters will negotiate from our perspective, as opposed form a quick buck, or corporate laden perspective.
I have said all along that I quite like the idea of fan ownership. But I'm under no illusions that unless they hit the ground running and attract significant investment early doors, they won't last five minutes. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest they will not enjoy the luxury of an honeymoon period at all. The Trusts current mantra is that anything has to be better than just sitting dead in the water going nowhere, with no information on the way forward. The moment they sit in that hot seat, they will need a serious TRANSPARENT plan on investment and the way forward. Most of the staff that they anticipate taking over haven't managed that in years.
The meeting at the Park Inn cannot be about what people think they know about the current situation. Like or not, results are not terrible. We have maintained league status, we as far as I am aware are solvent. Certainly the club is trading as solvent. In addition to that, but probably most importantly.. NOBODY actually knows the truth. The only issue is that none of us have a clue about the way forward for the club. And it appears that KT has no intention of developing a supporter inclusive culture. That's his choice. So the Trust have the rather daunting task of presenting examples of investment paths. As well as giving us an idea of where they believe they can improve things.
This as far as I'm aware, has never been done. We are not talking about saving a business from the brink of oblivion. We are not out shaking buckets. All of the staff are being paid. The club is competitive. Maybe not as competitive as we would like, but competitive. As far as I am aware, and I know a few of the staff, they are not unhappy with KT. There hasn't been any significant unrest from the main body of the support. So this is a relatively unique set of circumstances. It is an attractive option, but there is definitely unrest between the Trust and the club, or KT. We as supporters have to be sure that we are not part of that agenda. It has to be a stand alone proposition, that can attract support and investment through its own merit, and not because we don't like what we currently have. I am happy to listen to the invited guests. But I am equally aware that their situation shares no parallel with ours.
I am looking forward to something tangible. Something that is transparent. Like most supporters, I am very frustrated with false dawns and what seems to be a perpetual state of inertia at NTFC. But I am equally aware that this is not a recent advent, or indeed unique to us as a club. In fact lack of progress without significant investment appears to be the norm for nearly all lower league clubs.
Yes, despite all these away wins...been stuck in 16th place for what seems like an eternity!
