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Latest Newsletter

Dear Member,

We hope you are well and are once again enjoying another season with the Chairboys and the new challenges that League One is providing.

The events of the summer, leading up to and during the acquisition of Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, proved to be an extremely stressful, emotional and difficult period for all involved at the Club.

After the vote, the Trust Board decided it was ‘respectful’ to let the dust settle and to allow all parties time to reflect, plan and move on together. There was no definitive timescale put to this period, but in reality we wanted to see some footballs being kicked around in anger and emotions given time to subside.

Now the new season is in full swing, and the conversion from a PLC to a Limited Company has been concluded, it is suitable and relevant for the Trust to resume its role within the mechanisms of the Club.

The Trust Board has not been dormant during this period. We have been planning and preparing for our ‘changed’ role within the new corporate structure of the Club. In this letter we will elude to some of our plans for the forthcoming year, along with an overview of the continued importance of the Trust.

The Trust: Role, Responsibility & Function

Since the takeover was concluded, questions have been raised over the future of the Trust and the role it will play within the future of the Club. It may be ironic, but the role of the Trust is arguably more important now than it was prior to the conversion.

James Mathie of Supporters Direct is involved with many Supporters Trusts around the country, and he comments;

‘There is no doubt that the summer for Wycombe fans was a difficult one, in fact it was a challenge for supporters trusts in general and it is important that we look at the mistakes and learn from them. With the playing field in football remaining so uneven, the opportunity to have an independent group of fans represented at the heart of the decision making of the club is more important than ever before. The position of Wycombe Supporters Trust compares enviably with many of the other 160 supporters trusts across the UK who are still operating from the outside, so whilst the goal posts may have changed there is still much to celebrate. More members bring the potential for more ideas, greater credibility and more impact so I would urge you to regroup, rejoin and make a difference. The relationship with the club needs to be a partnership – that said whilst much can be achieved together the independence of the Trust must remain for the long term benefit of everyone who cares for the football club.’

Below, and in no particular order, are nine key reasons why the Trust must continue to grow and play a significant part in the future of WWFC:

1) For the first time in its 122 year history, the Club is now solely owned by an individual. The Trust must remain in place to monitor, influence and assist in the direction and running of the Club by fulfilling the role of a ‘critically constructive friend’.

This will be achieved by the Trust's constitutional and legally binding rights to:

a) elect two, full voting, Directors to the Club Board, b) attend monthly Operational Meetings with senior Club employees and Club Directors, c) attend quarterly Financial Meetings with senior Club employees and Club Directors.

2) The Trust will continue to encourage and promote good corporate governance within the Club through its:

a) two, member elected, Board Directors, b) 100,000 Ordinary (non-voting) Shareholding, c) inherited Founder Shares ( currently 155), d) mechanism to inherit future relinquished Founder Shares for the determination of potential amendments to the remaining Enshrined Articles.

3) The Trust will continue to provide a link between its members, supporters and the Club with the prime objective of:

a) stimulating and developing new initiatives, b) providing constructive feedback to enhance the Club's services and facilities, c) providing a mechanism to resolve problems and issues to achieve positive outcomes.

4) A major component of the Trust is to help and assist the Club to grow and flourish. There are no restrictions or guidelines for this, and the legal ownership of the Club is irrelevant for this objective. Through new initiatives the Trust intends to:

a) assist the Club in promoting the Club within the community, b) assist the Club in promoting and advertising initiatives, promotions and events within our membership and to supporters as a group, c) assist the Club in realising increased attendances through match day activities and promotions.

5) The Trust has helped raise substantive sums of money for a variety of charitable causes. This will continue. The wider community function of the Trust is a benefit to the Club, the supporters and the wider community of High Wycombe.

6) The Trust will continue to generate high quality, impartial and balanced reports for our members analysing significant and important matters relating to the Club.

7) Steve Hayes has provided a personal undertaking to the Trust, whereby Mr Hayes is to provide £1,500,000 in cash to the Trust on the occurrence of a number of clearly defined trigger events. Whilst it is highly improbable that this personal undertaking will ever have to be called upon, it was put in place by Mr Hayes and the Trust to offer protection to the club and the local community.

8) The Trust is run by supporters of Wycombe Wanderers Football Club, for the benefit of both the supporters and the Club. The Trust will remain a fully independent body free from any conflict of interest or obligation to a third party. We are delighted to be supported by Supporters Direct, and have their full backing of both our current and future plans.

9) Ultimately the Club must survive. All organisations change and must do so to survive.

We can only second guess what the effect of these changes will be, but the only way to influence an outcome is to remain involved and connected irrespective of personal beliefs and opinion.

The extent of supporter involvement in the future of the Club is down to each individual, whether as a supporter, season ticket holder, Supporters Club Member, Trust Member, Trust Director or a Club Director. The Trust will remain “inclusive“ and continue to provide members with information, services and platforms of involvement, at a variety of levels, to accommodate all supporters.

The Trust: Club Directors

David McGee and Ian Mather resigned from their positions on the old PLC Board during the conversion process. Clear legal advice determined that their positions were untenable, with a serious conflict of interest prevailing.

The role of our member elected Club Board Directors is difficult and demanding. The Trust is currently discussing and determining who is best suited to fulfil these roles.

We are currently discussing these positions with the Club, with the joint intention of establishing a beneficial and productive role for our Directors which is fully inclusive and endorsed by both the Club and the Trust.

At this point in time we are unable to offer the names of either candidate. Once we are in a position to do so we will of course inform you.

Both Directors will serve until the next Trust AGM when full member elections will be held.

The Trust: Honorary President & Vice Presidents

We are delighted that Karen Adams, (Trust President), Bill Turnbull and Keith Ryan (Vice Presidents) are all continuing to fully support the Trust. Karen, Bill and Keith were first class during a very difficult summer offering help, advice and support at critical periods.

All three continue to offer their time and expertise to the Trust for which we are extremely grateful.

Francis Glenister resigned from the Trust Board in April after serving with distinction above and beyond the call of duty. Francis was the enthusiasm and drive behind the instigation of the original Supporters Trust, he was the figurehead behind the unification of the Supporters Trust and Founders Trust and his day to day running and management of the Trust was extraordinary.

We are delighted to recognise the works and endeavours of Francis and are pleased to announce Francis has accepted the position of Honorary Vice President.

The Trust: Supporters Direct

During the conversion process, our association with Supporters Direct proved invaluable. We continue to work very closely and gain valuable benefits from their resources and knowledge.

We have commissioned a new membership database specifically commissioned by Supporters Direct for trusts to utilise. This will give us a professional and flexible system to e-mail, SMS and mail members taking away some of the ‘steam’ we are currently working with.


The Trust: Finances

During the conversion process the Trust appointed the services of a very well respected firm of solicitors. This was essential if regrettable. The advice we received was first class, but of course came attached to an eye watering final bill. Members have contacted us enquiring over our finances and some have offered some very generous assistance with this exceptional cost item.

Our finances are good and we remain in the black, despite the costs incurred, but naturally all contributions are very gratefully received. If you wish to make a donation to the Trust please send a cheque made payable to 'Wycombe Wanderers Trust Limited' to the address below, or hand it to any Trust Board member.

Going forward we remain thankful for your continued support through the normal channels of membership and participation in fundraising and social activities.

The Trust: Future Initiatives

We are planning two major new and exciting initiatives for the current season. Both are designed to stimulate member and supporter participation whilst encouraging new supporters to Adams Park.

1) Chair Making Day: Wycombe is steeped in the history of the chair and furniture industry. This initiative was suggested by a couple of members as a result of a similar day organised by Millwall to celebrate their association with dockers. We are talking with a number of organisations and businesses within the Wycombe Community along with the Club to plan and stage a Chair Making Day at a home fixture this season. We will update you as these plans progress.

2) ‘The Book’: As it sounds but yet to be named. ‘The Book’ is an initiative that has been run successfully by other trusts and is designed to capture individual thoughts and memories of WWFC by supporters, players and managers (new & old), employees, Directors, the Press etc…. There is no guideline or restriction upon the content as long as it is to do with you and your memories or views of WWFC. ‘The Book’ will be a collection of memories, good, bad or painful, which will be both informative and explore the many diverse and intangible reasons why we all devote so much time and expense watching a bag of air being propelled around a green rectangle – and more importantly why we are all Chairboys.

Both initiatives are in their infancy. If you would like to assist in any way with your expertise or contacts then please do let us know. We will update you very soon.

The Trust: Meetings

As always it is good to meet and talk. In the forthcoming months we are planning the following:

1) Today, Tomorrow & Beyond: To discuss in more detail the future role of the Trust, we are looking to organise an informal meeting for members to meet the Trust Board and discuss any issues either from the summer or moving forward into the future. We will advise you of dates very soon but expect this to be held in November.

2) Trust AGM: One for the diary – the Trust AGM will once again be held in April 2010, where the normal formalities will be concluded along with Trust Board elections and Club Director elections. More news on this to follow after Christmas.

We are delighted you are continuing your support of Wycombe Wanderers and the Trust and look forward to seeing you soon. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or would like to get involved in the Trust.

Kind Regards


David Roberton Chairman Wycombe Wanderers Trust Limited www.wycombewandererstrust.com dr@wwst.org



Renew, Join, Refer a Friend, Find Out More

Trust representatives are at every game – in the Vere Suite, Scores and the Woodlands Bar.

We can be found on the internet – www.wycombewandererstrust.com – where full contact and membership details can be found.

Membership remains £10 per year for adults, £2 per year for over 65’s and £5 a year for under 16’s.

You can join online, by post or at a game.


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