WST Board majority vote to fire Hughes - Club Board not involved?

[Rob]

Two sets of minutes out https://wst.org.uk/wp/?page_id=179

Sept meeting with Brian Phillips (BP), Bryan Still (BS), Stephen Lloyd (SL), Gavin Jones (GJ), Sarah Smith-Howard (SSH), Spencer Harris (SH), Robert Stock (RS), John Mills (JM), Jonathan Hughes (JH), Carl Hogan (CH) & Pete Jones chairing attending and appear to be voting.

"The main agenda item tonight is the current on field position and the fact we had not won for 8 games and were now in a relegation position.
A discussion took place to discuss the current on the field problems and the manager’s position. This culminated in a vote on the mangers’ position."

"VOTE There were two options proposed: in favour of retaining BH with an experienced assistant or in favour of relieving him of his duties. Relieving BH of his duties was passed by a majority vote.

"SH left the meeting to inform BH and, assisted by CH, drew up a press release for discussion and agreement with the board."

Is this at odds with the update Governing Board and Operational Board Policy 8.1?

As everyone will know there is a WST Board / Club Operational Board.

8.1 has a big list of the delegation of power and responsibilities , "The Trust Board delegates the following powers and responsibilities to the Operational Board:"

First is "The responsibility to select and appoint a first team manager and assistant subject to ratification by the Trust Board including the general terms and conditions of his contract;"

Second is:
"o The responsibility to terminate the contract of the first team manager subject to ratification by the Trust Board"

As explained in May https://wst.org.uk/wp/?p=534 "Eight years ago, we were strongly advised by Supporters Direct to adopt a two-board structure. A football club board to run the day to day operational side with a trust board to run everything else and to oversee the work of the football club board as well as providing the majority of board members who sit on it. We believe that this structure has generally worked well and although we had originally planned to formalise the relationship, we never actually took that step.

"As we indicated at the members meeting of 7th February, we have looked closely at how the two boards operate. We remain convinced that the two-board structure works best and that a policy formalising that relationship would help going forward including to better explain the position for club owners and for future board members. Having carefully thought about who does what, the Trust board unanimously agreed the attached board policy to be introduced with immediate effect. "


Should the Club Board not have had the vote then passed upwards for the ratification rather than WST Board having a quick vote and then someone leaving the meeting to tell Hughes, or have I missed something? (entirely possible!)

[Rk11]

The issue here is people are across 2 boards.

[138+NotOut]

Originally Posted by Rk11

The issue here is people are across 2 boards.

Yeah, checks and balances don't work when it's the same people. You're creating an echo chamber

[Jaded]

Originally Posted by Rk11

The issue here is people are across 2 boards.

Apparently this is what Supporters Direct recommend, though. Does anyone happen to know if this was the case at Chester when they had major issues under fan ownership?

[LL11 2AH]

Originally Posted by Jaded

Apparently this is what Supporters Direct recommend, though. Does anyone happen to know if this was the case at Chester when they had major issues under fan ownership?

It was the other way round at Chester, they only had one elected board.
Posted via mobile theme

[Jaded]

Originally Posted by LL11 2AH

It was the other way round at Chester, they only had one elected board.
Posted via mobile theme

Thanks!

[LlayDragon]

Originally Posted by LL11 2AH

It was the other way round at Chester, they only had one elected board.
Posted via mobile theme

Besides sermantics it's not much different here.

[WrexhamO]

Originally Posted by Rob

Two sets of minutes out https://wst.org.uk/wp/?page_id=179

Sept meeting with Brian Phillips (BP), Bryan Still (BS), Stephen Lloyd (SL), Gavin Jones (GJ), Sarah Smith-Howard (SSH), Spencer Harris (SH), Robert Stock (RS), John Mills (JM), Jonathan Hughes (JH), Carl Hogan (CH) & Pete Jones chairing attending and appear to be voting.

"The main agenda item tonight is the current on field position and the fact we had not won for 8 games and were now in a relegation position.
A discussion took place to discuss the current on the field problems and the manager’s position. This culminated in a vote on the mangers’ position."

"VOTE There were two options proposed: in favour of retaining BH with an experienced assistant or in favour of relieving him of his duties. Relieving BH of his duties was passed by a majority vote.

"SH left the meeting to inform BH and, assisted by CH, drew up a press release for discussion and agreement with the board."

Is this at odds with the update Governing Board and Operational Board Policy 8.1?

As everyone will know there is a WST Board / Club Operational Board.

8.1 has a big list of the delegation of power and responsibilities , "The Trust Board delegates the following powers and responsibilities to the Operational Board:"

First is "The responsibility to select and appoint a first team manager and assistant subject to ratification by the Trust Board including the general terms and conditions of his contract;"

Second is:
"o The responsibility to terminate the contract of the first team manager subject to ratification by the Trust Board"

As explained in May https://wst.org.uk/wp/?p=534 "Eight years ago, we were strongly advised by Supporters Direct to adopt a two-board structure. A football club board to run the day to day operational side with a trust board to run everything else and to oversee the work of the football club board as well as providing the majority of board members who sit on it. We believe that this structure has generally worked well and although we had originally planned to formalise the relationship, we never actually took that step.

"As we indicated at the members meeting of 7th February, we have looked closely at how the two boards operate. We remain convinced that the two-board structure works best and that a policy formalising that relationship would help going forward including to better explain the position for club owners and for future board members. Having carefully thought about who does what, the Trust board unanimously agreed the attached board policy to be introduced with immediate effect. "


Should the Club Board not have had the vote then passed upwards for the ratification rather than WST Board having a quick vote and then someone leaving the meeting to tell Hughes, or have I missed something? (entirely possible!)

Rumours that the club board and Pete vote as a block. Means they only have to persuade 2 more board members to get a majority.

[-luke]

Originally Posted by WrexhamO

Rumours that the club board and Pete vote as a block. Means they only have to persuade 2 more board members to get a majority.

It doesnt come as a surprise...

A few of us have been indicating as much since September.