Do we need an Investor?

[short_gog]

Originally Posted by Bagger Vance

Its easy to pick up on a small minority of failures to prove a point.

There are two ways of looking at everything

E.g.
Fan ownership doesn't work - look at Stockport and York
Fan ownership works - look at Portsmouth and Wimbledon

What differentiates the above - poor executive decision making, financial imprudence, flexibility and dynamism of approach. It doesn't matter the model, whether its fan or private the difference between success or failure of both is executive decision making.

Get the strategy right, get the structure right, get the people right, get the funding model right and execute well and both will work, get it wrong and both can and will fail.

THIS.

Fan ownership isn't the problem, the problem is the personnel "running" the club. They seem to have been made less accountable than previous owners, how is that possible is beyond me. There is something seriously amiss, where the fans are miserable, the football is miserable the prospect of improvement seems to diminish daily.

Whereas I genuinely don't think they are in it for personal monetary wealth (unlike potential private owner) they do seem to be in it for personal reputational wealth, but are missing the point that their reputations are being diminished by not addressing the glaring issues both on and off field now.

A simple solution to this would be for the entire Club board to say they are stepping down at the end of the season and will stand for open and fair re-election, if not a resolution needs to be done to force the issue.

This current ownership model whereas the gang is answerable to the gang is not sensible, so the WST board needs to look at its governance - no member should be able to function on each board and each board member should have a sunset clause of a 4 year term max and not be able to stand again for either board for 2 terms. Fresh blood and fresh ideas need to be actively encouraged.

Fan ownership can work, outside investment is no panacea but fan ownership has been hamstrung in Wrecsam by egos - compared to clubs in this league and L2 our crowds should give us more money to pay players than most of these clubs get from their owners and gates, so I dont' think much investment is needed if at all at present to get out of this league.

[Bagger Vance]

Originally Posted by GiggityGiggityGiggityGoo

I think Portsmouth have sold up, the supporters trust felt they couldn't take the club further. Wimbledon have also sold shares of but still retain 77%, obviously neither have sold shares off to any Tom, Dick or Harry.

However, I wouldn't trust those currently in charge to make the right call.

Brentford another great example of a Trust finding a partner they could work with and ultimately sold to because the partner was able to take the club further than they could. There was a long engagement and a lot of trust built up over time.

[Rhosymedre Red]

Just in case you missed it.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21058754

[dragonspark]

there are very good cases for both fan owned and private owned posted in this thread, the trouble is we are all going round in circles, comments are more or less what have been posted many times over many years especially this season and we are still in danger and still the best supported club even with so many fans abstaining, we are losing fans and some of those fans are finding alternative things to do, some of whom may not return unless it is a decisive match or cup run, i think the current set up may just retain national league status i can not see us getting any higher unless there are major changes, this so sad

[Prodigal Dragon]

Originally Posted by Bagger Vance

Its easy to pick up on a small minority of failures to prove a point.

There are two ways of looking at everything

E.g.
Fan ownership doesn't work - look at Stockport and York
Fan ownership works - look at Portsmouth and Wimbledon

What differentiates the above - poor executive decision making, financial imprudence, flexibility and dynamism of approach. It doesn't matter the model, whether its fan or private the difference between success or failure of both is executive decision making.

Get the strategy right, get the structure right, get the people right, get the funding model right and execute well and both will work, get it wrong and both can and will fail.

Bingo!

Alas, human nature dictates that we often find it difficult to admit to our failings . Thus, without this vital first step, it is difficult to progress.

The WST and senior management within the NHS 'operate' similarly. As they cannot or will not acknowledge their failings we, the WST members, must either accept the status quowhich threatens our existence or we demand and execute change.

[Inside Left]

Originally Posted by krux

I would expect an investor to be the new owner. Supporters trust could have a seat on the board as a minority interest, but I don't see anyone putting money into the WST model.

A supporters seat on the board is meaningless.

[John Neals Dynasty]

What we really need is a Swansea type of ownership unless fans are happy to watch the club go in a slower more painful way than a crooked owner.

The article is 7 yrs old have we progressed as a club?

For me the writing was on the wall when Bircham left, something kept quiet to this day by the Peaky Blinders as to why? I don't believe the reasons put out at the time by Bircham and Horne more to it than that.

Since they have gone the Peaky Blinders have made a complete cat's ass of the job on the footballing side, like kids playing a computer game.
Posted via mobile theme

[Rob]

The WST aka the fans have invested over the years, and prior to that the last big new investment under private ownership was 'bond day', which also came from the fans.

Will the next big external investment come from Welsh Gov cash? If so, would that be made to a private business (you could say yes with Aston Martin etc etc) or is it easier as it is a 'community' setup.

Lots of stats and arguments from both sides of the argument, but really everyone needs to put more effort into winning the euromillions

[Cuddington Red]

This debate is constantly focussed on fan owned versus private ownership.
To my mind it should be about well run or badly run.
Sadly things don't look to good at the moment.