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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 16, 2016 23:11:26 GMT
Calling all shareholders of Worcester City football Club we need your help.
As you may be aware the Club is in a precarious financial situation and over the last few years has been trying to find ways to safeguard the Clubs future. One of those options all but brought the Club to it's knees thanks to the efforts of one of our former Board members (Mr. Hallmark). After much sensitive negotiation Anthony Hampson and other board members managed to extricate us from the Nunnery Way deal but penalty costs were incurred. While those negotiations were taking place the Supporters Trust having realised, long before many of us less enlightened people, that plan was doomed to failure and looked for alternative solutions to safeguard the future of the Club. They came to the same conclusion that many other Clubs faced with extinction have done, that Worcester City needs to become a Community share owned Club. All indications were that the Board in principle seemed to agree with this. What has become puzzling is that rather than working with the Trust to that aim the Board would appear to have done one of the following:-
Are still on Board but have done nothing about recommending this the shareholders via a vote. Have an alternate plan they are working on but have not presented to shareholders or supporters. Are stalling for time so the Club will fold. (I hope and trust this is not the case but you have to wonder given the lack of anything else being on the table.) Are stalling for time hoping some rich individual my come to the rescue. (Let's be honest that does not look likely to happen.) Have no intention in agreeing to the Trusts proposals and are just stringing them along. Just being obstinate and not willing to change the constitution and are burying the heads in the sand and hoping all the problems will go away. As you may or may not be aware a small group of Club shareholders have been trying to call an EGM and had raised enough support to reach the 5% of required shareholdings under the Club constitution to be able to obtain such an EGM. It would now appear that the Board have found some sort of technicality to invalidate an agreed and as far as the individual was concerned confirmed by the Board transfer of shares from one shareholder to another. The net result is there are now insufficient share holdings to make up the required 5% to request an EGM. We need, as I understand it, another 2,300 shares currently held by shareholders to make up the shortfall. Therefore if you do have a shareholding in the Club however small and like myself are concerned for it's future given the financial figures provided earlier in the year at the Club AGM, we need your support and shareholding votes to add to those already offered to force an EGM to find out what is going on. Plus the fact the Club has not to date recommended the Trust proposals to shareholders for a discussion or vote since the Trust submitted them some 4 plus years ago, let alone seemingly found any alternative plans or solutions of their own to ensure the clubs future, I and I hope you want answers and fast. The club has at best finances to cover the next couple of years and maybe at a pinch a third but that is it. Doing nothing is no longer and option as time is fast running out. If you feel strongly one way or the other we need your votes to have the EGM so this issue can be discussed and acted upon or not, be it the Trust proposal, what alternate plans the Board is considering or worst case scenario fold the club rather than let it die a slow lingering death in a couple of years.
The EGN application will need to be resubmitted, so if you would be kind enough to get in touch with Rob Crean, Dave Wood or Rich Widdowson or indeed anyone on the Trust to let them know who you are and how many shares you hold and they will arrange with you to sign the form to request the EGM. I appreciate your minds might not be on the Club at this time of year when families and holidays come to the fore but this needs to be sorted out before the start of the season so everyone has a say in the Club's future and something is put in motion that will save the Club before it's too late and in my opinion we are fast approaching that critical point and have wasted a lot of time doing precisely nothing to put plans in place. The time to act/vote is now to get those answers and ideally vote on proposals and or plans and act on one of them if there is indeed an alternative to the Trust plans!
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 17, 2016 9:28:52 GMT
Just a quick update. Since posting the above message certain parties have made themselves known to the Trust and the 5% required to apply for an EGM have been found and indeed exceeded so the process will start again. However in case of any further problems it might be good to lodge your support or indeed not, as the case may be, with the Trust so that if needed as evidence to present to the Board about the strength of feeling, support and concern about the Clubs future can be made clear. Those names and shareholdings would not be made available to the Board unless absolutely necessary to galvanise the Board into making a decision, be it the Trust plan, the Boards own plan if they have one, a third party plan if one exists or to fold the Club. Whatever your thoughts on the subject we are fast approaching a critical tipping point in the Clubs future, if we have not already passed that point so this may be one of, if not the last opportunity to plan for the Clubs future. If this opportunity is not taken plans for Perdiswell or any plans the Board might be working on will all be for nothing as there just won't be a Club unless some decisions are taken or revealed urgently. It's our club not the Boards or the Trusts and it's future lies with all shareholders making their feelings known and voting accordingly. Delaying the EGM at this point makes no sense! Time is critical now and those tough maybe even unpalatable decisions have to be made now! So all shareholders need first of all be fully informed as to the Boards views and or plans and why they are delaying presenting the Trust plan to shareholders being the only survival plan known to shareholders, or the Board come clean with their own plan, which we do not even know if it exists and then let shareholders make a decision. If you care about the Club all shareholders need to get involved now and the EGM is the first step as we need to know what the Board is doing. If anything?
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Post by miserablesod on May 17, 2016 10:31:48 GMT
Thank you for your efforts Hampson and Leyland, but enough is enough. Let the club progress beyond your blinkered vision.
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Post by greenman on May 17, 2016 11:41:23 GMT
Once again this has proved an absolute disgrace by whoever is running the show to take three weeks to provide a reason not to call an EGM, if indeed the Board are in any way way supportive of the Trust and there plan to change the constitution I fail to see it. I would appreciate some honesty and tell shareholders exactly what there plans are or is there a hidden agenda which cannot be shared.
I would also add there was an opportunity to rid the Club of the above named Directors at the AGM, just a handful voted against there re-election including myself, a decision I could not understand given the five years wait for an AGM, the sad state of accounts when finally produced and the lack of vision and plan for the future.
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Post by stgeorge on May 17, 2016 11:49:55 GMT
I've got a few shares, if you need me to sign anything just DM me.
Hampson needs to go. If he's still here in August the fans can make it very uncomfortable for him if they know all the facts.
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Post by jimbo on May 17, 2016 12:43:47 GMT
QI gave Jem Pitt proxy on my 2 sons & my own for the meeting a few months ago. Can that still be used for this?
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Post by jimbo on May 17, 2016 12:46:51 GMT
Just thought about the board's apparent lack of ideas etc. There are now several Trust members on the WCFC board, surely they will know what alternative plans are in line. If the Chairman won't inform us, why can't they ? And why can't they force the EGM issue ?
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 17, 2016 14:23:04 GMT
Hi Jimbo, The fact the Board has not as yet seen fit to provide shareholders with an alternative plan is probably because there isn't one but we need to know that. There are Trust members on the Board but that does not mean they necessarily know about all or any other plans the Board may have as members of the old Board may wish to keep that out of the public domain at this time and suspect Trust elected Board members might divulge details to the rest of the shareholders, Trust and supporters.
Given the old Boards track record of the past it is not beyond the realms of possibility this could be going on but I suspect no such realistic alternative is out there. They could of course be working with a third party but given what happened over the Nunnery Way debacle keeping such plans as these secret would lead to suspicion and anger and would need VERY close scrutiny by all shareholders especially when some of those Board members were hoodwinked by Hallmark, any plans like that cannot be kept secret or rubber stamped by the Board. The truth is we just don't know what the Board is thinking and because of that you, like me are probably making 2+2=5 or more, depending on the reaches of your imagination or mistrust at this time. The Board now need to come clean about there objections about the Trust proposals if they have them and if they don't why are they delaying the transfer of the Club to a 'Community Share' owned Club by giving shareholders an opportunity to vote on the merits or shortfalls of such a scheme. Also if they have any alternatives to the Trust plan of their own we need to know about them now. Anything less is just not acceptable! The soap box is now free for the next set of views.
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 17, 2016 16:17:00 GMT
Just to clarify something for people who may not understand. I in conjunction with other concerned shareholders via the Trust, are requesting this 'EGM' which is a single issue meeting to find out what the Board is up to in respect of the Trust plans and/or any plans the Board may have as an alternative way of ensuring the clubs future. This is NOT, I repeat NOT a full 'AGM' so there will be nothing on the agenda about voting people on or off the Board or any other business as some of you may be thinking, this purely to discuss the future direction of the Club and hopefully agree and implement a plan immediately to save the Club from extinction. This issue needs to discussed urgently given the financial position of the Club is in, so I would like all shareholders of whatever view point to attend the meeting as the Club simply cannot carry on in it's current format as it stands unless someone rich can be found who is prepared to invest money. I believe both the Board and Trust have approached some possible people but have failed to date to attract anyone, so given that no such person may be found we have to face reality and change the course of the Clubs future. Hopefully the experience of both the Board and Trust members can be pooled to achieve that aim and any lingering resentment from either side can be eradicated for the good of the Club. Sadly what we cannot do is continue the road that has been followed for many years, the world has changed and the Club must change too if it is to survive in the modern ever changing world, so this 'EGM is to sort that out and set wheels in motion now before it is too late.
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Post by greenman on May 17, 2016 19:08:53 GMT
Well I have just signed a request for an EGM for the third time, I now await the Board's reason to reject this one. No doubt it will take another three weeks before we get a reply. And am I right in understanding that they are incurring legal expenses to deny the EGM?
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harley
Squad Member
Posts: 241
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Post by harley on May 19, 2016 18:35:42 GMT
Just a quick question about voting, my daughter was born in City's centenary year so I bought 50 shares in her name from the special issue at that time. As she is now 14 is she old enough to vote in any EGM? Or would she nominate me as proxy and I vote on her behalf? If it's the proxy route can she just sign a letter giving me permission?
I know it's only 50 shares but they all add up.
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Post by auldreekie on May 19, 2016 19:59:33 GMT
Just a quick question about voting, my daughter was born in City's centenary year so I bought 50 shares in her name from the special issue at that time. As she is now 14 is she old enough to vote in any EGM? Or would she nominate me as proxy and I vote on her behalf? If it's the proxy route can she just sign a letter giving me permission? I know it's only 50 shares but they all add up. There is no age limit below which a person cannot legally own shares. Some companies can apply an age limit themselves in their Articles of Association. I am not aware of an age limit in City's Articles. So providing that there is no arrangement made for the shares to be held in trust for your daughter until she reaches a certain age then as I see it she has the same rights as any other shareholder.
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Post by Mark on May 19, 2016 20:43:13 GMT
Well I have just signed a request for an EGM for the third time, I now await the Board's reason to reject this one. No doubt it will take another three weeks before we get a reply. And am I right in understanding that they are incurring legal expenses to deny the EGM? So what is to stop the Board rejecting calls for an EGM over and over again? Could this to and fro go on indefinitely?
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dcx
Squad Member
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Post by dcx on May 19, 2016 20:55:05 GMT
I want Hampson out ASAP. And the rest of the clueless idiots (I don't include CH and the ST in that, to be clear). I was giving then the benefit of the doubt up until this week, rejecting the EGM on a technicality, they are just power obsessed ego maniacs.
I knew Hampson was a fuckwit when he turned up to his first game in that f**k**g beret. I was right.
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 19, 2016 21:35:37 GMT
Hi Mark, I have been assured that the shareholders who have signed or re-signed the form are all eligible and we have a greater number of votes this time too, so there should be little chance for them being able to reject the request this time.
'dcx' I fully appreciate your anger and frustration but using offensive language will not help, especially when you know the press are watching these comments looking for even half a story. We do not know for sure if Anthony is the problem or if there is a clique of Board members who are dragging there feet or have another agenda. Indeed as stated before maybe they are working on an alternative rescue plan of their own. The simple fact is we do not know what they are up to or thinking because they are simple not telling us anything. This EGM is to find out what the Board is doing, if anything, to find an alternate solution and also find out why they are dragging their collective heels over giving shareholders an opportunity to debate the Trust plans and then shareholders be able to vote on them and a change to the Club constitution should shareholders be in favour of the Trust plans.
I repeat again this EGM is not about asking certain members of the Board to step down, even if there are individuals that some of you might like to see replaced. The primary issue is to debate the relative merits or not of the Trust plan and any alternative the Board may have up their collective sleeves and start implementation of one or other said rescue plan to secure the Clubs future
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Post by cityspur on May 19, 2016 21:38:50 GMT
I want Hampson out ASAP. And the rest of the clueless idiots (I don't include CH and the ST in that, to be clear). I was giving then the benefit of the doubt up until this week, rejecting the EGM on a technicality, they are just power obsessed ego maniacs. I knew Hampson was a fuckwit when he turned up to his first game in that f**k**g beret. I was right. The only time I've ever spoken to Hampson was after the Gloucester game at christmas he mentioned that he was surprised Symmo wasn't in the Gloucester team !!! I politely told him Symmo left gloucester about 6 months previously Enough said on his football knowledge
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Post by jimbo on May 19, 2016 21:40:22 GMT
I would have thought the decision to reject an EGM would need a majority vote from the board....... Why isn't this information being given to us shareholders ? I cannot believe that there isn't enough 'trust' & 'trust' sympathisers on the board to vote the EGM on to the agenda. What is going on behind closed doors ??
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Post by stgeorge on May 19, 2016 21:55:16 GMT
Could someone please list our directors so we can work out who is/are trying to avoid an EGM.
I can't see CH or the ST board members objecting so is it Hampson or are there possibly others?
They need naming and shaming
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 19, 2016 22:03:10 GMT
What is going on behind closed doors is exactly what we are trying to find out. We do not know if all the Board are attending or are invited to all meetings? They should be but we simply don't know. It could be that the Trust members on the Board are not invited? For example we never really got a satisfactory answer as to why so many AGM's were not called and maybe we should seek a more thorough answer to that at a future AGM or EGM. In fact I think the whole way the Club is being run at the moment needs examining and needs to become more transparent as we were promised, with say a selection of ordinary shareholders, and maybe independent parties from the general public nominated and invited to sit in on all Board meetings and who can bear witness to the meetings and relay any inaccuracies reported post a meeting to all shareholders maybe that is why the Board are dragging their feet over the Trust proposals as that would herald an end to secrecy which seems to surround the Board and it's decisions.
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 19, 2016 22:26:09 GMT
Hi StGeorge, I am sure the Board can supply a list and I think John Jordan is currently the Club secretary who should be able to help you unless he has stood down and I expect the Trust could also supply you with a list of Board member names. You would have thought though that a full list Board members and their rolls would have appeared on the Club website!
I think you need to attend the EGM and quiz individual Board members and that is possibly the only and fairest way you might get a feel of who might be holding things up or not. We all have views and ideas of who these people might be or not be but it is only fair that the people we are judging have an opportunity to explain their thoughts, actions and ideas before they are condemned on hearsay without uttering a word. If at the end of the said EGM you are not convinced about the motives or actions of a Board member or members a group of you with a 5% holding of shares which currently stands at £7,985.15 so to make things easy and call that £8,000 of shares though more might have more clout.
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Post by The Verner on May 19, 2016 23:27:46 GMT
Hi StGeorge, I am sure the Board can supply a list and I think John Jordan is currently the Club secretary who should be able to help you unless he has stood down and I expect the Trust could also supply you with a list of Board member names. You would have thought though that a full list Board members and their rolls would have appeared on the Club website! I think you need to attend the EGM and quiz individual Board members and that is possibly the only and fairest way you might get a feel of who might be holding things up or not. We all have views and ideas of who these people might be or not be but it is only fair that the people we are judging have an opportunity to explain their thoughts, actions and ideas before they are condemned on hearsay without uttering a word. If at the end of the said EGM you are not convinced about the motives or actions of a Board member or members a group of you with a 5% holding of shares which currently stands at £7,985.15 so to make things easy and call that £8,000 of shares though more might have more clout. It is on the website - www.worcestercityfc.com/contact/Minus Jem, Rob, Carl and Martin
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 20, 2016 7:29:59 GMT
Hi Kev, Yes I saw that but as you say it is not a full list of board members and I think they should all be posted so supporters and shareholders know all the people they could speak to if they have questions they wish to pose, say at matches.
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Post by Brooksiders Return!! on May 20, 2016 12:04:22 GMT
As a Board member, I have posted my email address on here before, it is jempitt@gmail.com - I am always very happy to take any questions or concerns of shareholders and supporters, and will answer wherever I can within the confines of company confidentiality. I'm open to discussions at games, you don't need to come and find me in the Directors Lounge or Directors Box, I'm on the terraces, I'm in the bar, you can berate me, you can advise me, you can agree or disagree with what I tell you, I'm a fan, first and foremost. Please be aware that I will not post company information on here, or enter into any discussions on the banter board.
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Post by Bonzo Bitburg on May 20, 2016 12:50:59 GMT
As a Board member, I have posted my email address on here before, it is jempitt@gmail.com - I am always very happy to take any questions or concerns of shareholders and supporters, and will answer wherever I can within the confines of company confidentiality. I'm open to discussions at games, you don't need to come and find me in the Directors Lounge or Directors Box, I'm on the terraces, I'm in the bar, you can berate me, you can advise me, you can agree or disagree with what I tell you, I'm a fan, first and foremost. Please be aware that I will not post company information on here, or enter into any discussions on the banter board. Identifiable by loud shirt and stupid hat.
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Post by Brooksiders Return!! on May 20, 2016 12:57:59 GMT
A fedora Si! It's a fedora!!
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 20, 2016 13:13:04 GMT
Hi Jem, I know who you are and what you look like and all of the current Club Board and Trust members. The point I was trying to make but did make clear or explain myself was imagine for sake of argument it was your first visit to one of our games or you were an infrequent visitor, a visitor from another club or a fan who just hadn't taken interest to date would it not be helpful to have photos of all Board members on the Club web sight and by the same token if the Trust similarly followed suit with all their committee members photos on their site it would make it easier to know who is who and who to look out for. Come to that why not have all the photos in the Club match day programmes?
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Post by Brooksiders Return!! on May 20, 2016 13:38:24 GMT
Yes, sorry, that was for the benefit of anyone who might have questions at the moment, but yes it would be a good idea to have all photos and contact details of all Directors listed on the website. They are listed on the Supporters Trust website - www.wcfcsupporterstrust.com/wcfc-trust-board/, although the emails need updating - a job I need to do!
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Post by kentenigmawcfc on May 20, 2016 14:03:28 GMT
Well come on then Jem and pull your finger out and get it sorted it's not like you have anything else to do!!! Ha! Ha! Seriously though the Trust site is far better in this regard than the Club one so let's hope that the Club website can be updated before the season starts.
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Post by The Verner on May 20, 2016 14:23:40 GMT
Yes, sorry, that was for the benefit of anyone who might have questions at the moment, but yes it would be a good idea to have all photos and contact details of all Directors listed on the website. They are listed on the Supporters Trust website - www.wcfcsupporterstrust.com/wcfc-trust-board/, although the emails need updating - a job I need to do! I need to update my photo ! Those blue glases are long gone
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Post by thesecondjack on May 20, 2016 14:42:40 GMT
Yes, sorry, that was for the benefit of anyone who might have questions at the moment, but yes it would be a good idea to have all photos and contact details of all Directors listed on the website. They are listed on the Supporters Trust website - www.wcfcsupporterstrust.com/wcfc-trust-board/, although the emails need updating - a job I need to do! I need to update my photo ! Those blue glases are long gone I thought you were the one without the glasses in that photo you look so young!
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