FAO THE GTFC SUPPORTERS TRUST

Quoted from bax

In what way has the Trust not represented fans best interests or being answerable to the membership?

The Trust has a board member. That board member represented the fans in the boardroom. The Trust doesn't own the club, it cannot speak on behalf of the club.

Spot on. I am a Trust Board member. I know how our rep. was detailed to vote based on the communications received on the subject from those members who took the trouble to let us know. I do not know how the vote went and don't expect to until the club reveal that information in the same way as I don't know about a myriad of other decisions made by the Board of GTFC. I understand the meaning of corporate responsibility and it is clearly the responsibility of the club to inform all interested parties. Do I personally think the club should have told the fans by now? Yes without a doubt.

I don't think it is too much to ask that in exchange for over £30,000pa that we,at the very least, get a line of communication, even if many don't agree with any decisions.

If we don't get even information then it has to be asked what exactly are the Trust and its members getting for its not insignificant payment.

Nobody would expect to get everything their own way, but when we don't even get told and The Trust are not permitted to inform, then it isn't difficult to question is it all worth it?

The GT report today says

"Grimsby Town are understood to have been instrumental in ensuring changes were made to the competition ahead of the new season"

It's not hard to see through that is it? The club would not have been instrumental in ensuring changes if it was just voting against the whole concept.

So in fact we have a good idea which way JF voted, it's just a case of him/the board admitting it. No reason to be secretive is there?

JF made it very clear , as did the other fella , at the fans forum.  

The club didnt lose money on the comp last year, they dont see it as the thin edge of the wedge, you can get to Wembley , we would vote yes again, ......the fact Harvey took them for a ride last time didnt seem to sway them.  

So...i think we dont actually need a statement ..do you ?

Quoted from moosey_club

JF made it very clear , as did the other fella , at the fans forum.  

The club didnt lose money on the comp last year, they dont see it as the thin edge of the wedge, you can get to Wembley , we would vote yes again, ......the fact Harvey took them for a ride last time didnt seem to sway them.  

So...i think we dont actually need a statement ..do you ?

That would be my conclusion. They said as much at the fans forum as you point out. Also, 2/3 rds of the votes were in favour, so they are twice as likely to have voted for, rather than against.

Quoted from moosey_club

JF made it very clear , as did the other fella , at the fans forum.  

The club didnt lose money on the comp last year, they dont see it as the thin edge of the wedge, you can get to Wembley , we would vote yes again, ......the fact Harvey took them for a ride last time didnt seem to sway them.  

So...i think we dont actually need a statement ..do you ?

The problem is we now have a manger who got the last winners to Wembley, chairman (or non chairmen) may think he could do it again and make the club a bit of cash which would mean a pro vote.

Looking at the amount of poor owners in the EFL the format of this competition is not the top of their "feck up list".

I have been proud to be a trust member for the past few years.  I have massive respect for those who serve on the Mariners Trust board and get involved and can do nothing but commend them for the time and effort they put into helping our club at every level.  

However when confirmation comes that we voted to continue with B-teams in the whatever you call it trophy I will relinquish my membership of the trust.  I do not understand what it is there for anymore apart from doing good PR work that the larger shareholders then ignore.  Operation Promotion is possibly the proudest thing I have ever been involved in as a Grimsby fan and the Trust were superb and instrumental in that, and while it was a tremendous PR coup for the club, of course when we raised the total and had a celebration night John Fenty was there on BBC look north talking about how amazing Town fans are.  Then when he votes on something like this he ignores how amazing Town fans are and ignores their views.  The Trust and the hardworking individuals  who try to represent us have to relinquish their views as part of 'collective responsibility' This is not good enough, we need to have a real say in these matters not a token voice.

If I am wrong and we have been one of the minority of clubs to have opposed B teams I apologise unreservedly.  To those who work on the Trust and are appalled at our decisions but try to work within the framework of the GTFC board to make change positive, good luck and I really hope you can make a difference.  

However the betrayal of fans in this decisions is the biggest heartbreak for me in a long time..  For all the fine talk fans like us are not as important as Premier League money.  

There's only 2 good things about this competition, it's a chance to give fringe players game time and there is some meaningful prize money available if we do well in it, and that's why so many clubs voted in favour, it's the money available.

The problem is that the Trust is crippled in having to fall in line when these 'collective' decisions are made. JF has been very clever here. In keeping the Trust close and cosy with a seat on the board (which is of course more or less symbolic) he can have some degree of control and take advantage of the good work that the Trust do for free and of course the Trust have to pay 30k a year for the privilage having already transferred to JF a large number of it shares.
I would like to see the Trust as an independent enity (no board rep) that can truly fight for it's membership and GTFC supporters.

Quoted from Davec

There's only 2 good things about this competition, it's a chance to give fringe players game time and there is some meaningful prize money available if we do well in it, and that's why so many clubs voted in favour, it's the money available.

But you get fined for giving too many fringe players game time.