The Mariners Trust

Hello, hello, is there anybody there?

They Trust reps must immediately resign from the GTFC board following the latest revelations.

Alan Rutter must be happy, his mate Fenty has totally copulated up the club

They absolutely must resign, no choice whatsoever. Any of this being in the tent nonsense is just that.

I don't have a strong opinion either way, but what would it achieve?

Quoted from wigworld

I don't have a strong opinion either way, but what would it achieve?

To try and force change? I was one of those who initially said they should stay on the board but this is such a shitshow that if they genuinely represent the fans then they have no option now but to step away from the board and potentially form an alliance with the consortium.

If Holloway played that tape to the whole Board then both Trust reps should have realised that Holloway was working against the bid and, by extension, against fans wishes. Was this minuted when reps reported back to the Trust board?

The mandate for both Trust reps must surely be debated within the Trust membership. They have been placed in an invidious position.

Quoted from Croxton

If Holloway played that tape to the whole Board then both Trust reps should have realised that Holloway was working against the bid and, by extension, against fans wishes. Was this minuted when reps reported back to the Trust board?

The mandate for both Trust reps must surely be debated within the Trust membership. They have been placed in an invidious position.

Been saying this for ages and getting slated for it.

Any chance of something before we go to bed tonight?

Quoted from SomeSanity

Any chance of something before we go to bed tonight?

Afraid not night night.

The trust reps on the board are still working out how many more matches they can attend for free and servings of prawn sandwiches they can get away with before having to speak out against this rotten regime and resign.

Did someone suggest I gave my shares to the Trust?
Don’t think so, they are far too dynamic and influential

Quoted from Croxton

If Holloway played that tape to the whole Board then both Trust reps should have realised that Holloway was working against the bid and, by extension, against fans wishes. Was this minuted when reps reported back to the Trust board?

The mandate for both Trust reps must surely be debated within the Trust membership. They have been placed in an invidious position.

The only person I’ve ever heard use the word ‘invidious’ is Simon Jordan on Talksport - I didn’t even know the word existed before then, and I STILL don’t know it’s meaning!

Fenty Out.

Like to incite or incur arousal or resentment in others...or words to that effect...

Quoted from aldi_01

Like to incite or incur arousal

I wondered why the wife kept shouting that word,

I thought she was just turned on by watching some athletes in some games organised by Prince Harry.

The silence from the trust is deafening, are they preparing a statement to defend John Fenty

Trust are hopeless. Sorry

They might as well not exist judging to their contribution to this process which is a shame as they have a lot of members. They need to have a serious look at whether they are fit for purpose.

Quoted from aldi_01

Like to incite or incur arousal or resentment in others...or words to that effect...

as in 'awkward', 'unenviable' or difficult. Unable to represent the membership effectively.

I should speak more plainly!

Quoted from Davec

The silence from the trust is deafening, are they preparing a statement to defend John Fenty

Yes, as a matter of urgency Uncle John is preparing clarification for them to put out (this was since yesterday   )

[tweet]1341825252532375552[/tweet]

Absolutely pointless the lot of them.

Quoted from pizzzza

Yes, as a matter of urgency Uncle John is preparing clarification for them to put out (this was since yesterday   )

[tweet]1341825252532375552[/tweet]

If this is an example of a matter of urgency by the Trust, I would hate to see a slowly considered response

It's Christmas. The Trust have lives and jobs. They all do it in their own free time and maybe getting them all together isn't that easy, Give them a break, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes. They have been in contact with the Shute's consortium before, so maybe they are talking to them.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

If this is an example of a matter of urgency by the Trust, I would hate to see a slowly considered response

The Trust isn't a single person. It's a volunteer board elected by members. It's not easy to get them together at short notice as it is, but even more so on Christmas Eve in the middle of a pandemic.

Fenty's deadline is nothing of the sort. I seem to remember he issued a similar one back in January and has subsequently reopened talks.

Quoted from ginnywings

It's Christmas. The Trust have lives and jobs. They all do it in their own free time and maybe getting them all together isn't that easy, Give them a break, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes. They have been in contact with the Shute's consortium before, so maybe they are talking to them.

Then why put out a pointless statement
They could have said something like “Folks we are on the raz tonight so will respond when we sober up tomoz”

If I  had a membership card ( that's a laugh ) I would cut it up and send it back because they are not representing me or the majority of fans.

Quoted from ginnywings

It's Christmas. The Trust have lives and jobs. They all do it in their own free time and maybe getting them all together isn't that easy, Give them a break, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes. They have been in contact with the Shute's consortium before, so maybe they are talking to them.

rutter is always at BP in his town track, is he not retired from the boys in blue

Quoted from ginnywings

It's Christmas. The Trust have lives and jobs. They all do it in their own free time and maybe getting them all together isn't that easy, Give them a break, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes. They have been in contact with the Shute's consortium before, so maybe they are talking to them.

Do they really need to get together to agree on every tiny decision? Agree on a broad position, appoint a spokesperson and let that person respond to events on the ground. That's how most organisations work. Otherwise, it's just a litany of meetings and committees.

Quoted from GrimRob

They might as well not exist judging to their contribution to this process which is a shame as they have a lot of members. They need to have a serious look at whether they are fit for purpose.

Et tu Rob? blimey things must be dire for you to be critical.

If the deadline passes today with no deal and JF remains in charge then the Trust is no longer fit for purpose and will be shown to have no sway in being on the board.

In that scenario, if I remained a Trust member, I would be calling for a vote of no confidence in the Trust board members on GTFC's board and also in the Chair.

If JF remains in charge of the club the only thing the Trust can do is pull away from supporting him. Anything else would show they are not in touch with supporters. The argument of affecting things from the inside no longer washes I'm afraid.

Quoted from bax

If the deadline passes today with no deal and JF remains in charge then the Trust is no longer fit for purpose and will be shown to have no sway in being on the board.

In that scenario, if I remained a Trust member, I would be calling for a vote of no confidence in the Trust board members on GTFC's board and also in the Chair.

If JF remains in charge of the club the only thing the Trust can do is pull away from supporting him. Anything else would show they are not in touch with supporters. The argument of affecting things from the inside no longer washes I'm afraid.

ABSOFUCKINLUTELY!

You can predict that after 4pm they will come out with their usual rudderless nonsense of ‘we are very disappointed this didn’t go ahead etc etc’ and resume the prawn sandwich and VIP treatment at BP.

Quoted from davmariner

You can predict that after 4pm they will come out with their usual rudderless nonsense of ‘we are very disappointed this didn’t go ahead etc etc’ and resume the prawn sandwich and VIP treatment at BP.

If they do the membership should force the change. It's a democratically elected group and members should force that democratic right to make a change.

Quoted from davmariner

You can predict that after 4pm they will come out with their usual rudderless nonsense of ‘we are very disappointed this didn’t go ahead etc etc’ and resume the prawn sandwich and VIP treatment at BP.

I was under the impression that the Trust Board Members sat in their season ticket seats. I know they get invited  to the annual Fenty Summer Bash though.

They’ve just put a statement out. What the intercourse are they playing at sat on the fence?

There is a crystal clear feeling from the fans and they’re not representing it.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

They’ve just put a statement out. What the intercourse are they playing at sat on the fence?

There is a crystal clear feeling from the fans and they’re not representing it.

Hardly sat on the fence. They’ve nailed their colours to Shutes and his consortium buying the club.

I've just read the 'Open Letter'. Honest opinion - pathetic.

Open Letter to John Fenty, Tom Shutes, Andrew Pettit and Jason Stockwood.



Dear John, Tom, Andrew and Jason.

We are very disappointed to see that the talks over the proposed takeover of GTFC have broken down. We are appealing to both parties to urgently find a solution and to conclude the transaction.

We stand by ready to help in any way we can and are contacting each party to that effect.

For the sake of the magnificent fans of this wonderful Club, please get to a deal.We can’t go on like this.

Mariners Trust

Weak as urine. Your a waste of time

I can't believe I'm writing this.....

I have some sympathy for the trust here, they are caught between a rock and a hard place as they have no power or influence in the deal and are sat between us (the fans), the board and the consortium.

What we have clearly seen from this is that there needs to be a rethink about how the trust operates and how it communicates to the supporters. They are supposed to represent us on the board and yet we hear next to nothing from them.

The current board members should step down as a vote of no confidence in the current board and begin a dialogue with fans about how we are better represented by the trust - a minimum expectation should be open disclosure of board discussions but an acceptance that not all the detail can be discussed.

#Fentyout

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I've just read the 'Open Letter'. Honest opinion - pathetic.

Open Letter to John Fenty, Tom Shutes, Andrew Pettit and Jason Stockwood.



Dear John, Tom, Andrew and Jason.

We are very disappointed to see that the talks over the proposed takeover of GTFC have broken down. We are appealing to both parties to urgently find a solution and to conclude the transaction.

We stand by ready to help in any way we can and are contacting each party to that effect.

For the sake of the magnificent fans of this wonderful Club, please get to a deal.We can’t go on like this.

Mariners Trust

FFS Makes John Fenty's statement look like a well drafted potential Booker prize winning piece.

Who on earth wrote this, one step up from 'the cat sat on the mat' Have any of the Trust board members got young grandchildren with nowt to do after they finished their letter to Santa?

They have to resigne there seat NOW

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

I can't believe I'm writing this.....

I have some sympathy for the trust here, they are caught between a rock and a hard place as they have no power or influence in the deal and are sat between us (the fans), the board and the consortium.

What we have clearly seen from this is that there needs to be a rethink about how the trust operates and how it communicates to the supporters. They are supposed to represent us on the board and yet we hear next to nothing from them.

The current board members should step down as a vote of no confidence in the current board and begin a dialogue with fans about how we are better represented by the trust - a minimum expectation should be open disclosure of board discussions but an acceptance that not all the detail can be discussed.

#Fentyout

id support that, but trust members to vote only.  Are you a member?

Like brexit there will be an extension .

Further talks are ongoing to try to reach an agreement.

I can not see an agreement by 4pm why should they let Fenty dictate procedures.?

Quoted from grimsby pete

Like brexit there will be an extension .

Further talks are ongoing to try to reach an agreement.

I can not see an agreement by 4pm why should they let Fenty dictate procedures.?

For a man desperate to sell, his words, not mine, he doesn’t half make it difficult...anyone would think he’s full of excrement...

Quoted from TAGG

They have to resigne there seat NOW

Achieving what?

They have no sway on the detail of the sticking points. That is for Fenty and the buyers. They clearly support the takeover and see no point in antagonising Fenty further. He is a wounded beast and could well exhibit further ill thought out behaviours which threaten our League status. If they go gung ho with resignations and schisms of their own they will be totally on the sidelines with no chance to influence the manager appointment or diddly squat.

If there are Fenty supporters on the Trust board then it is our own fault for allowing that to occur. So far, they have played the role of honest broker. I sincerely hope that stronger messages/ suggestions have been made to both parties under NDA conditions.
Read between the lines.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Like brexit there will be an extension .

Further talks are ongoing to try to reach an agreement.

I can not see an agreement by 4pm why should they let Fenty dictate procedures.?

??

Shutes and co pulled out of the deal yesterday afternoon, Fenty has put something back on the table, he didnt have to do that.  Time for the Consortium to put up or shut up, and intercourse off and find another regeneration project somewhere else.

I don’t really see how else they could’ve worded really. Let’s not beat them with a stick just because tempers are running high .

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I don’t really see how else they could’ve worded really. Let’s not beat them with a stick just because tempers are running high .

Agreed. They have made it clear they want the takeover to go through. Being aggressive or confrontational isn't going to help anything.

I like the Trust and I’m a lifetime member (after getting Shanghai’d at the Wembley 98 night) so I’m loathe to criticise but that statement is pretty weak and misjudges the power the fans hold in the situation.

A well organised boycott could leave Fenty in real trouble and without the possibility of ever seeing another penny out of the loyal fans. The Trust do A LOT for the club for free, and they should immediately withdraw all support offered - whether that’s via the SLO, fundraising, promotion, fan liaison, representation, support groups, community activities, match day support, running the bars, the whole lot. They should also make it clear that the two board reps will not sanction any repayment of Fenty’s loans going forward.

It’s no use playing damsel in distress or appealing to Fenty’s better nature. He hasn’t got one. This is an open goal - immediately get on side with the consortium and stick the boot into Fenty. Even it achieves nothing in practice, the optics would be much better than sitting in the middle.

Between a rock and a hard place. They will be waiting to see what happens like the rest of us.

If JF stays though, they need to rethink their strategy and become a force for change, from outside the boardroom.

Quoted from davmariner

The trust reps on the board are still working out how many more matches they can attend for free and servings of prawn sandwiches they can get away with before having to speak out against this rotten regime and resign.

They pay for their own tickets

Quoted from bax

If they do the membership should force the change. It's a democratically elected group and members should force that democratic right to make a change.

Exactly. I bet half the people moaning haven’t bothered to join.

Quoted from Croxton

Achieving what?

They have no sway on the detail of the sticking points. That is for Fenty and the buyers. They clearly support the takeover and see no point in antagonising Fenty further. He is a wounded beast and could well exhibit further ill thought out behaviours which threaten our League status. If they go gung ho with resignations and schisms of their own they will be totally on the sidelines with no chance to influence the manager appointment or diddly squat.

If there are Fenty supporters on the Trust board then it is our own fault for allowing that to occur. So far, they have played the role of honest broker. I sincerely hope that stronger messages/ suggestions have been made to both parties under NDA conditions.
Read between the lines.

Voice of reason!

If all the people moaning on here were Trust members and then if they got in touch with the Trust board to tell them what they wanted, they might have a case. As it is, it’s like moaning about what’s on BBC1 but not changing channel.

Quoted from TAGG

They have to resigne there seat NOW

Are you a member? If not your opinion would carry no weight.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Exactly. I bet half the people moaning haven’t bothered to join.

Or they’ve let their membership lapse. There are a lot of people disappointed in this neutral stance they’re taking members or not. This is the sort of thing that drives people to join up or not and they’ve got it very badly wrong.

Quoted from LH

Or they’ve let their membership lapse. There are a lot of people disappointed in this neutral stance they’re taking members or not. This is the sort of thing that drives people to join up or not and they’ve got it very badly wrong.

Joined a couple of years ago. To date, nothing back, not even received a confirmation of membership. Communication zero. Now lapsed..

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Are you a member? If not your opinion would carry no weight.

Ye got one with my ST
Have you got a ST??

Quoted from Bigdog

Joined a couple of years ago. To date, nothing back, not even received a confirmation of membership. Communication zero. Now lapsed..

Similar story with me.

Quoted from TAGG

Ye got one with my ST
Have you got a ST??

Contact the Trust then.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Contact the Trust then.

Have done several times and received no reply

Quoted from LH

Or they’ve let their membership lapse. There are a lot of people disappointed in this neutral stance they’re taking members or not. This is the sort of thing that drives people to join up or not and they’ve got it very badly wrong.

I appreciate that. But their first duty is to listen to the members. If Fenty fans are disproportionately represented in the membership, they’re more likely to get listened to.

They are on the board because its Fentys gift, he only puts up with them being on the bottom of his shoe because it gives him that feeling of power over the fans.
They should leave the boardroom and start organising fan protests against the dictatorship so we can urine in from the outside.

Quoted from Davec

Have done several times and received no reply

This is unacceptable then. Any Trust Board members on here?

Quoted from KingstonMariner

This is unacceptable then. Any Trust Board members on here?

I took out a life membership about ,2 or 3 years ago but am still waiting for my membership card even after numerous requests.

I think we can forget about the Trust, to be honest.

The vast bulk of Town fans are not members, presumably because they knew if Fenty was there it was a waste of time.

When we get new owners we can look again at various options, but the current Trust is a waste of energy.

Whatever statements they issue will have no effect now. The whole of the fan base has turned against the current owner and his position is completely untenable unless he wants to spend the foreseeable future in utter turmoil whilst seeing the chances of recovering his loans fall to zero.

Contact details here:

https://www.marinerstrust.co.uk/contact/

I think the trust try hard, I think they have the right intentions but for whatever reason they don’t have the minerals so to speak.

This isn’t a criticism either, more an observation.

During our slightly more approve seasons in non league it always felt like the trust was an ego thing for a few fans who quite frankly hadn’t been seen nor heard of before those seasons.

I do believe Fenty holds the trust, as well as the entire fan base, even those the stupidly think he’s some messiah with contempt. This will never change.

I think the sit on the fence mentality is borne out of not wanting upset the apple cart or perhaps there is a disproportionate amount of Fenty fans within their membership, oxymoronic as that may seem.

The trust could gain so much from this but I’m not sure at present they will...

Shame really as I do believe they can and have done some great things. Sadly, there have been some fantastic trust members in some influential positions who’ve walked away...

I know what you mean Aldi, but don't give up now. If its too late for this occasion, the fans will still be around, so we just need to make sure the Trust represents us by making it listen, not leaving it to the likes of that bloke quoted in the Mail.

Can't remember his name.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I know what you mean Aldi, but don't give up now. If its too late for this occasion, the fans will still be around, so we just need to make sure the Trust represents us by making it listen, not leaving it to the likes of that bloke quoted in the Mail.

Can't remember his name.

I agree, I’d happily pay for a membership and I think of the consortium or whoever takes over got the trust on their side it would only be a positive thing.

Do the trust have the technology to run a vote amongst their members.
If they were able to go to a board meeting with a report saying xx% of our members have voted in favour of xxxx.
It is their duty to argue the case irrespective of confidentiality agreements.

It's alright Bax saying join the Trust,but those of us who live a fair distance from Grimsby it is not easy to participate.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Do the trust have the technology to run a vote amongst their members.
If they were able to go to a board meeting with a report saying xx% of our members have voted in favour of xxxx.
It is their duty to argue the case irrespective of confidentiality agreements.

Should be relatively easy to organise.

Quoted from Heisenberg

The only person I’ve ever heard use the word ‘invidious’ is Simon Jordan on Talksport - I didn’t even know the word existed before then, and I STILL don’t know it’s meaning!

Fenty Out.

I'm assuming you have the Internet so just Google it!!

Quoted from friskneymariner

It's alright Bax saying join the Trust,but those of us who live a fair distance from Grimsby it is not easy to participate.

Agree it's hard for exiles, not being able to participate in face-to-face meetings. It depends on more home-based people. Also, ultimately those of who have left, and unlikely to return will die off and our offspring are less likely to continue to be bothered about GTFC and NE Lincs.

But when it comes to a vote, every one counts. I'm still annoyed about the Fenty share gift fiasco, but whatever we think of the leadership (and I do blame them for being 'neutral' on the proposal) they can't be blamed for following what the membership voted for.

Quoted from friskneymariner

It's alright Bax saying join the Trust,but those of us who live a fair distance from Grimsby it is not easy to participate.

no agree, but you get nothing from them, how difficult is it to create an email database

Think the trust need to join the 21st century if they are to represent all fans irrespective of where they live.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Think the trust need to join the 21st century if they are to represent all fans irrespective of where they live.

no they should represent the views of their membership. A paid subscription/membership should have some merit attached to it.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Think the trust need to join the 21st century if they are to represent all fans irrespective of where they live.

Perhaps they should reflect on the composition of their membership very male pale and stale need to increase diversity of those on it.

From day one the Trust hasn't been fit for purpose

Quoted from friskneymariner

It's alright Bax saying join the Trust,but those of us who live a fair distance from Grimsby it is not easy to participate.

Just to be clear I haven't suggested anyone should join the Trust. Infact I'd suggest it was a waste of time and money in the current climate.

I suggested a Trust member should call a vote of no confidence.

Quoted from MrFisherman

From day one the Trust hasn't been fit for purpose

I'd say operation promotion would disagree with you. For all its faults at the moment, it has done some good stuff over the years.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Exactly. I bet half the people moaning haven’t bothered to join.

Or are ex members because they got fed up with the Trust cosying up to Fenty and in my case because they allowed a grubby opportunist to pose with a town shirt.

Quoted from friskneymariner

Perhaps they should reflect on the composition of their membership very male pale and stale need to increase diversity of those on it.

Whats pale got to do with. Why is everything suddenly about colour. Pale as you call it  is the predominant colour of gtfc fans and so is representative. But perhaps more ladies would be more reflective

Quoted from bax

I'd say operation promotion would disagree with you. For all its faults at the moment, it has done some good stuff over the years.

OP was great Bax, but, in truth, it took financial heat off JF and put the heat on Hursty.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

OP was great Bax, but, in truth, it took financial heat off JF and put the heat on Hursty.

JF did tell me it was the worst thing that happened to the club after all...

Quoted from bax

JF did tell me it was the worst thing that happened to the club after all...

Very hard to take a 100k loan repayment out of the club when the fans have donated 100k to back the club.

Quoted from bax

I'd say operation promotion would disagree with you. For all its faults at the moment, it has done some good stuff over the years.

It's like a chicken and egg situation. There's been zero contact with paid up new members, but need new members, zero database management or collation,  but need to digitally contact members across all forms of social media with the press of one button to improve communication. Need more people get involved in order to help out with deficiences by providing extra man hours and also join (shake up) the current trust board, but can't do that because there's no definitive database and basic administrative automated digital protocols aren't in place through lack of man hours and so back to square one we go.

It's alright sitting on the board of a football club, but if you can't get the fundamentals right with your members, do the elected directors really have a mandate and how can the Trust manage and contact its members in the present nevermind grow in the future?

Needs sorting..

Don’t really understand the post above, but if it means that the Trust needs to join the 21st century for communication and IT systems I’m in total support

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Don’t really understand the post above, but if it means that the Trust needs to join the 21st century for communication and IT systems I’m in total support

Not sure it is just about technology. Looking from the outside it seems they have a mentality of having meetings and committees to do everything, yet rarely consult the members on anything. The dichotomy between being ultra democratic on one hand and a "politburo" structure on the other is not a great combination, because it means they are slow to react and then not particularly representative of the members.

Quoted from GrimRob

Not sure it is just about technology. Looking from the outside it seems they have a mentality of having meetings and committees to do everything, yet rarely consult the members on anything. The dichotomy between being ultra democratic on one hand and a "politburo" structure on the other is not a great combination, because it means they are slow to react and then not particularly representative of the members.

Surely they would have a stronger hand at GTFC board level if they spoke with the authority of hundreds of town fans.

Quoted from Bigdog

Joined a couple of years ago. To date, nothing back, not even received a confirmation of membership. Communication zero. Now lapsed..

Likewise for me. Assume my membership has lapsed too. It seems others have had the same issue.

I totally support the idea of the trust and appreciate that they are giving up their own time, they have my admiration. But as an organisation it appears to be dysfunctional and unfit for purpose, and it pains me to say that.

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

Surely they would have a stronger hand at GTFC board level if they spoke with the authority of hundreds of town fans.

I think they need to decide first whether they even should be on the board (definitely one to ask the members). Then what their purpose is being on the board. Is it to represent the members or just to give a personal view as an informed supporter (as opposed to a business person and shareholder with a vested financial interest, like the rest of the board).

They are too nice and Fenty runs rings around them. If they got more militant, they would get more support.

the trust is finished anyone how gives them money is a cretin.