Trust AGM Summary

July 21, 2022

Trust News

Below is a summary of last week’s Trust Annual General Meeting. Thanks to members for their continuing support.

Trust AGM,  July 14th, 2022

It was Thursday, June 20th, 2019 when your Trust last held its Annual General Meeting and Chairman Keith Morgan described the period until the latest AGM as a unique and sometimes bizarre one – no face-to-face meetings, no practical ways of organising social events and for a long time, no football matches to attend.

Keith then listed and talked about those issues he considered to be of particular importance.  They were:

  1. Fans-led Review of Football
  2. The Ukraine Appeal
  3. The Trust support for foodbanks
  4. Cardiff City FC Museum
  5. Trust dispute with the club’s directors
  6. Trust registration with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Under 1.  He drew attention to three particular recommendations. They were:

a.The introduction of far tougher checks on who can be owners and directors of football clubs;

b.The requirement for there to be a shadow supporters’ board of directors at each club;

c.That there should be a limit to what owners can do without fans’ consent with particular reference to changing a club’s name, changes to kits and ground relocation.

Under 2.  Keith reported that Trust members were amongst fans’ representatives who assisted in sorting donations for the Ukraine Appeal. A bucket collection at the Stadium resulted in £7, 000 being raised and the Trust, having been asked by the Club, is working with the appeal organisers to ensure that this money is used to good effect. Keith was keen to stress that Club staff, Academy players and, of course, the magnificent, generous Cardiff City fans played a major part in making this a great success.

Under 3.  Your Trust Board members took the lead, at two home games, in organising the collection and distributions of donations to foodbanks. These were very successful and received the support of club players, employees and, again, the magnificent support of City fans.

Under 4.  An area at the Stadium has been identified as a site for a City Museum. There will be no shortage of items for display after successful bids at an auction of City memorabilia. The support of Steve Borley [Club Director] and Wayne Nash[Head of Operations] was crucial in making this a success.

Under 5. Keith did not want to dwell on this issue because he felt that it had been well-documented. It is the outcome that mattered and this has been positive and relations with the Club at director-level have been restored. He stressed that the Trust now has easy and productive access to Steve Borley, the only locally-based club director.

Under 6  The Chairman stressed that your Trust had always had full Affiliate membership of Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which is a higher level than Associate Membership. The FSA has been a vital source of information, guidance, advice  and support in general. However, it was important that the Trust should formalise its status as an organisation by registering with the Financial Conduct Authority. This application has been successful and the Trust is now registered as The Bluebirds Supporters Society Limited. This is a Community Benefit Society registered under that name. But we will continue to trade as the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust.

The minutes of the June 20th, 2019 AGM were accepted as a true record.

There were 4 resolutions presented for member approval. They were:

  1. Adoption of the accounts for years’ ended 31/12/2019 – 31/12/2020 and 31/12/2021 and all were approved unanimously.
  2. Acceptance of the Trust’s FCA registration as a community benefit society and the continuing trading status as Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust. Approved unanimously.
  3. Acceptance of the new Board of Directors. Approved unanimously.
  4. Resolution 4 was passed but with the amendment (under section 85 of the Model Rules) to allow an Independent Examiner report on the annual accounts rather than a full audit. Again approved unanimously.

The Chairman thanked all present for their support. He stressed the importance of increasing Trust membership to strengthen its hand in discussions with the Club and on the fans’ representation stage in general. Your board will make this a top priority in the year ahead and beyond.

Following the AGM members were treated to a lively question and answer session on all things Cardiff City, led by Chris Wathan, BBC Wales Sport and Tom Coleman of Wales Online.

There was a lot of positivity expressed so – Come on you Bluebirds!