Withdrawal of funding for Supporters Direct statement

[STAR Liaison]

Statement by Reading Football Supporters’ Society Limited T/as STAR on the withdrawal of funding to Supporters Direct by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF)


STAR is disappointed at the decision of FSIF to withdraw its funding grant to Supporters Direct; leaving the organisation’s future and the livelihoods of its employees in jeopardy. We add our voice to those calling on the FSIF to reconsider its decision and we encourage others to do likewise.

In common with many supporters’ trusts throughout the country in a number of sports, Supporters Direct was instrumental in the formation of STAR. It is possible that STAR would not exist in its current form without the help, advice, support and encouragement of Supporters Direct and its staff since 2002.

STAR knows that many supporters’ trusts have benefited similarly from Supporters Direct’s knowhow and will be as dismayed and concerned as we are by this decision. We do not believe that the reaction by the FSIF to one individual's remarks, for which he has paid with the loss of his job, is either proportionate or justifiable in the circumstances. It questions the FSIF’s motives in the withdrawal of all funding from Supporters Direct, and is concerned about the consequential effects that the closure of Supporters Direct would have on the future of supporters' trusts and the co-operative ownership of football and other sports clubs. Supporters’ trusts throughout football and in other sports are reliant on the knowledge, experience and practical advice from Supporters’ Direct on a whole host of matters. It will be a severe loss to our movement if this source of expertise is lost.

We note that supporting co-operative ownership by fans is an aim shared by all three major political parties and is mentioned in the current government’s coalition agreement. STAR notes the Parliamentary Early Day Motion 1909, sponsored by Tom Greatrex MP and will be contacting local MPs to lobby them to sign up to the motion. We encourage STAR members, supporters of Reading Football Club and others to contact their own MP.

At a time when billions of pounds are spent in the top division of our national sport on players' wages alone we also urge the Premier League, via the FSIF, to reinstate this relatively small sum for vital work that has ensured the survival of more than 50 clubs around the country.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

All sounds very complicated, what is this small sum exactly, just out of noseyness really.

I feel sure in the past athe Supporters club was much simpler

[Svlad Cjelli]

The figure is £1.2M, and the full story is here, summed up by David Conn.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2011/jun/13/premier-league-tweets-supporters-direct

[Forbury Lion]

It is possible that STAR would not exist in its current form without the help, advice, support and encouragement of Supporters Direct and its staff since 2002.

I don't know whether that's a good thing or not.


Supporters Direct have fallen into the same trap as the Football League when the ITV Digital money failed to materialise, They've built an organisation based around the false assumption that the cash will materialise, Hopefully not to the same extent as these were donations and not contracted amounts due.

I hope STAR lock down their twitter, facebook, website and hobnob usernames to ensure their representatives don't accidentally post something ill advised about John Madejski's wig after downing too much ginger ale which results in Mad Stad banning orders for the entire board.

[Svlad Cjelli]

It is possible that STAR would not exist in its current form without the help, advice, support and encouragement of Supporters Direct and its staff since 2002.

I don't know whether that's a good thing or not.


Supporters Direct have fallen into the same trap as the Football League when the ITV Digital money failed to materialise, They've built an organisation based around the false assumption that the cash will materialise, Hopefully not to the same extent as these were donations and not contracted amounts due.

Hardly, and that shows a massive ability to generalise based on minimal knowledge of the subject or circumstances.

SD were setup by the government, and funded by the Government until last year, when government funding was withdrawn on the promise of money from within football - from the Premier League but channelled through the Fans' Fund & FSIF - but it's all PL money, and they decide who does and doesn't get it.

All organisations in the world which are externally funded work in exactly the same way - all they can possibly do is assume that they will continue to be funded.

So rather than having "around the false assumption that the cash will materialise" SD are looking to continue with their existing activities with the same level of funding as they have previously received - but now provided from a different source. That source had said in writing that payment would be forthcoming - and now it has been withdrawn on such a flimsy pretext.

Two facts which may or not be relevant -
1. Supporters Direct has been critical of the Premier League and the way they are organised, their poliies on debt and the lack of funding they give to the rest of the pyramid.
2. The Premier League has withdrawn funding of Supporters Direct at the first opportunity they've had, on what many consider to be the weakest of reasons.

[Big Foot]

^ the phrase "don't bite the hand that feeds" springs to mind

[Svlad Cjelli]

But if they didn't they'd not be doing their job properly.

[Red]

There are ways and means surely Svlad, you don't go str8 in screaming blue murder before your funding is secured and whilst the organisation is in it's infancy.

[Svlad Cjelli]

They'vbe not scremed blue murder - they'd just made the appropriate points when issues came up.

And don't forget that they were never previously funded by the PL - the issue has only come now that the PL has got involved in funding.

[Red]

I had forgotten that TBF.

So it's no gr8 shakes then? They won't miss what they never had

[Svlad Cjelli]

I had forgotten that TBF.

So it's no gr8 shakes then? They won't miss what they never had

Except that the PL had promised to cover the shortfall of withdrawal of government funding (which came via Sport England, I think). So it was the promise that was taken away on teh first possible pretext.

[STAR Liaison]

Better News

*Supporters Direct Press Release*

*15th July 2011*

*Supporters Direct Funding – Update: Statement*

Supporters Direct welcomes the statement issued today by the Football Stadia
Improvement Fund (FSIF) confirming their agreement to an initial grant of
£268,000 to fund Supporters Direct. The statement can be found
*here<#http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/%253Fentryid15=26809>
.*

The Fans Fund panel will meet again in August to discuss the outstanding
additional grant applications from Supporters Direct.

The announcement comes as delegates have been gathering for the Supporters
Direct Fans’ Weekend. The event encompasses today’s Annual Conference at the
Queen Hotel, Chester, and the Supporters Direct Cup at Chester City’s Exacta
Stadium tomorrow (Saturday 16th).

*---------ENDS---------*

* *

Editors' notes:

· Supporters Direct is a Community Benefit Society regulated by the
Financial Services Authority, and owned by our members. Our goal is to
promote sustainable spectator sports clubs based on supporters' involvement
& community ownership.

· We represent over 170 supporters’ trusts in the UK and Europe, with
combined membership of over 270,000.

· We work in Football, Rugby League, Ice Hockey and Basketball; and are
the UK's leading body working to ensure that clubs are run responsibly and
are financially sustainable.