Location: Council Chambers, Walsall Town Hall.

Acting Chair: Richard Hall (RH).

Acting Secretary: Bob Bates (BB).

Acting Treasurer: Dave Roe (DR).

1. Welcome (Acting Chair)

RH welcomed everyone to the inaugural AGM (22 members in attendance) and hoped that the election of officers would allow the Trust to move the community's relationship with the football club forward constructively. He was also grateful to Walsall MBC for allowing the Trust to use their Council Chambers for the meeting.

2. Acting Secretary's Report

BB noted that the Trust now had 55 members and welcomed the dialogue that had been opened up with the Council and local MPs. He argued that Walsall FC were one of the most successful league clubs at present and that the Trust had a role to play in pushing that forward in the future. However, the key was membership, as it was only through a sizeable membership that the Trust would gain credibility within the community and with the football club. BB also stated that negotiations with shareholders had begun and some who were supportive of the WST had been identified.

Comments from the floor stressed the importance of a constructive dialogue with club and shareholders. Tom Perrett noted that he had been approached by a season-ticket holder who held the proxy votes for a shareholder, and who wished to ask a question relevant to the Trust at the club's AGM. RH noted that he would contact this person to discuss the issue. He agreed with Mr Perrett that the question should run along the lines of 'Would the club object, or what objections would the club have, to the democratic election of a representative of the WST to the Board of Directors of WFC?'

RH noted the value of the WST's positive relationship with the press (notably the Walsall Advertiser and Express and Star), and stated that he had spoken to Roy Whalley on two occasions and that he would be following this through shortly. RH also stressed the need for the WST to be a broad church organisation and as such he would be talking to the ISSA. Steve Shaw had been talking to the Official Supporters Club and would move this forward.

3. Treasurer's Report

DR said that the Trust was in reasonable financial health, having received membership subscriptions, as well as sponsorship from SaddlersNet.com and Supporters Direct. In order to cover the costs of publishing 10,000 leaflets the WST had received financial support from three members of the Trust working party, one of whom has been repaid. Now that the Trust has received the monies from Supporters Direct the other creditors will be repaid.

RH stated that if the Trust was to fulfil its objectives it needed more funding and stressed that the membership could help out in providing fundraising ideas and support.

Comments from the floor supported the idea of targeting businesses or individuals who would have an interest in such a democratic and community-based initiative. This could mean asking for endorsement on WST literature or memorabilia or financial support. Elected members would need to follow this through.

4. Election of Officers

RH stated that there were 6 positions open for election, but that the only nominations received were: Chair - Richard Hall; Vice-Chair - Steve Shaw; Secretary - Bob Bates; Treasurer - Dave Roe; Trustees - Paul Jones and Phil Sturgess. These people introduced themselves to the AGM and explained their interest in the Trust.

With no other nominations, Tom Perrett and Colin Forrest moved that the election of these six individuals be supported from the floor. This was carried unanimously.

RH said that he hoped others would feel able to help the Trust out with membership, publicity and fundraising. He stressed the importance of the WST as a membership organisation.

5. Appointment of Auditors

DR noted that he had approached several auditors. Clement-Keys of Brierley Hill was a firm that had been recommended to him and they would audit the Trust's accounts for a nominal fee. RH and BB moved that the AGM accept this firm to be the Trust's auditors and this was carried unanimously.

6. Future Plans
7. AOB

These two items were taken together. RH stated that the key issues for the WST were:

• Membership - it is crucial that the WST is seen to be supportive of the club and that it has sufficient numbers To this end there would be further leaflet drops later in the season;
• relationship with the official and independent supporters groups;
• negotiations with shareholders and the Board of WFC - gaining shares may increase membership; and
• fundraising - without enough money the WST would achieve little.

RH thanked everyone for attending and stressed their value to the Trust. He asked them to stay in touch and to help out however they could.