Latest News
Notice to Trust Members: In order to make us more efficient in distributing
information to you, we are asking you to ensure that we have your e-mail
address. If you think that we don't have yours (or just want to make sure we have
you current details) then please mail
us so that we can update our
database.
February 1 2009
The
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Walsall Supporters’ Society will be held
on Thursday 26th February, in the members' lounge at the Saddlers Club, Banks's
Stadium. The meeting starts at 8pm.
The Trust
needs new people to become involved in its running. If you want to be a trustee,
nominations should be sent to the Returning
Officer, Walsall Supporters Trust, c/o 3 Hollinwell Close, Bloxwich, Walsall.
WS3 3UL. These should arrive by Thursday 19th February. All nominations
should be signed by a Proposer and Seconder who, along with the Nominee, must be
members of the Trust, and should be accompanied by the signed consent of the
Nominee.
Those who
wish to appoint proxies to act for them at the AGM should contact the Returning
Officer in writing at the above address giving the name of the member and the
proxy, and this letter should be signed by both proxy and member. A proxy need
not be a member of the Trust. We would ask all proxy voters to bring proof of
identification with them to the AGM.
December 11 2008
A message from David Roe - Treasurer of Walsall Supporters Society
As I'm sure you're all aware 3
board members of Walsall Supporters Society [more widely known as Walsall
Supporters Trust] will be stepping down at the next AGM (early next year), these
being Richard Hall (Chair), Phil Sturgess (Secretary) and myself (Treasurer).
After 8 years other committments have taken priority and we feel that the Trust
would benefit from new ideas and energy.
We are therefore calling an open meeting for anybody that would be interested in
continuing the work of the Trust. We would like to meet any interested parties
and discuss the issues surrounding this. We have decided on the date of Wednesday
21/01/09. It will be in the Saddlers Club, starting at 8pm.
Although we are stepping down Richard, Phil & myself will ensure any hand
over is as smooth as possible and we will always be happy to help in the future,
if asked.
We ask that any interested parties attend the meeting. If this is not possible
then we urge you to contact us and inform us of your interest and we will
endevour to meet you at another convenient date.
It is our wish that the Trust moves forward and continues to give supporters
somekind of voice in how the club is run (however small that may be). We also
think it important that a supporters organisation is in existance and ready to
mobilise in the event of any possible future developments at the club. However
if there is no interest by the time of the meeting then we will look to wind up
the Trust and distribute the assets in accordance with Supporter Direct rules.
October 22 2008
Walsall ‘Til I Die...
I’m Walsall ‘Til I Die, I Know I Am,
I’m Sure I Am, I’m Walsall ‘Til I Die.
The Book is now ready and its launch will be on the 1st November before the Northampton game.
The book will be on sale at £10 each in the Saddlers Club from 12.00 noon and Chris Marsh and hopefully one other Saddlers legend will be in attendance to sign the book (Martin O'Connor was keen to attend as well but has a prior engagement).
For those that can't make the Northampton
game, or don't wish to purchase a book on a matchday we are offering a number of
payment options so that you can have the book posted to you as soon as they
arrive from the printers.
Books can be bought via Paypal using the name
Steve@srpm.co.uk
in the payee section. You can also pay via credit card by calling 0844 884 2260
during office hours. The book price is £10.00, there is a £2.50 p&p charge
for books posted out.
Alternatively cheques can be made payable to Walsall Supporters Society Limited
and posted to 3 Hollinwell Close, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3UL.
The books should be available for posting w/c 03/11/08 so the time to secure
your copy is now!
September
10 2008
After eight years of involvement with the Walsall Supporters' Society, Phil Sturgess [Secretary], Dave Roe [Treasurer] and I have decided to resign from the Society Board. We have taken this decision for a number of reasons. These include our increasing non-football commitments, alongside a sense that we have taken the Society as far as we can. We believe that new Society Board members, working alongside the remaining Board members, Neil Ravenscroft and Bob Thomas, will have the opportunity to re-fashion the relationship between the Society and the supporters of Walsall FC, and thereby make an impact with the Club and the Community.
We would, therefore, ask that if you would like to take more responsibility within the Society, to move it forward proactively, you contact us for an informal discussion. You can do so by emailing enquiries@walsallfctrust.co.uk or by writing to: Walsall Supporters’ Society, c/o 3 Hollinwell Close, Bloxwich, Walsall. WS3 3UL.
We
feel that the following options are available for the Society.
1.
Other interested Society Members come forward to take the Society
forward. We would work with a new Board to secure as seamless a transfer as
possible. This is our preferred option. The three of us would remain as members,
able to offer counsel and support as requested.
2.
Should no-one come forward then we will seek to dissolve the Society
under Rule 105 of our Rules for a Supporters Community Mutual.
Please
note that collectively we are committed to producing and making a success of the
Reading the Game, Walsall Til I Die book of supporters’ voices. This is a real
celebration of supporting Walsall FC, and is a fitting end-point for Phil, Dave
and my involvement with the Society. We feel very proud of that book and hope
that you will buy and enjoy it. If you would like to pre-order the book, which
is available for £10, please contact us using the details above.
Yours
sincerely,
Dr Richard Hall, Chair Walsall Supporters’ Society
April 14 2008
Walsall ‘Til I Die...
I’m Walsall ‘Til I Die, I Know I Am,
I’m Sure I Am, I’m Walsall ‘Til I Die.
Your chance to feature in an exciting new book about your
experiences of supporting Walsall Football Club.
Following The Saddlers becomes a way of life for many of us.
Whether at home or travelling away we experience moments of elation and
exhilaration which become landmarks in our lives. But as we know all too well,
there are also the low points of despair and disappointment when we feel that
all our hopes have been dashed.
The Walsall Supporters? Trust is publishing a new book which
will be on sale at the start of next season. Walsall ‘Til I Die will reflect
the memories and experiences of supporters both young and old. Players and
managers may come and go but it is the fans who give the permanent character to
a club like Walsall. And so as a celebration of the fans, this book will reveal
the fun, the absurd, the emotional, the peculiar or unbelievable that is part
and parcel of following The Saddlers.
We want to meet our longest standing fan! Who travels the
farthest to get to home matches? Who has seen more matches than anyone else?
Who has the funniest Walsall tale? Who are our record breakers? Get in touch so
these and many other stories get in to the new book. ‘Walsall ‘Til I Die’, real
football stories from real football fans... Make sure your memories are in the
new book!
Story telling sessions will also be held in and around the
town as part of the memory-gathering process if fans would like to attend -
keep an eye on Walsall websites and the official programme for further details.
If you have a story or set of experiences about either
yourself, a family member, a neighbour or friend which you feel deserves to go
into the book please get in touch - either e-mail your 200-300 word stories to david@legendspublishing.net, post
them to 18 Darby Crescent, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 5LA or telephone Steve on
0790 6802432 to talk about your story.
The deadline for contributions is June 30th 2008.
February 6 2008
The Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the Walsall Supporters’ Society will be held on Tuesday 4th March, in
the members’ lounge at the Saddlers’ Club, Bescot Stadum. All members are
cordially invited to attend this meeting which will start at 7.00pm.
February 5 2008
Following on from the Walsall FC AGM, a
Supporters Focus Group meeting was held on February 4 2008. Click here to read the Trust’s report on the
meeting.
November 27 2007
The Walsall FC AGM was held on Monday 26th
November. Click here to read the Trust’s
report on the meeting.
November 19 2007
Walsall Supporters' Society Questions for
Walsall FC AGM
1. We note
that for the fifth consecutive year the board have been required to extend the
amount of refinancing of Walsall FC Ltd.. For what purpose was the loan of
£495,000, secured from by way of a legal charge over the football stadium,
drawn down? How do the Board plan to get out of this cycle of extending
refinancing?
2. We note
that for the first time refinancing has been secured from a source outside of
the Board. Clearly, the Board of Directors have an emotional as well as a
financial stake in Walsall FC, and we are grateful for their continued
commitment to provide the necessary financial support for the next 12 months.
Will the Board clarify from whom this external refinancing has been secured and
why an external lender has been needed?
3. What are
the implications for the Club of implementing a refinancing policy involving an
external lender who may have less of an emotional tie to Walsall FC? How
does this impact on Walsall FC's future?
4. Will the
board clarify why no Supporters' Focus Group meeting has been held in the last
18 months? We believe that these are a useful way for the Board to
discuss its plans with supporters, and we were grateful for Mr Whalley's
involvement at these sessions. It is also a commitment made to the supporters
through the Customer Charter. Do the Board plan to re-instigate Supporters'
Focus Groups?
August 4 2007
Prediction League Competition
The 2007 - 08 Walsall Supporters' Trust
prediction league for League 1 is now open for competition.
Please feel-free to enter and to pass it on
to your mates.
To enter simply place the
teams into the table provided and return to the Walsall Supporters Trust at 3,
Hollinwell Close,Bloxwich, Walsall WS3 3UL, or E-Mail your predictions to enquiries@walsallfctrust.co.uk.
All
entries must be in by 1st September 2007, complete with the fee of £5.00 per
entry there is no limit on the number of goes people can have.
Points
will be awarded for each team in the correct position at the end of each month,
and points deducted for teams out of position, the further they are out the
more points you lose.
Each
month’s totals will be added and a league table produced, the winner will be
the entrant with the highest total at the end of the season
Prizes
Each month a league table of scores for each entrant will be emailed to each entrant.
To enter, Right Click here and select 'Save Target as' to download the Prediction League entry form.
March 27 2007
The Walsall Supporters Society AGM was held
on 26th March. Click here to read the minutes of
the meeting.
November 30 2006
Here are the answers to the Trust’s
questions at the Walsall FC AGM held on Monday 27th November.
1. The increase in turnover, the
reduction in staff costs and the return to an operating profit shown during the
year up to May 2006 is a remarkable turnaround given the previous year’s
position, and this a great success-story for the club. We assume that around
£400,000 of the £943,000 increase in turnover is due to the sale of Fryatt and
Bennett. How is the other £500,000 increase in turnover accounted for? Is this
increase sustainable year-on-year?
We acknowledge
the kind words expressed by the Walsall Supporters Society about the club’s
remarkable financial turnaround during the last twelve months and I can tell
this meeting that your Board of Directors are very proud of what has been
achieved.
In answer to
your question, the overall increase in turnover for the year ended 31st May
2006 is due to a continued improvement in all areas of the business, with the
football, conferencing and banqueting, commercial and retail departments all
contributing improved turnover compared to the previous year. The Board would
like to emphasise that this increase is as a result of the club’s trading
activities and remains committed in our attempts to sustain this year-on-year.
2. The operating lease on the land and
buildings was frozen during the financial year in question. What was the
trigger for this freeze?
The operating
lease on the land and the buildings was temporarily reduced during the year for
a period of twelve weeks as this was an arrangement that mutually suited the
club as both tenant and landlord at the time.
3. In the Chairman’s statement it is
noted that the Board plan to “continue to develop the Club’s infrastructure…
wherever possible.” Other than the new training facilities are any specific
plans in-train for the next 12 months?
There are a number of minor
projects in the early planning stage, such as a new club shop to be situated
here at Bescot Stadium, but the key focus and commitment of the Board in the
coming months is the new training facility.
4. In Note 3 the accounts show that
‘Other operating charges’ increased by £136,000. To what specific items do
these charges refer?
The increase
of “Other Operating Charges” of £136,000 relates directly to the unavoidable costs
associated in generating the additional turnover as discussed in question 1.
5. The club continues to show a cash
outflow and limited cash at the bank. Can the Board confirm that the club’s cash
requirements are currently outstripping its cash income and that this is one of
the triggers for the increased financing of £240,000? How do the Board plan to
return Walsall FC Ltd. to a cash-generative position?
The Club’s
current cash requirements are not outstripping its cash income. Of the overall
cash outflow of £208,000 sustained in the year, £137,000 relates to ongoing
investment in Capital Projects that will ultimately yield increased and
sustainable revenue for the club for years to come. The increase in financing
reflects the Board’s on-going and continual commitment to these projects and
ultimately to the security of the Club in the long term.
6. There seems to be a link between the
lack of cash and our debt requirements, and the issue of cash is also crucial
in covering debts falling due within one year or on-demand. In 2005 these were
reported as £465,000. Were these creditors paid with monies from the sale of
players and re-financing? Other than further re-financing how do the Board plan
to meet this year’s costs falling due of £417,000?
As outlined in
the Chairman’s statement, the Board would like to emphasise that even in our
most difficult times we have always paid our creditors and this policy will be
maintained.
7. We note the further increase in
Director’s loans of £298,000 during the season, in order to maintain the Club’s
short-term viability. We are grateful for the Director’s demonstrable
commitment to the Walsall FC. Clearly, though, this is not a sustainable
position either for the Directors or the Club. How do the Board plan to reduce
these liabilities? Should the circumstances of the individual Directors
responsible for the loans change, how secure is Walsall FC’s future?
The increase
in Director’s loans during the year was not made in order to maintain the
Club’s short-term viability.
8. Can the Club confirm that future
special offers pertaining to season ticket holders, for instance the Mini Reds
initiative, will be available for all areas of the ground, including the Lower
Floors-2-Go Stand?
All future
special offers pertaining to season ticket holders are still under review at
this moment in time.
9. We request that shareholders are
provided with written answers at the AGM, in-line with corporate governance
best practice and to enhance the transparency of the Board’s approach.
Written
answers have been provided.
In addition, Geoff Allman asked if the
Chairman realised how much shareholders appreciated his efforts in giving us
such facilities as the Bonser and Stadium Suites and the Ramada Hotel and
whether he realised how disappointed we were in not seeing him at AGMs.
The Chairman replied (and this is word
for word, so any mistakes are attributable to Mr Bonser):-
As far as my
non-attendance at recent AGMs is concerned, please be assured that this is not
intended as a sleight to shareholders. I have a heavy business schedule that
has made it impossible to attend some of these meetings. The important point,
however, is that I keep a very watchful eye on club finance throughout the
year, and that the financial report financial report being considered, as the
result of the work that I and my colleagues have undertaken on behalf of the
club. Mr presence this morning would not have made any difference to the
financial results, but I hope that the work I am undertaking on your behalf
will result in the Club continuing to make tangible progress both on and off
the field.
I would like to thank the shareholders
for their support and to give you the assurance that your Board are fully
committed to laying the foundations for this Club, so that it will be able to
face the future with optimism and confidence.
November 24 2006
At the Walsall FC AGM to be held on Monday
27th November, the Trust will be asking the following questions:
1.
The increase in turnover, the reduction in staff costs and the return to an
operating profit shown during the year
up to May 2006 is a remarkable turnaround given the previous year’s position,
and this a great success-story for the club. We assume that around £400,000 of
the £943,000 increase in turnover is due to the sale of Fryatt and Bennett. How
is the other £500,000 increase in turnover accounted for? Is this increase
sustainable year-on-year?
2.
The operating lease on the land and buildings was frozen during the financial
year in question. What was the trigger for this freeze?
3.
In the Chairman’s statement it is noted that the Board plan to continue to
develop the Club’s infrastructure wherever possible. Other than the new
training facilities are any specific plans in-train for the next 12 months?
4.
In Note 3 the accounts show that “Other operating charges” increased by
£136,000. To what specific items do these charges refer?
5.
The club continues to show a cash outflow and limited cash at the bank. Can the
Board confirm that the club?’s cash requirements are currently outstripping its
cash income and that this is one of the triggers for the increased financing of
£240,000? How do the Board plan to return Walsall FC Ltd. to a cash-generative
position?
6.
There seems to be a link between the lack of cash and our debt requirements,
and the issue of cash is also crucial in covering debts falling due within one
year or on-demand. In 2005 these were reported as £465,000. Were these
creditors paid with monies from the sale of players and re-financing? Other
than further re-financing how do the Board plan to meet this year’s costs
falling due of £417,000?
7.
We note the further increase in Director’s loans of £298,000 during the season,
in order to maintain the Club’s short-term viability. We are grateful for the
Director’s demonstrable commitment to the Walsall FC. Clearly, though, this is
not a sustainable position either for the Directors or the Club. How do the Board
plan to reduce these liabilities? Should the circumstances of the individual
Directors responsible for the loans change, how secure is Walsall FC’s future?
8.
Can the Club confirm that future special offers pertaining to season ticket
holders, for instance the Mini Reds initiative, will be available for all areas
of the ground, including the Lower Floors-2-Go Stand?
9. We request
that shareholders are provided with written answers at the AGM, in-line with
corporate governance best practice and to enhance the transparency of the
Board’s approach.
October 12 2006
A Trust Board meeting was held on 30th
September. Click here to read the minutes taken at
the meeting.
August 11 2006
Prediction League Competition
The 2006 - 07 Walsall Supporters' Trust
prediction league for League 2 is now open for competition.
Please feel-free to enter and to pass it on
to your mates.
· Simply
copy-and-paste each of the League 2 teams into the final table, to give the
final standings for League Two in the current season.
· After
the last game in each month we will create an average score for each entrant
based upon each place that you are out for each team in your prediction.
· The
winner is the person with the best average score for the final standings in
League Two.
· The
cost is £2.00 per entrant
· To be
eligible you must email your prediction to enquiries@walsallfctrust.co.uk
by September 1st 2006. Or post it to the Trust address below.
· To
pay, either give your £2 to a Trustee or send a cheque for £2 made payable to
Walsall Supporters' Society to: Walsall Supporters' Trust, Walsall Supporters'
Trust, 17 Poplar Avenue. Bentley. Walsall WS2 ONT.
Prizes
· 50 per
cent of takings from the prediction league will go to the Trust.
· The
winner of the prediction league will receive 25 per cent of takings.
· Second
place will receive 15 per cent of takings.
· Third place
will receive 10 per cent of takings.
· Each
month a league table of scores for all the entrants will appear here at: www.walsallfctrust.co.uk
Right Click here
and select 'Save Target as' to download the Prediction League entry form.
June 10 2006
The WST AGM was held on May 24th. Click here to read the minutes of the AGM.
May 10 2006
The AGM of the Walsall Supporters’ Trust
will be held on Wednesday 24 May 2006 in the members’ lounge at the Saddlers
Club, Bescot Stadium. All members of the WST are invited to attend this
meeting, which will start at 7.00pm with an open public meeting to follow to
discuss the future direction of the Trust. Further details will be issued here
and in the local media.