Chairman's Address from last night's AGM, Part 2
So I guess the summary of that so far is that it has been another year where we have made progress but accept that there is more to come. I think it is fair to say that the legal process has taken up much of the focus for a decent percentage of the Trust board this year and that has meant that focus could not be elsewhere to help with the driving on of the organisation and our growth that I believe is so firmly needed.
When I returned to the Trust board more than 18 months ago I did so with a clear mission that we needed to move on the legal case whether that was to a resolution via the mediation already started or – as it turned out – through a clear mandate from you members last summer to proceed with the legal action. I believe that the mission set out in that election statement has now been completed and the legal process will follow the route that it needs to follow until the dispute is completed. It is also fair to say that this legal process has taken pretty much all my (and that of several other board members) focus in those 18 months as we have started to build witness statements, completed document trawls and spent many hours preparing letters, cases and answering the questions of the legal team that we have working the case on our behalf. The one thing I would add is that whilst this process has not worked as quick as we would like it to the wheels of any legal action do not turn quickly and it is essential that we work with the lawyers to prepare the most comprehensive case that we can to ensure that our case is represented to the best possible way that it can be.
Where we stand at the moment is that we have had some unforeseen delays in the process at both the lawyers end but also at our end as a board but we have now completed the document trawl and provided the lawyers with many reams of correspondence both relating to the sale itself and also events leading up to the sale that will include minutes of previous shareholder meetings and correspondence between us and other shareholders largely around the time of the sale of the club and previous interest.
Next week some key “witnesses” on our behalf will start compiling their witness statements with the lawyers – these will include myself, Jim White who was vice chair at the time, Huw Cooze as Supporter Director and also some of the people who worked on the initial sub group that dealt with the interest from Moores and Noell and were also involved when the deal that eventually completed was first bought to our attention.
We simply do not know where this legal case will conclude. It may be in a courtroom somewhere or it may lead to an out of court resolution although it is fair to say that whilst we have had further discussions with shareholders – both current and past – there is simply no out of court settlement that has been offered nor are we led to believe is there any desire at moment for one to be compiled. I should add at this point in time that the Trust remain completely open to resolving the dispute without the necessity for expansive legal fees. As the old saying goes our door remains very much open.
What I do want to assure everyone of as well though is that we remain committed to getting a resolution that gives the Trust what we could have obtained back in 2016 had we been given the chance. Whilst I am sure that many of you in the room may have different ideas of what that resolution is I would also say that when we have any potential palatable discussions to have which could lead to resolution then we cannot accept offers on your behalf without returning to you as a membership.
So I hope that this gives you some assurance that we are still pushing ahead with the mandate that you gave us last summer and whilst there may have been some delays in reaching where we are now these delays have been unavoidable and ones that – as a board – we are looking to ensure don’t occur again in the future.
Going back though to my mission when I returned to the Trust board in the summer of 2018 I now feel that as the legal case has been put in motion and will follow that route it is now time to place additional emphasis on our growth as an organisation which has probably been neglected over the past few years. And to achieve that growth I am of the firm belief that the Trust board needs fresh vision, ideas and impetus at the top. It is because of this belief that I will not be seeking re-election to the Trust board this summer. It has been a huge honour to have served on the Trust board for so long not just as a board member but also as your Chairman but now is definitely the time for that new vision within the organisation to drive us forward.
So why am I telling you this part today? Quite simply it is now an appeal to you all as members. We have a passionate memberbase out there and one that has many people with the skillsets and ideas to drive us forward. To build on what we have, to increase the membership, to communicate more and to work with the club at local level to ensure the very best future possible for both the football club and us as fans. I felt that saying the change was coming gives people chance to think on whether they have the time or energy – even if just for a two year term – to enhance the name of Swans Trust within our fanbase and ensure that we enter our 20th year on a period of growth whereas the last few have largely been around protection because of the ownership dispute.
During my tenure on the Trust board I have met a huge number of our members and always been impressed by that passion so I urge you all to consider giving up some time to help us grow as an organisation and focus on things outside of our ownership dispute.
Thank you again for your time this evening and for listening and on that note I am going to take a short break now whilst we complete the other formalities of the night but I look forward to taking your questions in the session at the end.
Thank you.
Phil Sumbler
27th January 2020