Election Questions

The following questions were asked by BIAS on behalf of supporters and the answers posted on the BIAS website on the 10th February 2006

1. What is the role of the supporters' director?

Bees United have defined the role of Supporter Director in their job function document. In summary they require that the successful candidate represents the Trust’s policies and direction on the Brentford Football Club Board and reports back to the Trust Board. The role also requires acting as a channel of communication between Bees United members / supporters and both boards.

I feel the role of Supporter Director should be pivotal in engaging all supporters in the work of Bees United. It should also ensure that the Club is being run in a professional manner and the future of the Club is being safeguarded for future generations of supporters.

The role also requires the successful candidate to undertake the statutory duties required of a company director.

The role is not about dealing with issues such as the quality of burgers in Brook Road. Managers at the Club are employed to deal with this. I will however get involved if supporters’ complaints are not dealt with efficiently.

2. As this is a BU election, what involvement, official or fundraising have you had with Bees United?

I am an active member of the Bees United board. My involvement has included promoting and implementing transparency in the Trust’s activities, improving controls and co-ordinating communications. I am proud to have played a part in Bees United’s acquisition of the Club for the supporters.

As a member of Bees United Fundraising Group I initiated and now run the Bee Green recycling scheme, organised the Back the Bees balloon race, assisted in other fund-raising initiatives and bucket collect (mainly at Brook Road).

3. Will you promise to represent the wishes of the BU membership on the BFC Board?

Yes. This is a key requirement of the job responsibilities published by Bees United. As a democratically elected director I would be negligent in my responsibilities if I failed to do this.

I will also be ensuring that:

4. If you were successfully elected, would you stand down following a vote of no confidence from BU members?

Absolutely. I plan to be in dialogue with supporters so that I understand what their views are and I am able to represent them. By doing this I expect to avoid the need for such drastic action.

5. How would you vote on selling a player mid-season - long-term stability for the club or results on the pitch?

There is a very difficult balance to be achieved between on the pitch success and the costs of running the Club. The reality of £8.5 million worth of debt (which is almost three times our annual income) means that this balancing act is even more difficult for our Club. The board of directors are going to be faced with difficult decisions in this respect certainly in the short / medium term but they have a duty to ensure that the Club remains viable.

The decision to sell a player would depend on the financial circumstances at the time but if the sale stabilised the Club and enabled us to build a more secure future then I would sell.

6. How would they communicate with the BU board and the people who elected them?

I would communicate with the BU board formally at the monthly BU board meetings and give updates if necessary outside of these meetings if the situation / issue needed it.

I will be using as many channels of communication as I can to reach as many supporters as possible. I will communicate regularly with supporters:

I would also encourage both the Club and Bees United to have defined communication strategies and to communicate regularly and clearly to supporters.

7. Describe how you would report Club developments to BIAS other fans groups and message boards such as the GPG?

See answer to 6 above

8. How 'independent' do they consider themselves to be? Once elected do they feel that they can vote as they like or will they consult beforehand?

It concerns me that the other two candidates have gone on record to stress that they would act independently. The fact of the matter is that this is a Bees United nominated position and they offer clear guidelines about what they expect from the role. They expect the successful candidate to represent “….the BU Board’s current policies and positions on all matters relating to Brentford Football Club…” Therefore the successful candidate should not act independently but has to be guided by BU requirements. I would therefore be guided in my decisions by Bees United policy and where this did not cover an issue I would use my business experience to make a decision.

If however I, or members, disagreed with BU policy I would seek to get the policy changed by the BU Board. Where there are disagreements on policy I would seek to work within the system to change the policies concerned rather than making a completely independent and unconstitutional stance.

Please see Question 12 concerning my views on consultation.

9. Do they feel lessons can be learnt from the previous elected Director's tenure?

For me it has emphasised the need to communicate with the supporters and Bees United board and to represent their views on the Club board. Also, not to vote for someone with no track record with Bees United as you really don’t know if they are going to deliver on their promises.

10. Why do you think you deserve to be elected ahead of the other candidates?

I have a track record of successfully delivering results for Bees United and at board level in my professional life. I am some one you can trust to deliver on their commitments.

Please visit www.bfcsupporterdirector.co.uk to find out more about me and what I have to offer.

11. What are your thoughts on a new stadium/GP improvements?

A new stadium is many years away with all its modern facilities. As much as we all love the “traditional feel” Griffin Park has, it does not have the facilities a modern football stadium is expected to have both for supporters and corporate entertaining. The right facilities will generate more income for the Club improving its viability. This does not just mean the existing spectators spending more inside the ground but having better facilities will encourage more people to attend matches and enable the ground to be used at times other than matchdays. By opening the ground for use outside of matchdays it will not only create other potential revenue opportunities but also develop the ground as an important location for activities in the local community.

12. BU and BFC should involve the fans more in their decision-making. Do you think this is correct? If not why not? If so how would you propose to consult fans and get them to participate in decision-making?

Both organisations should involve members/supporters in its key decisions.

For Bees United this is likely to involve consulting members on questions of strategy, like the recent SGM concerning whether or not Bees United should complete the purchase of the Club. Similarly the Club should consult supporters on issues that affect then such as, amending its customer charter or ground improvements.

It is however simply not practical to have every decision open to debate and referendum. In Bees United’s case it is essential that, as a democratic organisation, the elected representatives know the overall policy or targets the membership wishes to be implemented. Whilst at Brentford Football Club consulting with supporters is more about building good customer relations.

13. How much time do you expect and can you devote to the role?

I would love to say as much time as the role needed however I cannot as I am in full-time employment. The role is a part-time non-executive director but I do foresee the requirement to assist the Club with my skills. I will do as much as I can to support the building of a sustainable future for the Club.

14. If elected will you continue to purchase a season ticket?

Yes. I do not seek to gain financially from being a supporter director and will continue to spend exactly the same at the Club as I do now. I will publish any benefits received on the website bfcsupporterdirector.co.uk. I wouldn’t also seek to exploit the position for my own personal benefit and when necessary will join the ticket queue along with everyone else.

15. If you were not standing, which of the other two candidates would get your vote and why?

I would vote for neither of them because I fundamentally disagree with the stance they have taken about being independent candidates. See Question 8.

The following letter was published in the Chronicle on 2nd February 2006 (p 39) and the Brentford Chiswick & Isleworth Times on 3rd February, 2006 (p 7)