Open Letter to the Bees United Board, 23rd November 2006
This letter is an open letter to the BU board. Please voice your approval or otherwise, either by commenting in my Guest Book or by email to myself and/or the Bees United board at board@beesunited.org.uk
Dear Bees United Board,
I am writing this as an open letter as I feel I must publicly state my concerns at both the direction and performance of Bees United. I do so now so these factors can be considered at your “Strategy Day” this Saturday.
Reflecting back on last Saturday’s AGM I have to say it was evident what a poor state the Trust is in. Whilst everyone associated with the Trust should be rightly proud of the takeover last January it is a sad fact that very little progress has been made since then. In fact as the membership survey showed the Trust has gone backwards.
The lamentable saga since the takeover was illustrated at the AGM by:
- No public plan to deal with the requirements to pay-off or refinance debt as it becomes due.
- 10 months after takeover, no fund-raising plan although Natasha Judge is “working on one”
- The ongoing “secrecy” and lack of community involvement in the new stadium
- The complete farce concerning the publication of the Trusts accounts which will require at least an extra £700 of members donations to sort out. With no one being held accountable for the mess.
- No action plan from last year’s members’ survey
I’m afraid it all goes to show a stagnant BU board with stagnant leadership and sadly no real acknowledgement of the problem. It is ten months since the takeover and it is simply not acceptable to say these issues continue to be under discussion.
The above view is not solely my own and is supported by feedback I have received from long- standing members. Why the concern? Well if Bees United carries on in the same way with its inactivity and poor representation of supporters’ views then the decline of the Trust will accelerate and the relevance of the Trust will diminish.
There is growing support amongst supporters to the view that the Trust model of ownership cannot work and we’d be better off letting a “businessman” coming into the Club to “fund it.” This has been fuelled by the perception generated by the recent West Ham takeover. I don’t subscribe to the “businessman” model, as there is a history of this not working.
Your role is to ensure both the short and long term survival of the Club. The Trust model is about long-term sustainability which in today’s instant result environment is a difficult concept to sell. As a Board one thing you must communicate is the long-term view linked with clear actions showing how this will be achieved whilst in the addressing short-term survival needs.
The future of both the Trust and Club is in your hands. I really do fear for the future of the Trust and as a consequence also that of the Club if you continue with this inactivity. So from Saturday please start to provide the leadership that is needed to take our Club forward.
This is an open letter and as such will be displayed on my website.
Yours sincerely,
Jon Gosling
Supporter Director
Comments can either be sent to me on or directly via comments page.
23rd November 2006