Letter from the Brentford FC boardroom, 23rd November 2008
Dear Supporters,
On Saturday 22 November 2008 I attended the Bees United AGM. It was with dismay that I heard the confirmation that the Supporter Director position would no longer be directly elected by the Trust’s members. There was also an inference that the role would disappear altogether with the Trust Board collectively undertaking part of the role and the remainder being undertaken by the Board’s new nominee on the Club Board.
Since Bees United announced their intention to take away the rights of members to directly vote their representative onto the Club Board I have kept my counsel on the matter. The reason for this was, that as current incumbent of the position, I felt that had I spoken out about it before now people might believe I had a conflict of interest. Well as the decision was absolutely finalised at the AGM I expressed my view at the meeting.
I believe that the removal of the rights of members to elect their representative on the Club Board is a betrayal of the democratic principles that the Trust was founded on. Isn’t the prime role of the Supporter Director to represent the views of supporters to the Club Board and who is best placed to decide that? Is it the BU Board or the supporters? I am sure it is not the BU Board! The supporters should be trusted; they have proved that even if they elect the wrong person (as in the case of my predecessor) they are more than capable to use the adequate processes in place to remove them.
There have been a whole series of arguments put forward on behalf of the Bees United Board and they simply don’t wash with me. Most of all it is strange that the Bees United Chairman who publicly stated that he fully supported the removal of the role actually contested the last election for the position!
One of the reasons put forward for removing the voting rights of members was that I had done such a good job no one would come up to the standards I have set in the role. It was therefore a reason to change the voting arrangements as I was unlikely to stand. When Bees United made the decision I was put in a difficult position. This is because I would have to stand for election to the Bees United Board and the Club Board. If I was successful on both counts (the Bees United Chairman stated that he thought I might have been) I would be breaking my original election promises that I would resign from the Bees United Board as I did not think (and still do) that one individual can do justice to both roles.
Yes, the role of Supporter Director does take a lot of my time and there is no way I could be effective as a Bees United Board Member as well. I am pleased if you think that I have done a good job; I have simply given it my best shot. I’m sure someone else would have done that too and would have done the job differently, bringing different elements to the role. Sadly they have been denied this opportunity.
Ultimately it is not my opinion that counts but your collective one. If enough of you believe the decision is wrong you have the option to propose to change it by an EGM of Bees United. I leave that for you to decide and if you do feel strongly about this then you should contact BIAS. In the meantime I will continue to represent you with pride on the Club Board.
Let's work together!
Jon Gosling
Comments can either be sent to me on or directly via comments page.
24th November 2008