The meeting began with a welcome from Paul Davis of TrustSTFC. Paul went on to update those present on the outcome of the previous meeting in October.
Paul and Trust chairman Tony Norris, met with Mark Devlin and Mike Sullivan from the club regarding the idea of opening the Stratton Bank to school parties. The club have got ideas of their own for this type of venture as seen at the previous home game where 800 tickets were sold via schools. There are plans in hand to make this a regular occurrence from the start of next season.
The club will also be promoting their reduced ticket prices for the forthcoming Blackpool home game by a leafleting campaign around the Town. Leaflets are being printed for Monday 12th December, and TrustSTFC have volunteered to assist in handing these out in the Town centre. Anyone willing to help with this was asked to stay behind after the meeting to confirm a date, convenient to the majority of volunteers.
County Ground Update
The main business of the evening was to discuss the recent developments regarding the County Ground redevelopment, particularly in light of the councils rejection of the clubs current proposals, and the clubs statement that they may be forced to consider relocating outside the borough if no workable plan could be agreed at the County Ground.
Tony Norris explained that the advice received from Supporters Direct was that they would not expect such a move out of the borough to gain Football League approval. Football League rules require League approval for such a relocation to go ahead.
There are no specific rules for the League to grant approval, but there are published guidelines which cover such things as requiring the backing of the clubs supporters, and not being damaging to other clubs in the vicinity of the proposed new location. These are only guidelines though, not hard and fast rules.
A straw poll was taken on the hypothetical question of the club moving away from Swindon to Chippenham, or another Town of equivalent distance from Swindon. Though not unanimous, a large majority of those present would be opposed to any such move, and would no longer support the club if it were to relocate.
It was agreed that a new campaign under the heading of "Keep the Town in Swindon" would be instigated. The Supporters Club will be approached to see if they wish to back the idea, so that it is a campaign across all supporters, not just the Trust.
Specimen emails, and letters will be produced that fans can send to their local councillor, or to the chief executive of Swindon borough council for those fans who live outside the borough.
It was also agreed that TrustSTFC would look into producing our own set of proposals for a Community Stadium utilising the County Ground site, to demonstrate to both the council and the club, the feasibility of such a development.
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