https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EipdAjhImrcI'm glad I went to the forum as it enabled me to make an informed decision on key issues in my mind - is it worth investing in the Shrimps Trust and handing over more cash to MFC Ltd, have MFC Ltd learnt from past mistakes, will the new owners be able to take the club forward and more importantly do they want to or is there another intention?
My understanding of a football trust is its purpose is to empower fans, give them a voice and be their representative body. I expected all questions at the forum to go through its delegated spokesperson from its members so that everyone present knew it was the Shrimps Trust.
When the meeting was started the board greeted all present and said a friendly hello but got no response, not from a single Trust member. There was a deadly silence and as an "outsider" it was embarrassing and disrespectful in my opinion to the board who looked bemused and uncomfortable with the silence.
A few minutes into the meeting following a couple of questions the board waited for the next question and there was nothing forthcoming to which the board announced well thats it we can all go home now. This prompted some raised hands. There appeared to be a fear in those present asking questions as though they were waiting for someone else to ask them - their Fans trust maybe?
I discussed this with Mr Williams and he agreed with my observation. He also told me he was not going to ask his written questions until he was sure nobody else was going to. This I believe is true as his questions were raised after half way through the forum which appeared to prompt others present to raise more questions which was good to see and well done those that did so.
Having experienced the culture of personal attacks on this forum from in my opinion cowards some of who were present at the forum I can understand why that happened.
I would have expected the Shrimps Trust to have asked what I considered to be the most important question of the evening - Why were the players paid late and what had been put in place to prevent this from happening again. I find it remarkable that the Shrimps Trust did not.
These forum meetings from a communication point of view are in my opinion very important for the football club. The board stated that improving communication is a priority issue.
So were are the minutes of the forum meetings and what date and time is the next meeting a question I would have expected the Fans Trust to raise unless it is already known?
I wont be handing a Trust membership form in with my ten pounds, nor will Mr or Mrs Williams as all myself and Mr Williams discovered - it was just a new source of revenue collection for MFC Ltd and does not empower or give fans a voice. There appears to be no benefit for a fan other than to spend more of their income and receive a badge, car air freshener, membership card and give you shareholder status enabling you to attend the MFC Ltd AGM.
You can attend the forum yourself without handing over any cash and ask the questions yourself as four Trust members did as told on this forum, as the majority, including myself and Mr Williams did. Thats if MFC Ltd and the local press care to notify the town of the date and time of its future fans forum meetings through its websites and on line through social media.