Friday 26th August, 2022 at 5:57pm
The publication of the PTFC Trust’s proposal, laying out how they will deliver as guardians of the majority shareholding in the Club, is a very welcome step forward. With this now in the public domain, our work with the Trust can now move forward at pace in a more open way.
This is the start of what we believe will be a constructive partnership that can only be good for the Club as it will, ultimately, give fans a real voice at the heart of Thistle. Supporters undoubtedly have a lot to tell to us and the Trust will give them that clearly defined route to communicate with the Board. But we will also use the Trust to actively seek out fans’ opinions and advice on a range of matters. Having the Trust will be crucial to doing this at the pace the Board needs to enable timely and informed decision making.
It is in everyone’s interests to find better ways to engage and communicate with fans through the Trust. That started yesterday with the Trust putting the first questions on behalf of fans to the Board for a response. However, this must not be seen as an exercise in tokenism or lacking in substance. There is a place on the Board for an elected Trustee from the Trust. We will hold board-to-board meetings on the same day as the Club Board meets, to share information and report back on whatever they have put to us on fans behalf. There will be no delays in communications from Board to Trust – contact from the Trust and our majority shareholders will be treated as a priority.
For the first time, the Board agenda yesterday had dedicated time built in for Trust matters. We expect that to grow in the months ahead as the Trust brings us ideas, questions and requests from fans and it will become a focal point for meetings.
The Board and Trust are also working on the terms of engagement that will define the responsibilities of both parties in how they work together to deliver for fans. These are in addition to the Club’s Articles which already lay out all the rights majority shareholders have in law that no one can take away. We also welcome the Trust’s plans to hold elections open to all supporters to become a Trustee.
This is a significant moment for Partick Thistle as we move closer to being a fan owned Club. The Board will do all in its power to make sure this is a success and works for the benefit of fans and Club as Colin Weir hoped.
