Press Release

Trust Open Meeting

On Friday 25^th November the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association (MKDSA) started the ball rolling to form a Trust for the MK Dons. At an historic meeting held at the Windmill Hill Golf Club in Bletchley, Dr Phyllis Starkey MP talked about the Governments desire for all fans to have a part in the running of their football club and for clubs to be imbedded into the local community with the aid of a Trust set up under the regulation of the FSA. Dr Starkey has assisted the MKDSA greatly over the last year setting up meetings with various parties including Richard Caborn, Minister of Sport.

Genuine cross party support was demonstrated by Mark Lancaster, Conservative MP for Milton Keynes North East who sent the following message: "Today sees the MK Dons Supporters Association form a Trust which will not only give the supporters of the MK Dons a louder voice but will benefit the team substantially through an increased fan base, greater financial support and a bigger medium through which it can appeal to the city. I recognise the excellent work that the MK Dons Supporters Association has done in bringing football to the forefront of Milton Keynes’ community and our children, and I am sure that this work can only grow in strength with the formation of this Trust.

As Milton Keynes changes, I am sure that the MK Dons will play a pivotal role in providing a core cultural community where people from across the city can come together and share in the passion so admirably demonstrated by each and every one of you here tonight."

"I look forward to meeting some of you at some the upcoming games. I have no doubt that the Trust will be great asset to the club and Milton Keynes and I wish them all the best for the future. "

John Brockwell, Chair of MKDSA, explained what had happened over the last year with regards to negotiations with Supporters Direct and other bodies regarding forming a Trust. A working group of a dozen volunteers was established who have been tasked with formally agreeing the aims & objectives of the Trust, providing funding, ensuring a workable constitution is in place and launching the Trust within a twelve week time scale.

MK Dons Trust Open Meeting

The Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association (MKDSA) has been seeking to form a Trust virtually since the Football Club moved to Milton Keynes.

What is a Football Trust you may well ask? “The basic definition of a Trust is a democratic, not-for-profit organisation of supporters, committed to strengthening the voice for supporters in the decision making process at a club, and strengthening the links between the club and the community it serves.” (Source - Supporters Direct FAQ’s May 2004).

We feel that to ensure a successful Football Club the community needs to step up to the mark and actively assist the club. This can be achieved by being involved in key decisions that affect the future of the club and by raising funds for the football club, whether to purchase much needed items or, if the financial structure of the Football Club allowed it, by purchasing shares in the club. Whichever route is taken it will ensure that the community’s financial commitment is recognised and respected by the club.

Trusts are regulated by the Financial Services Authority and provide a cost effective and tax efficient way of raising money to support the club both now and in the future. Some Trusts have even taken over the complete ownership of the club – Chesterfield in our Division are Trust owned and from January Brentford will be added to their number.

We are extremely pleased that the Club and their various partners are currently working together to add value to the community of Milton Keynes via various schemes such as Football in the Community. We believe that the future of the MK Dons is bright and we feel that it is time for the community of MK to step forward and help propel the club forward.

The open meeting will be held at the Windmill Hill Golf Club on Friday 25^th November @ 7pm – we hope to see many of you there to hear from our guest speakers, which include Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, and take part in the question and answer session.

Come on you Dons!

John Brockwell – Chair MKDSA

MK Dons Supporters' Trust: Press Release

Open Meeting: Friday 25^th November 7pm

(Windmill Hill Golf Club, Bletchley)

An open meeting has been organised to outline the aims and objectives of a Supporters’ Trust at MK Dons. This initiative is the work of members of the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association (MKDSA), with guidance from the Government-backed Supporters Direct organisation published material. After several months of research and careful planning, positive discussions have already taken place with senior representatives from the club.

In order to make this idea a reality, we need as many MK Dons supporters as possible to come along to this meeting to learn about the ways in which a Trust could operate to the benefit of MK Dons, its supporters, and the community.

The main aims of this meeting are as follows:

· To provide as much relevant information to those unfamiliar with Trusts.

· To outline the benefits a Trust could have for ordinary football supporters to get involved.

· To secure a strong positive mandate for the establishment of a Trust.

Supporters’ Trusts are democratic, non-profit organisations and have already been established at over one hundred clubs in England, Wales and Scotland. A Trust is not run by the club, but is run for and by the supporters themselves, using a well-established legal framework. Supporters’ Trusts have been able to take important steps to shape the ways in which supporters interact with the club that they support. Influence, ownership & representation are the three main areas in which a Supporters’ Trust would seek to be involved at MK Dons Football Club, and although a full list of aims would be agreed if and when a Trust were to be established, the following areas would be key to the organisation:

· To encourage MK Dons Football Club to take an active role in the interests of its

supporters and of the community it serves in its decisions.

· To work towards the financial and footballing success of MK Dons Football Club.

· To strengthen the links between MK Dons Football Club and the community.

· To further the game of football in and around the new city as a recreational facility, sporting activity, and a focus for community involvement.

A Supporters’ Trust in Milton Keynes would be able to engage in constructive communication with the club, as well as seeking to establish a financial involvement through share purchase.

We are confident that with the help of the club’s loyal supporter base there are numerous positive steps that can be taken to ensure that the club is run for the benefit of today’s supporters, as well as future generations of supporters.

Don’t miss this opportunity to have a real say in how your football club is run.

Ends

For more information contact Brenda Vidal – Press & Media officer MKDSA

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