Plymouth Argyle Fans Trust seek to build bridges with Home Park board
PLYMOUTH Argyle Fans' Trust have continued their call for greater 'financial transparency' off the pitch while pledging to support the Pilgrims in their fight to preserve their Football League status.
The Trust has come in for flack, principally over the timing of a statement on the match-day of a vital fixture, which appeared to be less-than-fulsome in its backing of the club as a whole.
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Plymouth Argyle Fans Trust seek to build bridges with Home Park board
Just when most parties in the city, including The Herald through both its news and sports pages, were calling on solidarity from Plymothians, whether football fans or not, it seemed Argyle Fans Trust an axe to grind.
Now, following 'feedback from fans' conducted by themselves, both on and after the day of the statement's release, when manager John Sheridan's Pilgrims threw themselves a League Two survival lifeline by beating Barnet at the end of February, the Trust has sought to clarify its intentions.
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Trust chairman Andy Symons insisted its own support of the manager and players is unswerving and congratulated both on their recent revival which has netted Plymouth 11 out of a possible 15 points, including back-to-back league wins for the first time since October.
However, Symons stressed the Trust will not 'take our eyes off matters off the pitch', arguing that its top priority is to 'help the team be successful in its fight for Football League survival'.
The statement welcomed the recently released plans of Argyle owner and chairman James Brent's proposed redevelopment at Home Park, which includes a new grandstand, but said The Trusts' desire for better 'fan engagement and more transparency in how the club works' had the backing of supporters it had asked.
A Trust statement said: "Our statement of February 26 did not intend to cast doubt on the competence or integrity of the club's board, who have all proved themselves very capable in other business fields.
"Rather, our, and many supporters' frustration has grown from specific challenges faced by the club this season – not only on the pitch, including the disappointment felt at the difficulty in appointing a full-time football CEO.
"The Trust recognises that an improvement in communication protocol is matter of priority to enable the relationship between the Trust and club to return to an agreeable level of understanding."
It added: "We will continue to support the good things the club does and try to change the not-so-good things, but we will do it constructively and with courtesy.
"Our survey suggests that Argyle fans want more transparency from the club than has been delivered thus far. We want to work with the board to look at how that can be achieved."
10 Comments
by alabar1
Thursday, March 21 2013, 6:12PM
“Could not imagine Ron Blindall or Dan McCauley putting up with this lot,if you want to do something positive engage properly with the fan base not form a private members club.
James Brent must regret ever inviting you lot to get involved in the first place.”
by ciderpirate
Thursday, March 21 2013, 5:15PM
“If the Herald had any credibility as a serious newspaper it would be asking the same questions that the Trust are asking,rather than merely acting as Mr Brents mouthpeice.”
by torbaygreen
Thursday, March 21 2013, 3:30PM
“To expect the Fans Trust or any other fan not to complain when the club is bottom of the whole football league is frankly ridiculous. To claim that any statement is going to affect the way the team plays is also ridiculous but saying that there does seem to be an improvement in the teams results since the Trust's statement. Coincidence?
It's also very clear that there has been a spiteful and at times vicious campaign against the Trust by certain fans who are probably trying to protect their own positions. Only this week there was a nasty attack on two Trust members who dared to speak out against some of this behaviour. This was at best juvenile, at worst defamatory. All very unnecessary and divisive.
For Mr. Brent and the club to refuse to speak to fans who dare to express their concerns about the state of THEIR football club is very unprofessional and doesn't show Mr.Brent in a very good light at all. He is obviously not used to being questioned by his customers or his customers complaining in large numbers. All very sad, I was expecting much more after his early speeches about "transparency and openness"
Let us all hope he stops throwing his toys out of the pram every time someone criticises him.”
by grumpygit
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:08PM
“Anyone for a bit of Deepthroat?
The AFT has been under attack ever since a certain ex Trust Chair begrudgingly (sic) became president and head-cheerleader of PAFC, the same ex Chair who endorsed giving away £8k of the AFT's limited funds.
The attacks have been so disgusting we've recently seen a resignation from the AFT quoting health reasons, after being attacked online by a club director and having screenshots taken from his FB page, you conveniently forgot that Herald?. Try doing some real journalism rather than just being another attack poodle for the club.”
by ExtensionCork
Thursday, March 21 2013, 11:43AM
“Instead of 'solidarity' (***?) it might be better for the Herald to do some actual journalism and support those people with the aims of providing more transparency within one of the institutions important to many people in the city.
But not, the Trust has an 'axe to grind'.”
by plymuffmuff
Thursday, March 21 2013, 10:37AM
“What about the trust being for the fans and not just the select few. It would seem the trust have been putting words in the mouths of members without even consulting them.
people in glass houses and all that.”
by Devonview
Thursday, March 21 2013, 10:05AM
“The Trust are also focussed on supporting the team in beating relegation. That doesn't mean their role as critical friend disappears.
The description of "political games" belongs with the handful of people who have worked tirelessly and shamelessly to smear and denigrate the Trust and individuals within it. The club stated very clearly on a number of occasions that they wanted to work with the Trust and yet at the first occasion when the Trust were even in the slightest bit critical the club shut up shop. It seems as if for the club it is a case of 'If you're not with us 100% and do everything we tell you, you're against us.' So much for the openness that was promised!”
by GreenJohn
Thursday, March 21 2013, 9:42AM
“Oh shut up! It's clear the Fans Trust is out of step with many fans, we are fed up with the political games you are playing when all that matters is beating relegation.”
by GreenJohn
Thursday, March 21 2013, 9:42AM
“Oh shut up! It's clear the Fans Trust is out of step with many fans, we are fed up with the political games you are playing when all that matters is beating relegation.”
by GreenJohn
Thursday, March 21 2013, 9:41AM
“Oh shut up! It's clear the Fans Trust is out of step with many fans, we are fed up with the political games you are playing when all that matters is beating relegation.”