NEWS

STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN TERRY PAVEY

"Sir-On May 27th the Times and Citizen published a letter which I had written to you, as Editor, which may have suggested to your readers that David Howell had tried and was possibly still trying to deceive fans of Bedford Town FC about his intentions for the club.

Specifically my letter may have led readers to understand that Mr Howell was proposing to develop the ground for commercial use in a way which would benefit only him and not the club. That was not what I was trying to say in my letter, but I accept that is how the words i used will have come across to some people. I am very sorry that they did so.
I accept that Mr Howell has put at least £700,000 into the club over the past four years, and that he has done so even though he might never get some of it back. I also accept that the money has resulted in great improvements at the ground.

Rightly, Mr Howell has pointed out to me that his proposals, when he lent money to the club, were put to, and approved by an Annual General Meeting. I accept all this and apologise to the Chairman for the distress and embarrassment which I know the publication of my letter has caused him.
Terry Pavey. Chair. The Bedford Eagles Supporters Club."

Supporters Direct Conference 2008 Annual Conference. 16^th October. QE11 Conference Centre. London.

This was my first visit to a SD Annual conference. I found it a powerful but user friendly event. The SD (our umbrella organisation) has full cross party political backing and is supported by all the major football authorities. This was evidenced by talks in the plenary sessions from Andy Burham MP ( The Government Culture Secretary), Hugh Robertson MP ( Conservative Shadow Sports and Olympics Minister) and Lord Triesman ( Independent Chairman of the FA).

Some of the messages they gave out -and I must say that were mutually shared by other speakers-cut right across the football spectrum and did not just apply to Premiership clubs. My main impressions were as follows:

Football clubs must never become detached from the communities that created them. They are at the heart of their communities. Cherish the fans because without them a club exists in name only.
Clubs should always live within their means so as to avoid the turbulence and fall out that financial stress always brings. ‘Booms invariably lead to ‘busts’
The SD model is successful. Almost 160 clubs now have Trusts. There are plans for extending the movement into Rugby League and the creation of a SD Europe.
There is huge concern about the current ownership pattern of clubs, who they really belong to, the transparency of their actions, the debts that are building up and whether future legislation will be necessary to help regulate things.

The remainder of the conference consisted of morning break out sessions and afternoon workshops. This was the essence of the conference. The chance to talk with others about their issues and problems. They varied enormously from club to club. I will try and summarise some of the main take home messages.

Trusts only seem to be appreciated by fans when their club is in distress. They seem to fade into the background when things are going well. Membership varies accordingly.
Trusts and supporters clubs are complementary in nature. The latter are social groups helping fans and the club in the ‘here and now’. Trusts are legal entities constantly monitoring the welfare of their clubs and their place in the community. Some participants referred to Trusts as their clubs’ insurance policies.
When clubs get into financial, ownership or governance difficulties the ‘Trust Movement’ swings into action immediately. SD provides some sharp legal and financial minds (and resources) to help individual Trusts set up appropriate leadership in such circumstances. It has a formidable record of success.
There was a genuine feeling of participants wanting to help each other out in these sessions. That is a precious quality for any organisation and one to be cherished.

I found the day stimulating and felt that it was an experience that more of our members would value in the future. Please log on to the SD website www.supporters-direct.org and catch up on some of the myriad of things that went on.

Dr. Gareth Thomas.

Vice Chair

10/10/08.

Vice Chair Gareth Thomas will represent The B.E.S.T at the Supporters Direct Annual General Meeting and Conference to be held at the QE2 Centre in London on 16th October 2008

Waving Not Drowning

Bedford Eagles Supporters’ Trust (BEST) brought their version of football’s Mexican wave to a Bedford Pub this week.

Hot on the heels of the Eagles second consecutive relegation, Bedford Town Chairman, David Howells launched a Football Management Committee to give fans more say in the running of the club, in response to BEST’s calls for supporters to own and run the club in partnership with local businesses and other stakeholders.

The “Wave” a lively event played almost like a game generated lively discussion at the King’s Arms on Wednesday.

Karen Plunkett, BEST Director of Communication said afterwards, “I worked with a team that created “The Wave” and have run meetings like this all over the country. The passion of fans here tonight to make the Eagles fly again has inspired the new BEST board to be even more ambitious” We are democratic and inclusive. No-one has a veto here and everyone is listened too.”

Ideas and suggestions ranged from a summer barbeque in August to a council backed consortium developing a multi purpose stadium by 2025 through to a bond scheme to encourage people to pledge investment in the club when ownership changes in the future.

BEST Executive Chairman, Terry Pavey, told the meeting, “Every idea and suggestion will be looked at by the BEST board and our business plan will come back to an ever bigger wave meeting later in the year.” Anyone wanting to join the BEST is very welcome to visit our website

www. bedfordeaglestrust.co.uk

Tim Caswell

BEST Press Officer

_________//_________

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Bedford Town F.C. Independent Supporters Society Ltd.

Now Trading As

The Bedford Eagles Supporters Trust. (The B.E.S.T.)

will be held at

The Howard Room. The Corn Exchange. Bedford.

Doors Open 7pm for 7.30pm to 9pm on Thursday 17^th April 2008

Members only

(closing registration date March 20th 2008)

A licensed bar will be open to Members, and the AGM will be followed by an opportunity for socialising and general discussion until 10pm.

7.30 pm. Welcome

7.35.Speaker. Raj Mandal. Assistant Director. Bedford College Sports Academy

8pm Annual General Meeting

Apologies
Chairs report
Treasurers Report on Accounts at 31^st December 2007
Secretaries Report.
Appointment of Independent Examiner
Election Results
Business Planning Programme
Aims and Objectives for 2008/9
Resolutions (see below)
Any Other Business. Members wishing to raise Any Other Business should notify the Secretary before the commencement of the meeting. No decisions can be taken or resolutions passed on Any Other Business raised, but a discussion may be had on these matters.

Interval

9pm

General Meeting (Some suggested topics for discussion are:

The Structure of the Trust. Board of Society and Executive Board Vacancies
Members Business Planning Evening
Description of the Revenue and Capital Budget for this year
Plans for further General Meetings. (what would you like?)
Eagle Auctions
General Questions and Answers

Close

N. B. Resolution 1.

Independent examination of Accounts

“It is hereby resolved that subject to the provisions of sections 4A of the 1968 Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act, the members of the Society shall not require an audit for the accounts covering the financial year ending on 31^st December 2008 when they are presented to the next AGM in 2009.”

The members of the Society agree that the Accounts for the financial year ending 31.12 2008 and for which reports will be laid before the following AGM do not require a full audit provided that

The total income for that year does not exceed the threshold laid down by Supporters Direct for audit exemption (currently £25000)
An Independent Examination of these Accounts is carried out in place of a full Audit.
The Independent Examination is carried out in line with the best practice of Supporters Direct as set out in the Guidance Notes. (available on request from The B.E.S.T.)
A report from the Independent Examiner is included within the Accounts and circulated to members at the AGM.

This resolution must be passed by 80% of the members voting in person and by proxy and only comes into force if it is passed by that margin AND the numbers voting against do not equal more the 10% of those members eligible to vote.

A NEW BOARD OF SOCIETY for The B.E.S.T.

The building of a new Board of Society (BoS) has taken a major step forward.

Members will know that if less than seven people stood for election, there was no call for a competitive vote on this occasion.

Four people, Dr Gareth Thomas; Dave Timms; Penny Young and Terry Pavey, are all automatically elected to the BoS. Their Manifesto Statements are printed below for your interest.

Once the BoS has looked at its skill and experience needs, it can then seek to recruit or co-opt a further three members to bring itself up to full strength.

In addition to the BoS, the executive arm of The B.E.S.T. welcomes Steve Fish as Meetings and Minutes Secretary, and Tim Caswell as Press Officer.

Other job descriptions within the structure, and matching person specifications, are being developed and will be advertised shortly.

Manifesto Statements

My name is Gareth Thomas and I live in Sandy. I was friendly with the late Mr. Terry King who first invited me to watch the ‘Eagles’ and the first of his many promotions as the manager. I have been a keen supporter ever since.

Professionally, I am recently retired as Head of Reserves Acquisition and Management for a national wildlife charity. I was responsible for developing policies, strategies and plans for over 180 sites in the UK. I have experience in property negotiations, fundraising, organizational management and administration, which could be of service to the The B.E.S.T.

Currently I am a non- exec director of a company distributing landfill tax funding in support of community projects. Nationwide, over £10m has been awarded in recent years; of which about 20% has been in Bedfordshire. I also serve on one of the ‘Big Lottery’ schemes disbursing grants for nature conservation projects over the next 3 years in England. I believe that my knowledge of both fund raising and fund provision would be of value to The B.E.S.T. and thence the ‘Eagles’.

The B.E.S.T. can aspire to add valuable extra dimensions to the ‘Eagles’ in two main ways:

Because of its constitution as a ‘Friendly Society’ The B.E.S.T. is in a unique position to attract partnership funding of benefit to the ‘Eagles’ that would not ordinarily be available. This could cover ground facilities as well as improving its standing as a community club.

Should the ‘Eagles’ ever suffer a dramatic change of governance in the future The B.E.S.T and its network could be a natural focus to help it quickly reposition itself as a pre-eminent community football club.

I have the time available to serve on the committee and would regard it as a privilege if elected.

Dr. Gareth Thomas. Sandy.Beds

My name is Dave Timms.

“I retired last year having completed 50 years service with Avery Berkel, calibrating and repairing weighing equipment mostly in Beds, Bucks, Cambs and Herts.

I have been a regular supporter of the Eagles since the late 1940’s when I was taken by my father to matches, until he passed away.

I was a regular supporter until the old club folded in 1982 after which I visited many local clubs but they where not my club. When the meeting was held at the Library in 1989 my football enthusiasm was reignited. I joined The B.E.S.T. this is the only way of ensuring Bedford Town will always have a football team to follow.

For the last ten years I have run the football website www.bedfordeagles.net . In my younger days I was Youth Club Leader at the Silver Jubilee School and London Road Boys Club, both having good reputations for football teams many of my boy’s went on to play for Bedford Town

I truly believe a well run Trust can play a valuable part in the future of our Club”

Dave Timms. Kempston.

“My name is Penny Young and I was one of the founder members in 1989 of the re-formed Bedford Town Football Club.

I bring with me a knowledge of the licensed trade, through my business and connections to local breweries; my business acumen from running my own business, and being finalist in a National Small Business Competition.

I have long term links with the governance and running of football.

My current connections with youth football; knowledge of it’s value to a club, and the fact that I am familiar with the Eagles’ path since it’s reformation as a community club, make me truly believe in the aims of the Football Trust in taking the Club back in that direction again.”

Penny Young. Bedford.

“People and communities generally invest more money and loyalty into resources over which they have some degree of real ownership and control. My experience with Supporters Trusts; football clubs and life in general confirms this view.

Our Trust Is an Independent and Provident Society. We can trade. We have tax and grant application advantages. We are willing to work with others. We already have leverage in many quarters.

I retired in 2005 after a 25year career in Local Authority management and 10 years as Managing Director of my own recruitment company.

In 2003 during the clubs’ collapse, I became Chief Executive of the Exeter City FC Trust, and Club Director after the Trust took overall control. This was valuable experience.

Karen and I moved to Thurleigh from Hertfordshire in 2005 and began supporting The Eagles. We joined the BTFCIST in early 2006.

They say we’re “a rugby town”. We’re not. We’re a town with an underdeveloped football club. I do not believe only 325 potential Eagles fans exist in a locality of 150,000 people.

If we want supporters; politicians and businesses to invest in our club, power needs to be more sensibly shared to enable that investment. The B.E.S.T. will be a valuable business partner in achieving that.

I will work to see a true Community Club develop. Community Clubs are like icebergs. Only 10% of what they do is visible on Saturdays. The 7day resources, and the Eagle brand of our club, must be used intelligently and positively, to gain community support and build the future fan base and club infrastructure.

There is so much skill, experience and goodwill inside, and (sadly) outside the club, toward The Eagles, as a valued part of the towns history. I believe I can help harness those energies, and rebuild a successful future.

Terry Pavey. Thurleigh.

DRAFT MISSION STATMENT

DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT

from

THE ELECTION WORKING GROUP

With the opportunity imminent, for Trust Members to consider standing for election to the new Board of Society, the Election Steering Committee have drafted the following Mission Statement.

The intention is to give Members and potential Candidates guidance as to the new direction of the Trust.

The Mission Statement will of course be developed by the new Board of Society, once the election process is complete. It will be the driver for the development of the initial Business Plan 2008/9

"The B.E.S.T. is set up and run as an Industrial and Provident Society Ltd with primary aims to participate at an appropriate time, in the ownership and governance of the Bedford Town Football Club.

The B.E.S.T. will establish itself as a professionally run organisation which aims to work openly and honestly with fans; supporters; local businesses; local authorities; sporting bodies and potential funders, for the benefit of Bedford Town Football Club"

Terry Pavey. Chair.

Election Steering Committee

Following the resignation of the management committee a meeting was called by members to re-launch the Supporters Trust on Wednesday 5th December 2007 at the Bedford Central Library.

The meeting was opened by Terry Pavey who updated the meeting on meetings he had with various prominent local people and organisations. A financial report was given of the money left in the account by the old committee and it was noted that £3000 was given to the Bedford Town Players Budget Scheme. The current financial situation is £467.60 in the current account. With outstanding Invoices for FSA renewal, auditors fees and public Liability Insurance.

An explanation of the role of a Steering Group was given.

1) To decide the shape and size of the Management Board.

2) To design an election process.

3) To work out a Time Table for Elections.

4) To decide the application Process.

5) To mail all past and present members Application Information.

6) To collate responses.

7) To liaise with the independent returning officer (Luton Town Trust).

8) To notify outcome to all members.

9) To support the first AGM.

The debate was then opened to the floor and a lively debate was enjoyed by most present.

A motion was then put " That this meeting proceed to an election of a new Board of Society and that a Steering Group now be selected to manage the process in time for an April 2008 AGM"

Vote taken by secret ballot. Adjudicators - Karen Plunkett and Gerry Edmunds.

Outcome 16 yes 3 no

Motion carried.

10 members volunteered to form a steering group with the first meeting in December 2007

Bedford Eagles Supporters Trust
Bedford Town Independent Supporters Society No 29763R Trading as "The B.E.S.T."