Statement from the Supporters Co-Op Steering Group

By mark-nbfc7/2 13:18Wed Feb 7 13:18:56 2024

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𝐁𝐔𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐍

At a meeting on 29 January 2024, the Supporters Co-operative agreed to form a Steering Group to explore options for rebuilding the football club. The Steering Group met on 5 February 2024 and unanimously agreed that any new club MUST have the fans at the heart of its decision-making process. This means elected fan representatives taking a leading role in the club’s governance to ensure transparency and accountability.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧? The Steering Group supports the formation of a Community Interest Company (CIC) that benefits not only the football club but the town as a whole. Our view is that a CIC is preferable to a club led by a private business, which would not necessarily act for the community. A CIC is the ideal vehicle for us, as proud Nuneatonians, to make a positive impact on our local community. The Supporters Co-operative is supporting a group of sponsors and sporting bodies within the community to build a club and team for the future.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛? The board of the CIC will consist of elected fan representatives, sponsors and other local institutions. It will not be run by the Supporters Co-operative, and will NOT be run to raise money for owners and shareholders.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧? Forming a CIC will end the boom-and-bust cycle that has dogged the club throughout its recent history and enable us to leave a lasting legacy for future generations of Boro fans.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞? A CIC is the best way to ensure that revenue raised by the football club will be reinvested solely for the benefit of the football club and the local community – something that we, the Steering Group, believe in passionately.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧? Discussions are already well underway to form a new club. The deadline for our application to join the National League System in time for next season is 1 March 2024.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧? We aim to apply for step 5 but no new club can guarantee where it will be placed in the National League System.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠? We have identified short-term groundshare opportunities and these will be followed up in the next few days. We are also in talks to bring the club back to its own ground in Nuneaton as soon as possible.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝? We want to involve fans from the outset and intend to run a poll, with the help of the Football Supporters’ Association so you can choose the name of YOUR club. Details will follow as soon as the poll has been set up.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 – 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨’𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭? We have talked with local businesses and prospective sponsors about funding. As long as the fan base is behind us, we believe the cost of getting our club back up and running in the National League System will not be beyond our reach.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬: All of these discussions are gathering pace with a view to finalising firm commitments in the coming days. The Steering Group is meeting again on 12 February 2024 and will share more information with fans after that.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩? We urge all Boro fans to join the Supporters Co-operative. There’s strength in numbers and a united front is key to giving you, the long-suffering fans, the club you deserve.

Join by emailing your name and contact details to [email protected] and transferring £2 for annual membership or £20 life membership to our bank account (Sort Code: 08-92-99 Acc No.: 65079717) with your name in the reference.

For more information, please contact the Supporters Co-operative at: [email protected]

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Hope is not a plan.