DT Election 2003 - Questionnaire

Are you a member of WISA? If not, why not?

No, I (Tom Adam) have focussed all my available time and energy to the Dons Trust and associated activities.

Why should WISA members vote for you?

My extensive Business, Planning and Project Management skills coupled with clear understanding what is needed to carry the Dons Trust through its next phase of development. This would include establishing in consultation with DT members direction, planning resolution and subsequent implementation together with ensuring full accountability through out to the DT members.

How much time can you commit each month to DT duties (excluding AFCW activities?).

One day a week possibly more.

What role would you perform on the DT board?

Represent the interests of the DT members and through the skills I bring, to significantly contribute to the formulation of strategic direction and follow through implementation, ensure full transparency and accountability as well as providing a professional engineering component to the Board.

Would you undertake any additional activities in AFCW?

Yes, as I do now.

Did you support the recent share issue enthusiastically, with reservations, or were you unhappy with the idea?

Enthusiastically, because it was really the only way to secure anywhere near the level of finance needed to purchase the stadium. This does not in anyway negate the stadium Fund raising that has and is going on since this has got us going on the purchase and we have an ongoing need to make the stadium fully operational together with providing a financial base upon which we can clear our stadium purchase debt .

Do you favour a register of interests to record any benefits (financial or otherwise) Trust members gain from their dealings with the Trust or PLC?

Yes to financial. Not clear what ‘otherwise' means. 

What personal qualities (apart from professional skills, and a capacity for hard work) do you have that the DT Board needs?

Accepting that the possession of professional skills can be taken as read, I am able to run a business, work successfully in a team and take the lead if necessary, negotiate at all business and government levels, think and take action as planner, secure results and above all communicate at all levels.

Please list all financial benefits that you have received in the past through dealings with the Trust or Plc.

None.

What do you think of the Trust's performance and achievements so far?

Outstanding, in what has been achieved in our first phase of existence.

What changes would you propose, if any, to the way the Trust operates?

More focus on strategic direction, transparency and accountability and communicating this to members.

How could the Trust board improve its communication with members?

Ensuring a DT board member has this as a specific top priority task with responsibility for establishing as soon as possible a members Feedback system.

When considering candidates for board member positions for the Club, what characteristics would you look for?

Good business sense, able to focus on broader issues such as strategic direction, a good team player and communicator and be prepared to take the lead on at least one of the major issues needed to take the Dons Trust through its next phase eg football club and stadium development, football in the community, membership communication, raising finance to reduce our debt on the stadium, fundraising, constitution.

Should directors of DT subsidiaries (E.g. AFC Plc) be allowed to take up elected posts on the DT Board?

Yes, providing the DT board has nominated members at least on the PLC overseeing what is happening within and the DT Board continues to remain in overall control.

How do you currently understand the duties and relationship of the DT Board in relation to the AFC Wimbledon PLC, AFC Wimbledon Ltd., and AFC Stadium Ltd. boards?

DT Board on behalf of its members, has ownership responsibility to which the business entities are answerable, the Plc is the business controlling entity which sets and monitors controls on the operational entities (AFC Wimbledon and AFC Stadium). How would you like this to be structured in the future? The DT Board exercising more of its controls as the owner, by establishing strategic direction including finance and ensuring that adequate accountability controls are in place.

Should the Trust membership have the final say on the big issues, like where the club has its home ground or selling shares in the club?

Yes on such big issues.

Should Trust members have the right to propose motions at the AGM and other general meetings?

The right to propose motions at such meeting would tend be unmanageable and in fairness to all members could not be taken until the next meeting. The right to propose motions in anticipation of such meetings would be a more practical approach and providing there is sufficient support including DT board members and adequate notice can be given to all members to allow all members opportunity to review and vote on the issue, then it should be possible.

What ideas do you have for paying off the rest of the debt on the purchase of Kingsmeadow?

There is a need to have a dedicated Board member solely focussing on this task with more resources assigned to create and process initiatives such as approaching the ‘Great and the Good', successful businesses and other possible sources of such funds (eg Government, EEC, Overseas). Meanwhile we need to seek ways to reduce our interest payments.

Are there any situations in which the Trust could, or should, relinquish control of AFCW?

No.

Do you see Kingsmeadow, The Fans Stadium as a temporary or permanent home for AFC Wimbledon ?

In view of all the work that has gone on to get us back to Merton, without success, the only real option for the foreseeable future (10+ years) is Kingsmeadow.