DT Election 2003 - Questionnaire

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

Yes

Why should WISA members vote for you?

I want to make sure the Trust is a strong organisation and its members best interests represented. Also to ensure the Trust keeps control of the football club and there is no further reduction its ownership. I want to work towards the new constitution through consultation with the members.

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

I am prepared to commit up to 20 days per month to the duties as a Dons Trust Board member if I am elected. I believe it is essential Board members are able to show high commitment to the causes of the Trust to ensure it continues to function correctly although I appreciate other candidates may not able to commit so much time due to work commitments.

What role would you perform on the DT board?

On a personal note I have experience with children and youth organisations and would have liked to be involved in the running of FITC but at present that is being run by a professional company. However I would be happy to do anything for the Trust and feel I have experience after managing and administrating two small businesses.

I want to encourage more member participation in the decisions made by the Trust Board and ensure that members' vote on key and major issues.

Would you undertake any additional activities in AFCW?

I currently run the AFCW mascot scheme, which is very successful. I am happy to continue with the mascot scheme as it would not affect my work for the Trust. I believe any significant involvement with the club would create a conflict of interest and therefore my time would be dedicated to the work of the Trust.

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

The share issue was made without consultation to the members therefore it is impossible to say I supported it or otherwise as we had no say in the issue. I had reservations at the time and was very concerned that the members were not able to vote on the decision to issue shares and that the Trust's ownership was being diluted.

Having set this precedent more shares could be issued without the approval of the membership and our new constitution must prevent this, as our club should remain in the ownership of our fans.

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.

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

I hate questions like this, as I am not good at self-promotion!  I think I am a good listener and have good communication skills.  I enjoy working with people and am able to co-ordinate and progress tasks, both individually and as part of a team.

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

I have had no financial benefit from the Trust or plc, although I am able to use the Presidents Lounge at Kingsmeadow to look after the mascot. I was allocated a seat in the Directors Box last season to be with the mascot through the games (I had a Main Stand Season Ticket at this time). However, this season I buy a terrace ticket and stand in the John Smith Stand to watch the games after the mascot has come off the pitch.

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

I have great admiration for the people such as Lou Carton-Kelly for the work involved in originally setting up the Trust in the first place. Without the Trust we would not have a club owned by the fans.

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

I would like to see fair and achievable budgets set for the club, I hope the Trust Board can keep a tight rein on the spending of AFCW and subsidiaries as it is important there is no waste of our valuable resources i.e. the money put in to the club by our supporters.

The club should only employ salaried/waged people if absolutely necessary and any such positions must be advertised and open to competition.

Although we have to run as an efficient small business, we must not forget AFC Wimbledon is a football club. We hope to get promoted through the leagues and, as we progress, have to pay our players and manager at rates equivalent to our competitors otherwise we will not be able to keep or attract good players and the position of the club will fall. Therefore, in addition to paying off the Khoslas, we have to ensure there is sufficient funds available otherwise Terry Eames' amazing achievements with the team will be wasted and promotion will be pointless.

How could the Trust board improve its communication with members?

We need regular open meetings and periodic newsletters, which must be informative and concise. I would also like to see a member of the Board available as a contact point for members, this Board member would be responsible for issuing the questions to the relevant Board member and co-ordinating a response, key questions could be included as part of the newsletter.

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

We need people from different backgrounds and skill bases, we need people who can represent the Board and are capable of communicating with and responding to the membership.

Most importantly we need people who believe in the Dons Trust Board and it's role, it would be quite easy for a lazy Dons Trust Board to lose control of the club and ultimately lose the investment made by the supporters to our club. If I am elected I hope the Dons Trust will be high profile and remain a vital element of our organisation.

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

No.

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?

Some people have said to me that the organisation of the club is becoming cloudy and losing contact with the supporters. I understand the DT Board has overall strategic control and the other 3 companies are responsible for day to day operations and report to the Board. I hope this is what actually happens and that it continues.

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.

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

Yes.

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

I feel there is a limit to how much the fans can contribute through shares or fund raising events as we all have limits to the amount we can afford. I think we may have reached that limit with many fans although they may come to an occasional fund raising event. We now have to make our stadium work, we have 3 bars and need to work hard to get them hired out every evening when they are not required for football. They should be hired out at prices competitive to similar accommodation in the area. We need to spend a small amount of money on redecorating the bars as they look very tired and drab and can't expect people to want to hire them at present. I am sure we have members with interior design ideas that could make the bars attractive at very little cost.

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

None.

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

I would like us to return to Merton but I don't think it will be possible from a financial point of view as it is unlikely we could have sufficient money to buy the land or build a stadium, but I will keep hoping as I would love to see our team play at Plough Lane in our own stadium. I also think it is very unlikely that Merton Council will help us find land or build a stadium.