| Ron Trayhorn |
Who are you? |
1 |
Are you a member of WISA? If not, why not?
Yes – number 03-950 |
2 |
Why should WISA members vote for you?
I try to represent what in my opinion would be the wishes and aspirations of the majority of members/fans |
3 |
How much time can you commit each month to DT duties (excluding AFCW activities?).
Having taken early retirement, I am able to commit a good deal of time, as I do at the moment. |
4 |
What role would you perform on the DT board?
I have been treasurer since the start of the Dons Trust. I am also on the L & C Group and Vice-chair of AFCW Ladies team. As the elections are for members of the board, and not specific positions, it would be up to the new board to decide if I should continue. |
5 |
Would you undertake any additional activities in AFCW?
No, unless asked to do so by the DT board. |
6 |
Did you support the recent share issue enthusiastically, with reservations, or were you unhappy with the idea?
With reservations. My original first choice was for bonds, secondly for a share issue restricted to members/fans but I accepted the majority view of the board.
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7 |
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
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8 |
What personal qualities (apart from professional skills, and a capacity for hard work) do you have that the DT Board needs?
A commitment to the Trust movement and a belief that the Trust is essential to protect for the fans what we have so far achieved. |
9 |
Please list all financial benefits that you have received in the past through dealings with the Trust or Plc.
None
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| How could the Trust do better? |
10 |
What do you think of the Trust's performance and achievements so far?
Considering the incredible changes that have taken place since the launch, I think the Trust has done well. There have probably been mistakes, particularly in communication, but with more experience gained over the last year, the new board should be more able to make considerable improvements.
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11 |
What changes would you propose, if any, to the way the Trust operates?
The L & C Group has already discussed constitution changes which no doubt will be persued new year. I think the position of co-opted members of the board needs to be changed to avoid the votes of those members reversing the majority votes of elected members as has happened in the past.
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12 |
How could the Trust board improve its communication with members?
We decided to issue bi-monthly news sheets. This was started recently and I feel it is essential to continue as our membership is spread all over the UK and abroad. I would also like to see minutes of board meetings put onto the website with details of how board members vote. Another possibility is regular open meetings. It should be noted however that the only way to reach ALL the members is through the news sheets, even though postage costs continue to rise.
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13 |
When considering candidates for board member positions for the Club, what characteristics would you look for?
A commitment to the Trust. A commitment to preserve AFCW as a club run for and by its fans and a capacity for hard work.
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14 |
Should directors of DT subsidiaries (E.g. AFC Plc) be allowed to take up elected posts on the DT Board?
No.
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15 |
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?
My understanding is that the DT board should oversee all its subsidiaries and monitor the smooth running of them while setting short and long term strategy. I am not sure it is able to do so at the present time. |
| Democracy |
16 |
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. |
17 |
Should Trust members have the right to propose motions at the AGM and other general meetings?
In principle I would say yes, but with such a large membership there would have to be some control to ensure that we would actually finish meetings.
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| What should the Trust do in the future? |
18 |
What ideas do you have for paying off the rest of the debt on the purchase of Kingsmeadow?
The idea of asking supporters to loan money to the club has already been suggested and I support this. I think the new board will need, as a matter or urgency, to come up with a new plan for repayment.
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19 |
Are there any situations in which the Trust could, or should, relinquish control of AFCW?
No. |
20 |
Do you see Kingsmeadow, The Fans Stadium as a temporary or permanent home for AFC Wimbledon ?
At the present time, and for the foreseeable future, I can see no chance of a home for AFCW nearer to Merton than Kingsmeadow. Regretfully I have no confidence that Merton Council will be particularly helpful in this regard. Kingsmeadow is appropriate for our present level of football and probably to the low reaches of the league. As a long term aim, in common with most fans, I would like to see Wimbledon playing in Wimbledon .
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