DT Election 2003 - Questionnaire

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.

I would be looking for direct relevant experience for the post, I would be looking for someone who is able to commit the time required to being on such a board. It is crucial that the board member is able to meet the expectations of both the board and the Club.

Open, Honest, Transparent and an understanding that they are working for the membership / shareholders, hence must be prepared to consult and take guidance.

Firstly, an understanding of how the Club and Trust can work together to benefit fans. As a subsidiary of the Trust, the Club and its board members should be fully committed to the Trust's objectives, and believe in the importance of the club being inclusive and fan-oriented. Secondly, I would like to see evidence of their ability to run a successful community based business. This could include knowledge of a variety of areas, or it could be that the board is made up of specialists in particular areas, such as finance, marketing or personnel. The important task is to ensure we have the expertise we need, by making full assessments of our requirements when appointing board members. In more general terms, it's vital that Club board members understand the time commitments involved, and that they are prepared to work as volunteers at present. I think it goes without saying that anyone on the Club board should be a Wimbledon fan and a Dons Trust member, and that this should continue to be the case regardless of the league we may be playing in.

Firstly, relevant experience.

Then candidates that have the interests of the Trust, the Club and community at heart. They need to understand that development and embracing of the community ethos and democracy of the Trust will enhance long term survival prospects of the Club.

Critical to this will be the be the aptitude and willingness to implement policies ascribing to that principle. This should be complemented by a belief that members and fans alike should be treated equally and no member is entitled to a privilege or benefit that is not available to all members. This should be underpinned by a desire to effect a policy of openness, transparency and adequate communication.

In addition to strength of character, ability to deliver to requirement, the usual characteristics including honesty, impartiality, integrity should be present. Willingness to volunteer to work long hours for our mutual benefit would be an important consideration.

Honest, open, efficient, willing to take on projects of any kind and lastly a good team player.

The best available people for the job.

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.

The Dons Trust appoints two non-executive directors to the AFCW Plc Board. I would favour candidates who, as well as being hard working, have specialist skills, in particular commercial experience. With such a sizeable debt hanging over us, it is essential that the Plc is run as a successful business, with the commercial side being an integral part of this. In AFCW Plc Board meetings, these non-executive directors must also be willing to act in accordance with the majority policy of the Dons Trust Board, regardless of whether they agree with it themselves.

With regards to the executive directors, it is unclear what control the Dons Trust Board has over their appointment. There is a definite need for greater transparency, and the incoming Board should be prepared to clarify the mechanism for appointing these directors, and set out how they will measure the effectiveness of the executive directors and the CEO. With regards to the CEO position, the outgoing Board had promised in June that “details of the duties and responsibilities attached to this position, as well as the objectives by which his performance will be measured at the end of this contract, will be circulated to members as soon as possible” (taken from the DT website). However they are yet to deliver on this promise.

Experience in specialised fields, an ability to be adaptable and a commitment to give their time and expertise to the Board.

Honesty, integrity and hardworking.

•  Aptitude for the role to be performed, e.g. sales and business experience for the commercial director.

•  Commitment to the DT objectives.

•  Track record of successfully doing a similar role or evidence of adaptability.

•  Energy and enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm, experience in business, desire to serve and an appetite for hard work. A background in football would be helpful but I feel we can seek answers from other sources on such matters, remembering that so much of what we do is new and breaking new ground but we must consult where necessary.

They must realise they are just custodians of this club and further generations will follow, so they must lay down good foundations for the future.

Members should have a vision for the future of our club, be able to manage others to do their jobs well and on time. All Directors should be smartly dressed (as they are representing the Club ) and happy to talk to all the membership frankly with no hidden agenda.

I'd look for someone who is financially sound and understands budgets and their processes. I'd look for dynamic people who are able to help reduce the debt. I'd look for a varied skills base and someone who understands the responsibilities of office.

That they have the ability and experience to advance the aims and success of the DT and AFCW.In particular the interest payments to Mr.Khosla are acting as a break on the development of the Trust and AFCW so an ability to help arrange for payment of the Khosla loan would be a help!

A doer, an ambassadorial quality, a proven ability, influence, initiative, a decent articulate communicator and someone who will listen to the membership and act on it. Anyone favouring football franchising in any way or minority ownership of a community asset such as AFC Wimbledon should not be on the Trust board.

•  Good business sense. We need to run this business as profitably as possible so as to fund the football club – that is why we are here

•  Drive

•  Leadership and communication skills

•  Total commitment to the ethos of the trust

•  Time – those people who believe that a £1m turnover business can be run totally by volunteers are not being realistic

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.