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Minutes of Annual General Meeting
Thursday, 30th May, 2002
Wimbledon Community Centre, St. George's Road, Wimbledon
1. Introduction
Kris thanked everyone for coming and explained that whilst the focus
of the meeting was our reaction to the FA Commission decision two
days earlier, certain formalities had to be dealt with first.
2. Apologies for absence
Apologies were received from Ruth & Chris Abrahams, Charlie
Bell, Barbara Dunford, Michael Dunford, Alan Edwards, Paul Fletcher,
Joanne & Pat Fotheringham, David Godfrey, Mark Hillyer, Tim
Hillyer, Rupert Jeffery, Trevor Pearce, Neil Presland, Danny Rye,
Eddy Rye, Elaine Taylor, Stephanie Timms and Valerie Webster.
3. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the last meetings (OGM on 24th January and EGM on
6th April) were agreed and there were no matters arising.
4. Membership fees for 2002/03
The meeting agreed to maintain the existing fee levels, i.e:
§ Adult £5
§ Concessions £3
§ Household £10
§ Life £100
5. Treasurer's report
Nicole Hammond summarised our position for the period April 2001
to March 2002 as c.£32,000 received and approximately £27,500
spent, the significant items being:
Income
Membership 6,763
Donations 17,443
Merchandise 6,191
Expenditure
Aeroplane & banner 675
ICM survey 4,560
Stadium design & expenses 606
Fans Utd day 3,640
Balloons & demo items 1,225
"Community thing" & advertising 5,675
T-shirts (various) 4,015
Printing, postage & sundries 4,580
Standing orders were launched last August and Nicole thanked all
those who had contributed in this way. This is generating a regular
income of c.£500 per month and has really made a difference.
6. Examiner of accounts' report
Erik Samuelson reported that he and Heather Jackson had examined
the accounts and "they were fine". He thanked the current
Treasurer for the work done and offered his best wishes to her successor.
7. Re-appointment of examiner of accounts
The meeting voted in favour of Erik Samuelson and Heather Jackson
being re-appointed account examiners for next year.
8. Election of committee
The following were elected to the committee:
Chair Kris Stewart
Vice Chair Nicole Hammond
Secretary Colette Mulchrone
Treasurer Peter Bowles
Publicity Officer Kevin Rye
Webmaster Ronan Warde
Membership Secretary Mags Hutchinson
Newsletter Editor Simon Wheeler
Club Liaison Officer Graeme Boulton
General Committee: Charlie Bell Mark Lewis
Joe Blair Laurence Lowne
Karen D'Amico Richard McGregor
Rob Dunford Ian Pollock
Sean Fox Charlie Talbot
Marc Jones Lee Willett
9. Future plans
FA Commission decision
Two days earlier, on 28 May, the FA Commission had given permission
for WFC Ltd to move to Milton Keynes. Kris explained his understanding
of how this process worked. The Commission was appointed by the
FA, at the request of the Football League (FL). It sat as if it
were the board of the FL and had all the powers of the FL. The FL
and FA made representations to the Commission stating their opposition
to the move but have said they have no choice but to accept the
Commission's decision.
Today (30 May) the FA released the text of the Commission's findings.
A quick perusal shows the Commission effectively accepts the argument
that WFC Ltd is in a unique or exceptional position. WISA's lawyers
are studying the document to see if we have any grounds for a legal
appeal.
In addition, we will raise a complaint with the Independent Football
Commission (IFC), a body set up by the government. The IFC can accept
a complaint from us, review what has happened and give an opinion.
Establish a new club
Since football's governing bodies keep claiming there is no right
of appeal and a legal challenge raises further obstacles, not least
the length of time such processes can take, some supporters have
proposed starting a new club. This club could take its place in
Ryman Leage division 2 next season under a ground-sharing arrangement
with another club in the vicinity.
Proposals
The three proposals tabled for tonight's revised agenda are therefore:
(a) Whilst under the current ownership of WFC Ltd, we do not attend
any Wimbledon games next season, wherever they may be played and
whatever the team may be called (unless part of a protest)
(b) We should continue to fight Koppel's plans for Milton Keynes
(c) We should work towards the formation of a new football club
to join the appropriate league next season
It was pointed out that (b) and (c) are not mutually exclusive
and discussion was opened up to the floor.
There was a lengthy and impassioned debate on the merits of these
strategies, particularly (b) and (c).
Some felt creating a new club now was defeatist and premature until
all avenues had been explored. There was also a view that this would
play into Koppel's hands and be misinterpreted by the media as us
giving up or no longer caring, particularly as the new MK stadium
is far from ready. Other specific ideas included:
§ The Commission's decision could be challenged by a judicial
review
§ Gjelsten had appeared on Norwegian TV saying they were now
prepared to spend £40m on a new stadium in MK. This refutes
their claims of poverty and could be used to challenge the decision
§ Take the campaign into MK itself. The proposed stadium has
no planning permission; we should therefore put pressure on local
politicians, etc.
Those in favour of immediately setting up a new club highlighted
the following:
§ Time scale: if a new club is a viable prospect for next
season, there is very limited time in which to make the necessary
arrangements
§ The alternative, given that we do not want to watch Koppel's
team next season, is no football at all
§ As the season wore on, how many would continue going to MK
or wherever Koppel's team is playing to carry on protests from the
car park?
§ A new club would give us something positive to concentrate
on, rather than the past 11 years of negativity
§ a new club is probably more achievable than defeating Koppel
There was also a middle ground, with people advocating setting
up a new club and continuing to fight Koppel, e.g:
§ Lee Willett stressed that with 21 people on the WISA committee,
10 on the Trust committee and the several hundred present this evening,
we should have the resources to do both.
§ The point was made that we have to contemplate the possibility
we might lose our fight against Koppel's plan and any sensible person
would have a fallback position. Having our own team established
would offer the supporters we are trying to persuade not to go to
MK/Selhurst a credible alternative.
There was also discussion on precisely what we are fighting Koppel
for. The key things were seen to be the name, badge, history and
colours.
Vote
A vote was called on proposals (a) and (b). Both were convincingly
carried.
Proposal (c) to form a new club
Kris temporarily relinquished the chair to address this issue from
the floor. He explained that, as Chair, he did not usually express
his views but would like to give his opinion on this occasion. Like
others, he had been fighting hard but believed we now find ourselves
in a situation where there is no appeal within football - the FA
and FL agree with us and the IFC may also agree but this does not
make any difference. Therefore, whilst he did not intend allowing
Koppel an easy time, he wanted to watch some football, without having
to go to Selhurst or giving Koppel's club any more money.
Instead, Kris said, we now have an opportunity to build a club.
It will be really hard but the club is about us and our traditions.
He had been talking to Ivor Hellor and was fairly confident we can
find somewhere to play and can start playing this August in Ryman
2. If we carry on fighting and Koppel's club dies, then we will
take it back. We will fight him for the name, history and badge
but we already know that the history is ours - we don't need a judge
to tell us we are Wimbledon Football Club!
Kris resumed the chair and debate continued, new themes including:
§ Merton Council - they said they would pursue Plough Lane
whether WFC came back or not. What is their current position? Kris
explained he was meeting Andrew Judge the following evening.
§ What would happen if we defeated Koppel and ended up with
two clubs? There were suggestions that one club could act as a feeder
to the other.
§ This is not just our fight with Koppel about relocation
- this is a concern for the whole of football. Other league clubs
should be encouraged to call an extraordinary general meeting of
the FL and Northampton Town, Luton and Rushen & Diamonds in
particular should be persuaded to consider a formal challenge.
§ Information on non-league football - Trevor Williams explained
that Ryman League Division 2 is three promotions below Conference
level. In Ryman 2 last season the highest crowd was 248, with an
average gate of 75. Player costs were minimal, being paid expenses
only in the region of £30 per match. The Ryman League is re-organising
next year and it is in our interests to join now as there is the
danger that ground requirements may alter to our disadvantage.
A formal motion was proposed that we specify exactly what we are
fighting Koppel for, namely, the name, badge, history and colours.
Vote
Proposal (c) - set up a new club
Proposal (d) - we fight Koppel specifically for the name, badge,
history and colours.
Both were resoundingly carried.
10. Any other business
a) It had been rumoured that Koppel was looking for another league
ground to share at but no club is interested. In addition, it has
been claimed Koppel asked the police for permission to play at Selhurst
behind closed doors but the police refused. Kris confirmed both
stories were true to the best of his knowledge.
b) The meeting was asked to ratify that we ask every football fan
in the country not to attend any match involving their team playing
away to Koppel's team. The meeting agreed.
c) Ivor Hellor asked for a straw poll to determine how many people
would be interested in buying season tickets for our new club. The
answer was given with an overwhelming show of hands. Ivor then described
the current funding dilemma. In order to secure a ground-share agreement
for next season, we need to be able to commit £20,000 within
2 weeks. Whilst the Trust had the funds and (hopefully) members
would consent, a special meeting to agree this could not be convened
before the deadline. It was therefore proposed to ask supporters
to send cheques for £200 to the Dons Trust as soon as possible
for "season ticket advances" to provide the necessary
financing.
11. Pub
The meeting having concluded, many repaired to the Wibbas Down (Wetherspoons)
for further conversation.
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