New faces on fans’ trust board
Former Hibs man takes over as chairman
There has been a changing of the guard within the committee heading the group of supporters who own Stirling Albion FC.
Following a number of resignations from the Binos’ Supporters Trust Board, new appointments have been made .
Taking over as chairperson is businessman Ken Lewandowski, a former chairman of Hibs, who currently heads the board of Active Stirling.
It’s the trust which manages on behalf of Stirling Council leisure facilities such as the Peak and Stirling Sports Village. Albion’s 3800-capacity Forthbank Stadium is part of the sports village.
Mr Lewandowski replaces ex-Binos player Rab Duffin who agreed to step aside but remains part of the board. Former Albion captain John Kennedy has taken over as vice-chairman.
The other office bearers are: secretary, Jim Thomson; treasurer, Nelson Robertson; media, Brian Kerr, and membership, Roy Guthrie. Other members of the Trust Board are Alan Christie, Phil Cavanagh, Willie Kay and Neil Robertson.
Stirling Supporters Trust’s 270 members own 83 per cent of the club’s shares and are facing a possible takeover from a consortium which includes former professional footballer John Neill and Colin Rowley, managing director of Stirling-based electrical equipment company Dron and Dickson.
They want to take control of the running of Albion, while its ownership remains in the hands of the trust, and have pledged an investment of £600,000.
Mr Guthrie said they were awaiting the details of what would be the consortium third offer to seize the reins at Albion.
The consortium bid has divided supporters and Mr Guthrie acknowledged that two of the resignations from the trust board were prompted by friction caused by the takeover talk. Others stepped down for different reasons.
Mr Guthrie added: “The trust has done little for years and since September last year we have wanted to freshen things up and get new people on board and take the club forward.
“Ken is a top businessman with experience of the football world from his time at Hibs and with him taking over as chair, the trust board is better placed to meet the challenges ahead.”
Meanwhile, following a request from a number of members, an extra-ordinary general meeting is to take place to discuss several issues.
They include another proposal to oust club chairman and operations director Stuart Brown with whom the trust has long-standing differences.
Another resolution calls on the Trust board to withdraw, on grounds it had no legal effect, a press statement issued on February 26 regarding the suspension of Mr Brown.
He was told to stand down pending an inquiry into the way the club handled allegations against former youth development coach Alexander Robertson who is accused of sending sexual messages to four boys , one of them aged 11. Robertson, 21, from Bridge of Allan denies the charges and is due to return to court next month.