New start for the Supporters’ Trust
Members vote in fresh board to end turmoil at club
Stirling Albion Supporters Trust has a new leadership team in place.
Sixty-eight members of the trust — out of the 270 who own 83 per cent of the club’s shares — gathered last Thursday at the Golden Lion, Stirling, for a special general meeting to elect a new trust board.
It followed a turbulent few months for the club in which all 10 members of the trust board stepped down after complaining of abuse directed at them by some sections of the Albion support.
The meeting was arranged by club chaplain Duncan Strathdee who was appointed interim chairman following the resignations of the trust board members.
Following the meeting, which was closed to press and public, Mr Strathdee said there had been five nominees for positions on the board.
All were elected and 84 per cent of those in attendance voted for all of the candidates.
The new trust board later met and appointed as their chairperson Gordon McMinn, a quantity surveyor and construction manager from Stirling whose career has taken him across the UK and Saudi Arabia. Mr McMinn has worked as a volunteer with the club’s commercial team for the past three years.
Others elected to the trust board were:
Ian Allardice, a retired accountant, involved mainly with overseas work, and a Stirling Albion supporter since 1948.
John Buchan, a supporter for 30 years who served on the trust board for 10 years following its inception.
Robert Clubb, a supporter since 1970 who works in IT and set up the Stirling Albion Supporters’ Trust website.
John Turnbull, a season ticket holder since 1977 who has volunteered in the club shop for five years. His career has centred around capital and revenue investment for a number of housing associations, and he is currently vice-chairman of Stirling Community Enterprise.
Head of membership and policy at Supporters Direct Scotland,Beverley Mayer attended the event as an independent observer.
Mr Strathdee told the Observer: “We had a good meeting which was well attended and there were no issues.
“All the nominees answered question from the floor about why they were standing and how they propose to take the trust forward, and that was followed up by a ballot.
“The way the nominees answered questions from supporters showed they were good people with the club at heart.
Mr Strathdee said the tone of the meeting was cordial, in sharp contrast to the acrimonious scenes in March when the trust board resigned.
“I think the first job of the new board will be to bring unity to all the fans and develop a close working relationship with the board,” her added.
Supporters have been divided over a possible takeover from a consortium which includes former professional footballer John Neill and Colin Rowley, managing director of Stirlingbased firm Dron and Dickson.
Regarding the takeover move, Mr Strathdee added: “When or if the consortium put in a new proposal, the trust board intend to put it before all members for them to consider. It will be a membership decision as to what happens with any proposal that may come forward.”
Mr Strathdee also thanked outgoing trust board secretary Jim Thomson and treasurer Nelson Robertson for their help during the interim period. “They have offered to assist the new board in getting established,” he added.