‘There’s no safety net any more, it’s down to the fans’
CRAIG HUGHES, the general manager of the ‘Well Society, has urged Motherwell supporters to back their fan ownership model before the club suffers a traumatic financial event.
The ‘Well Society are short of their target of 2,000 paying adult members, with 1,358 people currently pledging money towards the group as they near an agreement to take over the club from Les Hutchison.
With Hutchison stepping aside, Hughes is hoping that the removal of what may have been perceived as a wealthy benefactor for the club will motivate more Motherwell supporters to sign up, and help them to appreciate the stark realities of the club’s future if they don’t.
“I think people might have been of the view that they don’t have to get involved because there was an owner there putting money into it,” Hughes said.
“Les said from the start that he wasn’t going to be here for the long-term, and now that he has made clear his intention is to sell the club on to the society, people can see the urgency and see that they have to step up and support the club.
“We don’t have what people may have seen as that safety net anymore. Les is quite right to say that it’s now time for the fans to play their part.
“We’re working hard to make sure that is a sustainable model that we’ve got, but it relies on fan ownership. If you want your say in running the club and the direction of the club, then you’ve got to put your money in.
“We can’t wait for a crisis, the fans have got to show what the club means to them by getting involved and making this work.
“A lot of fans, even those who are sceptical, are now seeing that there really isn’t any alternative. There aren’t businessmen queuing up to pump money into the club.
“We need to keep pushing the message of the ‘Well Society and what we can do.”
The message of the ‘Well Society, Hughes admits, has not always been clearly stated. One of the main criticisms that have been levelled at the group is that it has failed to effectively communicate not only with potential members, but with supporters who are already committed to parting with their cash.
“I think the way the ‘Well Society started off, it was done quite urgently and without perhaps looking at a sustainable model moving forward,” Hughes conceded.
“It was maybe a bit shortsighted, and that’s why we’ve looked to make changes and get groups involved like Club Development Scotland and Supporters Direct, and we’ve looked to learn from other teams like the Foundation of Hearts, who have been a help.
“Along the way we have made mistakes, but we are now building a proper structure that is sustainable for the future of the club. Communication is one thing we’ve looked at, and now with the pathway to fan ownership being clear we can give a lot more access to the club and more information, and let fans have a lot more of a say.
“Fan ownership isn’t just about putting your money in, it’s about feeling part of our club, and that’s what we want to do more of – encourage communication with the members. We’re working hard to get it right throughout the club.
“It’s not massive amounts we’re looking for. “It’s a fiver or a tenner pledge a month, it’s not that much to ask in return for the security of your club.”