Building bridges is fan club’s focus
THE newly-appointed chairman of Bristol Rovers Supporters’ Club (BRSC) has vowed to do all he can to repair its “soured” relationship with Bristol Rovers Football Club.
David Thomas has succeeded long-standing BRSC leader Jim Chappell, who stepped down after more than 30 years in charge of the organisation this week amid a spat with the football club.
Thomas has been on the committee since 2014, serving as secretary for the past four years, and he has made addressing the fractured relationship with the football club’s board his top priority.
“I’m very proud and honoured to be asked by the committee to succeed Jim and I promise to do everything in my power to make my tenure a successful one,” Thomas said in a statement. “Jim’s a person I hold in the highest regard and I thoroughly enjoyed serving under him. Following him will be no easy task.”
Rovers and the supporters’ club, which owns a 3.5 per cent share of the football club, have had a breakdown in relations over the past three years, with much of the rift stemming from Ken Masters’ expulsion from the boardroom.
Through its part-ownership of the club, BRSC is entitled to representation on the board. Former supporters club director Masters attended his final board meeting in March 2019 before resigning 13 months later.
The post has remained vacant since. Rovers owner Wael Al-Qadi has insisted fan representation on the board is welcome, but change atop BRSC was required first.
Chappell - who blasted Rovers’ leadership in a parting statement - and vice-chairman Phil Draper have stepped down, with treasurer Sue Williams planning to exit her post at the end of the year.
Thomas hopes to capitalise on the changes in a bid to heal relations with the football club.
“It’s no secret that relations between the football club and the supporters club have soured to an unacceptable level and I’ll work tirelessly to put that right. I’ve already been in contact with senior figures at the football club and the early signs are promising,” he said. “Bristol Rovers Supporters’ Club is and always has been an independent organisation and under my leadership it will remain so. I truly believe that Bristol Rovers Supporters’ Club exists to serve every supporter of Bristol Rovers and I welcome dialogue from all supporters.
“If you have an idea or believe you have something to offer the Supporters Club then please get in touch. We have to modernise, I know that. Attracting the younger fan to our membership is something else I’d like to address too, we know that some see us as stuffy. Let’s change.”
Thomas will be supported by new vice-chairman Helen Wigmore, with Keith Brookman filling the void of secretary, and he hopes to secure boardroom representation soon.
“Appointing new fans directors is a priority, they are a bridge between the board and the fanbase and we have been without a presence in the boardroom for too long,” he continued. “Two supporters have put themselves forward for these roles and their names were passed to the football club yesterday. The share scheme agreement provides for two directors and I sincerely hope that is what will be allowed.
“Completing our committee is another priority. We had vacancies before Jim, Phil and Sue’s departures and we have identified some of the people we would like to join us. As I mentioned previously if you’d like to join us too please get in touch.”