Just thought I would give this thread a bump. I have noticed quite a few posts recently talking about the players fund, the TUST, fan ownership, investing in the club and even somewhere supporters putting their monies in for a share in the club, other clubs who are doing similar schemes have been mentioned. Well fans owning shares is a subject I felt strongly about a while back and I still feel it would be an option for TUFC to raise the funds it badly needs. Indeed, I cannot understand why this subject has not been explored by the club.
As I have said before instead of asking a few individuals to invest a lot of money into the club, why not ask those who love TUFC to do it therefore getting a lot of people to invest a little money, which surely is an easier and safer sell.
This must surely be the best, quickest and most convincing way forward for fan ownership.
If anybody is unfamiliar with this thread, i ask you to read back the opening few posts on the first page and you will see the idea set out clearly.
It was a post from Hector that finally prompted me to ressurect this thread -
PERCEPTION AND REALITY
hector » Today, 12:00
Chicken or egg?
The club - it seems - cannot afford the team, that is going to win enough games, for the crowds to grow. So some would argue that the onus is on supporters to take responsibility by turning up to increase revenue. Yet why should they? With no stake, other than an emotional one, why should supporters going above and beyond by turning up to watch poor football, contribute to Player Funds etc, when they are not communicated with, kept in the dark and have absolutely no say in how their club is run? It's not going to happen, even though the numbers so far - 2200ish - are probably more the club deserve for relegation fodder football.
So what could serve as the galvanising force to increase crowds in the face of a potentially struggling team? A new ground? They cannot afford it. New owners? Not if they are GI-style sharks.
The only thing that I think will command loyalty to a struggling side, is Supporter Ownership. If fans own a stake in their club, then they are more likely to feel a pull to follow it, even in the dark days. The days of turning up because you are a 'supporter' need to be reconsidered. The mindset needs changing. Why should this football club gain additional revenue from supporters above gate receipts, yet not allow them a say in how things are run? It's arrogant. It's taking the piss.
It is time to give TUST the chance to run the club.
People will say, 'Oh but TUST doesn't have enough members', 'I thought they were there for buying lawnmowers' etc etc, yet if the club said, when TUST rasises £x they can own the club, then I think that would be enough to get the ball rolling and supporters finally waking up to what is possible.
As I have said asking people to contribute a charitable donation to a players fund with hardly any transparency and nothing in return is one thing and I know some think its a "bloody cheek!", so why not offer a share scheme and people can put money into the club and get something in return, eve if it is small and insignificant, it would keep extra revenue rolling in, make supporters happy in the knowledge they are part of the club therefore bringing club and community/fanbase closer.
Dont get me wrong, I think the TUST are doing a fine job but to get the membership numbers and money to invest is going to take a long time, many seem unconvinced by it and dont join. Putting the money directly into the club and getting a little bit of ownership piece by tiny piece would surely stir some interest and get the quickest and most productive response.
If TUFC need money so desparately why does this idea not even get entertained.
