Stafford Rangers - New Start and The Way Forward.

[SRFC Associate]

Hello good people of Stafford!
I am posting this thread on the main area as this not just about sport, but is about the town's main football club and it's associated community.
The club has recently undergone some changes and now needs to prepare itself for a period of transition. With directors and staff leaving the club, action is needed to help the club through this period and raise funds to get us though to the Summer break as well as putting down foundations for next season with a new structure in place.

On Thursday 10th April a meeting was held at the football club between a selection of the club's fans, staff and directors to look at the way forward and try to re-establish a working structure.
While the club is positive about turning things around and has already sold a number of season tickets for next season and also received a fair amount of commercial interest for sponsors for next season, it is honestly acknowledged that the club needs to push on now and in the Summer with a number of financial restructuring exercises and fund raising activities.
With the club's final two home games against Ashton on Saturday 12th April (3.07 pm) and Bank Holiday Monday 21st against Nantwich at 3pm, plans are already being made for these days. Tomorrow fans are being urged to bring a friend or more to the game to increase the gate. While on Bank Holiday Monday a fun day is being planned around the game with social club events including bouncy castle, face painting and a barbecue, while under 16's can also get into the game free of charge. Raffles etc are also planned.
Stafford public will be encouraged to attend these days and also further Summer events to help strengthen the club during this period with events also planned around the upcoming FA Cup and World Cup matches.
The club is looking for match day volunteers, sponsors, social club bookings and long lost fans to return to the club.
For any offers of help please contact the club on 602430 or for any club bookings 602432.
Thanks for reading.
Up The Boro!

 

[John Marwood]

I think this point has been mentioned before

Until a club has in place a structure that can act, and react quickly, swiftly,,effeciently, decisively to events, recent history will repeat itself

If the format of ownership remains then the same mistakes and failings will continue unchecked .

Simply holding out a hand and asking for help year after year isn't enough if those who care for The Rangers cannot see any potential for clear accountable direction year on year

 

[SRFC Associate]

I think this point has been mentioned before

Until a club has in place a structure that can act, and react quickly, swiftly,,effeciently, decisively to events, recent history will repeat itself

If the format of ownership remains then the same mistakes and failings will continue unchecked .

Simply holding out a hand and asking for help year after year isn't enough if those who care for The Rangers cannot see any potential for clear accountable direction year on year

I would like to think the post above was detailed enough to show the structure and format of the club is changing. A committee existing of numerous people to work with the board and to continuously stage events and raise funds and also bring the community into the club. The time for evolution as well as immediate change has been acknowledged and is being embraced. We have to start somewhere and bringing people back in through a but more honesty and trust is a good starting point.

 

[John Marwood]

OK Maybe I am a bit thick

Bare with

My point is about how the club is owned

As I understand it, because the club has a large number of shareholders, many whom play little or no part in the day to day running of the club, some who are simply remaining spouses of once interested shareholders, some who have not set foot in the ground for decades, the club is never in a position to swiftly , if an opportunity arose, come under new ownership from a wealthy individual who wanted to actually buy the debt and the Rangers.

Therefore the crisis that occurs year on year is destined to repeat itself.

 

[gon2seed]

See what you are saying John. Leaves the people who want the best for the club, love it, & particularly those that remember the 70's 80's and when we made the conference, in a quandary! Have passion for the club, can't abide seeing it go slowly down the tubes, so feel impelled to do something. You might say desperate, doomed to fail, and repeat the familiar cycle.

Folk are trying again to do something, and though I am certainly no expert no, the whole shareholder situation Is being looked at. Are people just to sit and watch the club sink even lower? I back this current effort, and will support this move, and urge others to do the same.

 

[SRFC Associate]

OK Maybe I am a bit thick

Bare with

My point is about how the club is owned

As I understand it, because the club has a large number of shareholders, many whom play little or no part in the day to day running of the club, some who are simply remaining spouses of once interested shareholders, some who have not set foot in the ground for decades, the club is never in a position to swiftly , if an opportunity arose, come under new ownership from a wealthy individual who wanted to actually buy the debt and the Rangers.

Therefore the crisis that occurs year on year is destined to repeat itself.

What g2s says is correct. Plus, for the last couple of months we have had one active director and he has carried out the role of many. Until a new board is in place this committee is working hard on events, publicity and putting a structure in place. When a board is eventually in place the committee will carry on working for the club and hope that the community comes on board. Too many have walked away from the club in the past and we are now in a position where there is no real reason for people not to get involved apart from the fear of hard work or being part of a success story!

 

[The Hawk]

Look to the model established by Clyde, in the Scottish League. Similar size (in terms of support) and with a huge accumulated debts that threatened to send the Club under.

They set themselves up as a CIC (Community Interest Company), with one member, one vote and put together a plan and a budget that not only involved breaking even each season, but also, over a number of years, allowed them to pay off their accumulated debts. In November this year they will have cleared their accumulated debts and, therefore, will be able to increase their spend on the team. In the meantime, after suffering two relegations they have steadied their decline on the pitch and are looking good for the play offs this season.

Under the CIC approach, Clyde have an annual membership fee which effectively gives each member (who Clyde refer to as owners) one equal share in the Club. The "owners" then elect a Board to run the Club.

By establishing this approach, and requiring a small annual fee, it helps to retain interest in the Club and makes everyone involved really feel that they are part of the Club.

I believe that this approach could be the way forward for Stafford Rangers and help to increase the Club's links with its shareholders, supporters and its local community.

 

[John Marwood]

And to get to this Clyde model position what needs to physically happen at Rangers?

 

[The Hawk]

And to get to this Clyde model position what needs to physically happen at Rangers?

Well, of course, the shareholders would need to vote in favour of it. Then the hard work really begins: agreeing a small annual fee, ensuring that good channels of communication are in place to keep the "owners" informed (website, newsletters, social media etc.), agreeing a long term business plan, voting in a Board, establishing working groups to deliver various aspects of the Business Plan etc. etc.

But most of all it needs a determination to see it through. It is not a quick fix, the tunnel may be a long one, but at least the Club will have made sure that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train.

Although community "owned" football clubs are relatively rare at the professional level in the UK, they are more common on the continent. And it doesn't stop a Club from becoming successful. This approach has worked quite well for Bayern Munich!

 

[John Marwood]

Any clue how the current shares are distributed? Are there a couple of large controlling shareholders?

I know its not a plc which is why nobody seems to be able to answer the question of who owns what percentage of the club

 

[SRFC Associate]

Any clue how the current shares are distributed? Are there a couple of large controlling shareholders?

I know its not a plc which is why nobody seems to be able to answer the question of who owns what percentage of the club

I find the membership issue an interesting one and may have a read up on that.
The club is actually a private limited company and the board has mainly existed of major shareholders for as long as I can remember. The current situation arises from the fact that board members have had issues due to age, health and business. We evolve and are at the point where the club needs to refresh, revive and come back stronger, hence the need for backing from the public and businesses of Stafford. People ask where the money goes but when you have a four and a half acre site to fund and maintain, the overheads stay the same or rise whatever level you play at. The team has been in decline for a few seasons and crowds have dropped. We now have the fortune of having one of the finest non league managers in place who has been there, done it and got the t shirt! The club needs to re-stabilise, generate funds to give him a budget to work with and move on.
There is a huge effort going on for Bank Holiday Monday for a family fun day in conjunction with our final home game. Hopefully people will come out in numbers to enjoy the fun day, the football, or both.
**Anybody entering the ground to see the game will be given a ticket for draw to be held in the club where tickets for Alton Towers can be won.

 

[John Marwood]

I find the membership issue an interesting one and may have a read up on that.
The club is actually a private limited company and the board has mainly existed of major shareholders for as long as I can remember. The current situation arises from the fact that board members have had issues due to age, health and business. We evolve and are at the point where the club needs to refresh, revive and come back stronger, hence the need for backing from the public and businesses of Stafford. People ask where the money goes but when you have a four and a half acre site to fund and maintain, the overheads stay the same or rise whatever level you play at. The team has been in decline for a few seasons and crowds have dropped. We now have the fortune of having one of the finest non league managers in place who has been there, done it and got the t shirt! The club needs to re-stabilise, generate funds to give him a budget to work with and move on.
There is a huge effort going on for Bank Holiday Monday for a family fun day in conjunction with our final home game. Hopefully people will come out in numbers to enjoy the fun day, the football, or both.
**Anybody entering the ground to see the game will be given a ticket for draw to be held in the club where tickets for Alton Towers can be won.

Thanks for sharing what you know

And I realise that your focus is getting cash into the club right now

For me though, and I would guess for a few others too... if a private club wants my money - and they have had lots of it in the past - I think we would all appreciate an honest an open account of who actually owns the club.

That is - a simple list of names and numbers of shares owned - on the record

As far as I know this has never been done

You never know who might come into some money and want to buy the club - unlikely, maybe, but if like me, you believe it to be so mysterious , so cloudy, so vague, so impossible to buy out, this likelihood goes from remote to never

 

[SRFC Associate]

Thanks for sharing what you know

And I realise that your focus is getting cash into the club right now

For me though, and I would guess for a few others too... if a private club wants my money - and they have had lots of it in the past - I think we would all appreciate an honest an open account of who actually owns the club.

That is - a simple list of names and numbers of shares owned - on the record

As far as I know this has never been done

You never know who might come into some money and want to buy the club - unlikely, maybe, but if like me, you believe it to be so mysterious , so cloudy, so vague, so impossible to buy out, this likelihood goes from remote to never

That is all available from company's house and anybody can pay for a copy. I thought was common knowledge?
We have seen too many clubs owned by one or two individuals who have hit trouble or withdrawn and the club goes under. The club has been against this happening here.

 

[SRFC Associate]

Correction re the info above about draw tickets - any adult entering the ground with a child will get a ticket for the draw and this will be held in the club after the game. Prize, 4 tickets to Alton Towers.

 

[John Marwood]

The club may have been against anyone new coming in but just look at place, It's depressing

Tired looking, dated, and the perception is that the old school are unwilling to let go, let anyone new in

And that perception would prevent someone like me buying it

I would sooner start a new club because my perception is that any suggestions of a change of venue would be rejected, even though Marston Road is barely fit for purpose

And if I think that, others will too.

 

[SRFC Associate]

The ground has seen better days, admittedly and that is where big money would need to spent on improvements even if it is up to standard for our league at the moment. The social club, on the other hand, is probably the best in the town and for all the grounds I have been to is probably one of the best and biggest in non league. As with any situation, you make the best of what you have and the club more than knows where improvements need to be made. That is why people care and want to turn things round. Too many people hammer the club without trying to back it.

 

[ben0239]

Admittedly mistakes have been made at Stafford Rangers in the past, but I now believe with the new associate committee being put in place by the fans and under the stewardship of Graham Heathcote the club has a solid foundation for the future. However that future is reliant on Staffordians supporting THEIR local team, so I would urge all stay away fans and anyone who likes football to get down to Marston Road and support the club.

The only way the club can improve both financially and on the pitch is by fans attending the games, therefore if you want to see improvements you need to support the club by cheering on the BORO.

 

[gon2seed]

I would sooner start a new club because my perception is that any suggestions of a change of venue would be rejected, even though Marston Road is barely fit for purpose

And if I think that, others will too.

If the club had to start again, would this not mean an automatic demotion? Would this not mean a change of name! FC Stafford Rangers? Where would they play? A director of the Boro' was actively investigating moving the club to a new site, that has come to nowt! What would separate Boro' from Stafford Town, Brocton, and FC Stafford? Brocton and Stafford Town play at a level only 2 below Boro'; FC play at Rowley, and Stafford Town play in a new stadium at Riverway. Brocton will get promoted this year, 1 level below Boro'. The history of Boro', the fact it plays teams that mean something to fans, , draws people along. Even next season they will still be playing teams from outside West Midlands, that mean something to those who know a bit about non league footy, and to move down another level would mean that would be lost. The history, the level of competition and the rivals, keep me going back. I still harbour the hope that they can regain something that approaches the great times of the last 40+years, and hope & pray that it happens so my son can enjoy it, and celebrate, the way I have many times.

 

[John Marwood]

I started going in the Cheshire league days

The ground including the social club is a dank and depressing place

The world has moved on and left the Rangers behind it

I am not knocking it for the sake of it, my comments are a reflection of how the place looks without the rose tinted glasses

Why not sell up and move to Riverway, clear the debts, add a stand, share the ground, and have a place worthy of taking a family on a day out ?

 

[SRFC Associate]

I started going in the Cheshire league days

The ground including the social club is a dank and depressing place

The world has moved on and left the Rangers behind it

I am not knocking it for the sake of it, my comments are a reflection of how the place looks without the rose tinted glasses

Why not sell up and move to Riverway, clear the debts, add a stand, share the ground, and have a place worthy of taking a family on a day out ?

Out of order with part of that statement. The social club has undergone renovation so I can only assume you have been in with your eyes closed or not been near the place in ages!