Notes from October's Trust Board meeting

NEWPORT COUNTY AFC SUPPORTERS’ TRUST BOARD MEETING

OCTOBER 17, 2019, 5.30pm

MERLIN HOUSE, LANGSTONE BUSINESS PARK, NEWPORT

REDACTED NOTES FOR PUBLICATION

ATTENDEES: Shaun Johnson (SJ, Chair), Bob Herrin (BH), Kevin Ward (KW), Ryan Courtney (RC), Kelly Anderson (KA), Paul Marks (PMa), Mark Crook (MC), Peter Madigan (PM), Nigel Stephenson (NS).

APOLOGIES: Gavin Foxall (GF), Colin Faulkner (CF).

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING
   • The minutes of the Trust Board meeting held on September 19, 2019, were approved as an accurate record.

2. MATTERS ARISING
   • Bury FC – ME provided an update from the recent meeting of EFL clubs. There was a unanimous indicative vote against allowing Bury to re-enter the EFL for the 2020/21 season.
   • PMa provided an update on the County Lottery. Some face-to-face cash collections are likely to continue.
   • PMa gave an update on Trust bank signatories.

3. FINANCE
   • NS presented a general update on club finances. Generally, a positive picture on all fronts.
   • Average attendance is currently running at 4.2k.
   • Season ticket sales have reached 1.9k – up 500 on last season.

4. OPERATIONAL
   • Donna Linton has joined the club staff, replacing Ben Jones.
   • Retail Manager advertisement attracted nine applications. Five people have been selected for interview.
   • There has been a meeting with ticket system provider Flowte to highlight areas for improvement.
   • ME asked that the FA Cup first round was added to the ticket system, so it was ready to go if we have a home draw.
   • KA informed the meeting of the County sticker book to be available in December – free to Clwb Spytty members and £5 otherwise with stickers costing £1 a pack. All agreed this will be a popular initiative.

5. ACADEMY
   • GF provided a written update. Generally positive. Finances are on target, Head of Coaching role has been offered (fully funded by EFL), recruitment day at the end of the month.

6. EQUALITY & DIVERSITY
   • CF provided a written update. No issues had been reported during the month. Work around mental health, Remembrance Sunday, anti-racism & anti-bullying was highlighted, as was improved family engagement thanks to KA and Clwb Spytty initiative.

7. BOARD ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
   • CF to undertake a review of Board member roles and responsibilities following the recent election of PMa and KA to the Board.

8. TRUST MEMBERSHIPS
   • Membership currently stands at 1,003 active members.
   • KW to speak to CF regarding comms for the October 31 deadline for the remaining 70 annual memberships to move to monthly memberships.

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
   • EFL Clubs Meeting: ME gave an update from the meeting. Key areas discussed included a possible third UEFA club competition, caps on agent fees and player loan numbers, and the Owners and Directors Test to be toughened.
   • Veterans Support Group: RC reported there was to be a meeting of interested parties in relation to setting up a Veterans Support Group. This would take place at Bar Amber on October 29, noon-2pm.
   • Local MP: KW reported that GF had spoken to Newport East MP Jessica Morden over Labour’s planned policy on football club ownership. GF offered to share our experiences of community ownership and a meeting was being arranged with the Shadow Sport Secretary.
   • Half-season tickets: BH proposed we sell half-season tickets again. It was agreed these would be on sale from mid-November. NS to provide some sales and pricing options for the Board to approve via email.

Meeting closed at 7.25pm

Next meeting: Thursday, November 21, at Merlin House, 5.30pm start.