Supporters Trust Share Fund

Supporters Trust Share Fund

As has been discussed in depth over the course of the past few days, the Supporters Trust needs people to actively choose to become members this season, as we have been precluded from piggy-backing the club's Season Ticket purchase scheme.

Membership of the Trust costs £5 per annum or £1 if the member is Under 16. For this membership fee, you get a nominal £1 share in the Supporters Trust together with a host of benefits that have been put together by our Commercial Officers. Details of these offers can be found in the Trust newsletter, as well as on our web site from early next week. Alternatively, mail jwhite@swanstrust.com and he will provide you with that list.

Importantly, one of the prime aims of the Supporters Trust is to purchase shares in the football club as and when they become available. Through the various activities of the Trust over its five year history, we currently own 100,000 shares of £1 each in our football club. Companies House show that Swansea City have issued 488,000 shares giving us, as fans, a 20.4% stake in our club. A stake of this magnitude goes a long way to ensure that we protect the long term future of the club - something that every single supporter will agree upon.

However, as a Trust we also have to be aware that the Football Club may in the future issue further shares. And unless we are in a position to increase the shareholding when the opportunity presents itself then our shareholding will be diluted. We can never lose the 100,000 shareholding that we have, but if the total shareholding was increased to say 750,000 then the Trust percentage share would become 13% - a huge drop on what we currently have.

With those comments in mind, we feel it prudent to remind fans that we have a Share fund on top of our membership application forms. With this scheme, fans have the chance to contribute money directly into our share fund on a regular or one off basis. These donations can only be used to obtain shares in the club. The money is kept separately from our membership money and we, as a Trust Board, can not use this money for anything other than purchasing shares in the football club as and when the opportunity arises.

But what does it all mean? We have an average crowd at the Liberty Stadium of 14,000. Let's assume that 10% of those contribute to the share fund. That would give us 1,400 people making a donation of £5 per month each for a period of twelve months. This time next year we are faced with a share fund of £84,000. The same people do it for three years and the share fund has grown in excess of £250,000! Maybe it sounds unrealistic or maybe it sounds practical - after all, surely 1 in 10 of our average fanbase wants to ensure that we, as a Trust, secure the long term future of our football club.

However, you do not have to donate on a monthly basis. You can make a one off donation to the fund as well. All the details are on the form that you complete for this particular scheme.

We are in a very enviable position at the moment, where we are owned by long term fans of the club. And we hope it will always be that case. However, the only way that we can guarantee that we will always have a say is to support your Supporters Trust. And that can be done through membership or through this share fund. The membership gives us the numbers and the voices that we so desperately need but it really is through the extra support of the Share Fund that we can ensure that we have the money when we need it. Remember, all contributions through the share fund can only be used for share purchase.

Swansea City is a wonderful football club steeped in a colourful history. I want the football club to be around for my kids and their kids beyond them to enjoy in the same way that I have during my time supporting them. So therefore support your Trust and allow us to support our club when the opportunity arises.

Anyone interested in contributing to the Trust's share fund should contact myself directly psumbler@swanstrust.com and I will arrange for a form to be sent to you.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!