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From Evening Telegraph, 19-Jan-2007:
FANS are calling for the key vote over Rushden & Diamonds' future to be delayed until they get more answers.
An independent group of supporters have followed up two informal meetings to raise concerns at Nene Park by putting together a list of 30 questions for the trust board.
They want full details on issues over new club chairman Keith Cousins' £512,000 loan which saved Diamonds from almost certain closure before Christmas as the businessman bids to take control from the supporters' trust.
A statement issued to the ET read: 'As a group of fans we are in agreement that the information currently available to members of Rushden & Diamonds Society Ltd is insufficient to allow us to make a balanced and informed decision regarding the proposal to transfer control of the land assets to Keith Cousins.'
The supporters have asked for the trust members' meeting on January 25 to be postponed because they believe 14-day notice was not given.
They also want the trust 'to produce a simple summary of the deal for members that gives a balanced account of the advantages and disadvantages plus the implications of either agreeing or rejecting the proposals' ahead of the vote.
Members are being urged to give the final go-ahead to Cousins' takeover which would avoid the threat of administration, also leading to relegation with a 10-point deduction as Diamonds are already fighting for survival in the Nationwide Conference drop zone.
But the trust remain in dispute with the Griggs Group over a 'claw-back clause' for payment of up to £3m following development or a change of ownership. That also led to Diamonds' founder Max Griggs resigning as honorary life-president - although Cousins is still hoping the former chairman will stay on.
Also from Evening Telegraph, 08-Jan-2007:
RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS supporters will demand answers tonight ahead of 'possibly the biggest decision ever' in the club's history.
The fans' forum comes just a few weeks before trust members must vote on proposals to secure the long-term future of football at Nene Park amid ongoing fears that Diamonds could go into administration along with almost certain relegation.
A group of fans have already held an open meeting to put together a list of questions for new club chairman Keith Cousins after it was revealed he made a loan of £512,000 to save Diamonds from closure in November.
The trust board also announced any development of the Irthlingborough complex would trigger a 'claw back' clause which means paying more than £3m to the Griggs Group who handed over control of the club to the supporters' trust at the start of last season.
Diamonds had held 'positive discussions' with East Northants Council over planning permission for a fast food restaurant and hotel at Nene Park.
But they are now taking legal advice over those plans for extra income from further development before the clause runs out in 2013.
Supporters will be asked to vote at meetings on January 25 and February 8 over proposals for a new trust while the existing group, led by Cousins, would then retain ownership and control of the site subject to further talks with Max Griggs.
A statement read: 'Naturally members have a right to vote against the proposal and to reject the recommendation of the trust board.
'Effectively this would mean that the existing trust would remain liable for all the land assets at Nene Park and would be responsible for repayments on the loan received from Keith Cousins.
'The trust board firmly believes this could lead to the football club going into administration in the very near future.
'This would have a detrimental effect on the football club with almost certain relegation following a deduction of 10 points.
'It would also put the club on the open market where little influence could be had over the choice of potential new owners or indeed their subsequent plans for Nene Park.'
Following the fans' meeting on Friday night, a spokesman said it was important for supporters to have plenty of information before voting on the proposals 'which will ultimately decide the destiny of Rushden & Diamonds FC'.
The spokesman added the vote at the trust meeting later this month 'will possibly be the biggest decision ever in the history of our club'.
The group issued notes to the ET which concluded: 'The emphasis must be that if supporters' trust members really care about the future of the club, and are in any doubt about the vote, they are urged to attend as many meetings as possible where important issues will be discussed and any questions raised will be presented to the relevant parties.'
===================== Previously =======================
Rushden & Diamonds handed over to supporters
03-Jun-2005
PRESS RELEASE From Rushden & Diamonds FC:
League Two club Rushden & Diamonds has been formally handed over to its supporters today. Over £20 million of assets and more than 20 acres of land have been given to supporters in a ceremony at the club's Nene Park headquarters.
The Griggs family, which formerly owned the club, have also agreed to fund the club to the tune of £750,000 over the next two seasons. The debt-free handover of a top flight football club to a supporters trust in this way is unprecedented in modern British football history. It stems from the passion held for the club by Max Griggs, the founder of Rushden and Diamonds FC, who - with his son Stephen - is owner of Dr Martens.
The Trust will assume immediate control of The Rushden & Diamonds Stadium and all that it entails, including the Conference Centre, 3 large car parks, office space, a restaurant and a bar. It also now owns two training pitches; and the players. David Suddens, the former chief executive of Rushden & Diamonds FC, and the CEO of Dr Martens said today: 'Today's transfer of ownership to supporters, free of debt, with commitments to further financial support is an amazing gesture of support by Max and Stephen Griggs.
'At a time when football is often maligned, and the intentions of those at the top of football ownership often much criticised, this deal is truly, groundbreaking.' Helen Thompson, a member of the Supporters' Trust who now takes over as the club's managing director, said: 'This is a magnanimous gesture by the Griggs Family to the local community of East Northamptonshire and neighbouring areas. 'We are so proud of this five star palace of sport which has no comparison outside of the Premiership in our opinion. And to be vested with the responisbility of sustaining this superb facility for forthcoming generations is such an honour.'
=============== Previously ===============
It's victory off the pitch
28-Apr-2005
From: The Evening Telegraph
HUNDREDS of Rushden & Diamonds fans were celebrating a huge victory off the pitch last night with the official launch for their new supporters' trust.
The big step towards this summer's takeover at Nene Park came within months of the offer by club owners Max and Stephen Griggs to give away the Irthlingborough complex plus a cash injection of £750,000 over the next two seasons.
They joined around 500 fans and special guests in the Kimberley Suite yesterday as team manager Barry Hunter performed the ceremony on what Diamonds founder Griggs described as a 'fantastic night'.
Griggs added: 'I'm pleased to see so many people here getting behind the club. All the community are supporting us which is what we need and the people have been brilliant.'
Hunter said: 'I'm privileged and honoured to launch the supporters' trust. On behalf of all the staff and players I want to thank everyone for the support you have given us over the last few months. It really has made a difference.'
Club chaplain Canon Roger Knight, chairman of the steering group, added: 'This is a landmark event, not only for the football club but for Northamptonshire. Once the Nene Park complex has been handed over, we shall be the first of 125 supporters' trusts to be wholly owned by the local community. We hope your support continues for weeks, months and years to come.'
Trust co-ordinator Paul Hajduk said: 'When we first started the idea was to raise funds for the club. But then Max and Stephen made their fantastic offer for community ownership to stop the club falling into the wrong hands. The only way we can make this work is if the fans continue to get behind the trust. This is about the future of the football club for many years. You are the difference between success and failure. This is not a two-minute wonder.'
Invited guests to last night's event included the current squad, former players - including all-time leading goalscorer Darren Collins - and civic dignitaries. Supporters Direct development officer Jacqui Forster also offered advice to the new group.
================ Previously ===============
Griggs Offer Club To The Supporters: Supporters' Trust Announcement from Max & Stephen Griggs
January 27th, 2005
Following this morning's Board Meeting and further to the initiative from Rushden and Diamonds FC supporters to set up a supporters' trust, Max and Stephen Griggs would like to make it clear that their preferred option for the future of Rushden and Diamonds FC would be for the Club to be owned and managed by its supporters in the local community.
To this effect Max and Stephen are prepared to give the Club, the stadium (but not the Sports & Exhibition Centre) and all of the 22 acres of land at Nene Park to a supporters' trust. They are also prepared to offer a cash injection of £500,000 for the season 2005/06 and £250,000 for the season 2006/07 to facilitate the transfer to the supporters. This offer would, however, not bind the Club to the continuation of Dr Martens shirt or stand sponsorship, so that the Club will have more possibilities of attracting new sources of income.
Should such a transfer of ownership take place, neither Max and Stephen nor the Griggs Group would have any further involvement in the management and financing of the Club except as necessary and required for the remainder of this season. Hopefully this would allow other interested parties to begin to plan for next season.
Max and Stephen recognize that such a transfer of ownership would still require further revenue generation from supporters and the local community to put the Club on a stable financial footing. They hope that other fans and businesses will be able to step forward and carry on where they now must reluctantly leave off. They feel that Rushden and Diamonds fans should at least be given the chance to own the Club to which they have shown such loyalty and commitment.
