Congratulations - Fans take over Stirling Albion FC

[Skintagain 1983]

You may recall last year there was a thread about this on NSC and a number of users signed up to the Buy Stirling Albion campaign run by the Supporters Trust. They have finaly been successful and have released this announcement on their website.

The Stirling Albion Community - Home of the Supporters Trust


NEWS FLASH!!!!

2nd July 2010 - It is with great pleasure that we can announce that the Buy Stirling Albion campaign has ended in success!

You, our members, are now the owners of a professional football club!

Members of the campaign steering group have been locked in negotiations for the past month and this week signed a deal which means that, as of now Stirling Albion is Scotland’s first ever fan-owned senior team!

Of course, the hard work only begins now but it would be wrong not to take a moment to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far. Without you, none of this would have been possible. So, on behalf of the whole campaign team, thank you for helping to make history.

Next week (time and date TBA) we will hold a supporters’ update meeting. We know that you will have lots of questions about what happens next at the club. We will try our hardest to answer them then.

Stay tuned for details of the meeting.

Tom

P.S. We’ve had to keep our cards close to our chests while negotiations were ongoing. Now that it’s over expect to see a lot more information coming out so please, check the website regularly to find out all of the latest news.

Congratulations to all involved. The hard work starts now. :vuvu2:

 

[Springal]

It won't work though will it? Like the other one

 

[Acker79]

How is this different to Ebbsfleet?

Fleeting fancy? Ebbsfleet sweat on loyalty of the 30,000 owners | Mail Online

Good luck to them, but don't think it'll be plain sailing.

 

[The Large One]

It won't work though will it? Like the other one

What, AFC Bournemouth?

 

[Skintagain 1983]

Save Stirling Albion - North Stand Chat

 

[Barry Izbak]

I will wear my BSA tee-shirt with pride down the pub tomorrow night.

 

[Skintagain 1983]

How is this different to Ebbsfleet?

Fleeting fancy? Ebbsfleet sweat on loyalty of the 30,000 owners | Mail Online

Good luck to them, but don't think it'll be plain sailing.

From Wikipedia:

MyFootballClub takeover
On 13 November 2007, it was announced that the website MyFootballClub had entered a deal in principle to take over the club.[7] Approximately 27,000 MyFootballClub members each paid £35 to provide an approximate £700,000 takeover fund and all own an equal share in the club but make no profit nor receive a dividend. Members have a vote on transfers as well as player selection and all major decisions. Because of the nature of MyFootballClub, it was announced that manager Liam Daish would become instead the first team Head Coach. His backroom staff would remain at the club.[7]

Between 16 January and 23 January 2008, MyFootballClub members were given the choice to vote on whether to proceed with the takeover and whether to allow Liam Daish to continue with his plans for the January transfer window. Both resulted in overwhelming "Yes" votes: 95.89% voted to proceed with the takeover while 95.86% voted to allow Daish to continue his transfer plans. The deal was ratified at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the club's board on 19 February.

However, after one year of ownership a majority of MyFC members failed to renew, with membership numbers dropping from a peak of 32,000 at the time of the takeover to just over 9,000 on deadline day 2009. The club had previously stated that 15,000 was the minimum required.[8]. As of March 2010, two years after the takeover, only 800 out of 4000 members have continued to pay membership fees.[9]

It looks like Ebbsfleet have relied too much on the novelty value of the tekeover where Albion's support is based more locally and they have the support of the local council and a business plan that appears to be achievable. Fingers crosed for them.