Torquay United Fans Forum

First of all thank you to Frenchgull for your kind interest in contributing to the Forever Yellow fund. A cheque would be great. Our thanks in anticipation of this. Please make it payable to Torquay United Supporters Trust.

Cheers also to Plainmoor Roar for supplying the TUST address.

Happytorq is right. Attracting young members is important; that's partly why we're trying the proverbial "multi-media" approach.

But it's also a case of representing - and wishing to involve - fans of all ages from school-age students through to the most senior of our supporters.

Email certainly works for most of our members. Michael tells me that all but thirteen have supplied an email address and that will continue to be our way of communicating the really important messages.

Twitter isn't everybody's cup of tea but it's useful for publicising news items and press coverage. If you're unsure about TUST's twitter account Google "@goulbourne58" and then click the link as you would do for any other website. You don't need to register and there's very little navigating around looking for things.

WANTED!!

Social media savvy supporters who can advise us on this aspect of our communications.

Is there an informal twitter network amongst our fans whereby people are prepared to retweet our messages and - hopefully (please!) - say encouraging things about us?

Please let us know at [email protected].

Thank you.

A reminder of TUST's Forever Yellow fund:

Account Number: 01423089

Sort Code: 30-98-67

BIC: LOYDGB21353

IBAN: GB04 LOYD 3098 6701 4230 89

Torquay United Supporters Society Trust

Further details at http://www.torquaysupporters.co.uk

A reminder of TUST's Forever Yellow fund:

Account Number: 01423089

Sort Code: 30-98-67

BIC: LOYDGB21353

IBAN: GB04 LOYD 3098 6701 4230 89

Torquay United Supporters Society Trust

Further details at http://www.torquaysupporters.co.uk

Thank you.

TUST is in the process of putting out feelers about developing a long-term "community strategy". This will involve talking with individuals and organisations throughout South Devon.

This shouldn't be confused with the excellent work that's already being undertaken by the Torquay United Football in the Community Sports and Education Trust.

TUST is thinking more about how the club can be an increasingly important part of life throughout Torbay, Teignbridge and the South Hams.

Which begs a request.....

TUST wants ideas and suggestions from people who are associated with schools, colleges, youth organisations, voluntary associations, health bodies, sporting organisations or sports clubs.

We'd also love to hear from the business community.

In fact, everyone who shares the vision of a community-facing football club.

If that's you, or anyone you know, please get in touch at [email protected].

Thank you.

Additional information about the Forever Yellow fund has now been added to the document. Available on the TUST website.

Kit_robin's points have been noted. We'll get back on this.

Whoops! There's a few problems here.

Zoomed clearly has had difficulties posting the five-page Forever Yellow Fund flyer.

If, like me, you're not into Facebook I hope it's permissible to suggest that the easiest link is probably over on TFF.

This link shows the flyer which outlines details of the Fund together with a form to set up payments. These can be on a one-off or regular basis.

A reminder of the purpose of Forever Yellow. It's a means of enabling TUST to be able to bid for the ownership of Torquay United should the opportunity ever arise in the future.

You might say it's saving for a rainy day. You might say it's planning for the golden opportunity.

TUST members should have received details of the Forever Yellow fund by email with the May newsletter.

If you're a non-member, you can receive a copy of the Forever Yellow leaflet by emailing [email protected]

Thank you.

There's a story on the Western Morning News website under the heading "Torquay United Supporters Trust want to become permanent fixture at Plainmoor":

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Tor ... 7A3KYdD.99

This reports on last Saturday's meeting and brings people up-to-date with TUST's latest position and plans.

It also introduces the idea that TUST intends to go about raising funds in a separate fashion aside from membership subscriptions.

This would be through the Forever Yellow Fund, details of which will be released shortly. The intention here is to put TUST on a firmer footing should the opportunity ever arise to bid for the ownership of Torquay United.

There was an encouraging turnout for today's TUST meeting. Thank you to all who attended and contributed. In many respects it was an awkward time and place. We appreciate both your active participation and good grace.

There was a strong sense that the feelings of the supporters gathered pretty much matched the views of TUST's officers and helpers. There is a role for TUST. It mustn't fade away; it should seek a dialogue with the new owners; it needs to bring Torquay United closer to the local community.

TUST should especially reach out to encourage younger supporters. But, at the same time, it shouldn't lose sight of the needs and concerns of all who follow the club.

There was discussion of various categories of membership subscription (could some supporters afford to pay more than £2 per month?); how Torquay United represents all of the TQ postcode area; how TUST's lottery should be promoted and encouraged.

We also looked at the past history of TUST and how interest gradually tailed off beyond 2007/08. Maybe this was because people thought "all's well" as the club went on to have good times between 2007 and 2012? The lesson from this might be that a supporters' trust is needed for times both good and bad.

The immediate challenge for TUST is to keep the momentum going and take advantage of all opportunities which arise. And, just like Torquay United itself, this particular close season will be vital for TUST.

Key messages from TUST's officers included:

1. An early meeting with the new owners will be sought. TUST has absolutely no idea of the identity of those behind the current bid. An email to TUST from Kelvin Thomas confirmed that talks are ongoing and a resolution is expected to occur "around the end of this month or the first half of May".

2. TUST will endeavour to adopt a strong community focus in all that it does. This should build a healthier club as well as paving the way towards generating different types of income. Partnerships could be built with individuals, schools, colleges, the business community and local sporting organisations. As raised by questions today, there would be a strong emphasis on encouraging the fans of the future. The aim is that the club becomes more outward looking than at present.

These are outline ideas at present; more work will need to be devoted to this strategy over the next few months. Your thoughts and suggestions are invited.

3. TUST must start on a serious fundraising drive. This has two purposes. Firstly, to enable TUST to go about meeting its various aims and objectives (including its community strategy). Secondly, to have an "insurance policy" should TUST ever be presented with another opportunity to bid for control of Torquay United. This is in keeping with TUST's declared intention to keep open the long-term possibility of supporter ownership.

To this end, TUST's officers will be proposing the establishment of the FOREVER YELLOW fund. Fuller details to be made available soon.

Finally, our thanks to those members who volunteered their time and expertise in helping TUST. Further offers of help, ideas, suggestions and possible contacts can be made to [email protected].

Saturday afternoon's TUST meeting - before the Macclesfield game - will now be in the GULLS' NEST between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Apologies for the late change.

Open to members and non-members.

TUST members please bring your membership card. We need you to vote to validate the new rules. Thank you in advance of this.

Main purpose of the afternoon is to update you on recent events and to discuss the route ahead for TUST.

Everybody is welcome. It's a good opportunity to keep momentum going before the season finishes.

Thank you to previous posters who have clarified that Saturday's TUST meeting will take place in the back room of Boots & Laces from 3.30pm onwards.

The meeting is for members and non-members alike.

Members are asked to bring membership cards so they can vote on the approval of TUST's new rules.

The meeting will start with a review of what's been happening.

This will be followed by TUST's officers outlining the ideas they have for the future direction of the trust.

There will then be an opportunity for everyone present to ask questions and - most importantly - add their own suggestions as to how TUST should now progress. Nothing is cast in stone at this stage!

The intention is to finish by 4.30pm. We hope to see you there.

With the Macclesfield game kicking-off next Saturday at 5.15pm, TUST has arranged a meeting in Boots and Laces between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

This is for members and non-members.

Members are asked to bring their membership cards because TUST needs to carry out a second ballot to ratify its new rules. This will be done on Saturday and requires the votes of at least twenty members.

The "main event" will be a review of recent developments and a chance to look ahead. This is an opportunity for questions, answers and ideas.

It'll be interesting to see what this week brings. TUST can't speculate about the identity of the new owners nor how long the next stage of the process will take. It would, of course, allow TUST to more easily plan ahead (and possibly report on fresh developments) if more is known in time for next Saturday. You'll need to bear with us with this but the chance of having a meeting before the end of the season seemed too good an opportunity to miss. You'll be most welcome.

Roadgull is spot on when he says TUST needs more younger members.

But, actually, it needs more members of ANY age. TUST will work best by being as true a reflection as possible of the people who follow the club.

I suspect TUST will go through several phases in a short period of time.

When Michael Goulbourne set out to restore the supporters trust before Christmas, my impression was that the first twelve months would be tentative.

Instead, after not much than four months, TUST found itself being offered the option of bidding for the club.

Now, with a possible deal on the horizon, TUST's attentions are likely to turn to working with the new owners.

This could see TUST acquiring shares in Torquay United and/or places on the board.

Or not.

Either way, this phase may be over relatively quickly. Then, whether it has shares in the club or not, TUST will need to settle down into a role. This won't stop it campaigning.

But TUST will need to become a "doing" trust if it is to have worth or credibility. Looking for ideas and suggestions - just like RoadGull's - will surely be a major part of that process.

There's a story on the Western Morning News website under the headline of "Supporters' Trust invites new Torquay United owners to create community club"

This sees TUST floating the idea of a more community-facing Torquay United at the heart of local life.

TUST is claiming it has a sense that, if the club followed a broader community strategy, there would be plenty of local people who would back and participate in such an objective.

This optimism is based upon TUST being encouraged by how much interest has been expressed in its community plans. Interested parties range from local schools through to Torquay United's women’s team and the Inspirations team for people with disabilities.

Ultimately, TUST believes in the vision of Torquay United at the pinnacle of the local sporting community. If this were to happen, the anticipation is that far more people would be brought on board than are currently supporting the team.

This issue of "community" is one TUST will continue to promote. Supporters, of course, may have mixed views about this. There will be those who will welcome the idea. Others may be sceptical and worry about attention being diverted from the first team.

TUST's "pro" argument is that increased interest, and and a stronger all-round community identity, can only be good for Torquay United. This would attract more people through the gate as well as boost other revenue. The club could then employ the extra income to boost the first team as well as developing its community activities.

Here are a few personal observations from somebody who has been helping TUST for the past three or four weeks.

These comments are expressed in the context of assuming today's bid will result in a deal. TUST's hopes for this are the same as everybody's. We hope it's a good one; we hope it works; we hope it's for the benefit of Torquay United.

We know, of course, it's not signed, sealed and delivered. If it fails, TUST plans to resurrect its proposals.

Anyway, my thoughts for now:

1. There was always the possibility that - whilst we were working hard on our bid - another party would steal our thunder. Those were the rules of engagement; there are no complaints.

TUST, of course, needed cash on the table. This wasn't to acquire the club; it was to show TUST could run Torquay United from Day 1. There was no great desire to borrow up front; that may have scared us to death anyway. The plan was a community share issue and, basically, anything else we could raise or cheerfully receive from kind, wonderful people. We felt we had the nous in our ranks to give this a serious shot.

With time, and a clear run, we may have succeeded. We can cry over spilt milk; yet we understand the terms of the offer were extremely favourable.

2. As far as I know, nobody in TUST has the faintest idea of who is behind today's bid. That's fine; that's normal. If, and when, new owners are announced TUST is eager to talk with them. Whether that happens prior to - or after - an official announcement remains to be seen. TUST, if requested, will follow confidentiality agreements.

3. TUST has a future. The Herald Express dropped a gentle hint today that we might like to help bring Seale Hayne up to scratch.

I Imagine TUST may elect to undertake projects. Yet I doubt it would want to do work of such magnitude in isolation from its objectives of owning shares and having places on the board. TUST isn't an old-style supporters club standing alone from the club; it has a completely different set of aims and principles which strive to place it much more central to the governance of the club.

4. We'd still like more members and people who can contribute to TUST's path from now onwards. A spot of diversity - in just about every direction - would also help!

We naturally expect many supporters will be disappointed that, as of now, supporter ownership hasn't come to fruition. Equally, there will be those who weren't entirely comfortable with the idea and may have been daunted by the prospect of becoming involved in a major venture. Well, however you feel, we'd love to have you on board.

Mind you, if this bid peters out, you never know where we may be in a few weeks time!

Keep the faith.