A FURIOUS war of words has erupted between Worcester City’s Supporters Trust and club chiefs after discussions over the future direction for Worcester’s cash-strapped football club collapsed.
Trust members walked away from discussions to produce an independent review of the football club in a bid to secure a long term sustainable football club in Worcester following the breakdown.
However club chiefs hit back at the trust’s actions and said the proposed non-disclosure agreement did not provide ‘equal terms to both parties in a number of aspects’.
In a statement, trust bosses said they were walking away from the ‘unacceptable situation’ following discussions between appointed representative Nick Igoe of Supporters Direct and members of the club’s board of directors
“The Supporters Trust had presented a non-disclosure agreement to directors, which also outlined the scope of work and a schedule of information needed to perform the review. The club did not sign this and instead issued a completely different agreement which was not fit-for-purpose for a number of reasons,” the trust said.
Trust bosses revealed the club’s version of the agreement was between the club and Supporters Direct, effectively ignoring the trust until it was later updated to a three way agreement including just two supporters trust members.
Despite the trust funding the independent review, the agreement stipulated the club would see the final report before it was passed to the supporters trust and even then it would decide who beyond the two named recipients would see the report.
“In essence the club were stipulating, despite the trust initiating the business review and paying for the report on behalf of our members, they would determine whether trust board members would be able to see the finalised report,” the trust said.
Club bosses hit back and confirmed a revised agreement was put forward with terms protecting all parties equally as a number of confidential items would be included.
“It was advised due to previous occasions where confidential information had been leaked the report would be seen by two named recipients namely the supporters trust chairman and secretary. Dave Wood, chairman of the trust, agreed with this approach,” a club statement read.
City chiefs confirmed they would support any valid recommendations in changing its ownership model and were willing to supply the current state of the club’s financial balance sheet, finances for the last two seasons together with those for next season.
The review would also include details of City’s groundshare with Bromsgrove Sporting, costs should any ownership transfer take place and an update on the club’s proposed move to Parsonage Way.
“As a matter of courtesy the football club requested a copy of the report in advance of this being presented to the trust board.
“The club has also requested a copy of report to be provided under the agreement prior to being formally issued,” the statement added.
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