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Community News

Potential bid by Swindon Town Football Club Supporters’ Trust to buy County Ground

Swindon Town Football Club put to them.
Supporters’ Trust are considering The Trust, led by chairman Steve
making a £1.1 million bid for the Mytton, wants to bridge the
County Ground. divide between the club and its
Supporters discussed the move at supporters. In recent years a bid
the trust’s annual general meeting to put a roof on the Stratton Bank
in March and the plan is to buy failed after the Trust were unable
the town’s stadium from owners to raise the £500,000 needed
Swindon Borough Council. for the job – as investors were
The £1.1 million price has been reluctant to invest money into an
part of discussions for the past asset not owned by the club.
two years between the Trust and The plan is not without risk for
the council with a formal offer put The Trust as the proposal would
forward last June – with a view to need to be approved by full council
complete the transaction before and the team could relocate to
March 2018. another venue at any time leaving
The relatively low price for the the County Ground altogether.
stadium takes into consideration Plans are also being discussed The Swindon Town Football Club Supporters’ Trust
the Trust’s community status, the to develop the surrounding
need for extensive work to get area to include ideas for a club stake than simply what happens on will be interested in selling up and
the stadium up to scratch and museum, sport-themed hotel and the pitch this season, or next. There we want to be first in the queue,
the covenant put in place by the gym, and a ‘Legends Way’ among is a unique and exciting possibility with the ultimate dream – a 51%
Goddard family that stipulates that other community and fan friendly for fans to own their own stadium, fan owned Football Club. Okay, we
the land be used for recreation facilities. Discussions are now and from there we can set ourselves know that’s some way off. It would
purposes. As part of this the taking place on how to fund the up for real progress. be a chance for Mr Power to leave
council would put in place a buy- project, taking into account urgent “It would be a huge step forward a great legacy though, passing the
back clause to prevent the County repairs and maintenance, further and a great selling point to club over to the fans.
Ground being sold on to a third contingencies, and investment in outsiders. But we can do more. We “Our dream is based on the
party by the Trust in the future. further developments. This could need to work on the relationship German model, where there is the
It is understood that the current include crowdfunding, external with Lee Power and try to improve “50 + 1” rule. It means that clubs
Swindon Town Football Club funding bodies and community it, as much as some may not like must be majority-owned by their
chairman Lee Power and the club shares in the County Ground. it, he is in the driving seat when it members (thus a minimum of 51%),
itself is not part of this proposal at The document released for the comes to ownership of the Club. thereby preventing a single owner
the moment although it has been AGM said: “There is much more at “At some point, we’re sure he taking control of the whole club.”

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4 swindonlink.com n April 2017

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