Quakers agree new partnership with fans group (From The Northern Echo)

Quakers agree new partnership with fans group

3:00pm Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport By Joe Willis, Regional Chief Reporter

DARLINGTON FC has agreed a new partnership with Darlington Supporters’ Trust in a move which the club says will give fans a greater voice.

The agreement means two trust board members will join the new trust chairman, Paul Colman, on the board of Darlington Football Club CIC – the majority shareholder in the club.

According to the CIC, the trust members would play key roles in overseeing governance, strategy and supporter engagement. Mr Colman said: “Having now had shares in Darlington 1883 Ltd allotted, this is the just start of Darlo’s journey in fan ownership.

“By actively being involved in Darlington Football Club CIC, we are committed to making sure the fans investment in Darlington 1883 is protected and well-managed.”

Mr Colman said the trust hoped to run a fan seminar over the summer to help fans become more involved.

He added: “Martin Gray and the lads have set us a high bar of professionalism which we now have to follow off the field.”

Ian Wilkinson, Darlington Football Club CIC board member, who has worked on the agreement, said: “We are now in a situation that fans own the significant portion of their own football club, Darlington 1883 Ltd.

“The board of Darlington Football Club CIC is not a hierarchy that controls and directs but one that will facilitate the delegation of responsibility to those members who want to play an active role in their football club.”

The club said the role of the supporters’ trust in the new structure would be considered over the coming months.

In the meantime all Darlington Football Club CIC members will automatically be offered enrolment in the trust.

Mr Colman was appointed trust chairman following the resignation of Doug Embleton, who resigned last week.

The Echo understands he was unhappy about the details of the partnership between the club and trust.

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A fans' forum to discuss recent developments at the club will be held at 7.30pm tomorrow, Tuesday, at Blackwell Meadows, Darlington.

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