Cherries supporters will be given a massive say in the fate of their club in the coming week. Today sees the commencement of a fans’ ballot that will determine whether the club is given the green light to refinance.
AFC Bournemouth Directors are in talks with an as yet unnamed London-based property company, who are proposing to buy Dean Court for £3.5m and lease it back to the club. The money raised from the sale would then be used to service some of the debts totalling nearly £7m.
The AFC Bournemouth Community Mutual, who hold majority-voting rights in the company, have the ultimate say in whether this deal goes ahead. The fans' trust has called a meeting about the issue on Friday October 28 (7.30pm for an 8pm start at the Fitness First Stadium at Dean Court).
Members of the Trust attending the meeting will be asked to vote on the stadium proposals in a secret ballot.
And the fans trust, in an exercise in football democracy, is also involving
members who cannot attend the meeting. Postal votes are available and the ballot will see supporters from across the globe including Australia, USA, Fiji, China and United Arab Emirates taking part.
Chairman of the Mutual John Lewis said "We believe that this is the first time in UK football that fans have been given such a major say over the direction their club takes. We obviously urge as many fans as possible to attend Fridays meeting. There will be opportunities for supporters to hear both sides of the debate and plenty of chances for everyone to ask questions. Turn up, listen to the debate and cast your vote".
"But if you cannot attend, we would urge you to use your postal vote. This is a crucial stage in our clubs history and we all have a big responsibility to take part in the process to decide our future".
Notes
1) The Mutual was set up in 2000 with backing from the Government. It has 2,500 members, holds two Golden Shares (worth 51% of the voting rights of
the company) and £100,000 worth of ordinary shares in AFC Bournemouth.
2) Members attending Fridays meeting are being urged to attend early and bring along some form of ID to facilitate the issuing of ballot papers.
3) Details of how Community Mutual members can still apply for a postal vote can be found on the following websites: www.rednblack.net and www.afcb.co.uk
4) The deadline for applying for postal votes is last post Monday October 31. Fans then have to get their votes back to the returning officer by last post November 9. The count, supervised by an independently appointed returning officer will take place on the November 9.
CONTACTS
John Lewis - chairman
(W) 01202 241241
(M) 07956 659818
Dave Stone – fans’ director
(W) 01202 312288
(M) 07980 211325
Paul Williams
(H) 01202 430569
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