Swindon Town chairman and CEO meet with Trust, Supporters Groups and Sponsors amid unrest and frustration off the back of the 2023/24 season.
Swindon’s Clem Morfuni has said that the club will have a “healthy” budget for the new season with the aim of getting promoted to League One.
But that comes after the Robins ended up finishing 19th in League Two, one of their worst campaigns in recent seasons in the EFL.
Mark Kennedy has come in, with fans hoping he can steady the ship and ease their concerns, but they know he can only do some much, with the problem stemming from those at the top running the club.
Late yesterday afternoon, #STFC Chairman Clem Morfuni & CEO Anthony Hall held a meeting with representatives of our supporter groups.
Click below for further details:
— Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) June 12, 2024
CLUB STATEMENT:
Late yesterday afternoon, Swindon Town Chairman Clem Morfuni & CEO Anthony Hall held a meeting with representatives of our supporter groups.
Joined by James Phipps and Chris Howell from the Trust, Andy Cossens and Chris Kyle from the OSC, Lee Cahalin from the Disabled Supporters Association, Jon Holloway from the Foundation and Steve Trowbridge and David Coe representing the sponsors, everyone met to discuss the Fans Survey and Open Letter to the Chairman.
Anthony opened the meeting by acknowledging that the club understands the frustration and disappointment of last season’s performance on and off the pitch and shares the sentiments of all supporters of the club. He asked all present to provide open and honest feedback and suggestions.
A lengthy conversation took place where all acknowledged that the club have much work to do.
It was agreed by all that the key areas that need addressing are:
1. Communication
2. On-field performance
3. Ground redevelopment plans
The club confirmed that we have already begun to make the necessary changes and take actions that are required. This includes:
Renovation work on the pitch
Significantly increasing the playing budget
The appointment of Mark Kennedy as the new Head Coach
Following Mark’s appointment, the early signing of new players
Further recruitment of players to follow
The appointment of a new Marketing Manager
Refurbishment of Legends Lounge to start July in readiness for the beginning of the 2024/25 season
Present redevelopment plans to the Joint Venture in July with current proposals, once the proposals are reviewed by the Joint Venture at the July meeting, we will look to go for planning in the final quarter of 2024
Improved commercial deals, starting with Pro:Direct/Adidas kit wear
Improved fan engagement, with the addition of a new role
These are some of the changes that the club have been working on behind the scenes for the last six months. The club would have liked to have been able to communicate some of these changes and actions that we were taking with the supporter groups and fans earlier, but due to the contractual negotiations, we have been unable to do so until now.
A large part of our meeting was discussing our communication failings over recent months. As a club, we do acknowledge that we have more to do in this area.
Whilst we do acknowledge this, our media team have made great strides over the last season increasing the exposure for all our teams including the academy and women’s team. The group fed back that they had really enjoyed the additional coverage with videos and the comms over the last few weeks and hoped that this would continue.
The group agreed that communication channels need to be kept open and we should meet more regularly outside of the Advisory Board meetings to improve our communications with our supporter groups.
Therefore, the club will be introducing the following:
Monthly meetings with the Trust/OSC/DSA
Annual fans survey will be continued and will include feedback for the Club, OSC /Trust & DSA
Everyone agreed that we need to learn from the past and now we all have a part to play in helping the club to move forward. We all have the same goal which is to achieve promotion and aim for a sustainable football club, we cannot do this without the fans and sponsors.
Following the meeting, those who were in attendance explained their views in more detail:
Clem Morfuni and Anthony Hall:
“The meeting was positive with some very frank conversations that we hope can only benefit us all in moving forward for the 24/25 season and beyond, there is much work to still do but with us all pulling in the same direction we really will be better and stronger moving forward.”
James Phipps:
“We appreciate everyone coming together to discuss the concerns we expressed in the open letter. We note the actions committed to and we need to see those implemented. It is the start of significant further progress that still needs to be made. The Trust will continue to push for that progress for the good of everyone.”
Andy Cossens and Chris Kyle:
“All aspects of the open letter and survey were discussed and as mentioned above the key areas were communication, Ground Development and investment in experienced personnel both on and off the pitch.
It is imperative that all parties collaborate in supporting the Club we love. The meeting was frank and honest and I believe all attendees made their points in a sensible, coherent manner. Good progress has been made, but we all now need to work hard in providing support / delivering these objectives, which will ultimately benefit all that is STFC. It is now time for the fans and supporter Groups to work together and get behind the Club to enable us to have a successful 2024/25.”
Jon Holloway:
“From the perspective of the Community Foundation, we know firsthand how powerful a collaboration can be when working with the supporter groups. It is important that we continue this joined up approach as we set the action plans for making next season as successful as possible, both on and off the pitch. We look forward to playing our part in engaging with the local community and supporting the club where we can.”
Steve Trowbridge:
“A constructive and open meeting. Let’s move past previous issues and focus on the future, working together collaboratively for the club’s success. Let’s get behind the club and the team. COYR.”
SEE MORE: Clem Morfuni issues response to calls by Swindon fans for change of ownership at the club
This comes two days after inews put out an article with the headline ‘Swindon Town are sleepwalking into non-league and running out of hope’, with
In it, TrustSTFC membership secretary Tom Paris said to them: “The contents of the open letter aren’t anything that we haven’t already said to the owner on many occasions. It was designed to bring into the public eye that there are issues that need addressing.
“The results of a fan survey, with a number of respondents equal to around 25 per cent of an average home crowd, were damning. Fans are not happy about what has been produced on the pitch, but also – and more importantly – have lost confidence in the leadership of the club and in its strategic direction.
“From the results of that survey, it’s not out of the question that season ticket sales may fall by as much as 45 per cent. That is the number of supporters who said that they were undecided or unwilling to commit to buying a season ticket next year.”
“It’s those sorts of things (fines, shares to third parties for transfers, failure to tell the EFL, late payments) that erode trust and have a lasting impact on supporters,” Paris continued. “It’s multiple things that pile on top of each other. All we ever want is a credible owner. And all we will ever do is hold every owner we have to account, because that is our responsibility.
“Over the last 10 years we have had Lee Power and all the circus that brought. We have had Jed McCrory and now we have Clem. He bangs on about how the club has been badly run for the last 30 years, and to some extent he’s right. But he might be the owner that takes us to the National League.
“Part of owning a club is a commitment to selling hope.”
SEE MORE: Banners and posters displayed protesting against the ownership of Swindon Town
Twitter users reacted as the Swindon chairman and CEO meet with the Trust, Supporters Groups and Sponsors amid unrest…
@Flowergirl0404: I respect r Supporters Club, New Trust, they always deliver what they promise. Clem etc these are empty words, u have said these before and I personally think you have been given enough chances especially with the lies that have been told. I wish u well but I want u out of r club
@mrjacktanner: Would be interesting where the “significant increase in playing budget” is coming from given the low rate of ST renewals
@jettight19: You can do all the talking but show us actual actions otherwise Sell up that is the main thing I want from the club
@topbinsno2: Less talk, more actions. A lot of talking not a lot of – signing players, employing the right managers (or a manager for a while), sorting of contracts until recent days, ground improvements, offering fan led schemes for tickets etc. Sell up & stop talking or take actions
@CiaranBoast: More rinse and repeat waffle
@SamJord01: Seems to be the same shit every time but worded differently.
@swinfan69: Leave Clem.
@TJMEERKAT: 😴😴😴😴😴
@LegallySwin: Judge them by their actions, not by their words #stfc #coyr
@Kozzy78: And duped them all judging by some of the faces in that line-up…
Anything crossed out in red is just bollocks & things that a normal football club do. The areas highlighted in yellow are just words.#STFC https://t.co/DOR4V9gkqW pic.twitter.com/dfqRS5cNC6
— PCM #ToriesOut #MorfuniOut (@STFCMD) June 12, 2024

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