- Do the fans who are directors make a difference?

Well, a lot of that would be up to the skills of the Director elected, and the respect they command from fellow board members. You can imagine a 'Twelve Angry Men' situation where a Fan director makes a superb case and changes a lot of people's minds. The key is to make sure the Director is seen as a constructive player in the life of the club, and not someone who is simply there to object. The Director should always have their feet on the ground and be aware of fans' views - be in touch with Officers of the Trust, fanzine editors, fan websites and so on, so they know what the prevailing view is. If there was uproar about an issue, the ability to represent that view forcefully and articulately could be a big factor in the Board's decision. But even if there was, the Director is unlikely to carry people with them if they simply sit at the end of the table and say 'the fans won't like it'. They have to explain why they won't like it, what the consequences will be, and how the objectives the Board are trying to achieve could be achieved in a way the fans would like. Equally, the Director also has the job of explaining the Board's views to the fans.

Some people say that the fans aren't able to do this, that some random big mouth could be elected. That's always a possibility but we believe in democracy, and if it's good enough to elect the Government, it's certainly good enough to elect someone to the board of a football club. A lot of the arguments have a familiar ring to them if you look at when people where fighting for the vote - some said that the people couldn't be trusted, they'd elect people who were irresponsible and so on. The truth then, as it is now, is that people treat elections with respect. Most fans look at candidates and decide to vote for the one who'll represent them best - who's got the experience and the skills to do the best job, rather than the biggest voice. It's a truism that the abilities and experiences you find amongst the fans are wider and more varied than any Board of Directors. In any group of supporters, you'll find lawyers, accountants, media people, managers, company directors, councillors and so on, so the people able to do the job are out there already and a Trust can get those skills put to work for the good of the club.