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Week 3 - Working with others What do TiL think of Loyal Luton Supporters Club (LLSC)?
We think that LLSC are a vital part of the community that is Luton Town Football Club. They have members with a range of experiences and they are very good at communicating with their members and representing their members’ views. They have a dedicated team that under the chairmanship of Kevin Lennon has many unsung heroes. We are very pleased to be able to work with them on the common aim of making Luton Town Football Club great again.
We are separate organisations and we do not have to agree on all matters. We thank Kevin and his team for working with us and entering into open and frank discussions, which we believe we have all benefited from.
Why don’t TiL join with LLSC and/or Luton Town Supporters Club (LTSC)?
There is no doubt that there are many similarities in the views and objectives of TiL, LLSC and LTSC so it is a very sensible question to ask why we do not all join up into one all encompassing body. TiL are shareholders of Luton Town Football Club Ltd and as such we (should) enjoy a different level of access to events at the club. In addition, we have board representation at the club. As a result, we have different responsibilities to LLSC and LTSC because, as outlined in an answer given in week 1 Q&A, we have fiduciary responsibilities to the football club at all times.
On the other hand, LLSC and LTSC are supporter organisations and undertake some work in different areas to TiL. They may also have different views and aims on some subjects to our own members. We fully respect the desire of both organisations to remain totally separate from the football club, which ultimately we are not. If we all joined together under one organisation, by definition LLSC and LTSC would lose their independence from the football club.
Having said that, TiL is free to have its own views that are different from the football clubs’. We are not, and never will be, ‘Yes Men’. Our constitution states that we must represent the views of our members whether or not they are in accordance with those of the football club. Also, we must report back to our members on those differences so that they know we have been faithful and honest in representing their views, no matter what the subject or whether these views are at odds with the football club.
Why don’t TiL work more closely with LLSC and LTSC?
In fact we are working very closely with LLSC and LTSC - the latter having a representative on the TiL board and we attend each others meetings. We appreciate that many of our members are also members of LLSC and/or LTSC. We have weekly contact with both organisations, and where relevant, we attend meetings together (i.e. a recent meeting with Luton Borough Council was attended by two TiL board members and two LLSC members). Whilst the organisations may not agree on all matters, we encourage healthy debate, we advise each other of our views, and we work together on many matters sharing workload, information and experience.
Since the spring of this year, Liam Day has encouraged closer working relationships and we must thank both Kevin Lennon and his team, and Kevin Barrett and his team, for taking the liaison between the organisations to an unprecedented high level in recent months. We will all ensure this continues whilst our respective member’s views are in alignment and we are working towards common goals.
What is the TiL view on the new appointments of a Managing Director and Finance Director at the club?
We welcome the creation of these posts in the club and fulfilling these roles means that the Club can now operate professionally and correctly. Power has been removed from a small group of people and now we know that there are more directors that have the fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of the club. All companies need checks and balances in the organisation and it was obviously unsustainable to have a situation where the same person was responsible for such a large range of issues. We understand that both Andrew Dean and David Antcliffe who have filled these posts are respected, professional and experienced people and we wish them the best of success. We are happy to work with and support any of the Club’s employees that ensure the Club runs as a successful and honest business, both in the football league and the local community. At the end of the day, like the footballing side, people are judged on the actions they undertake and the results they achieve and we will support directors whilst this is all in the interest of the long-term future of the club.
However, be totally assured that if we feel any individual or group of people are not fulfilling their obligations to the club, we will make our views clearly known at the highest level and apply maximum pressure internally and externally to the club to ensure that appropriate action is taken.
Do TiL support Kevin Blackwell and the team?
As we have supported all past managers and players, we are fully and wholeheartedly behind Mr Blackwell, his staff and the team. We wish them every success throughout the season and we encourage all fans to follow the team home and away. We know football is a volatile game and, like all football professionals, they are judged on the results they achieve with the resources they have at hand.
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