wm
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 205
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Post by wm on Apr 2, 2024 20:15:22 GMT
Does anyone know anything about this suspected conflict of interest? I recall being roundly criticised by some for daring to speculate on here that some people involved with the club might have realised that they could benefit from the sell-out (eg through new paid positions, etc), and in fact one director even suggested that my post(s) could be libellous. That seemed a stupid response at the time, and perhaps even more so now. Let's hope the club's legendary openness and transparency soon reveals what the legal advice leads to......
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dicksmith
Sussex County Division One
COYR
Posts: 296
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Post by dicksmith on Apr 3, 2024 4:50:06 GMT
The preemptive statement from the BOD tells me that some rumors have started floating about and they want to come up with some response that is defensible. And I don't mean that to be necessarily either positive or negative.
I wouldn't be surprised if the rumors would surface on this board relatively soon. Or at least a lot of speculation.
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Post by therightsoffans on Apr 3, 2024 15:54:25 GMT
The board need to introduce fit and proper tests for board membership. I think we have now had recently three people at least on the board who had not even been to the Pan. This is perverse democracy. These people have no place on a Lewes FC community board. They do not understand the club, non-league football, the town of Lewes, the supporters, our infra-structure, fan ownership. Yet they are directing the club with nothing other than a paltry wafer thin mandate, granted through holes in our constitution. It is an affront to the integrity of our club and fans and the board need to act. They can change this by introducing fit and proper tests. july66.blog/2024/04/03/the-lewes-fc-board-must-act-fit-and-proper-tests-for-board-members-now-please/
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Post by hunnsmererook on Apr 3, 2024 17:54:48 GMT
The board need to introduce fit and proper tests for board membership. I think we have now had recently three people at least on the board who had not even been to the Pan. This is perverse democracy. These people have no place on a Lewes FC community board. They do not understand the club, non-league football, the town of Lewes, the supporters, our infra-structure, fan ownership. Yet they are directing the club with nothing other than a paltry wafer thin mandate, granted through holes in our constitution. It is an affront to the integrity of our club and fans and the board need to act. They can change this by introducing fit and proper tests. july66.blog/2024/04/03/the-lewes-fc-board-must-act-fit-and-proper-tests-for-board-members-now-please/I assume that now following, the recent resignation, there will be an election for a new board member. Could we hope that the Fanzine “Blogmeister” will be putting themselves forward for election?
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Post by stuartnoel on Apr 3, 2024 19:45:05 GMT
All potential directors have to pass the FA’s Owners and Directors Test before they can be confirmed as board members - the department that deals with this often experience backlogs of weeks even months.
In terms of who can stand, the rules are very clear. As long as a candidate is an owner by the cut off date, is nominated and seconded by another owner, is not barred from being a company director nor having a conflict of interest (such as being a director of another club) then they can stand. The owners then determine who will be elected (assuming there’s more candidates than vacancies).
That’s the model the club has operated under for 12 years. Some directors are Lewes fans, regularly attend home and away games and are prepared to do the job to the best of their ability despite the sticks and stones. Others may volunteer their time and skills without the background of being involved or supporting the club - you can’t discriminate on who can or can’t apply aside from the criteria above. You can state certain skills or backgrounds that would be desirable and could, subject to availability, co-opt those skilful people but ultimately it’s the owners who determine the board.
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wm
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 205
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Post by wm on Apr 3, 2024 22:48:38 GMT
The board need to introduce fit and proper tests for board membership. I think we have now had recently three people at least on the board who had not even been to the Pan. This is perverse democracy. These people have no place on a Lewes FC community board. They do not understand the club, non-league football, the town of Lewes, the supporters, our infra-structure, fan ownership. Yet they are directing the club with nothing other than a paltry wafer thin mandate, granted through holes in our constitution. It is an affront to the integrity of our club and fans and the board need to act. They can change this by introducing fit and proper tests. july66.blog/2024/04/03/the-lewes-fc-board-must-act-fit-and-proper-tests-for-board-members-now-please/Almost from the off, there's been the whiff of "Ooh, this'd look good on my CV" about some of those standing for, and indeed getting voted onto, the Board. IMHO.
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wm
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 205
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Post by wm on Apr 3, 2024 22:49:42 GMT
The board need to introduce fit and proper tests for board membership. I think we have now had recently three people at least on the board who had not even been to the Pan. This is perverse democracy. These people have no place on a Lewes FC community board. They do not understand the club, non-league football, the town of Lewes, the supporters, our infra-structure, fan ownership. Yet they are directing the club with nothing other than a paltry wafer thin mandate, granted through holes in our constitution. It is an affront to the integrity of our club and fans and the board need to act. They can change this by introducing fit and proper tests. july66.blog/2024/04/03/the-lewes-fc-board-must-act-fit-and-proper-tests-for-board-members-now-please/I assume that now following, the recent resignation, there will be an election for a new board member. Could we hope that the Fanzine “Blogmeister” will be putting themselves forward for election? I doubt it. There never has been before after mid-term resignations. BTW who resigned, and why, please?
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lewesrook
Sussex County Division Three
Posts: 97
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Post by lewesrook on Apr 4, 2024 7:01:42 GMT
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peters
East Sussex Football League
Posts: 19
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Post by peters on Apr 4, 2024 8:21:02 GMT
Andy Gowland resigned recently from the Lewes board and joined Mercury 13 as head of global operations. The board are looking into any possible conflict of interest as Andy played a key role for the club during the failed negotiations with Mercury to buy a 51% controlling share in the women's team.
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wm
Sussex County Division Two
Posts: 205
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Post by wm on Apr 4, 2024 9:41:17 GMT
Thanks. So Lewes is now a "professional" club? What happened to 'semi-professional'?
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Post by ringmerrook16 on Apr 4, 2024 10:33:24 GMT
Whole thing stinks - this year has been a total write off.
Investment failed, CEO leaving, chairman left (understand the reasons to this, fine), men’s record goal scorer left, women likely to go down and the men basically have 6/7 friendlies left and a vanity weekend in Italy, after which I’m sure the manager will leave to.
Looking forward to 24/25.
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robm99
Isthmian South
Posts: 641
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Post by robm99 on Apr 4, 2024 10:34:43 GMT
Well, it's never dull!
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Post by stuartnoel on Apr 4, 2024 11:03:08 GMT
Thanks. So Lewes is now a "professional" club? What happened to 'semi-professional'? I don’t think it’s referring to Lewes. Andy was involved with another club before Lewes in Denmark
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Post by hunnsmererook on Apr 4, 2024 11:52:06 GMT
Andy Gowland resigned recently from the Lewes board and joined Mercury 13 as head of global operations. The board are looking into any possible conflict of interest as Andy played a key role for the club during the failed negotiations with Mercury to buy a 51% controlling share in the women's team. According to Companies House, Mr Gowland is still an active director of Lewes FC Women Ltd, Paraplay Ltd and Lewes 2000 FC Ltd. Along with all his Mercury/13 activities, he’s so busy as CEO of Paraplay that he’s forgotten to provide his confirmation statement to Companies House. Tut tut.
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Post by sedlescombe on Apr 5, 2024 6:56:35 GMT
All potential directors have to pass the FA’s Owners and Directors Test before they can be confirmed as board members - the department that deals with this often experience backlogs of weeks even months. In terms of who can stand, the rules are very clear. As long as a candidate is an owner by the cut off date, is nominated and seconded by another owner, is not barred from being a company director nor having a conflict of interest (such as being a director of another club) then they can stand. The owners then determine who will be elected (assuming there’s more candidates than vacancies). That’s the model the club has operated under for 12 years. Some directors are Lewes fans, regularly attend home and away games and are prepared to do the job to the best of their ability despite the sticks and stones. Others may volunteer their time and skills without the background of being involved or supporting the club - you can’t discriminate on who can or can’t apply aside from the criteria above. You can state certain skills or backgrounds that would be desirable and could, subject to availability, co-opt those skilful people but ultimately it’s the owners who determine the board. Unfortunately passing the FAs “fit and proper” test isn’t as reassuring as it ought to be as many clubs have and are still finding out. Once the club started to have a media profile it has become obvious that some of the people aiming to become directors were people who saw it as CV enhancing rather than wanting to do something for their local club - there’s nothing wrong with that if they are bringing important skills but there was probably a point once the club stabilised where we ought to have looked at eligibility - at the very least say three years ownership/ season ticket or including on the application how long a candidate had been an owner; that’s me being entirely wise after the event. Outsiders bringing essential skills could have been brought in as additional appointments. The conflict of interest point WM made was always valid. It’s blindingly obvious that Mercury would probably have needed local experience in taking on the club and to retain the collective memory and there’s nothing wrong in principle with that. It would be astonishingly naive for the BOD not to take that into account when the negotiations and in being watchful about undue influence. Wouldn’t the Board have been seeking legal advice on this before negotiations commenced?
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