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Genuine Supporters Representation At Last ââ?¬â?? What Does This Mean?


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http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=487&Itemid=2

 

One of the most interesting items to come out of last weekââ?¬â?¢s club AGM was Sir David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s concession with regard to finally having a ââ?¬Ë?democratically electedââ?¬â?¢ Rangers fan on the executive board of the club (1). So what does this mean for the support?

 

To being with, I feel we should concentrate on the key phrases ââ?¬â?? ââ?¬Ë?democratically electedââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?executive boardââ?¬â?¢. This is important as to give a proper idea of what kind of candidate we can expect to see nominated as well as the organisations responsible for these nominations.

 

As it stands, via the Rangers Supporters Assembly (2), we have an ââ?¬Ë?officialââ?¬â?¢ organisation while via the Rangers Supporters Trust (3); we have an ââ?¬Ë?unofficialââ?¬â?¢ organisation. The Assembly actually encompasses all of the other bodies involved with the fans (from the Trust itself, to the Alliance, Association, NARSA and ORSA). Obviously, all these initials and groups can be confusing so weââ?¬â?¢ll try our best to keep it simple.

 

The Assembly is also the official fans body in the eyes of the club. Set up by, then chairman, John McLelland to combat the perceived threat of the politically astute new Trust in 2003; the Assembly has an office within Ibrox Stadium and an annual budget of around �£30,000 to carry our itâ��s duties. President Jim Templeton (interviewed here by Gersnet earlier this year) has been in charge since its inception and continues to represent the Rangers supporters at board level. His duties do not involve the executive business of the club and he does not attend the formal business of these meetings.

 

As such, because of their official ties and because their remit isnââ?¬â?¢t as wide-ranging as many fans would like, the Assembly doesnââ?¬â?¢t seem to have the same credibility as the wholly independent Trust. Moreover, because the Assembly doesnââ?¬â?¢t have a ââ?¬Ë?one member ââ?¬â?? one voteââ?¬â?¢ system like the Trust, it also suffers from not being truly democratic in its approach. Indeed, while the Assembly conveys a sense of representing all fans not many fans are aware they are members or know how to raise issues through their reps. Flawed is perhaps the best description for the Assembly.

 

On the other hand, the Trust is different in its workings. The organisation prides itself on being both democratic and open. All board members are elected (although co-option is also a necessary part of its constitution) and ratified by the membership. In addition, every member can attend and raise motions at their AGM. As part of the Assembly and through its regular dialogue with the club, the Trust also ensures it retains a professional, working relationship with the club to ensure its members opinions are constantly on the agenda with the powers that be. Recently, the chairman and secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association joined the Trust board as they felt their members (all RSC�s) were better represented by the Trust�s outlook. Jim Templeton was also co-opted at the same time but has since resigned for personal reasons.

 

All this background information means that we essentially have two organisations vying for one RFC board position (initially at least). The Trust has already announced their chairman Malcolm McNiven (4) has been nominated to the club for the role. This was unanimously backed by the Trust board and is expected to be ratified by the membership at their AGM this week. Jim Templeton is also widely expected to secure an Assembly nomination although ââ?¬â?? unlike the Trust ââ?¬â?? the topic wasnââ?¬â?¢t raised at their AGM and so far no vote has been held of their committee. As such, if Mr Templeton is nominated by the Assembly, doubts remain as to the clarity of his candidacy in terms of David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?democratically electedââ?¬â?¢ comments. It certainly does seem the Trust vehicle satisfies those terms more effectively.

 

Where the Trust nomination arguably does lack credibility is in its actual representation per se. Although it does have approaching 5000 members, it does not match the ââ?¬Ë?umbrellaââ?¬â?¢ nature of the Assembly which claims to (sometimes indirectly) represent the whole RFC support. Of course, while members of the Assembly, Association, Alliance etc are active members of the Trust (and vice versa), itââ?¬â?¢s this lack of unity across the spectrum that can cause confusion and division from time to time. Certainly, what is clear, is that the Trust are the only organisation who have been interested in genuine supporters representation in the terms SDM spoke of and their attempts to unite the different groups under their ethos are admirable. The Trust has been lobbying for a supporter on the executive board for nearly 5 years and thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt they (and they alone) have managed to persuade the club chairman into his AGM comments.

 

We can of course look at the two potential candidates as well. Both Jim Templeton and Malcolm McNiven come from business related backgrounds. Similarly, both are successful in their careers and both have worked hard to represent their members as office bearers of their organisations. Indeed it�s very difficult to separate their CV�s on first glance and one must delve deeper to find the differences worth of debate.

 

The first again comes down to credibility. On all the major issues that have concerned Rangers fans over the last 5 years, itââ?¬â?¢s the McNiven led Trust that have been most vociferous and constructive in their work. From their unmatched media function; to fully in-depth safety reports on the Stuttgart/Pamplona disgraces; to bringing money into the club (via the impressive GerSave initiative); to open and full dialogue with the club administration ââ?¬â?? the Trust have been more active, more open, more vocal and more constructive in their work and achievements. While the Assembly works hard and often doesnââ?¬â?¢t receive the praise it occasionally deserves, they simply do not offer the same independence and results of the Trust. Especially when one considers their budget which seems to yield little compared to the Trust who are actually raising money for the club in their activities.

 

That conclusion ââ?¬â?? however empirical it may be ââ?¬â?? raises another important question. If McNiven were to be elected onto the Board of the club, would the Trust lose that independence and credibility? Moreover, how could fans who are not members of the Trust feel they were truly represented? This certainly isnââ?¬â?¢t easy to answer either.

 

What is clear is that part of McNiven�s initial remit would be to address those very issues. His initial main responsibility would be to formulate a workable and democratic system of membership and election to which he himself would voluntarily submit when it was in place. Having him organise this from his current unique position of independence and democratic background would ensure the kind of credible results all supporters want.

 

Once this is in place then we can then move onto the issue of ensuring that year on year we have the most suitable person representing all of us. Further, instead of having several different organisations pulling in different directions, we should have one unified group acting in the best possible interests of us all. This should be in the form of an organisation where everyone can be involved in how it works as well as the decision-making processes.

 

Due to the hard work of the Trust, the first steps have been made. These will define the direction for the future. Let�s begin by having a learned democratic, independent supporter outlining genuine supporters� representation. Malcolm McNiven is the best choice of pioneer and his nomination should have widespread backing. I�m confident that if we put our trust in him we will secure the kind of open and unified representation many of us have wanted for a long time. Not only that, his previous record will help ensure the hardest questions are asked of the board while innovation, imagination and ambition are once more part of the executive board of Rangers.

 

With the current positive results on the field, having a supporter on the board of the club can only enhance our future. As a well known Rangers supporter once said ââ?¬â?? ââ?¬Ë?there can be only oneââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬â?? letââ?¬â?¢s make sure itââ?¬â?¢s the right one.

 

 

References

 

1 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6961230.stm

2 - http://www.rangersassembly.com/

3 - http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/

4 - http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=136&Itemid=1

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