February

Meeting with Aberdeen FC re: League Reconstruction Proposals – 16th January 2013

Meeting Notes – 16/1/13 at Pittodrie

Present: Duncan Fraser , Jennifer Moffat, Jeremy Wood

Duncan wanted to outline to DST the background and detail of the SPL’s reconstruction proposals.

Desire is to implement at start of next season, which is still very possible but there is a great deal to be done. Next steps are that the SPL and SFL have meetings with their members at end January to see if agreement in principle can be reached

Proposals developed after the failure to deliver on the McLeish report recommendations for league reconstruction and the liquidation of the original Rangers FC in the summer.

The time it took the Rangers FC situation to be resolved was largely driven by external factors out with football in that a CVA remained a possibility right up until the end

At the SPL away day at Dunkeld a reorganisation group was formed.

This group (with 5 SPL clubs and the CEO) following extensive work came back with the proposed 12/12 and three eight solution. The SPL unanimously agreed to take forward this solution in principle as the way ahead in early December.

Proposals said to have following benefits

? Lots of pressure on top teams to perform to reach top 8 – so meaningful games

? A natural winter break

? Post-split top 8 have all to play for but no relegation leading to hopefully attractive matches

? Income (based on final league placement) will be more evenly distributed. Top 8 lose income share, much of which goes the teams in 9-16th (recognising that many present SPL members face a real challenge in the play off 8)

? Additional funds for all remaining 42 clubs within the present SFL

? A merger between the SPL and SFL bringing the senior game back to one governing body

? Pyramid system to be introduced which is a key SFA objective

? Ground regulations loosened, but all grounds to be under SFA licensing which is committed to raising standards

? League structure linked to the voting change, governance and financial all through redistribution as well as single body and pyramid.

? Protected areas only in relation to specific areas eg number of home live games, home gate receipts, existing club sponsorships.

? Clubs to have equal vote, except where issues are specific to one league only – others benefit from new distribution model.New board is proportional between leagues.

New single governing body – but merger with SFA not seen as key

Artificial pitches use may be extended

Areas like summer football not part of initial process but could be debated down the line.

League Cup sections not seen as viable option to replace income from fewer league games in a larger league structure

Also keen to extend Friday fixtures involving local clubs where possible

Commenting on the newspaper comments on the ECA Doha meeting AFC confirmed that they are attending as a member of the ECA (Celtic being another ordinary member) which is open to invited clubs across all European leagues and is seen as a key driver in moving the game forward across Europe.

DST explained that fans feel they have not been consulted or involved in the proposals for league reconstruction and asked that the club communicate clearly to the fans on this issue.

AFC as with all other clubs will be engaging with fans if agreement is reached by the SPL and SFL. Vital that agreement is reached first.

AFC are keen to get ideas of areas where the supporters can influence.DST to lead this process with input from AFC as appropriate through a survey conducted by DST. AFC see this as a positive independent approach.

DST presented feedback of member’s comments.Communicated that only real consensus was fans were not keen on playing same teams four times.However it was clear that for now there is no alternative to that.

Member Comments re: League Reconstruction DST would like to thank those members that got in touch with us regarding this issue. All the responses have since been collated and passed on to the club so they are aware of the fans feelings on this issue. We received a wide range of views on what is clearly an emotive and critical topic for Scottish football, covering a number of issues surrounding league reconstruction and the state of the Scottish game. Whilst there were varying degrees of responses for and against the proposals the majority consensus was that the fans wanting a bigger league than the 12 currently proposed.Minutes of DST Meeting with AFC Wednesday 23rd JanuaryPresent : George Yule, Greig Ingram, Gordon Duncan and Jennifer Moffat

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George Yule has had a challenging six months at the club learning all aspects of how AFC operates. He began the meeting by outlining the key requirements that came out of his 100 day Report to the Board.

George’s general assessment of the current situation at AFC is encapsulated in this statement made during the meeting:-

“This Club is tired, it needs an uplift and it needs re-energised”

Issues arising from the review have been broken down into two areas for development –

? Football Development – covering all aspects of football related matters. A more proactive approach, including in depth analysis with structured decision making, planning and minuted action points. Duncan Fraser has responsibility for this area of development.

? Commercial Management – involves all aspects of commercial activity. George Yule has responsibility for this area of development.

An organisational/management structure has been drawn which included Duncan Fraser heading up the areas relating to football and business matters and George Yule being responsible for all other aspects of the Club (including media related matters).

Key requirements –

1. Improved Football performance must be sustained- this will generate increased SPL income, should increase match attendances and increase player values and AFC’s Profile.

2. Youth Development must be enhanced and maximised – this is the only way forward for AFC. Aberdeen now has an Advanced Performance School at Hazlehead with 12 AFC players attending.

3. AFC should be highly visible in the Community – actively engage with supporters and the local Community. AFC in Community Foundation will be running as a Registered Charity. A Board of Trustees is already in place. AFC will discharge a lot of its community responsibilities via this organisation.

4. Current Cost base is unaffordable – needs to be realigned with turnover. Cost efficiencies implemented across the club.

5. Succession planning to be implemented across the club.

6. Injection of new money required – look at revenue generating activities

7. New modern training facilities essential – current training facilities are detrimental to football development. AFC working with the Universities to deliver a high quality modern training complex, with facilities which would include 3G pitches. Summer 2014 is the aim for the complex to be up and running.

8. New stadium options pursued – Loirston still being considered (and two further meetings have taken place with Aberdeen City Council), along with four other options.

9. Extend AFC marketing with e-marketing playing a major role- Club shop to be developed. New Shop Manager developing a range of new initiatives.

10. Develop and motivate the existing staff – invest time in personal development.

Core Values

To underpin all developments and the working of AFC in general in the future, George has drawn up a set of Core Values which are prominently displayed throughout the stadium.

DST Role

DST asked how they could help the club with these. George Yule agreed that DST had a role to play in communicating the message to supporters that “Change is coming to AFC” and in providing some detail on what is being done to bring about these changes. He also agreed that the FOTC idea has merit but it is difficult to see where it sits and fits in, at the moment, with the changes he has initiated. He assured DST that he would look at it again. He also said that he would give further thought to the role DST can play.

Match day experience

AFC are working on this with plans to compact the crowd and have more activities before the games and at half time. There will be a survey going out to fans next week seeking ideas on the matchday experience. DST explained about some fans requesting that the Merkland Road stand be given over for a singing/standing area next season. AFC will look into this while considering other areas of the ground. DST pointed out the need for any decision to be made soon, as the renewal of season tickets is not that far away.

It was clear that the reality is that there will be changes coming at the club as it is a “tired Club” and “no longer a big club”.However the club is ambitious and there has been a lot of work done to identify the areas which need to be improved in order that AFC can once more be considered “a big club”. There is also a new energy and drive that will hopefully see us get there.

Ally Shewan presented with DONS Award

In a recent vote by members many deserving candidates were recommended for a DONS (Distinction of Notable Service) award but top of the poll was Ally Shewan who played for the Dons from 1960/69.

Ally who comes from Cuminestown signed for Formartine United, who were then in the Amateur League, as a 17 year old attacking midfielder before adopting a more defensive role. In season 1959/60 he was converted to a central defence and played 50 games as an ever present when Formartine reached three cup finals, winning two, and got to the sixth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup. Ally was recommended to Teddy Scott who trained Formartine on a Wednesday evening and he signed for AFC at the end of the season.

1960 was Formartine’s first in the Junior League but Ally only played 8 games before being called up by Tommy Pearson who managed Aberdeen at the time. He played regularly in the reserve side but his versatility came to light when he was switched to left back and became a first team regular in season 1962/63. Once in the team there was no shifting him and he went on to play 320 consecutive games, refusing to give in to injuries or ailments during that period. The number of games was checked and ratified by James Forbes who at that time was sports reporter with the Evening Express.

The award was presented by DST Board member Ian Hay who played with Ally in the Formartine 1959/60 side. Their paths digressed at the end of that season when Ally signed for Aberdeen and Ian signed for National Service and had not crossed since!

In his acceptance speech Ally said he felt highly honoured to be recognised in this way by the club’s supporters. He had loved every minute of his football career and although he did not win any trophies he felt he won an award every time he pulled on a red shirt. He paid tribute to Eddie Turnbull, who he said was an outstanding football tactician and a great motivator. He said one of the first things Eddie did was to give the players a ball each and make them do additional training to master their ball skills. He had his own section of the crowd as his fan club and as his run of consecutive games increased the cheer when his name was called as the team was announced grew louder each match! He said that his six years plus without missing a game was probably because in those days ‘hamstrings’ did not exist! He was too modest to say what an outstanding player and club man he was regularly snuffing out the threat of the great wing players of the time including the legendary Jimmy Johnstone and Willie Henderson.

Ally’s outstanding contribution to our club was recognised by AFC when he was enrolled as a legend of the club and he is now very proud to serve as an ambassador.

Merkland Road Singing Section

Feedback to date has shown DST members are fully supportive of a desire to improve the atmosphere at home and increase attendances. A Singing Section has consistently been a popular choice amongst members with a singing section located in the Merkland Stand gaining greatest support.

If any fans would like to go into a Merkland Singing Section please email names to mailto:madforthemerkie@hotmail.com

Any further feedback as to ideas and suggestions for improving atmosphere are always welcomed so that we can share them with the club. Please e-mail us. Thank you for reading our eNewsletter and showing your support to “Dons Supporters Together”

Kind regards,

Dons Supporters Together