Summary of September DTB meeting

DT logoThe Dons Trust Board (DTB) held its monthly meeting on Monday 9 September.

The first item of business was the approval of the minutes for 7 August’s meeting.  Some of the detail in these minutes has had to be redacted because of  the commercial nature of the discussions, particularly around the stadium proposals.   The amended minutes will be published shortly on the DT website.

Club Chief Executive, Erik Samuelson, then gave the regular monthly report of the Football Club Board (FCB).  The first matter for discussion was a proposal to approve an increase of around £15,000 in the Youth Development Programme budget; this was agreed by the DTB.

With the club’s Academy due to be audited shortly as part of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), arrangements for this were discussed with Nigel Higgs, Youth and Community Director.

The excellent start to the season by Neal Ardley and the first team on the football field was also duly noted.

Other items brought to the DTB’s attention included an update on sponsorships for the season, the club’s increased commercial presence in Wimbledon town centre – for which due recognition was given to Ivor Heller and his team – and an internal disciplinary matter.

Erik Samuelson then provided an update following a recent meeting with Merton Council attended by the club, its specialist advisers and prospective development partners.  Approval was given to Erik to finalise an important submission on behalf of the club with regard to the new stadium proposals.  Erik also took the DTB through the latest cashflow forecasts.

There then followed a discussion about the agenda and arrangements for the DT Special General Meeting on 16 September,  a special away day of the DTB/FCB on 22 September and the related membership of the Strategy Working Groups.

The next DTB meeting is on 10 October, and  will include an item on the Election Rules for this autumn.