The Dons Trust board (DTB) would like to announce that we will be shortly starting a formal recruitment process to find and appoint a chair of the AFCW PLC board.
Nearly two-and-a-half years ago, Mick Buckley agreed to step into the chair role at a time of significant change for the Club and he has done a fantastic job in putting AFC Wimbledon on a steady footing on and off the pitch.
The DTB would like to take this opportunity to thank Mick for all his hard work, nearly always well over the two days a week he originally signed up for.
The DTB will be responsible for the appointment of the AFCW PLC chair. The recruitment process will look to cast a wide net, and we hope that Mick will be one of many strong candidates that apply.
The appointment will be for an initial three-year term and the chair will report to the DTB on at least a quarterly basis.
The chair of AFCW PLC will lead the board, provide strategic direction and ensure the board meets its objectives. They will also act as facilitator, support the board in governing the Club, and act as line manager to our football leadership , and manage relationships with stakeholders from football and the wider community. The chair will be an unpaid role.
Mick Buckley will continue in his role as chair until the new chair is appointed. Once again thanks Mick for all your work to date.
At an important time for the Club, to ensure continuity and to help develop operational capacity, AFCW PLC have decided to create the role of interim vice chair of the PLC.
The interim vice chair will act as day to day line manager of the Club’s managing director and will be the operational and financial lead for the PLC board. The creation of this role will provide additional capacity for the managing director to focus on the essential work of growing the Club’s commercial performance.
After careful consideration, the board has made the decision to announce the appointment of Michele Little to this role.
Michele has been a member of the PLC board since 2022, chair of the Dons Trust since Sept 2023 and treasurer of the Trust since June 2020. She has an extensive background in accounting and finance working in large city firms and supporting charities and growing businesses.
Michele has been instrumental in managing the Plough Lane Bond and running the Finance Committee’s management of our debt and equity. Her experience working across both boards will ensure business continuity and add more operational leadership capacity for the Club.
Michele has been appointed on an interim basis, running to December 2025. This new role reports to the AFCW PLC board and has been designed to support our current business needs, with regular monitoring and review taking place to ensure the role is the right one for the Club. The vice chair will be a paid role, however Michele has informed both Boards that she does not wish to accept payment.
As a result of taking on an executive role on the PLC, Michele Little will step down as DTB chair and as a member of the Dons Trust board but will continue in the role as Dons Trust treasurer. These changes will take effect immediately after the Dons Trust board meeting on 17 July.
The DTB has asked vice chair Angus Fox to step up to become chair and the decision has been ratified by the Trust board.
To ensure the Dons Trust board can operate within its constitutional rules the board has chosen to create and appoint a casual vacancy for a board member.
We have asked Alex Folkes to fill the role and he will join the board ahead of Michele stepping down.
We are delighted that Alex has joined the board and a full statement will follow.
Michele Little, departing chair of the DTB, said: “The DTB asked Mick Buckley to step in and lead in 2022 when we faced some urgent challenges across the Club. Now with a stronger and stable organisation, this is a good time to consider who is available and interested in guiding and leading the board and Club through the next three years. We are excited to see who applies.”
Mick Buckley, chair of the AFCW PLC board, said: “Having reviewed our structure, goals and workloads, the AFCW PLC board have asked Michele Little to accept the position of interim vice chair to support the PLC board, the chair, the Club leadership team, and to manage a high volume of day to day and strategic challenges and opportunities. We are delighted that Michele has agreed to accept this role.”
Angus Fox, new chair of the DTB: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to both Michele and Mick for their work so far for Trust and Club. I’m delighted and excited to be asked by the board to step up to chair the Trust, it’s a huge honour and a privilege. We have an exciting few months ahead and I’m up for the challenge and looking forward to the season ahead.”
The recruitment process for the AFCW PLC chair will launch shortly and the Dons Trust will update on the process throughout.