Who governs English football?

Posted on February 9, 2020 by The Dons Trust

Problems at EFL clubs in the past year have brought the governance of the game into question. Dons Trust Board member Tim Hillyer reports on an initiative by the Football Supporters’ Association to tighten things up.

The early months of this season saw the demise of Bury FC, along with points deductions for both Bolton Wanderers and Macclesfield Town. These clubs’ offenses included not paying debts, lack of realistic financial projections, no security of tenure of their stadium, not fulfilling..

It’s more than about the 90 minutes

Posted on November 23, 2019 by The Dons Trust

When we get together with our mates and reminisce about games we saw many years ago, some of the best memories are of what happened before and after the game. And now, says Dons Trust Board member Luke Mackenzie, there is a new comms platform you can use to help shape your total matchday experience at the new stadium.

I’d like to start by saying hello and welcome to those who are representing Gillingham FC today. One of the duties..

The future generation

Posted on September 21, 2019 by The Dons Trust

The courses run by the AFC Wimbledon Foundation on Saturdays and in summer holidays are a great way for boys and girls to get into football, says Dons Trust Board member Anna Kingsley. And they may unearth a future Dons first-team player.

For some of us at this afternoon’s game, this won’t be the first Dons performance we have watched today. My son is one of nearly a hundred boys and girls who train with AFC Wimbledon every Saturday morning..

On reflection …

Posted on September 14, 2019 by The Dons Trust

Roger Evans looks back at the challenges that he and his fellow Dons Trust Board members have faced since he was first elected at the end of 2013.

After six years as a Dons Trust Board (DTB) member I have, with regret, decided not to stand for re-election. It has, however, led me to reflect on the progress, trials and tribulations the DTB has faced – and dealt with remarkably well – during that period.

In January 2014, AFC Wimbledon..

How open should we be?

Posted on August 31, 2019 by The Dons Trust

The club and Trust are often criticised for not being more forthcoming. That’s not always the wrong approach, says Dons Trust Board member Luke Mackenzie, but perhaps we could do better.

Ronan Keating once sang that “You say it best when you say nothing at all.” And there have been times when that seems to be our maxim, as a club and a Trust. Don’t say much, and don’t be controversial. Contrast that with the approach taken by a recent..

Governance: a hot topic

Posted on August 17, 2019 by The Dons Trust

The well-publicised crises at Bolton Wanderers and Bury are far from isolated cases. The founding of the Football Supporters Association is a potential watershed in the governance of clubs, says Dons Trust Board member Hannah Kitcher.

On Saturday 29 June 2019, the hottest day of the year up to that point at a mere 33 degrees, Dons Trust Board (DTB) vice-chair Rob Crane and I enjoyed the air conditioning of a conference room in central London.

We were there, along..

Welcome back!

Posted on August 4, 2019 by The Dons Trust

Dons Trust Board chair Mark Davis summarises the key activities at board level that have taken place so far this summer.

First of all, I’d like to welcome you all back to a new season – our final season at The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Whilst this football club belongs in Merton, TCRRS has felt to me like a place that for the past 17 years we have been able to call home. There are many things I will miss..

Slowly but surely

Posted on July 16, 2019 by The Dons Trust

Dons Trust Board vice-chair Rob Crane explains why there have been delays in making announcements about the progress of the crowdfunding initiative to help meet the cost of our new stadium.

Welcome back to the Cherry Red Records Stadium for the start of what, all being well, will be our final season here before returning home to Wimbledon – and what an amazing achievement that will be.

In 2002 we were told that AFC Wimbledon would not be “in the..

Holding the club board to account

Posted on April 28, 2019 by The Dons Trust

Dons Trust Board vice-chair Rob Crane explains how the Dons Trust works with the Football Club Board to keep everything moving along on the correct course.

Most Wimbledon fans, I would hope, know that the Dons Trust is the organisation that owns AFC Wimbledon. But on a day-to-day basis, how does the elected Dons Trust Board hold the (unelected) Football Club Board to account?

Traditionally, the split has been that the DTB looks after the strategic direction of the club,..