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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Donald Morton

Battle for control at Stirling Albion between supporters' trust and club board

Stirling Albion Supporters’ Trust is bidding to remove the current club board at Forthbank and create a new democratic club structure.

In a statement released this week, the trust - which owns 83 per cent of the shares at Stirling Albion - claimed the current board under chairman Stuart Brown had decided that fan ownership is not the way forward and had been working against the trust.

The statement read: “Stirling Albion FC became a fan-owned club in 2010 with the intention of becoming the best part-time club in Scotland. That goal hasn’t changed however it has become clear that the structure that was created to achieve that aim isn’t working.

“We want a club that should be working on behalf of fans and the community. But one that is accountable to shareholders and trust members.

“Regrettably the current board of Stirling Albion FC has decided that fan ownership is not the way forward and have been working against its owners Stirling Albion Supporters’ Trust who own 83 per cent of the shares.

“Efforts to engage with the club board have failed. That is why we have taken the decision to seek the removal of the club board. An interim board will take over and will return integrity, transparency and accountability to the decisions of the club board.

“We want a club board that not only works for the benefit of the club, fans and the community but is also beholden to them.

“No individual is bigger than the club and no club board member should be beyond reproach.

“We still believe Stirling Albion FC can be the best part-time fan-owned club in Scotland. And to do that we need the support of its fans and the community.”

A trust spokesman said: “We have also been asked if these changes would affect the running of the club, particularly the impact on the manager and the team. It will not impact on the playing side or the running of the youth academies. We would add that this decision is not a reflection on the many volunteers who have and we hope will continue to support the club; your efforts are much appreciated by all of us.

”We have volunteers with footballing and business experience ready to step in. The long term future of the club will be decided by its members and a workshop will take place in June/July to kick off that process. It is our intention to have matters resolved in three to six months.”

Responding to the trust statement, Mr Brown said: “The club board will continue to act as legally required in the best interests of Stirling Albion Football Club.”

“The trust board is answerable to the trust membership and it is the membership who will democratically determine the future direction of the club.”

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