In recognition of the outstanding achievement of each and every member of that famous squad, Dons Supporters Together have awarded their latest D.O.N.S Award for Distinction of Notable Service to Aberdeen FC, to the “Gothenburg Greats”. The achievements of this incredible side are unlikely to ever be matched by a provincial club again, and in beating, deservedly so, one of the most famous names in football, they put Aberdeen Football Club on the world map and provided a generation of Dons Supporters with one of the best sporting experiences of their lives.

Having previously presented awards to several individuals, including Willie Miller, Joe Harper, Teddy Scott and Ally Shewan, we felt that with this important anniversary coming up and the fact that this monumental achievement was a team effort, we should recognise them collectively.

DST Chairman Greig Ingram was on hand to present the award during the Gothenburg Anniversary Dinner on Saturday 11th May. Long serving right back Stuart Kennedy accepted the award on behalf of the squad.

The certificate itself is a unique design, created by local Aberdeen artist Dod Dow to commemorate the Gothenburg Anniversary.

In recognition of their outstanding achievement and on the 30th Anniversary of the main event,the board at Dons Supporters Together are delighted to present the “Gothenburg Greats” with their latest D.O.N.S award.

Present : AFC -George Yule, Ian Jack and Ally Prockter

DST – Greig Ingram, Gordon Duncan, Bill Ellis, Phil Hay and Jennifer Moffat

Head of Community & Supporters Liaison Officer

GY introduced Ally Prockter who went on to explain his role as Head of Community and Supporters Liaison Officer. Ally will look at areas beyond football, as the club felt it was important to cover non football related community work as well as football related community work, in order to raise the brand of AFC in the community. The club will set up the “AFC in the Community” Foundation which will be a Registered Charity.

Ally will carry out a dual role of Head of Community and SLO for the time being but he stated, having read the UEFA document on the SLO role, that it may have to be a separate post in the future.

New Management team

GY was very positive about the new management team and IJ highlighted the unusual situation at the club where the previous manager is still at the club. This allows the new manager time to get to know all the staff at AFC before taking on the team role.

GY explained the thought process behind the decision to appoint Derek McInnes. The club drew up a matrix of requirements and made a short list of candidates – the club were looking for a young, non traditional style manager with SPL experience.  After checking out references GY met with Derek McInnes and was hugely impressed during Derek’s interview. Derek stated during the interview that “winning trophies” would be a measure of success. Thereafter the rest of the Board met with Derek McInnes and it was decided to appoint him along with Tony Docherty, as they have enjoyed a good solid working relationship together in the past. Tony Docherty strengths are coaching and man management.

Vision for the club

GY is working on the Vision for the club and the vision will be explained to DST at our next meeting with him. The vision will be built around the “needs” of the club – the 5Fs – Football, Fans, Finance, Fitness and Facilities. The vision can be used to attract sponsors to the club. To attract sponsors AFC need to show evidence of “change”. The vision forms the basis of a strategic document as a formal strategic approach has to be taken to make the club profitable in the future. It is also important that the manager buys in with the vision.

New training facilities are vital for the progression of the club as the current facilities are not adequate. The club are continuing to work with a (local) University to deliver a new state of the art training complex planned to be ready for August 2014. They will also work in partnership with a University on Sports Science and bespoke training for players.

New stadium

The club’s priority is for new training facilities. The club are still in communication with ACC regarding Loirston but looking at other potential sites as well.

Communications

Website- The club have been in discussion with their website provider to provide a much better website.

Media- The club are working on building stronger relationships with the press starting with the local media. Editors and sports columnists from the local papers were invited to a clear the air meeting with George Yule and other AFC staff earlier this month. (DST stressed the need to communicate with the fans and explain what is going on at the club. If no news is coming out from the club then people will make up their own stories.)

DST explained that they have been linking up with other fans organisations to make DST the focal point of communication with AFC.

DST has developed good media contacts and is available to get information out to the media on behalf of the club.

Follow up discussions on GY’s 100 day Review/Report to the Board.

DST explained that they had identified four areas of GY’s plan where DST could help- Youth Development, AFC’s visibility in the Community, New Stadium and marketing and e-commerce.

Youth Development

DST went on to explain about their “Reds Direct” scheme which raises funds for Youth Development. £10,000 has already been donated to the club.

GY described how the clubs Community Foundation would work alongside AFC and would focus on the Community and Youth Development. It will take time to go through the legal processes to set up a Registered Charity but it will provide tax benefits. DST saw the possibility of linking Reds Direct to the Foundation.

DST passed to GY a proposal for a Dons Supporters Together Business Club which would operate independently of the club, but with the club’s support. It would be aimed primarily at small businesses who can’t afford to take up Corporate Facilities with the Club, and monies raised would be for Youth Development. GY will feedback on this to DST.

DST explained about the Nostalgia night they are arranging for August, to be held in the Aberdeen Asset Management Suite at Pittodrie, showing clips from the 70’s and 80’s. DST asked about the possibility of the club helping to collect the money for tickets and distribute them. GY will check with the ticket office and get back to DST.

DST also raised the idea of a Fundraising Fans Match to be held at the end of the season, similar to what has been done in the past at St Mirren and Queen of the South. This would involve fans bidding for a place in two supporters’ teams, with the match being played at Pittodrie. Former players would “manage” the teams. DST was asked to pass on details for this proposal to Ally Prockter.

FOTC Proposal

George said that he has read the proposal twice and there is a lot about it that he likes and there are things in it he thinks are impractical. He is still struggling to see where it fits in with all the other initiatives he has in progress.

Match day Experience

Following the meeting on 5th March – re the Mad for Merkie campaign – the club have followed up on Stephen McCormick’s ideas and looked at the issue objectively. The club will be issuing a response shortly. (Post meeting – the club has now issued a letter to Stephen McCormick stating that they have decided that they are unable to support the creation of a singing section within the Merkland Road family stand. There was the complication of the sponsorship contract for the Merkland Stand and the fact that people already populating the Merkland Stand did not want to move, feeling that it was the best place for a family section. There is now the additional complication of the deal for 2000 season tickets for under privileged people, many of whom are kids, and were in a well-populated Merkland Stand at the last home game. This new proposal will continue into next season. They consulted Health & Safety officials and they confirmed the Merkland Stand as the most suitable area for a family section.)
Draft proposals for enhancing the match day experience have been drawn up in light of the recent survey and the ideas put forward by Stephen and DST at recent meetings.

DST Membership
DST proposed that, with the Club’s approval, all season ticket holders would automatically become members of DST. DST have been in contact with Swansea City who operate on this basis and all feedback will be passed to GY for his consideration. Ally requested that any information DST received from Swansea City on their scheme be passed to him by email.

George Yule introduced DST to Ally Prockter who will carry out a dual role of Head of Community and Supporters Liaison Officer. Ally will be involved in non- football related community work as well as football related community work. The club will set up the “AFC in the Community” Foundation which will be a Registered Charity.

Mad for Merkie campaign – the club have followed up on the fans’ ideas presented and looked at the issue objectively. The club have now advised fans that they have decided that they are unable to support the creation of a singing section within the Merkland Road family stand at this time. Some of the reasons given included the complication of the sponsorship contract for the Merkland Stand, the fact that fans already populating the Merkland Stand  did not want to move and next season’s issue of 2000 Season Tickets for the Merkland Stand for under privileged people, many of whom are kids.

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.

Present: Duncan Fraser , Jennifer Moffat, Jeremy Wood

Duncan wanted to outline to the 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.

DST would like to thank those members that got in touch with us regarding this issue. Some feedback has already been given to the club and all the responses will be passed on to ensure that the club are aware of the fans feelings on this issue.

Club – George Yule; Ian Jack: Duncan Fraser. Reps of various supporter groups and DST members. Apologies – Chris Gavin

1. Opening

IJ opened the meeting and initially passed over to DF to provide an update on activities over the last 6 months or so for the SPL and SPL Board from the Rangers situation through to the current league reconstruction proposals. This, and the further, question  areas were:-

2. SPL/ SPL Board matters update

DF gave a detailed and extensive background and update to the numerous matters that have occurred in the last 6 months or so.

Key points were:-

-          The loss of Rangers to the SPL was a detriment to the central income re impact on overseas distribution rights and so on. DF and others met with broadcasters and agreed terms that were acceptable to all parties whereby the contract could be locked in for a longer period and there is a negative financial impact v income, and respective shares, for the bigger SPL teams, including AFC.

-          As a result this influenced the further debate relating to voting rights per decision type. AFC’s commercial perspective is that they recognise that for the good of the game there will need to be some give up from the SPL central income pot but, having already given up some of their income, AFC is not prepared to give away a whole load more without suitable league reconstruction and fairer distribution of income agreements being tabled and settled as part of the further negotiations required. Hence, there is no tie up with Celtic on this but like Celtic AFC wish the wider debates to be had and sorted that would not need to take place were the voting rights merely changed as initially indicated i.e. the wider issues would then be ignored and not be tabled for discussion.

-          To that end smaller working groups of SPL clubs have been challenged to review all matters and come forward with suitable proposals for agreement. This has re-clarified that a 16 team top league just does not stack up financially as too much income would be lost due to less games and less meaningful games amongst other relevant points.

-          Accordingly the 24/18 SPL proposals that develop into 12/12, then 8/8/8 were produced and unanimously agreed by SPL clubs. This was followed by discussions with the SFL and SFA as to identify the fundamental principles for each group and what was available for negotiation. In essence there is a decent level of cross body agreement already re e.g. play-offs, promotion and relegation; pyramid structure etc..

-          No decision has been made as to governing bodies in the future and/or the leagues being re-branded but the next steps are to have further meetings and thrash out the details with a possible start date in 2013/14. DF informed the room that all clubs and governing bodies were working together.

-          AFC accepts that they, and other SPL clubs, will need to give up income to the lower leagues but are prepared to do so for the good of the game. However, local initiatives and efforts to replace that income will be needed.

3. What about summer football and are Sky keen on that?

Summer football has been raised various times and AFC are supportive. However, it is not a priority and so not specifically included in the above proposals but it is hoped it will be specifically discussed in depth 1-2 years after any change is effected.

Sky are open to this but it is not critical to them. The ESPN contract expires at the end of the year and their future intent is not known.  GY advised that AFC’s preference with regard to discussions (short-term) with the broadcasters is more about the scheduling i.e. kick off times and date changes for games and so on

4. What about more Friday night football?

-          Again AFC is supportive but have not been involved further. General agreement in place to continue this, but policing concerns are relevant here and are still a barrier as to what games re teams, and where, will be considered.

5. What does AFC get as a result of Celtic’s success in the Champions League and is there any prospect of European income being added to the central pot for distribution across the Scottish game.

-          No, this income is retained by the club concerned and will not come under a central distribution set up.

-          However, for the SPL, because of the stage in the Champions League that Celtic has reached, it will receive a payment of £1M from the UEFA Solidarity payment pool, to be distributed across all the other SPL teams, excluding Celtic, to compensate for any disruption to fixtures as a result of CL games

6. Will there be more signings in January?

-          As things stand there are no available funds for more players despite the extensive injury list which is a concern.

7. What is the truth regarding the Ryan Fraser situation?

-          Discussions, including an increased contract offer, were on-going from August to October. At that time the player submitted his expectations and AFC responded with an offer close to those terms. The player asked for more time to consider this offer and after   further discussion he has indicated he wants to wait and see what develops elsewhere ie to keep his options open but AFC cannot afford to apply a wait and see position as plans need to be made for the future. Accordingly a formal offer was made which RF subsequently rejected which AFC communicated to the media as AFC needs to move on and focus on players who want to play for the club and with economics and finances being as they are all clubs will need to reduce their player pool budgets next season.

-          RF should not be vilified for this as he is within his rights to make this decision and so will leave with AFC’s best wishes and time will tell if the decision was the right one for Ryan.

8. So, did the club act too late on this?

-          No, the future of young players and subsequent contract discussions is an on-going and continuous exercise. 5-6 other young players have already agreed contract extensions this season and discussions are taking place with others, not yet in the first team pool. The club is also restricted to the terms of contracts, per age of the player concerned, but this is another reason why discussions need to take place all the time to make sure that the permitted timeframes are met.

9. (This was an external to the meeting question asked) – Should Ryan Fraser, and others in the same situation, not give an interview to Red TV explaining their decision to supporters in terms of being open and honest to the paying public?

-          No, this would be totally unfair to Ryan and a bad example set that could discourage parents from letting their children sign with AFC at much younger ages if this was expected of them a few years later plus we know that it will happen again in the future as England is a Category 1 country but Scotland is only a Category 2 one and as England has set up an U21 league, they will keep plundering the Scottish leagues for young talent that is further progressed than their Academy players given that they have played many more games in the SPL even at such a young age. For similar reasons UEFA is very unlikely to change the compensation rules.

10. What is the latest on the plans for new training facilities via the University link up. Plus any stadium update?

-          Negotiations regarding the training facilities are at a mature stage reflective of a mutual willingness to find a solution to make it happen which is good news but as the £ figures involved are big it will take a bit of time yet to conclude any deal. Hopefully there will be an announcement in early 2013.

-          Little progress on the stadium front and appearing less and less likely that an agreement can be reached with ACC over the Loirston Loch site but there will be a further meeting soon with planning officers to review the situation again.

11. The mobile app (web site) does not appear to be working following a recent upgrade

-          Not aware of this but we’ll look into it – thanks for the feedback. There are many improvements required to the website as advised at the last Forum meeting

12. Supplementary Q – what is the club’s view on the atmosphere created from section S (South Stand) at the Motherwell cup-tie and can previous suggestions re changes to the Merkland (sitting and standing section) and RDS and Main Stand etc be considered again to change for season 13/14 given we aren’t leaving Pittodrie any time soon?

-          The attendance at the Motherwell game was very disappointing. We accept there can be reasons but attendances are still lower than fans indicated in the summer that they would be and need to be increased to support the club’s finances.

-          That said, the atmosphere created by both sets of fans, plus the band and the drum was great and something we’d like to see more of.

Accordingly, the club will investigate further what can be done to help create the best atmosphere possible.