Supporters Trust lifeline
Following this morning's Board Meeting and further to the initiative from Rushden and Diamonds FC supporters to set up a supporters' trust, Max and Stephen Griggs would like to make it clear that their preferred option for the future of Rushden and Diamonds FC would be for the Club to be owned and managed by its supporters in the local community.
To this effect Max and Stephen are prepared to give the Club, the stadium (but not the Sports & Exhibition Centre) and all of the 22 acres of land at Nene Park to a supporters' trust. They are also prepared to offer a cash injection of £500,000 for the season 2005/06 and £250,000 for the season 2006/07 to facilitate the transfer to the supporters. This offer would, however, not bind the Club to the continuation of Dr Martens shirt or stand sponsorship, so that the Club will have more possibilities of attracting new sources of income.
Should such a transfer of ownership take place, neither Max and Stephen nor the Griggs Group would have any further involvement in the management and financing of the Club except as necessary and required for the remainder of this season.Hopefully this would allow other interested parties to begin to plan for next season.
Max and Stephen recognize that such a transfer of ownership would still require further revenue generation from supporters and the local community to put the Club on a stable financial footing. They hope that other fans and businesses will be able to step forward and carry on where they now must reluctantly leave off. They feel that Rushden and Diamonds fans should at least be given the chance to own the Club to which they have shown such loyalty and commitment.
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