Dundalk FC Supporters Trust hold their first-ever AGM

The Dundalk FC Supporters Trust hosted its first-ever AGM inside the Lisdoo last week.

A members-only event, close to 90 people were in attendance for what was a follow-up to the hugely successful public meeting that was held in the Town Hall on October 25th.

In its opening report, interim director Gerry Lennon outlined that approximately 200 people had already become members of the Trust, committing funds of about €90,000.

Tony McBride, one of three interim directors, then explained the key points of the Trust’s proposed constitution, from which there was a discussion and vote afterwards.

On behalf of the Trust, he said: “The company may provide funds to maintain and assist Dundalk Football Club, the Dundalk FC academy, youth team structures, community-based initiatives, ground development and improvements, and certain costs and expenses as agreed between the football club and the board of the company.

“We’re all aware that the company has substantial debts and the current owners are working with the creditors to come to an arrangement on those.

“The monies we have raised are not here to be used for discharging or paying creditors who exist prior to the 30th of November, 2024. We’re not here for the purpose of paying off old debt.

“Any other request from the football club to provide emergency funding may be considered by the board. However, any decision regarding the granting of such funding would be subject to the consent of the members voting at an emergency general meeting convened for that purpose.

“What we’re saying there is, who knows what’s ahead in the future. There could be a really bad situation where the club come to us and say, we need emergency funding.

“If we don’t get it, we’re gone. Well, nobody wants to see that happen, but the elected board cannot make that decision. That will have to be brought to a meeting of the members and for the members to give their view on that decision.”

He added: “If in years to come, for one reason or another, the Trust ceases or there’s a decision by the members to cease the Trust, maybe the club is completely independent financially and it doesn’t need support from the Trust or whatever, then what happens to the funds we have left? Let’s say we still have €10,000 in the bank. What happens to those monies?

“Effectively what will happen is that those monies will be distributed back to the members in proportion to the monies they have already contributed.

“If somebody has contributed €520 and someone else has contributed €260, the person who contributed €520 will obviously get a little bit more back than somebody who contributed €260, so it’s pro-rata to what you put in.

“It’s not a situation we envisage because we hope that any monies we raise will be going to the football club, but nevertheless we have to put a provision in to deal with that eventuality.”

He concluded: “When we pass this constitution and if we want to change it in 12 months or 18 months’ time, we must have a 75% majority of the members agreeing to amend that constitution.

“The company shall be managed by the directors who may pay all expenses incurred in promoting and registering the company.

“We are proposing that there should be a minimum of nine and the maximum of 12 directors. That’s what’s on our constitution at the moment.

“No director can serve for any more than six years. So that could be two years, he goes back and he serves another three years or she comes back and she serves one more year after that, but the maximum any particular director can serve for will be six years.”

The adopted constitution was unanimously favoured by members on the night, with just one amendment made to change the maximum number of directors from 12 to 13.

Directors proposed and seconded were Tony O’Kane, Tony McBride, Gerry Lennon, Liam O’Neill, Stephen Neary, Elaine Sweeney, John ‘Bobby’ Ogle, Cormac Gartlan, Danny O’Connell, Stephen Todd, Rachel Kerley, Anne Reilly and Dean Arrowsmith.

It is understood the directors will hold their first meeting next Monday, December 2nd, where specific roles will be assigned, with a public statement to be issued thereafter.

Those wishing to sign up to the Trust can do so online through dfcsupporterstrust.ie, by emailing membership@dfcsupporterstrust.ie, or by simply texting 085 812 4545.