Representatives from all of the main Dundee United supporters' bodies met with the new Board of Dundee United at Tannadice last night (Wednesday 23 October) to hear, at first hand, Chairman Eddie Thompson's plans for the future of the Club.
Delegates from the Federation of Dundee United Supporters' Clubs, the Dundee United Business Club, United for Change and the newly formed Dundee United Supporters' Trust 'ArabTRUST' were invited to take part in the event. The meeting was structured to allow all of the organisations to also put forward their own views on various topics, designed to encourage a more open and inclusive approach to listening to fans in future.
In addition Mr Thompson provided all those present with a very detailed and open explanation of the decisions behind recent managerial changes. The Chairman also announced that, for the first time ever, shares will now be made available to Dundee United fans, via a collective share ownership scheme administered by the Dundee United Supporters' Trust.
Dundee United director Derek Robertson commented, "The Trust will be
entirely independent from the Club and will own shares on the collective behalf of its members. It will use the voting powers attached to these shares as directed by its membership. The collective nature of this type of share ownership and voting power helps to maximise the influence of its members.
"This meeting was the first time that all of the various supporters' groups had met together with the Club, and signals the intention of the new Board to form a positive, working relationship with all Dundee United fans. We want to open the Club up to a wide range of opinion and will be looking at various means to encourage constructive dialogue with our entire supporter base in future."
Mike Barile of the Federation of Dundee United Supporters' Clubs said, " We came here to listen to the new Chairman's plans and make a positive contribution to the open discussions. I was pleased that all sections of the United support were also represented and given this unique opportunity to participate. During the meeting we were all encouraged to respond to the Chairman's comments with our own opinions on a wide range of issues.
"Everyone was delighted that Mr. Thompson agreed to donate a few of his shares towards the new supporters' trust as well as confirming that up to a couple of hundred more are now available from the Board for the new ArabTRUST to purchase on behalf of its members. We left the meeting suitably impressed with Mr. Thompson's commitment and enthusiasm for United and look forward to working together. "