STATEMENT | Weekly COVID-19 update and WST communication

Please find the latest update from the WST as part of our weekly communication to supporters regarding events at the Football Club and the Wrexham Supporters Trust.

You can view all previous weekly COVID-19 updates here.

Lionel Richie concert

You will hopefully have seen a separate update stating that Lionel Richie will still be coming to town to play his recently postponed gig. Lionel will be playing the Racecourse on Thursday June 3, 2021. All tickets already purchased remain valid and he can be sure of a big Wrexham welcome.

The off-season concerts are an important part of our club finances. Income from the concerts pays our lease payment to our landlords and protects our playing budget.

With that thought in mind we are also in talks with the promoters to bring an act to town to play on the Friday. As the stage and equipment will be set up already it makes the proposition more profitable. More to follow (hopefully).

Membership Renewals

It is renewal time for WST members and the steps on how to do so are included below. However, for members renewing online we have an issue. Our contract with SeatAdvisor has ended and we are in the process of clarifying our relationship with them.

We are not in a position to be able to sign a five-year contract at this point in time. When this has been resolved we will update members.

Nb – Existing members who are not able to renew will still hold valid membership for the upcoming AGM

WREXHAM SUPPORTERS TRUST – MEMBERSHIP 2020-21

The Trust’s membership year runs from 1 June to 31 May. With the start of the next Membership year fast approaching, this update sets out the arrangement to renew your membership for the forthcoming year.

Life Members

You do not have to do anything. Your membership will automatically renew.

Active standing orders by bank or Paypal

If you pay monthly and your standing order is active on 1 June, then you do not need to do anything. Your membership will automatically renew.

If you have cancelled your standing order and would like to renew your membership, you can set up a new standing order – please see the details below on arranging this.

If you pay annually by standing order, we will have your details on record, so you do not need to do anything. Your membership will automatically renew.

Payment by cheque or cash at the Club Shop

Due to Coronavirus and adhering to Government guidance, the Club Shop is currently closed. This means that we are not able to process your membership renewal.

The easiest way to renew your membership is to set up a standing order.

Details for setting up a Standing Order

The details for the Trust’s bank account are:
Sort Code: 089299
Account Number: 65084582
Bank: The Co-operative

To ensure that your payment is allocated to you, can you also please ensure that you reference your standing order with your WREXID (found on the back of your current membership card).

If you would like an acknowledgment of payment, please e-mail membership@wst.org.uk and we will e-mail you back confirming your membership renewal.

The current price of membership is £12 per year for Adults or £5 per year for Juniors.

Payment by cheque

Alternatively, you can pay by cheque; the cost for this payment method is £15 per year for Adults or £5 per year for Juniors (up to an including 16 years of age).

If you decide to pay by cheque, because the Club Shop is currently closed, please post to my home address – 4 Village Meadow, Ruabon, Wrexham, LL14 6TF.

Please ensure that you write your WREXID on the back of the cheque so that your payment is allocated to you.

Your contact information

If any of your personal details have changed recently, then please let the Club know (e.g. address, e-mail address etc). This will help to ensure that you receive Club communications.

If you have not been receiving communication e-mails then it is, either, we have your wrong e-mail address, or you have not opted in to receiving communications from us.

Due to recent changes in GDPR legislation, we need your explicit consent to receive these. If this applies to you, then e-mail membership@wst.org.uk asking to receive these. Please ensure you provide your WREXID.

AGM Volunteers Needed

As a part of the AGM process we are required to form an Election Management Group (EMG) in order to oversee the elections and ensure that they are run in accordance with the democratic principles of the Society.

The EMG will consist of Mark Jones of the CFU, who will chair the group, the Independent Secretary and two members of the Society. The responsibilities are set out below.

3. Election control
3.1. In advance of the commencement of the election, the Society Board will appoint members of the Society (who with the exception of the Secretary may not include serving Society board members) to form the EMG. This group shall be chaired by an independent person who is not a member of the Society. The Secretary may be a member of this group. In the event that it is not possible to agree the identity of the Independent chair, Supporters Direct will select the Independent chair.
3.2. No members of the Society Board whose positions are due to be offered for election shall play any part in determining the composition of the EMG or any aspect regarding the conduct of the elections.
3.3. Members of the EMG shall not be eligible to nominate candidates nor be a candidate themselves and shall ensure that they are not associated closely with any candidates and have proper regard to maintaining the integrity of the election process.
3.4. During the Election Period the EMG will ensure that the election is run in accordance with this policy.
3.5. The EMG shall make the final decision as the eligibility of candidates, nominations and valid votes. They shall conduct the count and the result, as determined by them is final. Any decisions taken will be by majority vote and recorded. The Chair of the EMG shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie.

Please contact the Secretary if you are interested in helping with this task at secretary@wst.org.uk

AGM Planning 2020

As part of our efforts to ensure this year’s AGMs for both the WST and Football Club go ahead in a timely manner and are accessible to as many Club members as possible, we will be testing the use of Zoom over the coming weeks to enable us to use this system.

For those of you not familiar with Zoom, it is an online conferencing system that enables anyone with an internet or data connection to join in or watch a ‘broadcast’ meeting with no need for the permanent installation of any software on your computer, tablet or smartphone. All you need is an internet browser.

Once we are ready to set up these meetings, you will be sent, probably the day before, a link via email to click on at the appointed meeting time.

This will then connect you to the meeting. It is envisaged that you will be able to listen to, and see, the participants from the WST and Club Boards, and, when invited, be able to speak and ask questions.

You will also have the capability of adding questions to a ‘chat’ feature which can then be asked by the Independant Secretary on your behalf, should you wish. More details about this will be released closer to the date of the meeting.

Going forward, we intend using this system for communication to all Club Members, no matter where you are located, to ensure you get as much information as we can possibly release.

If we need to extend meetings or information outside of the Club Members, for example, general important Club news, we will be able to broadcast directly to YouTube.

As mentioned, we are testing Zoom, and no doubt we will be able to expand on its usage as we think of new ways of using the technology. We are also conscious that, because of the need to communicate with 3000+ members, there is a cost, which, initially will be £795 (+ VAT) per month, so we may limit it to AGM and EGM meetings to keep costs down.

In order to be part of the meetings, we do need you, as Club Members, to ensure we have an up to date and accurate email address, as without that, you will be unable to join in the meeting.

Administration of such a large number of invitations, and running the event on the evening, will be a labour intensive task, so if you could do your bit by sending your email address to membership@wst.org.uk as soon as possible, that would be a great help to us. Thank you in anticipation.

Urban Myths

In response to speculation, we can confirm that there are no funds ring fenced in order to progress the proposed training centre at the former Groves school.

Season Ticket Refunds

The WST Board met on May 20 and have agreed that Season Ticket holders for last season will be offered refunds for the five games that we have not been able to play this season.

Season Ticket holders will be offered a range of options from a refund to discounts on next season’s tickets or to gift the sum to the club. The total sum involved has been revised downwards from 100k to 96k and this is based on refunding the tickets at the average cost per game.

You can work out your refund by dividing the price you paid by 23 and then multiplying by 5.

In normal times we would ask you to call in the shop to deal with this but we do not have that option at the moment. As a first step we need to identify supporters who require a refund or discount so that we can account for that sum, and ringfence it, in our current budgets and our forecasts for next season.

A survey is being created for this and will be rolled out to members when ready. Please bear with us during this period. The club staff are furloughed and this complicates the process.

Furlough update

Our furlough claim for May has been completed and submitted. We hope to receive payment some time in the next week.

League Restructuring

We have been asked about potential League Restructuring as there are several stories floating around regarding League 2 and the National League amalgamating in a North and South structure.

We have not been a party to any of these discussions, if any have actually taken place. For this idea to come to fruition it would require League 2 clubs to accept a reduced share of TV money and this seems unlikely at this point.

Governing Board and Operational Board Policy

Last week we told Members that we had started on a process of reviewing the clubs processes and procedures commencing with the Members Disciplinary and Grievance Policy.

This week we are asking Members to consider the Governing Board and Operational Board Policy.

This policy sets out the relationship between the WST Board and the Club Board and the responsibilities of both Boards in managing the club.

It is arguably the most contentious issue around the club at the moment and the Board recognise that there need to be changes to improve the running of both the Club and the Trust.

We cannot stress how important it is that we get this piece of work right and we are encouraging all supporters to get involved in this process.

A copy of the current policy can be downloaded here and at this point nothing is off the table. Coming out of this process we need a robust framework that ensures that both Club and Trust are stable, efficient and well run.

Please e mail your thoughts to the secretary@wst.org.uk

Steve Edwards Goal of the Season Trophy

Congratulations to Luke Young, who was voted winner of the 2019/20 Steve Edwards Goal of the Season Trophy for his stunning volley against Bromley in November.

Luke, who also won last year’s award, is the first player to win the award in more than one season.

Around 5,000 votes were cast on Twitter, in a new ‘knock-out’ format, which saw 16 shortlisted goals from 12 different players eventually whittled down to a final between Luke Young and Luke Summerfield (for his first goal at home to Woking).

Thanks to all who voted and took part, and congratulations once again to Luke Young as the winner.

YouTube

Following last weekend’s successful re-run of the 2013 FA Trophy Final, for those missing ‘live’ football, you can head to the club’s YouTube channel on Saturday from 2.50pm to join Mark Griffiths as he presents a full re-run of our match at home to Salford City on Boxing Day last season.