TheFarPost

Well said, BallochSonsFan -- I really hope we'll get a great turnout tomorrow night (23rd) at the Rock Bowling Club. That in itself will send out a significant message. You'll get some important background info at the AGM from 7.00 - 7.30pm, so please *don't* give this a miss because it sounds like boring bureaucracy. Then at 7.30pm we'll be joined by Ian Wilson (DFC director, Brabco), Callum Hosie (Brabco) and Roddy MacLeod (planning consultant) for a presentation on the new stadium proposal and a Q&A session, which I'll chair. The meeting will end around 9pm. It's a members' meeting, but you will be able to sign up on the night if you're not already a trust member. **If you care, BE THERE** I hope people have also registered the clear, firm statement from the Trust in today's Reporter. The Sonstrust is *your* vehicle for ensuring that the voice of supporters is heard and responded to; that decisions about the future of the club and its stadium are taken in an accountable responsible way; and that we are active stakeholders in DFC, not passive spectators. See you tomorrow! Simon

I'll be in the Community Suite at the stadium from 2pm today - at the trust table and also making an announcement about 23rd etc. Should be other trust board members around, too. Come and have a chat. Cheers, Simon

That's right: the general meeting for trust members (sign up is possible on the night) should start by 7.30pm. Both Ian Wilson and Roddy MacLeod will be there, and hopefully other DFC directors. The AGM beforehand will also include not just the formal business, but a report on the trust's work relating to the stadium proposals and the future of the club. Details are on the trust website (https://sonstrust.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/agm-and-supporters-meeting/) Facebook page and twitter feed, plus both local papers over the past three weeks, and in several posts on this thread. We've also mailed all trust members and will do so again, and there will be a display and info in the Community Suite this coming matchday versus Raith. So hopefully people are getting the message! We want and need a really good turnout. If you care, be there! Simon

From the Reporter today: http://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/news/14908089.Sons_roll_out_the_red_carpet_as_they_host_public_exhibition_of_proposed_stadium_move/ (From our comment on the consultation: "Many people remarked on the ambition of the plans. What everyone wants to be sure of is that they are workable and sustainable in planning and business terms moving forward. "As a provident society with a significant stake in the club, the Sonstrust will continue to urge the fullest involvement of supporters in the future of the club. "I'm sure there will be plenty of good discussion and questions for co-owner Ian Wilson and his colleagues at the general meeting called by the trust on Wednesday 23rd November. That takes place immediately after our AGM at 7pm at the Rock Bowling Club.") Also from the Lennox Herald: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/dumbarton-fc-director-says-stadium-9270632 There's more online than in the print editions, notably photos of the display boards. I hope we can get the full set made available soon. Simon

^ ^ ^ This.

Yes, please *do* come over to the trust table on Saturday. I'll be there. Brian and Alastair are often there, too. We'll also make some announcements about the meeting on 23rd, etc. Thanks for the comments. I do take the point about visibility. We'll look to improve that. The current list of trust board members is here, by the way: https://sonstrust.wordpress.com/trust-board/ Simon

That's spot on. Quite a few of the ideas suggested above have been mooted by the trust board over the past few years, incidentally; but the response has not been positive. Whether we stay up this season or not, and whether the stadium move happens or not, DFC will need to be much more bold and imaginative about becoming a real 'community club' in the future. Without that it's going to become ever more difficult to keep going. Before the stadium move was first mooted (over three years ago, now), the trust board had started work on a plan for heading in that direction. That's something I'd like to see us get back to, as well as re-shaping the trust into a body that can take a bigger stake in the club and help deliver change.

Cynicism and humour aside (I quite understand that, but these guys are serious and we fans need to be too!), *exactly* the kind of key issue everyone involved needs to be sure about. As a backdrop, we have it on record, as of two years ago, and in all subsequent discussions I've had since then, that there is no liability for the club involved in this development. So that's a testable commitment. From the look of the plans, whether it can go ahead or not depends almost entirely on whether planning permission for a stadium + domestic development is granted, and upon the willingness of other investors to buy up adjunct parcels of land for housebuilding at a price that will cover the costs of the stadium and provide a return for the owners. In this sense, it's a lot more straightforward than the last proposal. The other issue in terms of sustainability for the club will be about projections for ongoing revenue streams, etc.

That's right. The AGM itself will be fairly short and will include the normal business -- plus a report from me on how we've been tracking and monitoring stadium move developments over the past year, and a couple of new announcements. Then, at the request of the Sonstrust, Ian Wilson and planning consultant Roddy MacLeod will join us for the follow-on general meeting about the stadium. That will include a presentation, questions and open discussion. Both the AGM and the stadium meeting are for Sonstrust members (you can sign up on the night if you want to), but we're also inviting representatives of the two community councils, DFC directors to the stadium meeting. The AGM is at 7pm. We hope to start the stadium meeting by 7.30pm. https://sonstrust.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/agm-and-supporters-meeting/ Best, Simon

This from the Lennox Herald today (and more coming in the Reporter): http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/fans-given-chance-quiz-dumbarton-9226926 Hoping for a good turnout to see and comment on the latest stadium plans on Friday, and again on Saturday before the match. Also, get 23rd November pegged for more information and discussion. Cheers, Simon

Great result this weekend! Meanwhile, before next Saturday's clash with 'Ton, there are very important matters off the pitch to be attended to. So the trust is putting the call out to ALL Sons fans to turn up and give their views at the pre-planning consultation on the latest stadium proposals - 11am until 7pm on Friday 11th November at the ground. The plans will also be viewable on Saturday 12th in the Community Suite, before the game. Last week I talked with (among others) Ian Wilson, the DFC director who is taking the lead for Brabco on this. He has confirmed that he will be there is person for the consultation. He has also agreed to speak directly to the Sonstrust in a follow-up meeting on 23rd November, which will combine our AGM with a discussion meeting. Full details being mailed to Trust members, and also viewable here: https://sonstrust.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/agm-and-supporters-meeting/ Simon

FYI, I spoke with both Community Councils (Silverton & Overton, and Dumbarton East & Central) on behalf of the Sonstrust during the last pre-planning notice period, and will do so again this time. I'm also in direct conversation with the developers and the planning consultant. There will be a full report on what the Trust has been doing (as well as a chance to comment on and shape our response) at the AGM, which will be announced shortly. Simon

On a related matter, thanks to all who took leaflets, made comments and asked questions of Trust board members in the Community Suite at the Dunfermline game. In addition to the pre-planning consultation, we will continue to make sure that the views of supporters are heard over the stadium development proposals and the future of the club. (As I've said before, feel free to be in touch with me via messages here). The Sonstrust is one of the largest in Scotland, measured in terms of membership as a proportion of eligible regular attenders and season ticket holders. But we need to grow further. The stronger we are, the louder and more effective our voice can be. So please join (or re-join) if you haven't done so yet this season, and please get friends and family to do likewise: https://sonstrust.wordpress.com/join-here/ There will be full discussion of the stadium, and some other significant announcements, at our AGM next month, after the public consultation. The date will be confirmed shortly. Simon

It's worth noting that the Herald led their front page with 'Sons fans' concern over revamped stadium plan', and continued on page 9 with 'Sons fans call for assurances' and 'Trust wants finance pledge'. The Reporter had 'Supporters urged to 'heavily scrutinise" proposals' at the top of their front page story.

Though Roddy's remit (for the developers, not the club, as misreported in the Lennox) is planning matters, he acknowledges that issues about the credibility, financing and deliverability of the proposals are crucial. He therefore recognises that the concerns raised by supporters through the Sonstrust are important and legitimate and he's told me that there will be a response on these. I agree that he's in a tricky situation, but he's behaved very professionally, he's been helpful to us as one of the interested parties, and he deals straight. He deserves credit for that. But as you say, some of the key information that's needed can only come from the developers. Ian Wilson, who is taking the lead for Brabco and who is a club director, will be there on 11th and 12th November.

Just to let everyone on this board know that there will be further comment on the stadium development from the Sonstrust, on our website and social media, later in the weekend. We have pressed for a statement on the club website. One is now due on Monday. We have also pressed that the new plans be displayed on Saturday 12th November (as well as all day up to 7pm on Friday 11th), so that fans attending the Morton game can see them and respond to them. That will now happen. We will organise a further public meeting ourselves following the consultation (probably in association with the trust AGM), as we did last time. That resulted in various assurances (no interim ground share, no liability to the club etc.) that we will continue to hold to, as well as changes to the previous proposals in direct response to concerns from fans. It might additionally help to establish an FAQ on the issues that have been raised here and elsewhere (the ownership and provenance of the Golden Share, etc). Again, we've done that in the past, and will do so again. The Sonstrust is also organising a recruitment drive at the game today, and Trust board members will be around to talk to fans. **If you're not a member, please DO sign up. It's only a tenner, and the stronger we are the louder and more effective our voice is. This is very important.** I'm continuing to engage directly with the developers and others concerned with this development, and to monitor all developments very closely on behalf of the trust. We have solid professional support and advice on this. I'm away on a work assignment at the moment, so won't be at today's game unfortunately. But if you want to be in touch, please do message me here. Cheers, Simon

Thanks to the 70+ people who turned up last night and took part in a lively Q&A. There's a short report on the trust site here (http://sonstrust.wordpress.com/2014/11/27/lively-stadium-plans-discussion/), with more to follow.

A reminder that the Sonstrust's general meeting to discuss the proposals for a stadium relocation and redevelopment takes place tomorrow night, Wednesday 26th November, starting at 7pm, at the Abbotsford Hotel. The club chairman and chief executive will be there, along with the project planning consultant who will outline the plans. There will be a Q&A. All welcome! http://sonstrust.wordpress.com/2014/11/25/reminder-general-meeting-tomorrow-weds-26th-7pm/

Hi y'all - please see the latest update from the Sonstrust on the consultation/exhibition about new DFC stadium plans here: http://sonstrust.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/plenty-of-comment-on-new-stadium-proposal/ Thanks to everyone who came along. It was a great turnout, and some key issues were raised both verbally and in writing. There will be more comment to follow from the trust, and as you know we have arranged a General Meeting at 7pm on 26th November at the Abbotsford Hotel. You can follow all the latest hereL http://sonstrust.wordpress.com/tag/stadium/ I'm liaising directly with the Club on behalf of the trust about these proposals (which are at a very early stage, it's worth noting - the display was about the proposed scheme, not any of the detail that will need to be entertained if it goes through outline planning approval next year). You can contact me directly here: simon.barrow@ekklesia.co.uk or on 07850 120413. If you want your comments, ideas, suggestions, alternative proposals and responses passed on directly **please leave them on the trust website** or send them to me. Cheers! While I'm here, if you haven't done so already this season, **please join the trust** and encourage friends and family to do so (http://sonstrust.wordpress.com/join-here/). It's your vehicle for getting heard and involved, and it makes you part of a body that has a share in DFC. Strengthening and growing the Sonstrust is all about ensuring that fans have a major stake and say in the club we love as it moves forward. We'd like to have another record membership this season, as vital discussion about where Dumbarton FC is headed takes place. (Simon Barrow, Sonstrust Board).

It's been a busy season both on and off the pitch. Sonstrust members, make sure you're at our AGM at 1pm on Saturday, before the Accies game: plenty of interest on the agenda, guests from Supporters Direct, and a Q&A. Details here: http://sonstrust.wor...r-big-saturday/ See you there!