Shels supporters to consider Trust

A group of Shelbourne fans will meet this Saturday with the aim of establishing a supporters’ trust for the 117 year-old club.

The meeting will be an open meeting for all Shelbourne supporters interested in the formation of a trust, with speakers from the supporters’ trusts at Cork City FC and FC United of Manchester also set to attend.

Spokesperson Lee Daly says that the aim of the trust would be “to increase the involvement of fans in the club that they support.”

“In many cases there’s very specific things [a trust] look to do,” Daly said, “maybe buying shares, insuring that fans are organised and have a voice- at board level or through buying those shares. And also a supporters trust can actually own the club and run the club outright as well.”

In Ireland several clubs are owned and run by supporters, including Cork City and Shamrock Rovers. Supporters trusts are active in many clubs, and a national representative body for these trusts is in the process of being established.

The Shelbourne supporters’ trust has been aided by Supporters Direct – the UK-based group who have helped in the establishment and growth of trusts at clubs like Swansea City, Schalke 04 and AFC Wimbledon.

The meeting will take place in the bar at Tolka Park this Saturday before the Cork City match, at 5pm.