This was in Saturday's programme so many will have seen it but I have only just been given the text for the STAR website;


Statement From The STAR Board
"During the last few months, the relationship between the boards of STAR and Altrincham Football Club has deteriorated primarily driven by the Football Club's dissatisfaction with the way STAR operates in terms of the speed of:-
* Response to requests to STAR
* delivery of funds by STAR to support the current plight of the club.
This has led to a significant degree of frustration for both parties.
Following a meeting between representatives of both boards, the STAR Board agreed a proposal which it believes will prevent further difficulties of the nature experienced for both STAR and the football club.
The proposal is as follows:-
1) That with immediate effect, STAR will not commence any new fundraising initiatives on behalf of Altrincham FC
2) That any ongoing STAR fundraising initiatives will continue including selling it's existing stock of merchadising, naming the Golf Rd end draw, the annual race night and the player of the year voting.
3) That STAR will continue to retain it's shareholding in Altrincham Football Club on behalf of it's members.
4) That the STAR board will call an SGM (Special General Meeting) of it's members as soon as is practically possible although probably some time in May to put the above and any additional proposals to it's members for voting upon.

I've read this twice and cannot work out what happens from here?

I read this statement in Saturdays Programme and thought maybe some printing errors had destroyed the sense of said statement, but apparently not.
Is there a possibility that STAR may close down or is it just a case of getting approval of members for some changes in direction.
Could you please clarify as Ecky suggested "in layman's terms".

Are the board saying Star have lost their mandate to raise money on behalf of the club as the club consider they could raise more quicker for similar/the same events? or that they are not getting all the money!!!!!!

Does this mean we are going down the factions route once more .

Seriously hope not as we was doing good when we were all singing off the same hymn sheet.

Maybe STAR were in charge of checking players international clearance - its all coming out in the wash now ....... ;o)

Basically the Football Club Board have been unhappy with the speed of response to specific requests made to STAR e.g. the request for STAR to partake in the recent share issue.STAR has taken three years to acquire a relatively small proportion of shares in Altrincham Football Club on behalf of its members & deciding to sell a proportion of them was not a decision that was taken lightly for all sorts of reasons.The Football Club Board became frustrated with the length of time it took for a decision to be made.

In terms of the speed of delivery of funds by STAR to support the current financial plight,the Club Board basically want cash delivered quickly.Whilst it is one of STAR's prime objectives to raise funds for Altrincham F.C.this is a wider aim than purely providing cash & the STAR Board made some recommendations that were not looked upon favourably by the AFC Board.The difference in views on this occasion was resolved but the time taken to do this raised the tension level betwwen the two Boards still further.

Having met to try to sort out these differences it is the view of the STAR Board that it would be better for everyone if STAR ceased to raise funds on behalf of Altrincham Football Club & that function was carried out by a different organisation e.g a Supporters' Club or similar operation.This is the proposal that STAR will put to its members at a Special General Meeting scheduled to take place on May 23rd.If the proposal is carried then fundraising will be nothing to do with STAR but STAR will continue to retain its shareholding in Altrincham Football Club on behalf of its members.

In summary we have two Boards who operate in different ways & something needed to be done to address the conflict that has existed for a number of months now.

STAR will continue to meet its current commitments including the £500 monthly payment to Altrincham Football Club to help reduce its Tax & Inland Revenue liabilities.

Now that the STAR Board has issued a statement,I think that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Football Club Board will want to do likewise & of course all STAR members will have the opportunity to ask any questions of the STAR Board at the SGM on May 23rd.


Brian

Thanks for the clarification.
Seems like its shoot in the foot time yet again.

Reading this thread it seems that instead of pulling together that both boards want to do there own thing and the only one thats going to get hurt is Alty football club.Before anyone shouts hang on a minute you live far away,i have done my bit to try and help the club(via star)i have donated Mal Baileys shirt from the 82 trophy final plus old programs from the Golden Era!I just wish i could do more.I missed out on the shares sadly.Come on you lot pull together

Thanks Brian for that very clear statement of what is going on: it's a shame the original statement, which would have been read by many non internet-connected supporters, couldn't have been this clear, and I suggest the STAR Board does something to put that right.

The explanation does beg a question:

Why is it impossible for the Boards of STAR and the Football Club to work together, given STAR's shareholding? STAR and the Club were working well together and developing a closer relationship up to the end of last season. There is no structural reason why the two Boards shouldn't be able to work together: it's simply down to the individuals involved and the will to do so. That will seems to have disappeared, and reflects the views and the politicised agenda of the individuals concerned.

The decision whether or not to contribute shares to the Club's share scheme could, and should, have been taken by STAR's members back in January when the issue first arose: it's now a perfectly legitimate question to ask why STAR's members have been denied the opportunity, for so long, to say what they want to happen to their shares?

The STAR Board's proposal appears to be for a separate fund raising organisation of supporters, with STAR dropping this aspect of its original objectives, which were agreed by its members, but retaining all of its existing shareholding on behalf of its members. There is a major problem with this scenario: as a result of taking this course STAR will very soon have neither members nor income, as it will not be fulfilling any legitimate function in the eyes of supporters, particularly when the cash to pay the monthly £500 donation to the Club runs out. Why pay £10 a year to support a bureacracy which is simply a small minority share "holding" shell, when that money can be given to the Football Club directly? What return is there for members? I should think those members who have taken out life membership would have a case for claiming their money back, let alone everyone else. I certainly won't be renewing my membership under this scenario.

There have always been two clear strategic paths for STAR: firstly, to support the Football Club actively in its efforts to stave off receivership and help it to get through the financial crisis, working together, and having a real say in the Club's direction because of that strong relationship, or secondly, to sit back and see what happens, waiting in the wings to take over when things go pear shaped. The latter has always been an unacceptable path to take, as far as I am concerned, and I'm sure for most STAR members, but if this is the direction behind the proposal, then it's a disaster for STAR and for the Football Club.

There is another way through this shambles: we already have a supporters' fund raising organisation.......it's called STAR. So the proposal should be for STAR to maintain its original objectives, allow its members to decide how to use its shareholding in the Club, and appoint a Board who want to take STAR forward in partnership with the Club.

Those on the STAR Board who have been responsible for this charade should take the only properly consistent and accountable action and let real Alty supporters take their place. And at the same time, apologise to all those who worked so hard to make STAR something to be proud of, who have now been so dismally let down, and to all those who have given time and money to STAR, through becoming members and supporting events, who now see their organisation in such turmoil, and their Football Club in yet greater danger.