Why TrustSTFC is important for Swindon Town supporters

The Mutual is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as an Industrial and Provident Society and follows FCA rules.

We are a positive, inclusive and representative organisation, open to all Club supporters.

We are also members of the Football Supporters’ Association.

50 per cent owners of the Nigel Eady County Ground

Unusually for a supporters’ trust, we own 50 per cent of The Nigel Eady County Ground through The County Ground Stadium Custodians, a joint venture owned equally by Swindon Town Football Company Limited and TrustSTFC.

Club operates the ground via 125-year commercial lease

The Club holds FA and league membership and runs football operations; the JV is the landlord, while the Club operates the property under a 250-year lease, as Tenants.

The Nigel Eady County Ground is jointly owned by the club and Trust (Image: Andy Crook)

Any Ground redevelopment must comply with the Club’s lease

Under the Lease, redevelopment works need landlord’s approval. The Trust must approve relevant proposals through its constitutional vote, triggered only when the Club formally seeks approval from the shareholders of the joint venture. The Club controls the timing. Last year’s redevelopment vote did not meet the Trust’s constitutional approval threshold. It is worth noting that the threshold level required was derived from the Football Supporter’s Association (FSA) national guidance for Trusts rather than an isolated approach.

Feedback to Club on development vote failure

After the redevelopment vote, we submitted to the Club a strategy paper suggesting issues which we felt had led to the “no” vote. We can advise and encourage, but next steps are dependent on what project, when and how the Club next request approval for.

Inter-relations with Club - advocating for Trust members and Swindon supporters

We maintain regular, professional dialogues with the Club CEO and Chairman through Advisory Board and JV Board meetings and private discussions. Discussions can be robust, but we represent supporters independently and without fear or favour.

Our role is to advocate for Trust members and Swindon supporters. Views of the fanbase are diverse and its not always possible to represent everyone’s views at the same time!

Supporters’ surveys

Our two end-of-season supporter surveys clearly captured supporters’ views. We shared the results with the Club and continue to urge management to take this feedback, from their “customers” seriously.

Relationship with Independent Football Regulator

We recently met representatives of the Independent Football Regulator, Swindon Town’s supervisor, the Head of Supervision, and the FSA’s Head of Governance. This gives us a direct route to present Swindon’s supporters’ interests and views.

Correcting errors in Club’s new Debentures to exclude JV Shares and Lease

We recently instructed our legal advisers to help negotiate amendments to the Club’s debenture, or loan note, proposals so they did not apply to the Club’s JV shareholding or affect the related lease. The Trust achieved its objectives.

With legal support, we will continue to monitor matters that may have an impact on the Club, its supporters or the local community.

Trust is Touchstone for media and other stakeholders

Media and other stakeholders often ask for our views on matters at Swindon Town.

We continue to work closely with OSC and Business (Sponsors) Group i and strengthen our existing ties.

Membership matters: the more members we have, the stronger our voice. If you have not joined, please visit www.truststfc.com and press the red button.

In future notes, we will set out how we support the Club via sponsorship and undertake other initiatives to promote supporter interests.

COYR