“We own our football club”

Thank the lord for those two games against Manchester United 😢

Yes it was a bit fortunate but Exeter also made their own luck by making sure they were in the 3rd round in the first place. When was the last time we managed that?

But this is twenty years later and the equivalent of the two Man United games would net considerably more than a million quid.

Exeter City Supporters Trust were in the right place at the right time because they refused to throw in the towel and give it a go. Yes, it was a lucky draw that got them out of financial trouble but if ECST had listened to the naysayers they would not be the successful club that they are today.

The Exeter City story shows that whether you’re talking about saving a club or launching a phoenix club fan ownership can work.

Kudos to Exeter...they have done well..although I have always preferred Argyle.

One of our opponents for next season, Eastbourne Borough, throw in the towel of being a fan owned club and sell out to business man Simon Lewis.

That is putting an incredibly negative spin on things and does not in any way relate to what has actually happened.

Twenty-three years ago, Eastbourne Borough was a firmly established Sussex County League club, whereas Torquay United was a firmly established Football League club.

Community ownership has seen Eastbourne settle, after a brief flirtation with a league even higher, at a level three league up from where it used to belong in National League South, with the club fully rooted in the community.

Last season, they narrowly missed reaching the playoffs and a shot at National Premier.

Next season we meet them on level terms and deservedly so.

The trajectory of the two clubs hardly backs the theory that community ownership is doomed to failure, whilst private ownership guarantees success.

A community owned club is owned by its members, so when an offer is received of a large injection of capital leading to the community interest company relinquishing overall control, the members will decide what happens.

In order to so, they must weigh up the potential rewards against the potential risks.

The statement below suggests they have done just that:

ebfc.co.uk/2023/06/a-new-era-begins/

If the potential owner were a property developer with an unhealthy interest in freehold property I would be canvassing members to reject the offer. If the potential owner were a fan with significant financial clout, business experience, a desire to “maintain the club’s role at the heart of the community” and the time and the energy to drive the club forwards, then
I would be canvassing members to accept.

Eastbourne Borough has been a massive success story as a football club. Accepting extra resources to try to push it on to the next level again is a long way from “throwing in the towel”.

I wish them every success. I will be delighted for them if they go up by beating Yeovil in the playoff final - but not if they go up beating us in the playoff final.

Great example of showing there is no black and white case for any particular ownership model and comes down to what is right at any particular time. In fact, any ownership is transitional being the custodian of that club for a particular timeframe. Even Clark Osborne has said he will move on after the new stadium is completed.

Fans are probably the only permanent feature of any club, having its best interests at heart and it is good that they are able to provide the catalyst to ensure the continuation of their club in whatever form if either the worst ever came to the worst or to provide an alternative option or support to any potential new ownership.