The future of TUST

No weekend match to reflect on, and just the same steady League topping progress to report on when we observe Clarke Osborne’s Torquay United, therefore we’re going to have to turn to an old favourite to find some amusement, as we once again peer into the wacky world of Trust.

And as a critical friend, it’s disappointing to note TUST’s decline, but if it’s any consolation it appears to be a general trend among Leftist organisations within Britain at the moment.

Robert Peston reflected yesterday, on the members that have been deserting the sinking Corbynista ship of late. The bad publicity that Jezza attracted due to his obstinate initial refusal to meet to discuss the Brexit situation with the Prime Minister, coupled with a ‘Leave' message being delivered to Northern Labour voters while simultaneously trying to project a pro Remain stance for London Left consumption, made the Leadership appear shifty and untrustworthy.









TUST,likewise, also found itself wondering how to bounce back from bad publicity. Forget about divide and conquer, it was more a case of ‘Interfere and Conquer’ according to annoyed ex officials of the Supporters Club as they reflected on the still and lifeless corpse of their organisation.

A rival neatly dispatched, might have been the way hard line Militants greeted the news as it spread to Socialist enclaves far and wide, but it didn’t meet with similar approval from the ordinary fan on learning of developments, and it’s been speculated upon that within the walls of Plainmoor, it didn’t meet with approval either.






The upshot is that TUST finds itself in the position of having to admit to prioritising the consideration of handing out free membership to anyone willing to hold out their hand.

Unfortunately for them it may all be a consequence of becoming caught up in what’s developed into something of a perfect storm for TUST. Having the finger of blame pointed at them from certain directions regarding the Supporters Club debacle, and then falling foul of the new broom that has been sweeping clean at Plainmoor.

A fresh pair of eyes often picks up on things that those more familiar with their surrounding might miss. While I can’t confirm this, I have heard mention of ‘Operation HOT’ being implemented at Plainmoor. In essence, the new broom identified areas badly in need of cleaning up. And that naturally led to some changes needing to be made. No accusations of deliberate negativity, but a conclusion reached that the necessary level of positive input wasn’t forthcoming either, and that, so I’m told, is what lay behind ‘Operation HOT’.

And as some of you may already know, ‘HOT’ stood for ‘Harrop, Owers, TUST’

Far less, in fact very little of any of them is now seen in the corridors and meeting rooms of Plainmoor. While it’s regrettable in each case, the new broom had to dispassionately act in the best interests of the club. And a firm and determined ‘sweep’ has been applied.

TUST seem to be at something of a loss as how best to respond, with their February Newsletter highlighting the confusion. While on one hand, there’s the suggestion that they might try to buy their way back into favour: ‘TUST could consider funding some positive projects for the Club as an incentive for the directors to engage’. I can’t see that happening personally. A good many of us will remember the retort the previous TUFC Board got, when the club was on it’s uppers and the suggestion of TUST help was put to them. The rather direct reply, not only soured relations for a considerable time, but also led to the immediate removal of TUST’s page from the matchday programme. A page unlikely to be restored given the current climate either, you would suspect.

To now consider offering funding, when the club is well able to acquire plenty of funds, indicates to me, and I’m sure to most readers, that TUST feel confident that they wouldn’t be taken up on the offer, in the unlikely event that they go ahead and make it.

So for the moment, TUST’s frustration shows itself in the form of sly little digs, along the line of the anonymous ‘questioning’ that is deemed worthy of inclusion in the February News Letter :

‘However, it was also reported that George Edwards does not wish the Fan Zone to continue in Boots as he wishes to create an adult sports bar environment and does not think the presence of children is appropriate. This raised further concerns about the lack of support for younger fans and it was questioned whether this and apathy towards the Junior Gulls indicated the ownership’s lack of long term interest in the Club’.

Hardly bridge building stuff from the 'Supporters Representatives', but it'll play well with their own hardliners.


Stepping up attempts to divert Corporate sponsorship away from the club could also be part of the current thinking. While many fans may not approve of TUST fishing in what is ostensibly the same pond as the football club, I’d imagine it will delight the Militants who would be only too happy to see their subs used to pay for a Marketing Professional if it has the potential to divert cash to Trust that might otherwise have gone to Gary Johnson for team strengthening or the financing of the new contracts for our impressive players. The next thing you know, there'll be TUST members complaining about the Club's debt !

And so in conclusion, TUST’s ongoing economic and political war against the club continues unabated. Whether they deploy Marketing Professionals or Councillors, the outcome will be the same….it will delight a small section of their hardcore membership, while simultaneously repelling a far greater number of ordinary TUFC fans.

And it all led to the inevitable. The new broom sweeping into action, and doing what had been long overdue. And just as inevitable, TUST’s self confessed difficulty in getting anyone new to join. Hence the giveaway, pick it up for nothing, soon to be classified as worthless, yours for less than a penny, TUST membership plans, that are now under discussion.

Let’s hope their fortunes improve by the time of the next TUST Watch.  

A note for Alpine Joe

I have read with interest your latest "TUST Watch" posted over the last couple of days and felt it was appropriate for me to respond to the inaccuracies and continued disparaging remarks you seem compelled to lay at the door of TUST.

I am a TUST member and also worked as part of the TUST Board of Volunteers for the last few years so feel I am well able to pass comment on TUST matters, although it should be said I am no longer part of the Board and hence the comments I make are my own personal opinions and have not been viewed by anyone else prior to posting.

AJ (if I may call you that), you are obviously a very intelligent individual as evidenced by the well written articles you construct. Whilst I disagree with the vast majority of what you write, I cannot criticise your good use of the English language and I do not have any inclination to want to engage in a war of words with you via a forum. Apart from anything else, it is not the way I like to go about things and you will win that battle as you probably have greater intellect and staying power than me. I also have far too many other things to deal with than spend hours posting, but have obviously made an exception tonight!

I would be very keen to get to the bottom of the no doubt "deep-rooted" issue you have with TUST as someone or something has obviously upset you in the past. The current TUST Team / Board or whatever you want to call them are all highly personable and well intentioned individuals who have only one thing on their agenda and that is to ensure that our beloved club can continue for years to come. Your continual rubbishing of their intentions and references to Left Wing politics whilst humourous is only serving to detract from the great work the team do.

It is very easy to sit behind a keyboard and pass comment on matters and whilst I am sure that thankfully most people do not take too seriously what you post, you will influence certain people with your views. We live in a democratic society so there is no problem with that and I appreciate this is what forums are for. However, I for one am getting increasingly frustrated by your intention to rubbish and ridicule an organisation run by well-intentioned volunteers. These will be the same volunteers that will be running the fanzone on Saturday, helping within the ground on Saturday and raising money from time to time to help club projects. To say that TUST are waging an "ongoing, economic and political" war against the club is complete nonsense.

Your latest piece of work makes a number of comments that are carefully constructed so as to imply or assume specific points. These are not facts, they are just your opinions and I am sorry to say that in a large number of cases they are just completely untrue. Let me reference some of these points:

"TUST is in Decline" - On what basis do you make such an assertion? The TUST infrastructure has grown substantially over the last year or two and membership numbers have increased albeit they could do with being greater than they are. But try and find any supporters organisation that doesnt say the same. The facts of the matter are that memberships increase at a time of crisis when supporters are looking to someone or something to see the club out of a problematical position. When all is good in the world and the team are sat on top of the league, supporters are happy and are often only interested in going up to Plainmoor on a saturday afternoon and being entertained. And, may I add there is nothing wrong with that.

"TUST is a Leftist Organisation" - Well I can only speak for myself, but I have no such views from a personal or political perspective and I have never been in the company of other TUST Board Members who have indicated any form of great inclination in that respect either. So, quite where you get that from is absurd.

"TUST wanted to Divide and Conquer" under the context of the Supporters Club - The outgoing TUOSC chairman (who was only in charge for a short period of time) made some very strange comments regarding interference from TUST. To this day I am at a loss to understand what he meant by that on the basis I was part of the TUST team at the time and have absolutely no idea why he made those remarks. If it was aimed at the fact that TUST were getting off their backsides and trying to get things done then "hands-up" on that front. But at every point, TUST were asking the Supporters Club if they wanted to help/contribute and the response was never forthcoming. I am not trying to criticise the outgoing chairman or any other parties of the Supporters Club team as I believe they were not well enough resourced at the time. But it is only fair I respond to this point. TUST would have liked nothing more than to work with the Supporters Club. Why wouldnt we? As long as we all want the same thing - which we do, then what benefit would there be in "dividing and conquering". This is about watching and supporting our team both on and off the pitch. It is not some highly conviluted war game which you seem to imply. Trust me, there is nobody within the TUST team who has any aspiration to be involved in any such behaviour. WE ARE ALL LONG STANDING TORQUAY UNITED SUPPORTERS!

"TUST finds itself in the position of having to admit to prioritising the consideration of handing out free membership to anyone willing to hold out their hand" - I can safely say this isn't the case. It is only right that as part of the strategy that TUST follows that it considers all options moving forward and how best to approach different scenarios as or if they fall due in the future. I know you are a strong defender of Mr Osborne and his intentions for the club and that is your right. I have met with him and have found him very personable and he has undoubtedly poored in a huge amount of cash into the club to keep the club afoot. I like just about all sensible supporters including the TUST Board are very grateful to him for that. Whether it be Mr Osborne or anyone else, I am sure we all understand that owning a football club (especially at this level) is not going to be a quick way of making money. Whatever the future holds for Mr Osborne or anyone else owning our club, it is fair to say that there will be a limited life of ownership. So at some point, things will change.. Mr Osborne may decide not to fund the club any more, he may sell or something else might come along. I have always been part of TUST and have given my time on the basis I was keen to be part of an organisation that at least had the potential to provide an alternative option to keep the club going... even if this was a last resort. So with that in mind, it is incumbent on TUST to continually look at avenues to maximise the possibility of reaching out to as many supporters as possible should the need arise when all hands on deck are required. Opening up the membership to a different set of supporters is one way of doing this. Michael Golbourne did an excellent job in keeping TUST afloat during his tenure and he did this almost single handedly despite poor health and other issues to contend with. Michel Thomas has picked up the reigns and has pulled together a team of individuals and a wider team of volunteers to carry on and build a stronger infrastructure in order to have the capacity to respond in the future if ever the need arises. The comment you have picked up on is just one of a number of points discussed by the newly formed Strategy Team in place to consider future plans for TUST if required. LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR, TUST HAS NO DESIRE TO RUN TORQUAY UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB. The best scenario for everyone would be continued success on the pitch and a well run club from a financial perspective off the pitch. If this is the intention of Mr Osborne then that is good enough for me. But, if for whatever reason the club was plunged back into crisis you can bet your bottom dollar that a large number of the supporter base would be looking in the direction of TUST and would be expecting them to be in a position to react immediately. It is therefore prudent and good business planning to cover as many bases as possible to be prepared in the event this is ever required. Hence the formation of the Strategy Team.

I could go on and on, but I have been working since 4am this morning and will be working for some hours yet, so do not want to compete with your intellect. However, can I please make a suggestion to you?

Why don't you take the opportunity to meet with the TUST board to listen to what they have to say. You may be pleasantly surprised. I am a strong believer that in life we should channel energy and talent in a positive manner. This is what the TUST board are trying to do. They are volunteers doing their best and they will make mistakes and will not always get it right or please everyone. But, you tell me someone that does (apart from Gary Johnson AKA "God" at present). Why not use your knowledge, expertise and acumen to provide some face to face feedback and at the same time make some positive suggestions. Despite everything, the hand of friendship is there for you if you wish to put your previous experiences and views to one side and work with the team.

I hope this post is received in the manner with which it was intended.

Matt Gorman

mattgorman



As Torregill has issued a kind invitation for me to add further comment, I’ll also join him in thanking Matt for sharing his opinions with us.

Tempting as it might be to take issue with a great many of Matt’s points one by one, I am mindful that would immediately give the impression of indulging in the very thing Matt seeks to avoid, and therefore taking particular heed of ‘I do not have any inclination to want to engage in a war of words with you via a forum’, I will instead restrict myself to adding an observation or two on the above comment from Matt, with which I mostly agree…..disappointing as that may be for those already reaching for the popcorn 

Yes it is easy to sit behind a keyboard and pass comment on matters, and that ease is reflected by the long running existence of three main forums, for what is now only a National League South Football club, and that’s without including popular blogs such as TorquayTalk, or Facebook groups etc.

While almost everyone who makes use of any of these platforms to comment on an issue related to the club will be hoping their words are at least noticed, it is surely entirely up to the reader as to whether they allow themselves to be ‘influenced’ or not. I’m sure I can think of an example or two of TFF members whose devotion to TUST only increases whenever they read my views 

While I sympathise with Matt’s increasing frustration, I fear it is something he’ll just have to learn to live with. While TUST labelled their February Newsletter as something you could ‘entertain yourself with’, I’m not sure how guilty I should feel for taking them up on their offer.

Of more concern to TUST perhaps, should be asking why none of their 366 members felt sufficiently entertained or enthused by it’s contents to take to any of the 3 Forums, and discuss the positive and exciting contents that they’d lapped up with enthusiasm,provided by their Vice Chairman ? And remember, all 3 Forums, are under TUST member control, and provide preferential treatment giving top billing to TUST information. And it’s unlikely that the prominence given to official TUST communications and the TUST message, wasn’t given without the hope that it would influence people favourably towards TUST.

Now if even a relatively small fraction of the membership or even non-member TUST sympathisers took to the Forums proclaiming the latest joyous news from the organisation, and the bright future for the club that they all envisaged, then my one dissenting voice would be lost in the crowd, or at least drowned out. But zero response from anyone. Not a single mention on any of the 3 Forums until my post. And therefore, it may be that steps to engage and motivate the membership might be a more useful path to consider. If no one has the desire to speak up or make the case for TUST other than someone who’s already been up since 4 o’clock in the morning (and I mean that as a compliment to Matt and his dedication to the cause), that should concentrate minds on where the real problem lies, and indicate why it’s come to a situation where giving away free membership has to be seriously considered.

The easy route is always there, and maybe we’ll soon see one of the Forums take it. In the absence of the preferred support for TUST, instead focus on extinguishing any dissenting voice. Declare even the mildest criticism of TUST a hate crime, and hey presto, your objection free zone, no criticism tolerated, group think Forum, will be up and running.

But there are too many fans, with too long a memory. Huge amounts of them will recall the rubbish and ridicule incessantly directed by prominent TUST members, often on an almost daily basis, against people such as Dave Philips, Kevin Nicholson, and the barrage of personal stuff aimed at Geoff Harrop, day after day, month after month, not just by little known TUST members, but at times by those involved with administering the very sites on which the disparaging and highly personal remarks were made.

And therefore, when nothing personal is said, when no individual is referred to or named, and the relatively obscure focus of any criticism is an ‘organisation’, when Matt complains of ‘getting increasingly frustrated by your intention to rubbish and ridicule an organisation’ ….then I’d say ‘suck it up’ because several of your members, who you can’t fail to be aware of, have been dishing out far worse for year after year.

Therefore, while I’m now aware of Matt ‘getting increasingly frustrated’, the ludicrous extent of the double standards we’d be accepting across the Forums, should I desist from expressing my TUST related views, is something I believe most fair minded TUFC fans would declare to be most unjust.

I’m sure Matt and myself will continue to disagree on friendly terms, and I’ll leave him with the lyrics of Elvis…..which I’ll now attempt to find, along with musical accompaniment, for a different section of the Forum.


'Clean up your own backyard
Oh don't you hand me none of your lines,
Clean up your own backyard
You tend to your business, I'll tend to mine'.

366 is a respectable base number for a club of our size. Exeter City’s had less when they were needed to up the ante and eventually take over the reigns of their crisis stricken club.

Thanks to Matt for giving your perspective.

I'm sure AJ if you approached the MatchDay Ambassador co-ordinator he would be delighted to enrol you into TUST membership, just make yourself known to him at the next home game. You could even be given the accolade of TUST recruitment co-ordinator as you appear to have gained a new member from afar already.

Rob 


1. You reckon ? It looked like a case of conveniently replacing the word 'own' with the word 'run' to me. And I doubt you were deflected from noticing that subtle choice of wording. So 'addressed' maybe, but providing a plausible answer ?  not so much.

Many of this Forum's users will well remember the bravado and the boasts that TUST was going to be buying up shares and gradually working it's way to full ownership. Then, as it always does, reality slowly dawned as the years passed. So however big Matt might make his capital letters, I don't believe for a single minute that TUST don't want to own the club every bit as much as when they were gleefully telling all and sundry that was their intended goal. It's just that they've toned down the public rhetoric so that it's less pie in the sky for an organisation with their bank balance. Less than enough to cover two months of Gary Johnson's wages according to a blabbermouth Senior TUST official, if the information appearing on another Forum today is accurate.

Whether the politicians bring in ACV legislation, the mooted new rules on ownership of sports grounds, if Miliband had become PM and legislated for TUST representatives on the board, we know that TUST would take full advantage of anything given to them, and were eager to learn of possible plans to get more from Damien Collins & Co at the Tory Conference. Do you really see Matt standing up and saying 'Thanks but no thanks, we have no desire'....they'll bite Collins hand off, or that of any politician who will provide a path for them to the top table. But respecting Matt's preference not to debate these things, perhaps you'd like to surmise just why TUST would have no desire to see Torquay United run according to TUST principles and beliefs ?



2. It would be a 'yes' from me, on the understanding that it didn't involve signing up to assist the very organisation that I suspected might have played a leading part in bringing about that situation. For instance, I'd need to know that the organisation hadn't lobbied or connived with Councillors with the goal of denying the club the income it needed to become sustainable, by blocking it's business and relocation plans. Haven't we learned from the recent past, when Kelvin Thomas scoured the globe for Thea when she wanted to sell up, and again when the Philips board could finance things no longer, that there is not only no one local, but no one farther afield who'd be interested in taking on loss making TUFC on the prospect that there no hope of moving it from Plainmoor.............other than TUST.


Throw everything at that one aim of getting the Council to block the move and keep the club at Plainmoor, and TUST would be salivating at TUFC virtually falling into their hands. And they might well succeed. Haven't they been lobbying Councillors long before Osborne & Co took ownership ? No commercial interest to compete with, and a rent they could just about scrape together. If we have to bring the club down to bring about a TUST dream then no, I'm not going to reward them afterwards by giving them cash. But the concerning thing is that TUST might just win. We both know that, and Osborne knows that. And you know as well as me why that means he'd be the biggest fool imaginable if it was just straight expenditure providing for the club now. He'd need his head examined. Forking out his money to create a nice training ground, doing up Boots & Laces, expenditure on the website, the shop, and a mass of things we could think of. Now wouldn't that play into TUST's hands perfectly. Osborne spends his cash. Tough luck mate that's your money spent, once it's gone it's gone, you can't claim it back. And once you've financed the setting up of a nice little well run club with lots of new stuff......that's when the Council can pull the plug on any hopes for your events arena and adjoining businesses.

'Too bad mate, not gonna happen, course being a big football man you can hang around and cover the losses at Plainmoor for the next 20 years if you like. Nope ? don't fancy it ? Well time to sling your hook back to Bristol and look for some investment opportunities up there. Oh, you mean you spent your own money ?   What a pity....but TUST will be ever so grateful for all the cash you spent leaving the club and Plainmoor nicely renovated, plus that new pitch and drainage etc. I know, TUST are the last people you'd want to be taking over, what with you thinking they were pally with a lot of Councillors and that. You should have been a bit sharper and provided the cash as loans.....wouldn't half of helped your bargaining position me old flower. Still, you won't want to see the losses mount up, or hang around throwing good money after bad, so you'll be on your way. I'm sure TUST will
commiserate with your financial loss, oh and by the way, I hear they've invited that local MP, Riviera Macron, and quite a few Council friends to be their special guests for the first Torquay match at Plainmoor with the club now under TUST ownership. Funny old world isn't it Mr.Osborne. TUST's political manoeuvrings seem to have got them what they've been plotting for these past years. Alpine Joe could see it even if you couldn't. Drive carefully on your way back to Chew Magna,and take this free TUST membership card as a little token of your time with us'.


So yes Rob, I'd help finance any organisation whose hands I thought were clean. But an organisation in pole position to benefit from a situation, and which has, as I've found out over the years, a number of fanatics so devoted to achieving a particular outcome, that bringing the club crashing down in order to start a new one that fits with their ideology, is one that I would much rather campaign against, rather than give a penny to.