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A Question of Trust

There were anxious months for all Town fans while the future of the Club hung in the balance.  Fortunately the Club made it through the perilous waters of administration and we are now supporting our team in the current season.

In the period before, and during, administration fans contributed both time and money to help safeguard the future of their Club.  And it is the fans’ Club, and a Club for all the people of Huddersfield.  Directors, managers, and players come and go but fans continue to support their Club for life.  We can choose many things – where we live, where we work, who we marry but our parents are chosen for us and, often, through them the Club that we support.  Fans are the lifeblood of Huddersfield Town – professional football is an entertainment (though sometimes it seems more serious than that!) and without supporters it would have no point.

In that context I have supported Town throughout my life watching my first game in 1960 at the age of 11.  When the call came Brenda, my wife, and I answered it by buying four year Executive Club bonds at a cost of around £5,000.  A total of 517, perhaps some of the most loyal fans, bought season ticket or Executive Club bonds.  We did not know what the future might bring but we wished to safeguard it if we could to ensure that we had a Club to watch for years to come, and we trusted that whoever acquired the Club would honour the Bonds.

When Ken Davy’s offer was accepted we were cheered since it meant that things had come right.  Little did we know that they were starting to go wrong!  Early noises coming from the new owners that bonds would not be honoured were put down to tactical statements – surely the new Board would not wish to get off to such a bad start?  Hadn’t advance season ticket purchases always been honoured by other clubs coming out of administration?

Then we received a letter from the Chairman offering to honour only one of the remaining three years.  This came like a punch in the stomach.  Why would he do this?  Bear in mind that honouring the Bonds are nil cost – admitting my wife and I to seats that would otherwise be empty costs nothing and generates incidental revenue.

The suggestion has been made that if the Bonds were fulfilled then somehow this might cause problems with other creditors.  This is not a valid comparison – Huddersfield Town were customers of those creditors whereas bondholders are the customers of Town.  A great deal of sympathy must be had with creditors and it would probably make good sense to offer a suitable season ticket deal to all creditors generating goodwill and perhaps a number of new supporters!

The words of Gianfranco Zola on leaving Chelsea could usefully be framed on Ken Davy’s wall.

Zola said: "It's a wonderful story and I hope he [Roman Abramovich] can give something special to the club but it is a big responsibility for him.

"I don't know whether money is always a good thing.  I hope he realises that something more is needed - respect to supporters and the understanding of the club's place in society.  I would like him to look after the club, respect its ways and treat it caringly - it's very important.”

Whilst I accept that the new owners have no legal obligation to honour the Bonds, they do have a strong moral obligation so to do.  Like many fans we came to the Club’s aid at its time of need.  Had fans not done so, the Club might not have made it through administration with knock-on consequences for the Stadium Company and the Giants.

Now that Jon Stead has been sold for a sum that will deal with the Club's debts the financial situation is transformed.

The time is right for the Board to repay that debt of honour.

From Manchester United Icon through Town Manager to Chip Shop Owner!

(seen near Old Trafford)

Gareth J Dykes

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