The following open letter was first published on 13 April 2022. It has also been sent directly to representatives of Three Black Cats.
To all fellow Jags Fans,
We note the decision by the existing Directors of The Jags Foundation to stand down so that a new Board can be elected, which we think is the appropriate and honourable thing to do. Although mistakes have certainly been made, the group – which includes several very successful business people (including two club sponsors), including one who helped to raise a very large sum for the club – do not deserve the suggestion by Three Black Cats that they are “not fit and proper” to take ownership of the club. That is outrageous.
We do not intend simply to let the Foundation die. We are today calling on the Directors of Three Black Cats Limited to tell us exactly what criteria they expect a fans organisation to meet in order for the share transfer to proceed, and not just in vague generalities. We want to ensure that suitable candidates – real fans with decades of experience of supporting the Jags – come forward to fill the vacant Board positions, and that the organisation is able to meet any reasonable requirements in a short space of time.
Further, we do not consider it reasonable for the club to refuse to allow proper financial checks. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, the Directors of TJF on taking ownership of the shares have an obligation to its members. Part of that obligation is to ensure sustainability of the football club (and therefore TJF) and achieve the transparent engagement needed by successful members organisations.
As fans we already know that there are significant investments that are needed over coming months and years such as relaying the pitch and stadium maintenance and we want to be able to focus TJF’s efforts in the right areas to help financially support the club. It is important therefore to understand the current and future position of the club as we move forward, as we believe any prospective professional and prudent owner would do, in order to know they can be an effective owner. There is concern among the fanbase as the rental from Queen’s Park, Covid grants at the start of last year, and the sums raised by Help the Jags will all now recur next year. It is also not clear how much supporting funding will continue to be available from Three Black Cats. TJF and the fans need to know the financial ask of us all going forward. We need educated expectations, not guesses.
We do not consider it reasonable that the form of fan ownership which is in place at every other fan owned club in the UK (including Motherwell, which was the example that Colin Weir originally hoped to follow) should be “rejected out of hand” as the outgoing TJF Board reports. This model has not only been adopted at other clubs but has been seen to work, so in what way is Partick Thistle different in this aspect?
And we absolutely do not consider it reasonable or acceptable for ownership of Colin Weir’s shares to be transferred to any group of so-called fan representation who have been hand-picked by the current Board or Chair.
Looking across the City to Queen’s Park FC, we see a club with a credible and serious investor and CEO at the helm, a new stadium (soon) and an active community programme. Without meaningful change at Firhill, it is quite likely that before too long, we will be replaced as Glasgow’s third club. We don’t intend to let that happen. Instead, we will use TJF, and fan ownership, as a vehicle to make sure there is a proper long term plan for the club and that it is on a sound financial footing. For example, we will ensure that there are credible plans to raise more money both from new sources (recruiting new supporters, sponsors and investors) and from existing ones (improved facilities for hospitality, a pipeline of players who will go on to bigger things).
Colin Weir was a willing and generous donor, and TJF is a willing “buyer”: we now just need a willing “seller” to achieve his laudable aims.
If you share our conerns, and would like to know more, we are all longstanding fans, and you can contact any of us individually to discuss.
It’s always been our club – time to make it official.
Yours faithfully
Alan Holloway, Amy McCulloch, Andrew Holloway, David Mackie, Ewan Callison, Graeme Cowie, Graeme Cullen, Greg Keenan, Heather Holloway, Heather Wilson, Ian MacKinnon, Jack Carson, James T Goldie, Lorraine Cullen, Martin Dempsey, Mhairi Black MP, Neil Cowan, Ray Bradshaw, Rod Macfarlane, Sandy Fyfe, Shannon Doyle, Stuart Callison, Stuart Goldie. (the original signatories).
Since we released this open letter, we have been delighted with the level of positive engagement from Partick Thistle’s supporters. More than 700 people have added their support and approval. If you would like to add your name to the letter, please email jagsforchange1876@gmail.com.
Jags for Change 