We’re on that LoveSport radio thingy tonight, too. 10pm I believe. 9years George and a PLB guest - so anyone with any questions can pitch them live over the phone etc 👍

Glad to receive a bond promo email from the trust today. Slowly the cogs are turning and I still feel optimistic that we will end up close to the 3m.

More generally I'm not saying we have things arranged perfectly, we do need to revisit governance. The Exeter model is well worth looking at. Using the vast amount of expertise in the fan base needs sharpening, as has been shown by the effort non-DTB members have put in over the past two months. Don't however assume that those who can contribute a lot in specific situations, either want or would be good at running the DTB long term, they are different skillsets.

kt2 - when I was helping with IT, Erik, who never claimed great IT expertise, was able to ask penetrating questions. When I was helping on the Finance Working Group, where I don't claim great expertise, I was able and determined to ask relevant questions. I certainly don't want to be on the DTB but I believe we could put together a group of people who will question thoroughly and not accept slippery answers. JP seems to want that and I believe Erik did too.

KT2 - That sounds about right to me. I can only speak about how I feel it was during my own time on the DTB. I'd suggest the strategic direction was the Dons Trust aims, and after that was decided everyone was given "something to do". Sometimes this would be over-sight, sometime it would be actually running something. There would then be monthly meetings where Erik would present to the DTB the current state of affairs and any issues. He certainly was questioned and held responsible for any decisions made, but during my time the only items that could be seen as particularly interesting, i.e. the Darragh McAntony talks, Darlogate, appointment of Terry Brown, were dealt with in a manner that the DTB agreed with and consistent with the aims.

OI @ 09.38 - I don't see the DTB working in its current form OR selling out as a binary choice. We need to professionalise the structure as has been said by others, perhaps add more specialist expertise in paid roles that might dilute the expertise monopoly of a single actor (or double taking the eg of Erik and Ivor) running the club, enabling to DTB to make more informed decisions on the basis of a range of advice.

“I just don't think they have sufficient time to commit.” Now that is an inherent problem with the structure and the structure of any voluntary org that requires this much time - hence why people end up on these boards who have time first and skills second, third or not at all.

I seem to remember reading some time ago that Erik himself was worried by the lack of scrutiny of his actions and was counselling the DTB to do something about it.

That bond banner is very pleasing to my eye Bert, fine work Sir :)

All of which makes it interesting (and right) when Joe Palmer pointed out that he wasn’t at the meetings to lead this, we need to decide our strategy/approach and his job is to make it work.

Exactly WD! The problems arose because the DTB didn't question enough at some points and then took on more executive roles, presumably because money is tight and we couldn't afford suitable employees.

I always assumed that the DTB works in exactly the same way as almost all local government in this country - elected members give strategic direction to the professional officers that run the council in line with that direction. The CEO and staff should have more knowledge and resources than the elected members, who have no executive responsibilities.

Lurker, agree with that, untouchable people aren't good for a democratic organisation unless they are capable of having an open mind and can question themselves and accept that they can be wrong.

Kt2 I’d agree up to it being inherent in the model. For me one of the big reasons that happened was the cult status Erik and Ivor both accumulated amongst core elements of the fan base. Don’t question them they know more than you so became a mantra - even seen it on here.

Erik's problem , which he had been told numerous times and admitted, was delegation, as he tended to think, correctly a lot of the time, that he could do a better job than whoever he might delegate it to. This both gave him a ridiculous workload and tended to discourage able people. If we can't put a DTB together from willing fans that can oversee professional managers and hold them to account when needed, then we might as well sell out. I believe we can get a good board together, though it is definitely a work in progress.

Not part of the 'inner circle' so don't claim to be ITK on this (or anything else), but strikes me that what happened with decision making during Erik's reign was inevitable. When someone with a wealth of relevant expertise is heading or working with a board of individuals (that mostly aren't as familiar with the sharp end of business) it's inevitable that they will naturally defer to the greater expertise on the (many) subjects on which they have less expertise - such as financing. So Erik gradually accumulated decision making power by default, IE a lack of expertise / ability amongst the DTB to challenge, rather than some sort of dictatorial coup.

Ah thanks Graham

Blue Womble - Burton have a league game against Accrington this Saturday which was in the fixture list all along

Alan ; 👍

Eating, drinking, breathing the club doesn't make one a good board member, but in Ivor not only does it help, it also comes over to outsiders as someone worthy of lending an ear to. He does engage with others, whereas others don't, nothing wrong with that btw, if their skillset don't warrant that. This episode is prime for all of us and the various boards to understand what brought us here, what we have to change and how we do so. Now isn't the time for scapegoating.

Can we release a version of the Spam song, replacing the word Spam with the word Bond, in honour of Terry Jones.....? “Lovely Bond, Wonderful Bond, Bond Bond Bond Bond.....”

A Win against Burton on Tuesday night under floodlights.....will do for me ..

Cheers keefy and thanks for taking the question for what it was.

Nothing wrong with wanting to see the club properly financed. I see from the board minutes we are putting £1 - 1.4m provision for servicing debt. In salaries instead of debt servicing that gets you Dannie Bulman, Darius Charles, Lyle Taylor, Tom Elliot, Jake Reeves and Steve Seddon.

Strange how we are not playing burton on Saturday as no Fa cup fixtures for us both. It would be a higher attendance on a Saturday as well