Chairman’s Report – The Lions Trust 2024
In the wake of the shock departure of club legend Neil Harris from the position of Head Coach, The LionsTrust has received a number of enquiries asking as to progress with its relaunch.
So may I begin these notes by offering my apologies for the delay in bringing the election of a new Chair, Secretary and Treasurer to a head, personal matters having slightly got in the way during a period of what seemed to be club stability.
It is our intention to press on with this process, in line with Football Supporters Federation guidelines; and we will be in touch with those members who have put their names forward for these positions in the early new year.
As matters stand, your temporary team of Steve Jones (Acting Treasurer), Phil Clarke (Acting Secretary) and myself as Acting Chair remain in position, and I attach a copyof the Trust’s 2024 financial report for your information.
Eighteen months on from the tragic loss of club chairman John Berylson and Millwall FC has weathered a dramatic period of change, both on and off of the pitch.
The appointment of Neil Harris in February 2024 almost certainly saved our club from a costly relegation to League One, whilst the summer time saw the departure of three leading members of the club staff in Chief Executive, Steve Kavanagh, Chief Operating Officer, Billy Taylor and Director of Football, Alex Aldridge. We wish them all well for the future.
In their place we have Mark Fairbrother in the role of Managing Director, Steve Gallen as Director of Football and Max McClellan as Head of Media & Communications.
Personalities come and go from our club and football is a passionate world full of opinion and lively debate, but all Lions fans will have been aware of what appears to have been some back-office friction during the early phase of the 2024-25 season culminating in Neil’s departure.
The Lions Trust has no comment to make of this, except to hope for a united club and fanbase as this season progresses.
Millwall simply does not have the resources to compete in the Championship unless we all pull together. Management, players and fans.
As I have previously written with regard to The Lions Trust, our hopes at the time of the 2023 AGM were to be able to organise for a new chair and committee to be elected by our members in time for this 2024-25 season.
I’m disappointed to have to report that this hasn’t been achieved.
But on behalf of the transitional committee of myself, Phil Clarke and Steve Jones, this is very much seen as a ‘final task’ for us to complete before we can hand the vital role over of the Millwall supporters trust to new blood.
With the government committed to passing football regulatory legislation based on the ‘Crouch Report’, including a greater role for supporters trusts, getting the LionsTrust active and under a new lead committee is very much our main priority.
More news on these next steps will be circulated to all members very soon.
MEMBERSHIP – our current membership rates are set at the minimum recommended by the FSF of £1 per year.
If you have not paid yet for this 2024-25 season, please take this chance to do so via this website link https://thelionstrust.org/join/ -as FSF rules only allow us to accept votes from paid-up members.
Finally, may I repeat that, although it is my intention to step away from the Chair, I will remain a memberof the Lions Trust and would offer any support that I able to it in the future.
May I thank all of the members who have joined The Lions Trust and supported us, as well as both Phil and Steve for their support and efforts as we have revived the Trust from its previous moribund state, to now being a full member of both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Football Supporters Association.
It has never been more important to have a properly constituted, financially solvent and well managed supporters trust at The Den; and we are collectively pleased to be able to have contributed toward this.
Up the Lions!
Best wishes,
Nick Hart – Acting Chair
Phil Clarke – Acting Secretary
Steve Jones – Acting Treasurer