+ Visit Cardiff FC for Latest News, Transfer Gossip, Fixtures and Match Results
Results 1 to 25 of 25

Thread: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

  1. #1

    Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    The following is the text of an email sent to trust members this evening.

    Dear Members
    We wanted to make you aware that we’ve written a letter to Vincent Tan, owner of Cardiff City Football Club.
    The Trust Board has been concerned for a considerable time about the unacceptable unwillingness of director-level management of the club to engage in dialogue with the Trust.
    We have built excellent relations at operational management level with the club, demonstrated by the support of the club’s staff and players for the Trust’s Foodbank initiative, the second collection of which was held before the Luton Town game on Easter Monday. Trust members also helped wrap donations at the Cardiff City Stadium which were bound for Ukraine, helped in bucket collections and also managed monies collected for the Ukraine Appeal.
    It is above that level we have found a lack of co-operation which has been hugely disappointing given the UK Government Fan-led Review which supports far greater involvement for fan groups at football clubs.
    We have faced unjust and unfair accusations from the club’s chairman related to allegations of a breach of trust, dating back to a meeting in October 2021 chaired by him.
    The Trust has tried to engage to resolve any issues but sadly this has not been reciprocated. The fans are the core of any club and we want to play a full part in ensuring the voice of supporters is fully heard and respected.
    Therefore, the Trust board has decided to write directly to Vincent Tan in the hope that he will intervene and help resolve the impasse. Please find the full text below.
    Keith Morgan, Chair


    April 27th, 2022

    "Dear Tan Sri Vincent Tan,

    Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust
    We write to you as the 2021/22 season nears its end. Thankfully, our future status as an established Championship club has now been confirmed. Whilst we seem to be emerging from the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, our world is plunged into greater turmoil with the events in Ukraine. How and if this will impact on the club and its supporters is not yet known. What is for certain is that the global economy will suffer and we, football club and supporters alike, will face tougher times ahead.
    The purpose of this open letter is not to comment or focus on matters on the football field but bring to your attention our concerns over the recent, but progressive break down in communication between the directors at the club and the supporters’ trust on which we elaborate further within this letter.
    Briefly, and in respect of matters on the field, we understand the supporter base to be currently happy with the appointment of Steve Morison as first team manager and the team performances since his appointment have improved greatly. This was a logical appointment given his success at U23 level and we have started to see more promising academy players progress into the first team. We are encouraged by this and by the style of play, which is bringing better results that provide more confidence going forward. Furthermore, we are pleased to see a club favourite in Darren Purse being given the opportunity to take on the U23 role. We are realistic in our expectations for the club and aware of the financial constraints it is under. Therefore, a strategy of youth development would seem a sensible route to follow.
    You will be aware that the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust was formed at time the club was going through the transition to the new stadium and when yourself assumed the ownership. Our aim is to voice the concerns of the supporters but also to engage with club so that there is an open and honest dialogue between stakeholders. We played an important role in voicing the opposition to the colour change and we are delighted that this decision was ultimately reversed. You have been at the helm of our Club for 10 years and so you will know and understand that supporters are much more than just customers. You will have heard it said many times that the support for a football club transcends generations whereas ownership rarely does. The financial income derived from a supporter base, whilst significant, is often surpassed by the commercial and TV revenue and certainly from a financial perspective the supporters’ value has diminished. Nonetheless the value the suppo rters bring to the club in terms of passion, support, community spirit and culture is fundamental to any football club aspiring a long-term future.
    More recently this point was really brought to light with the announcement of the European Super League. Even the largest and most powerful clubs in Europe misread or ignored the power behind the supporters’ voice. As a result, these clubs are now looking at how to engage more with supporters’ groups to avoid a recurrence of this debacle. At the same time the recently published UK Government backed fans’ led review[1] highlighted several improvements that clubs can make in their governance to improve the overall supporter experience. This recommendations in this report were officially endorsed by the Government this week. The Trust forwarded a copy of this document to directors at the Club following its publication and would hope therefore you have been provided with a copy, with a summary of the recommendations and the implications for Cardiff City. The overriding aim must be for the ownership and the supporters to share a clear vision for the club. A vision that is transparent through the club, the directors, the senior executives, the playing staff, and the employees. But also, a vision with a clear and realistic strategy to realise it.
    And it is this where we feel the club is sadly falling short.
    We see several reasons for this. Firstly, you as the owner of the club, are seen by many supporters as too distant from the club. We appreciate that with travel restrictions over the past two years it has been very challenging to be a regular face at the club. Other clubs have the same issue, but the difference will be the directors at the club. Whilst we do not wish to criticise or judge the individuals on the level of competence for the roles that they fulfil we would suggest the following is absent.
    1. Directors with their time 100% dedicated to Cardiff City.
    2. Directors with a background in the executive management of a football club.
    3. Directors empowered to make key decisions.
    4. Directors focused on the strategic direction of the club, alongside operational issues.
    Those of us on the Supporters’ Trust with a background in corporate management will recognise that the continued absence of these factors will lead to lack of communication, of direction and of growing frustrations. In the very few meetings we have had with the directors, this has been very apparent. Sadly, and we are not clear on the reasons, our dialogue with club management has broken down. There seems to be an issue of mistrust, of broken confidences, that for our part is entirely unjustified. We have recently even had the farcical situation where correspondence between the Board and the Trust was conducted through a solicitor. The directors appear reluctant to engage or provide any clarity. More recently they simply continue to reject the opportunity to meet or answer any of the questions put to them. Despite our attempts we had no contact from or any explanation as to the role of Jalil Rashid since his appointment. Now that we understand he has left h is position and been replaced we would like clarification of the role of the Joint CEOs in respect of Cardiff City. This situation is generally unhealthy and will drive a greater wedge between the club and the most important of stakeholders, the fans. The situation is also likely to impact on the club’s positioning on the Fan Engagement Index, a measure of a club’s interaction with supporters, that will put the club in a poor light and undermine the efforts, we as the Trust, have made to enhance.
    Our recommendations are quite straightforward. We would like to see the appointment of a Chief Executive for Cardiff City, in line with the potential for improvement above. This is a full-time position where the individual is empowered to make all the necessary decisions through the Club board. Naturally, the key objectives for the role are to secure the long-term financial stability of the club, to establish success on the field commensurate to the club’s ability to trade playing staff, and to inspire a collective vision for the club from the programmer seller, ticket office staff, playing staff and the Board itself. In addition, we would like the club to consider the appointment of a supporters’ trust director on the Board, as for example at Swansea City. This position will allow the supporters’ voice to be heard directly at Board level but also ensure the supporters are informed, where possible, of the club’s direction of travel. The fans led review calls for a legal binding mandate for clubs to engage with the supporters. We believe by appointing a supporters’ trust director on the board, Cardiff City will lead the way forward on this, setting an example for others, as we have done in the case of safe standing.
    Please allow us to stress that we mean no disrespect to the current incumbents at the club. Our concerns relate to the long-term planning and governance of the club. Their performance and recent attitude to the Trust may well be in line with instructions they have been given. If this is the case, then we would be rightly concerned. However, the situation cannot continue. The Trust is not alone in its thoughts. Various fans forums and media outlets are picking up on issues attached to the apparent governance of the club.
    At the very least we would welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters directly with yourself. Whilst your senior team has met with us, they are unable to provide the level of transparency or indeed to commit to decisions for the reasons we have highlighted earlier in this letter. They have now become more distant and uncommunicative.
    The Trust continues its work to represent the supporters’ interest but also to carry out activities that put the club’s name and its supporters in a positive light. Most recently we have donated funds to improve the condition of the memorial garden, to fund transport to an away game for disabled supporters and organised a foodbank collection for families in an area of great need. Earlier in your ownership, we secured the sporting heritage of the club through the Fred Keenor Statue Appeal. As such we feel that our concerns should be listened to at the highest level, hence our appeal to you now.
    Finally, we would like to reiterate our thanks for all you have done for Cardiff City in the past 10 years. We are very mindful that our situation would be very much different but for your generosity. We just feel that changes can be made to your senior team's working and thinking to further improve the functioning of the club moving forwards.
    We feel compelled to write to you directly as there are changes that can be made to further improve the functioning of the club moving forwards; the club that means so much to us and the local area.
    We look forward to welcoming you back at the stadium for a match in the very near future.
    Kindest Regards,

    Robert Jeffery
    Company Secretary – Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust

    For and on behalf of Board Members – Keith Morgan (Chair), Michael Spear, Tim Hartley, Phillip Nifield, Jonathan Day, Jeremy Williams, Richard Lewis, David Craig & Gareth Jones.

  2. #2

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by RichardM View Post
    The following is the text of an email sent to trust members this evening.

    Dear Members
    We wanted to make you aware that we’ve written a letter to Vincent Tan, owner of Cardiff City Football Club.
    The Trust Board has been concerned for a considerable time about the unacceptable unwillingness of director-level management of the club to engage in dialogue with the Trust.
    We have built excellent relations at operational management level with the club, demonstrated by the support of the club’s staff and players for the Trust’s Foodbank initiative, the second collection of which was held before the Luton Town game on Easter Monday. Trust members also helped wrap donations at the Cardiff City Stadium which were bound for Ukraine, helped in bucket collections and also managed monies collected for the Ukraine Appeal.
    It is above that level we have found a lack of co-operation which has been hugely disappointing given the UK Government Fan-led Review which supports far greater involvement for fan groups at football clubs.
    We have faced unjust and unfair accusations from the club’s chairman related to allegations of a breach of trust, dating back to a meeting in October 2021 chaired by him.
    The Trust has tried to engage to resolve any issues but sadly this has not been reciprocated. The fans are the core of any club and we want to play a full part in ensuring the voice of supporters is fully heard and respected.
    Therefore, the Trust board has decided to write directly to Vincent Tan in the hope that he will intervene and help resolve the impasse. Please find the full text below.
    Keith Morgan, Chair


    April 27th, 2022

    "Dear Tan Sri Vincent Tan,

    Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust
    We write to you as the 2021/22 season nears its end. Thankfully, our future status as an established Championship club has now been confirmed. Whilst we seem to be emerging from the uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, our world is plunged into greater turmoil with the events in Ukraine. How and if this will impact on the club and its supporters is not yet known. What is for certain is that the global economy will suffer and we, football club and supporters alike, will face tougher times ahead.
    The purpose of this open letter is not to comment or focus on matters on the football field but bring to your attention our concerns over the recent, but progressive break down in communication between the directors at the club and the supporters’ trust on which we elaborate further within this letter.
    Briefly, and in respect of matters on the field, we understand the supporter base to be currently happy with the appointment of Steve Morison as first team manager and the team performances since his appointment have improved greatly. This was a logical appointment given his success at U23 level and we have started to see more promising academy players progress into the first team. We are encouraged by this and by the style of play, which is bringing better results that provide more confidence going forward. Furthermore, we are pleased to see a club favourite in Darren Purse being given the opportunity to take on the U23 role. We are realistic in our expectations for the club and aware of the financial constraints it is under. Therefore, a strategy of youth development would seem a sensible route to follow.
    You will be aware that the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust was formed at time the club was going through the transition to the new stadium and when yourself assumed the ownership. Our aim is to voice the concerns of the supporters but also to engage with club so that there is an open and honest dialogue between stakeholders. We played an important role in voicing the opposition to the colour change and we are delighted that this decision was ultimately reversed. You have been at the helm of our Club for 10 years and so you will know and understand that supporters are much more than just customers. You will have heard it said many times that the support for a football club transcends generations whereas ownership rarely does. The financial income derived from a supporter base, whilst significant, is often surpassed by the commercial and TV revenue and certainly from a financial perspective the supporters’ value has diminished. Nonetheless the value the suppo rters bring to the club in terms of passion, support, community spirit and culture is fundamental to any football club aspiring a long-term future.
    More recently this point was really brought to light with the announcement of the European Super League. Even the largest and most powerful clubs in Europe misread or ignored the power behind the supporters’ voice. As a result, these clubs are now looking at how to engage more with supporters’ groups to avoid a recurrence of this debacle. At the same time the recently published UK Government backed fans’ led review[1] highlighted several improvements that clubs can make in their governance to improve the overall supporter experience. This recommendations in this report were officially endorsed by the Government this week. The Trust forwarded a copy of this document to directors at the Club following its publication and would hope therefore you have been provided with a copy, with a summary of the recommendations and the implications for Cardiff City. The overriding aim must be for the ownership and the supporters to share a clear vision for the club. A vision that is transparent through the club, the directors, the senior executives, the playing staff, and the employees. But also, a vision with a clear and realistic strategy to realise it.
    And it is this where we feel the club is sadly falling short.
    We see several reasons for this. Firstly, you as the owner of the club, are seen by many supporters as too distant from the club. We appreciate that with travel restrictions over the past two years it has been very challenging to be a regular face at the club. Other clubs have the same issue, but the difference will be the directors at the club. Whilst we do not wish to criticise or judge the individuals on the level of competence for the roles that they fulfil we would suggest the following is absent.
    1. Directors with their time 100% dedicated to Cardiff City.
    2. Directors with a background in the executive management of a football club.
    3. Directors empowered to make key decisions.
    4. Directors focused on the strategic direction of the club, alongside operational issues.
    Those of us on the Supporters’ Trust with a background in corporate management will recognise that the continued absence of these factors will lead to lack of communication, of direction and of growing frustrations. In the very few meetings we have had with the directors, this has been very apparent. Sadly, and we are not clear on the reasons, our dialogue with club management has broken down. There seems to be an issue of mistrust, of broken confidences, that for our part is entirely unjustified. We have recently even had the farcical situation where correspondence between the Board and the Trust was conducted through a solicitor. The directors appear reluctant to engage or provide any clarity. More recently they simply continue to reject the opportunity to meet or answer any of the questions put to them. Despite our attempts we had no contact from or any explanation as to the role of Jalil Rashid since his appointment. Now that we understand he has left h is position and been replaced we would like clarification of the role of the Joint CEOs in respect of Cardiff City. This situation is generally unhealthy and will drive a greater wedge between the club and the most important of stakeholders, the fans. The situation is also likely to impact on the club’s positioning on the Fan Engagement Index, a measure of a club’s interaction with supporters, that will put the club in a poor light and undermine the efforts, we as the Trust, have made to enhance.
    Our recommendations are quite straightforward. We would like to see the appointment of a Chief Executive for Cardiff City, in line with the potential for improvement above. This is a full-time position where the individual is empowered to make all the necessary decisions through the Club board. Naturally, the key objectives for the role are to secure the long-term financial stability of the club, to establish success on the field commensurate to the club’s ability to trade playing staff, and to inspire a collective vision for the club from the programmer seller, ticket office staff, playing staff and the Board itself. In addition, we would like the club to consider the appointment of a supporters’ trust director on the Board, as for example at Swansea City. This position will allow the supporters’ voice to be heard directly at Board level but also ensure the supporters are informed, where possible, of the club’s direction of travel. The fans led review calls for a legal binding mandate for clubs to engage with the supporters. We believe by appointing a supporters’ trust director on the board, Cardiff City will lead the way forward on this, setting an example for others, as we have done in the case of safe standing.
    Please allow us to stress that we mean no disrespect to the current incumbents at the club. Our concerns relate to the long-term planning and governance of the club. Their performance and recent attitude to the Trust may well be in line with instructions they have been given. If this is the case, then we would be rightly concerned. However, the situation cannot continue. The Trust is not alone in its thoughts. Various fans forums and media outlets are picking up on issues attached to the apparent governance of the club.
    At the very least we would welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters directly with yourself. Whilst your senior team has met with us, they are unable to provide the level of transparency or indeed to commit to decisions for the reasons we have highlighted earlier in this letter. They have now become more distant and uncommunicative.
    The Trust continues its work to represent the supporters’ interest but also to carry out activities that put the club’s name and its supporters in a positive light. Most recently we have donated funds to improve the condition of the memorial garden, to fund transport to an away game for disabled supporters and organised a foodbank collection for families in an area of great need. Earlier in your ownership, we secured the sporting heritage of the club through the Fred Keenor Statue Appeal. As such we feel that our concerns should be listened to at the highest level, hence our appeal to you now.
    Finally, we would like to reiterate our thanks for all you have done for Cardiff City in the past 10 years. We are very mindful that our situation would be very much different but for your generosity. We just feel that changes can be made to your senior team's working and thinking to further improve the functioning of the club moving forwards.
    We feel compelled to write to you directly as there are changes that can be made to further improve the functioning of the club moving forwards; the club that means so much to us and the local area.
    We look forward to welcoming you back at the stadium for a match in the very near future.
    Kindest Regards,

    Robert Jeffery
    Company Secretary – Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust

    For and on behalf of Board Members – Keith Morgan (Chair), Michael Spear, Tim Hartley, Phillip Nifield, Jonathan Day, Jeremy Williams, Richard Lewis, David Craig & Gareth Jones.
    I'm sure the club took note of the so called friendly meeting with a man whose tried suing our club in anyway he can.
    I said it then and i'll say it now that meeting should have been avoided..

  3. #3

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Bit long innit

  4. #4

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by Canton Kev View Post
    Bit long innit

    I think that is why there have been lots of views and few replies to this thread.

    TLDR
    Dear Mr Tan, We think you are great but the board of directors won't talk to us. You should appoint a full time CEO who knows football.

  5. #5

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by Canton Kev View Post
    Bit long innit
    needs distilling, you're right.

  6. #6

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    and people say my posts are long winded and dull

  7. #7
    International jon1959's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Sheffield - out of Roath
    Posts
    16,849

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    I’m a Trust member and I haven’t had an email about this!

    The intention is right, but as others have said it could have been edited down a bit. Or a lot.

  8. #8

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by RichardM View Post

    I think that is why there have been lots of views and few replies to this thread.

    TLDR
    Dear Mr Tan, We think you are great but the board of directors won't talk to us. You should appoint a full time CEO who knows football.
    And whilst your at it throw in some more cash.

  9. #9

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by jon1959 View Post
    I’m a Trust member and I haven’t had an email about this!

    The intention is right, but as others have said it could have been edited down a bit. Or a lot.
    You have a PM Jon.

  10. #10
    International jon1959's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Sheffield - out of Roath
    Posts
    16,849

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by the other bob wilson View Post
    You have a PM Jon.
    Thanks - the email was sent yesterday but has only just landed with me.

  11. #11

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Looks like a letter constructed by a committee .Best delivered by a thousand slaves carry rolls of papyrus on gold-coated elephants.

  12. #12

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    I suspect Tan's reaction will be likened to that of a duck's back when water is poured on it.

  13. #13

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by blue matt View Post
    and people say my posts are long winded and dull
    ^This.

  14. #14

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Sadly, that letter is a massive own goal. It needed to be short, sharp and to the point, but instead it’s hopelessly long-winded and is therefore likely to garner more criticism than support.

  15. #15

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Honestly gave up reading.

    Thanks for the breakdown.

    I take it is the board arent talking , we want a CEO and can we have a place on the board.

  16. #16

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Thanks Trust

    Keep at it

  17. #17

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Too long; didn't read.

  18. #18

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    I got so far and thought, just get to the point.

  19. #19

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    If that was sent to me, i’d have binned it half way through.

  20. #20

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Much too long. Says it won't talk about the football, then goes on about it for ages. As for rest - it's interesting stuff, and there are a few good points raised, but why does the ST feel the club has to communicate with them over the running of the club? In the club's eyes, they are a minority group with at best a few hundred members (correct me if I'm wrong). In my mind, they should have stripped this down to a bare minimum one-page letter. "We're concerned at the lack of connection between fans and club, and would like to meet to address this matter". Done.

  21. #21

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Sadly I have to agree with the other posters. I'm sure a lot of effort went into this letter but for a letter of this importance to be read by the recipient it has to be short, sharp and directly to the point. I always try to think "CV" - research shows that the average reader allocates about 10 seconds or less to read a CV, and probably (my guess) the same amount of time to get the gist of a letter. tforturton's contribution is what we should be after, but needs a little bit more background info IMO.

  22. #22

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Quote Originally Posted by tforturton View Post
    Much too long. Says it won't talk about the football, then goes on about it for ages. As for rest - it's interesting stuff, and there are a few good points raised, but why does the ST feel the club has to communicate with them over the running of the club? In the club's eyes, they are a minority group with at best a few hundred members (correct me if I'm wrong). In my mind, they should have stripped this down to a bare minimum one-page letter. "We're concerned at the lack of connection between fans and club, and would like to meet to address this matter". Done.
    Quite agree. The aims are good but the communication much too long. There are at least two members of the Trust board who are experts in communication....where are they hiding.
    Also the script is contradictory......ie we like what the club is doing with the appointment of Morrison, and growing youth talent with Darren Purse, but we lack full confidence in Clubs senior execs abilities. Yet it’s these executives that are driving these favourable changes.

  23. #23

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Even though it is addressed to VT surely the point would be to gather support from fans hence it being an open letter? However I think it probably does the opposite. Don't mind it being long but it's just waffle. Then again I'm only an ex trust member so understand my views don't count on this.

  24. #24

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    Well intentioned but far too long.

  25. #25

    Re: Trust's Open Letter to Tan

    By the length of it Tan may think it’s a terms & conditions email and disregard it when there’s no ‘I agree’ box at the bottom. Could have been more concise.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •