Representatives from the Trust met with Dale Chief Executive David Bottomley along with Media Officer Leighanne Ball on Wednesday. The meeting was arranged as part of the agreement between the club and the Trust to host monthly meetings to discuss all matters Dale.
A great deal of discussion took place regarding on the field matters. With Dale dropping into the bottom four at the weekend, the Trust communicated the various feelings that existed within the fanbase that had been made both verbally to ourselves and on various social media channels over the last few days.
Conversations turned towards off the field matters that have also been causing concern amongst the fanbase recently. Questions on the messageboard earlier this week had queried a period of employment earlier in David Bottomley’s career that had been subject to speculation on the messageboard this week. We were informed that David actually appeared as a witness on behalf of the Office of Fair Trading, and it was on the public record that he was deemed as being the only credible witness whose evidence was considered wholly believable by the OFT. He left the company entirely of his own volition and continues to be in contact with senior staff.
Following this, we approached the issue of the Fit and Proper Person’s Test that all Football Directors are required to take. David told us that he passed this when he first joined the Board in 2015, and as part of League rules, an update to the EFL is required on an annual basis that has been carried out.
Other matters discussed included the last home game of the season against Southend. This fixture is the closest home match to the 50th anniversary of the 1969 game against those same opponents when Dale won 3-0 to secure their first ever promotion, and initial plans are underway as to how this can be celebrated with an announcement when
David reiterated that his door is always open to supporters to discuss any concerns that they have with the club. He can be contacted at david.bottomley@rochdaleafc.co.uk and he has already met with a couple of supporters who have done so this week.
The Trust can be contacted at any stage via email at info@daletrust.co.uk. We see communication with members and supporters as being paramount to everything that we do, so would welcome comments, questions and suggestions at all times from both members and supporters.