We wrote to Trust members last weekend asking for their initial thoughts following the news that Chris Dunphy was interested in a return to the Club as Chairman. We had an incredible number of replies, with more than twice as much feedback as we have had for any other topic in our history indicating a real strength of feeling within the Trust membership with an overwhelming majority favouring a return for Dunphy.
Within those comments was a number of questions for both Chris Dunphy and the Club. We contacted both with those questions with the intention to publish these on our website to provide a platform for both parties to answer questions from the Trust members. The Club has responded to us and we are hoping to follow up on that early next week before publishing details on our website.
However, we begin with a number of questions that we sent to Chris Dunphy that he has answered for us.
Why have you decided that you would like to return to the Club, and is there anything Supporters should know about your departure from the club in December 2018?
Any return would be entirely up to the shareholders, what I may or may not like is irrelevant. What I have decided is that I cannot stand by and watch the club disintegrate without putting up a fight to try and save it, so I will do all I can to help. If they choose not to invite me, so be it, but at least I know I tried.
I left the board because all the directors with the club at heart were no longer there, Bill Goodwin had resigned, Paul Hazlehurst had passed away, Jim Marsh had retired due to ill health. I could not work with those that remained as they all had their own agenda and wanted to take the club in a direction I could not agree with, and I would not be a mouthpiece for someone else’s decisions. I chose my words carefully, using ‘retire’ not resign, so that the transition could be as easy as possible for them, not for me and left them to run the club as they saw fit.
However, I did say to Andrew Kilpatrick that should the club ever need any help or advice I would be willing to help, I was never contacted by anyone from the club from the day I told him of my intention to leave. Contrary to public opinion I was not offered a position of vice-president, though Andrew Kilpatrick said he thought the board may offer the position, it was never backed up in writing.
Has there been any contact with the Club over your wish to return? If so, has there been any feedback from them?
There has been no contact from the club, although I have had a meeting with interim chairman Andrew Kelly.
You have stated “I have put a plan together that I feel would help secure the short-term survival of the club and safeguard the future, and your first task would be to review the club’s finances via an audit and help find additional revenue following a season of no matchday revenue” What would these short-term plans consist of should you return?
The short term plan is to give stability and credibility back to the club. The present board would be replaced and the non playing part of the club would be completely restructured. I would introduce “safe pairs of hands” in critical positions.
What would Francis Collins and Richard Wild bring to the table? And how does this fit in with the “Cloughie legacy”?
The provenance of Richard and Francis speaks for itself, they both have a long history at the club. ‘Cloughie’ was in my eyes one of a kind and it is unlikely that we will see his type again. His legacy will be treated with the respect it deserves. I do propose to create a memorial garden
with a view of the pitch, I wanted to do this through my previous tenure but did not have enough time to see it through and this would be an ideal place for Cloughies statue.
Would you intend retaining and working with the existing members of the Board?
I see the existing board as part of the problem not the solution, so no I do not intend to work with them. There are members of the board who joined after my departure so I am not aware of the skills they offer, so the new board would decide if they would be asked to re-join. The whole objective is to try and achieve unity and trust within the board, there is no point if there are factions trying to further their own ambitions.
Would you be looking at adding other Directors to the Board?
I would of course wish to introduce new members to the board but they would have to have a strict ‘Dale’ ethos about them, not just buy their way onto the board. We need talented individuals who have time and skills that will enhance the club and I expect a number of people to come forward should I take control of the club. All potential board members would be interviewed by the new board.
Does your plan involve any financial investment in the club?
As for buying shares I will be buying an amount of “new” shares and I have a friend who will also buy shares if I am running the club, the total amount would be around £55,000. I expect that some of Cloughies estate will be introduced in shares and along with “others” I expect to initially have about £200,000 of new money to help secure the club.
Dan Altman and Emre Marcelli have a shareholding of around 15%. Are you looking to work with them if you return to the club?
Dan Altman and Emre Marcelli have not contacted me so I do not know what they are thinking at this time. They may or may not be part of the future.
What would your long term plans for the club consist of should you return?
Long term I hope to introduce a plan whereby the club can never get into this situation again, but more of this at a later date.
What motions would you be presenting if an EGM was called?
I cannot make any motion at an EGM as I am not a shareholder, and I will not buy shares under the current regime but will become a shareholder at the appropriate time.