UPDATE: Chairman set to hand Dorchester FC to trust

UPDATE: Chairman set to hand Dorchester FC to trust UPDATE: Chairman set to hand Dorchester FC to trust

SHAUN Hearn is "excited" by prospect of Dorchester Town being community-run after agreeing to hand over his majority shareholding to the club’s Community Trust.

Hearn was quick to point out that the deal was not a takeover, rather a chance for people to rally round for the good of the county town side.

“I’m looking forward to it and I’m quite excited about it all,” he said today.

“I don’t want people thinking this is some sort of trust takeover.

“It’s about people sitting down and going forward for the club."

It was revealed last night that trust would be made the majority shareholder with a deal agreed in principle.

A statement released by company secretary David Martin read: “Following weeks of discussion, the board of directors of Dorchester Town Football Club Ltd, Dorchester Town Youth FC and the Dorchester Town FC Community Trust have reached an agreement in principle to join forces and for Dorchester Town FC to become a community-owned club.

“It is proposed that the majority shareholder of Dorchester Town Football Club Ltd, Shaun Hearn will transfer his shareholding to Dorchester Town FC Community Trust to be held on behalf of the community of Dorchester.

“Over the coming weeks and months all three parties will work together to develop a model which will ensure the long-term and sustainable future for the club providing football from mini soccer to the top level of non-League football in a national competition.

“It is intended to keep supporters fully informed and further statements will be made as the model develops.”

What do you think? We want to hear your views. Leave your comment below, or email sport@dorsetecho.co.uk or tweet us @Dorsetecho

Comments(20)

212 dorset says...
9:46am Thu 17 Jan 13

So the big question is..... Who is involved with the Community Trust?

BDW says...
9:49am Thu 17 Jan 13

212 dorset wrote:
So the big question is..... Who is involved with the Community Trust?
Its near enough the same people who ran the supporters trust I believe.

I'm all for Community ownership as long as we can sustain a good level of non-league football, and not drop down the levels

Moreton Magpie says...
9:55am Thu 17 Jan 13

BDW wrote:
212 dorset wrote:
So the big question is..... Who is involved with the Community Trust?
Its near enough the same people who ran the supporters trust I believe.

I'm all for Community ownership as long as we can sustain a good level of non-league football, and not drop down the levels
Correct, but that is not to say that those same people will run the community-owned Football Club.

The fans, through the Trust, will elect a board of directors (that could well include Shaun as chairman, still) and they will run the club on the day to day basis.

212 dorset says...
10:11am Thu 17 Jan 13

It's crucial that the right people are elected onto the board. Needs to be football people who have a good knowledge of how non league football works and people with a business brain who run the club according to its means. It will be a disaster If the wrong people are allowed into the board etc.

imthere says...
10:14am Thu 17 Jan 13

It's Tim limbach and Ian stone !

212 dorset says...
10:17am Thu 17 Jan 13

imthere wrote:
It's Tim limbach and Ian stone !
They are involved with the Terras aren't they ?????

validus pica says...
10:25am Thu 17 Jan 13

Moreton Magpie wrote:
BDW wrote:
212 dorset wrote:
So the big question is..... Who is involved with the Community Trust?
Its near enough the same people who ran the supporters trust I believe.

I'm all for Community ownership as long as we can sustain a good level of non-league football, and not drop down the levels
Correct, but that is not to say that those same people will run the community-owned Football Club.

The fans, through the Trust, will elect a board of directors (that could well include Shaun as chairman, still) and they will run the club on the day to day basis.
The Trust will not run the club. The club will be managed and run by a board of directors more than capable of running a football club.

There's a world of difference between a community owned club and a community club. Fans do not elect a club board when the club is community owned, they elect the Trust board.

Moreton Magpie says...
10:28am Thu 17 Jan 13

validus pica wrote:
Moreton Magpie wrote:
BDW wrote:
212 dorset wrote:
So the big question is..... Who is involved with the Community Trust?
Its near enough the same people who ran the supporters trust I believe.

I'm all for Community ownership as long as we can sustain a good level of non-league football, and not drop down the levels
Correct, but that is not to say that those same people will run the community-owned Football Club.

The fans, through the Trust, will elect a board of directors (that could well include Shaun as chairman, still) and they will run the club on the day to day basis.
The Trust will not run the club. The club will be managed and run by a board of directors more than capable of running a football club.

There's a world of difference between a community owned club and a community club. Fans do not elect a club board when the club is community owned, they elect the Trust board.
My apologies.

imthere says...
10:29am Thu 17 Jan 13

You would think so wouldn't you 212!

shaun blondz says...
10:40am Thu 17 Jan 13

Well good luck to the Fans Trust as it is now accepted the only way for a Football club at this level to have a sustainable future involves community ownership and fans not only running but working within the club to guide a steady path.
And of course never to lose the ambition all fans hold for their club.

212 dorset says...
10:47am Thu 17 Jan 13

shaun blondz wrote:
Well good luck to the Fans Trust as it is now accepted the only way for a Football club at this level to have a sustainable future involves community ownership and fans not only running but working within the club to guide a steady path. And of course never to lose the ambition all fans hold for their club.
It sends a shiver down my spine thinking about some fans having an involvement in running a football club.

validus pica says...
10:52am Thu 17 Jan 13

212 dorset wrote:
shaun blondz wrote:
Well good luck to the Fans Trust as it is now accepted the only way for a Football club at this level to have a sustainable future involves community ownership and fans not only running but working within the club to guide a steady path. And of course never to lose the ambition all fans hold for their club.
It sends a shiver down my spine thinking about some fans having an involvement in running a football club.
Some fans are very experienced business people.

imthere says...
11:23am Thu 17 Jan 13

Am I correct in saying Shaun Hearn is a business man ? And a fan !

leo210856 says...
12:15pm Thu 17 Jan 13

It has been the case for years that clubs have been run by business people in the main they have not been able to make ends meet so have had to put their hands into their pockets
I dont know how things are placed at Dorchester but simple logic suggests that the FA cup money will have all been spent or earmarked to settle debts which will mean that costs will have to be cut and at the same time income will to need to rise if football at the same level can even be contemplated past this season
Shaun deserves great credit as I dont think many people realise just how much (not just in monetry terms) being the chairman has cost him and his family.

stench says...
12:53pm Thu 17 Jan 13

212 dorset wrote:
shaun blondz wrote: Well good luck to the Fans Trust as it is now accepted the only way for a Football club at this level to have a sustainable future involves community ownership and fans not only running but working within the club to guide a steady path. And of course never to lose the ambition all fans hold for their club.
It sends a shiver down my spine thinking about some fans having an involvement in running a football club.
really? ha!

Most people like football, so i'm sure amongst the fans there's a business thinker, a numbers man and a football thinker...

But his is Dorch... ;) hehe

imthere says...
1:39pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Derrick benson could be part of it he allways has a lot to say !

bedpans says...
3:55pm Thu 17 Jan 13

RIP Dorchester-The end is nigh

Exiled Muff Fan says...
4:28pm Thu 17 Jan 13

To all Casterbridge football fans enjoy the limelight before the fall ! The Evo-Stik Premier beckons on recent form Glad to hear FA Cup money was well spent

Get a grip says...
7:34pm Thu 17 Jan 13

bedpans wrote:
RIP Dorchester-The end is nigh
I think you are correct.

Possibly if Dorchester & Weymouth merge then the combined club might just survive.

Get a grip says...
7:35pm Thu 17 Jan 13

bedpans wrote:
RIP Dorchester-The end is nigh
I think you are correct.

Possibly if Dorchester & Weymouth merge then the combined club might just survive.

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