Read and endorse the yellow and blue plan ←
The Yellow and Blue 10-Point Plan will be discussed in detail through a series of panel discussions.
The Yellow and Blue Discussion Series
The Discussion Series has three objectives:
- To enable those who are interested to understand more about the different points and why they are considered important. Many fans will not necessarily understand every debate and will want to know more to help them make up their minds.
- To invite challenges and alternative proposals to the points that are being proposed and make them stronger.
- To help the DTB develop actions that can take these points forward and to develop its own strategic thinking and direction.
These will take place via Zoom Webinars with each concentrating on a number of the points. It is hoped that as many people as possible will be able to listen in and take part, but it is recognised that not everyone can do so.
The Plan was developed by a group of Dons fans in consultation with a range of stakeholders. The aim of which is to inspire a new direction for the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon.
The Dons Trust Board (DTB) has made it clear that it wants to have a strategy discussion and the Plan is a contribution towards that. Others may have different views and are also free to make their own contributions.
Equally, it is possible the Plan could form the basis for a manifesto for someone who wants to stand for election to the DTB.
Ultimately it will be for the democratically-elected members of the DTB to make the decision about how the organisation moves forward.
The Plan covers 10 different points. These are not the only points of discussion for the future direction of the DTB or club and other people may consider that there are other points which they think need to be debated.
It is also the case that this is not an ‘all or nothing’ document. People are free to agree or disagree with individual points to a greater or lesser extent. Some of the points raised might be far less controversial than others.
Discussion Series
2nd August - Standing up for football - Points 4, 5 & 6 Watch
Session Details
Date:
2nd August 2020 - 5pm BST
Topic
Standing up for football - Points 4, 5 & 6
Chair
Kevin Borras
- Journalist and broadcaster.
- Co-presenter of football podcast, Time Added on For Sausages.
- Dons supporter since 1978.
- Dislikes racial intolerance and olives.
Y&B Representation
Adam Procter
Panel Members
Glenn Moore
- Lecturer on sports journalism at City University.
- Former football editor of Independent.
Anwar Uddin
- Diversity and Campaign Manager for the FSA
- Assistant manager of Aldershot Town
Dons Trust Board Member
Luke Mackenzie
Alastair Brown
Zoom Link
Discussion Points
- How are AFC Wimbledon perceived in the wider footballing world?
- What do we mean to other clubs and the footballing world, what should our USP be?
- Are football clubs under threat from owners?
- Should we forget franchising?
- Can we be a beacon for the wider fan movement?
- What could that mean? Should we even care?
- And how would that benefit the Dons Trust and AFC Wimbledon?
19th August - Making ethical work - Point 10
Watch
Session Details
Date:
19th August 2020 - 6:30pm BST
Topic
Making ethical work - Point 10
Chair
Hazel Potter
- Freelance bid and procurement consultant
- Bristolian who found a convoluted route to the Dons
- Season ticket holder for 10+ years
- Decades of football activism
- Passionate about fan ownership
Y&B Representation
Adam Procter
Panel Members
Lucy Siegle
- Reporter for the One Show.
- Founder of the Observer Ethical awards.
Paul Jeater
- Author of the Unique Solution: The first year of AFC Wimbledon.
- Chair of the Eastern Region of the Green Party.
Dr. Russell Seymour
- Chief Executive - British Association for Sustainable Sport
- First Full-time Sustainability Manager at UK Sports Venue (Lords Cricket Ground)
- Visiting Lecturer - Loughborough University
- Member of British Standards Committee for Sustainable Performance, Consumption and Production
- Member of Advisory Board; Sport Ecology Group of Academic Researchers
Dons Trust Board Member
Hannah Kitcher
Alastair Brown
Zoom
Discussion Points
- Is this the time to be ethical?
- Can it be made to work economically?
- Is there a niche out there for AFC Wimbledon to exploit?
- Should this be part of our USP?
- Can we afford to not be ethical?
30th August - Celebrate our history - Point 2 Watch
Session Details
Date:
30th August 2020 - 5pm BST
Topic
Celebrate our history - Point 2
Chair
Jill Stratton
- Wimbledon fan since 1987
- Matchday volunteer
- Currently facilitating discussions on how we celebrate our history at the new ground
Y&B Representation
Mark Lewis
Panel Members
John Scales
- Premier League Footballer
- FA Cup Medal Holder
- Capped 3 times for England
Will Nightingale
- AFC Wimbledon Player and Captain
Michael Padmanathan
- Co-chair and founder of Wimbledon In Sporting History
- Part of the stretcher and medical team at AFC Wimbledon
- Founder and Chairman of True Volunteer Foundation
- Mobile Innovation Awards judge
Dons Trust Board Member
Alastair Brown
Zoom
Watch Recording
Link and details will be emailed to you.
Discussion Points
- What are the benefits of celebrating our history?
- How can we do it? Is it worth it?
6th September - Strengthen our links in our local community
- Point 3
Watch
Session Details
Date:
6th September 2020 - 5pm BST
Topic
Strengthen our links in our local community - Point 3
Chair
Lou Carton-Kelly
- First chair of the Dons Trust
- Former Operations Director AFC Wimbledon
- Former Director & Vice Chair Supporters Direct
- Current resource manager & Special Projects for global architecture company
Y&B Representation
Matthew Couper
Panel Members
Stephen Alambritis
- Leader of Merton Council
- Former head of Public Affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses
- Former Commissioner at the Disability Rights Commission
Xav Wiggins
- Co-Founder Dons Trust Local Action Group
Dons Trust Board Member
Alastair Brown
Zoom
Watch
Link and details will be emailed to you.
Discussion Points
- Why should we bother?
- What is the potential?
- What could an integrated local football club look like?
- Can we make it work for us financially?
- Is there a new financial model we can adopt?
13th September - Improving the way the Dons Trust works
- Points 7, 8 & 9
Watch
Session Details
Date:
13th September 2020 - 5pm BST
Topic
Improving the way the Dons Trust works - Points 7, 8 & 9
Chair
Sean Fox
- Founding member of the Dons Trust
- Member of numerous Dons Trust working groups
- Member of the WISA committee (2001-2010)
- Currently elected Trade Union Official for UNISON in North London
Y&B Representation
Niall Couper
Panel Members
Dave Boyle
- Former Chief Executive of Supporters Direct
- Ex vice-chair of Football Supporters Federation
Damian Woodward
Dons Trust Board Member
Hannah Kitcher
Alastair Brown
Zoom
Watch
Link and details will be emailed to you.
Discussion Points
- How do we make being a Dons Trust Board member more appealing?
- How do we make the board more accountable?
27th September - Ensure fan ownership
- Point 1
Watch
Session Details
Date:
27th September - 5pm BST
Topic
Ensure fan ownership - Point 1
Chair
Nicole Hammond
Y&B Representation
Niall Couper
Panel Members
Julian Tagg
- Chairman Exeter City FC
- Chairman CITY Community Trust
Kris Stewart
- Former chair of WISA
- First chair and chief executive of AFC Wimbledon
- Dons Trust Board member for three years
Dons Trust Board Member
Alastair Brown
Zoom
Watch
Link and details will be emailed to you.
Discussion Points
- Should we even bother?
- Does our history matter?
- Could we put the genie back in the bottle if we sell up?
- What are the benefits of fan ownership?
- Can it be made to work financially?
Each Zoom Webinar will take the following format:
- 1 hour duration.
- There will be a chair who will ensure order and control the discussion.
- The chair will not contribute to the debate other than to call speakers and to read out questions that have been submitted in writing beforehand, or through the 'Q&A' function.
- One of the authors of the 10-point Plan will outline the reasons for the area of discussion and why they are putting forward the points they are.
- The Panelists will explain their expertise on the point and give advise on how the point may or may not work.
- Half way through the discussion the floor will be opened and those who have indicated they wish to contribute to the debate either to ask a question or to make a point - will be able to do so. The chair will ensure they are kept reasonably brief.
- Questions will also be selected and read out from the ‘Q&A’ function.
- People who wish to speak can do so by using the ‘Raise Hand’ function to alert the chair, and will be called to speak.
- The Chat function will be disabled.
- The chair will ensure that contributions are kept on topic.
- At the end of the session, everyone will have a chance to come back with concluding remarks.
- This is a consultation exercise rather than a decision-making forum and so there won’t be votes taken.
It is expected that the debate will be polite. To that end, we recognise that all those contributing are Dons fans. No one fan is better than another, no matter how long they have been supporting or how many games they attend per season. We respect the right to disagree but require that you play the issue not the person. Therefore any contributor making comments that are personal in nature will be ejected from the discussion. We also ask that there is no swearing and that all contributors use their real names. Whilst we all understand that feelings about MK and those behind the franchising are strong and there will be a specific discussion about relations with them (and other discussions will allude to them), the rule about personalised attacks and swearing should also apply to these discussions.
After the discussion has ended, the proposers may decide to update the Yellow and Blue Plan. A record of the chat together with notes of the points made will be given to the DTB and a recording of the discussion may also be embedded on the Yellow and Blue 10-point plan website.