Members received a detailed update on the progress of the Well Society’s growth plan during Monday night’s Annual General Meeting. Just short of 100 members attended the event at Fir Park with a significant number tuning in virtually.
The Well Society recently published its outline strategic plan to help support the growth of Motherwell Football Club, Our Club, Our Future. It was stated that members will have the final decision on any investment opportunities that emerge from ongoing efforts to put the plan into action.
Board member Sean Baillie said: “We have identified initial strategic investment opportunities. We got someone who has a range of contacts across the world to meet (Motherwell Football Club chief executive) Brian Caldwell last week.
“Brian is approaching heads of departments across the club to identify key areas in the club’s operations that we might need investment in, and that we can get partnership organisations to come in and give a bit of money at the same time.
“We have continued discussions with local business people and are asking them what they feel their investment would look like and how they want to shape it, how they would chip in and how that fits in with supporter ownership and existing shareholders. That work has started.”
When quizzed further on the status of the investment talks, Derek Watson said: “These things take time and people want to remain confidential. You see how it played out previously when people are named in the press and that deal didn’t get seen through to a conclusion.
“There have been some very, very positive conversations. Are they at a situation where we can present that to our membership? Not at present but I hope that’s not too far away.”
Other questions were posed on what success looks like for Motherwell and whether “transformational” investment is attainable.
Sean stressed the untapped potential of attracting partners who will be drawn to Motherwell’s story of being the UK’s first top-flight fan-owned football club and highlighting its community work, if the story is told in the right way.
And also the benefits of the Well Society helping the club reach out to the 15,000 fans on its database and strengthening roots in a number of Lanarkshire communities.
“What I think will be transformational is proving our self-sustainability,” he added. “What we have tried to do is put numbers together, work with the club and determine what does it mean, first and foremost, to be self-sustainable. We are not far away at all, I think that can easily be achieved. Once we have got that, the sky’s the limit.”
Here is a rundown of other key points raised during the evening:
FINANCES
Treasurer Tom Feely ran through the financial figures for the year to September 2023. He said the Well Society’s income was £203,000 but costs of £103,000 were higher than usual so funds rose by £100,000.
The costs include wages plus a £40,000 donation to the club around this time last year to help with additional transfer costs. Tom explained that the Well Society board at the time decided this sum would be a donation rather than adding it on to the £868,000 loan to the club.
The Well Society’s current cash reserves have increased to £860,000 and the total money raised internally so far stands at just over £2.2million.
CHAIR’S REPORT
Tom also gave the chair’s report following the departure of co-chair Douglas Dickie. He thanked everyone for the “huge amount of work all the way through” the recent investment debate and, commenting on the Our Club, Our Future document, stated that “it’s up to us to turn that into reality”.
WORKSTREAMS
Philip Speedie explained the background to the formation of the five workstreams – Communications, Events, Fundraising, Membership and Governance – which emerged following last year’s members’ survey and focus group sessions at the start of this year.
The structure is set to be changed to reduce the number to four – Communications, Governance, Membership (which will incorporate fundraising and events) plus a new key focus on the delivery of the Well Society’s growth plan outlined in Our Club, Our Future. Amber Johnstone, Philip, Sean and Derek gave updates on the progress of each of the workstreams. A summary is below and further details will be given in the coming weeks on the work being undertaken in each.
Communications
- Progressed development of communications strategy
- Launched Well Society brand toolkit
- Focused social media content
- Strengthen our wider media presence
- Soft launched dedicated Well Society websit
Events
- Identified three key deliverables for events
- Built relationship with Former Players’ supporting Goals Galore event
- Held our Euro Match Party raising income for the Society
- Held our Meet the Manager night for members
- Commenced work on a Sportsman’s Dinner
Membership
- Progressed work on member tiers rebrand and benefits refresh
- Soft launched new membership database and CRM
- Commenced work to develop a fan ownership course
- Completed analysis to identify towns for local group pilot
Fundraising
- Developed new Junior Steel to Adult campaign
- Developed campaign to increase monthly subscription
- Held Live The Dream event raising funds for the Society
- Developed campaign to encourage move to contribution model
- Explored new fundraising initiatives and merchandise
Governance
- Developed draft Shareholders Agreement
- Developed draft Reserved Matters which must have Well Society approval
- Commenced work to refresh core Society policies
BOARD STRUCTURE
Current Well Society board elections will take the tally up to nine and there are plans to co-opt three further board members as per the rules. This will allow a situation where each of the four workstreams contain three board members, meaning their time and efforts are focused on one group rather than being spread across several. The completion of the Well Society board will then allow decisions to be made on the make-up of the club executive board.
When asked about the latter, Philip said: “There are a number of discussions ongoing with a number of people but it needs to be a decision that is taken by the new Well Society board.
“We will consider all the options to populate the executive board in the best way possible. It is absolutely vital that we get the right people on the board to drive this club forward, whether they are members of the Well Society or otherwise.”
OTHER ISSUES TO EMERGE FROM MEMBERS QUESTIONS INCLUDED
- Board minutes will be displayed on the Well Society website each month.
- The costs to the Well Society of the recent investment process will amount to about £7,500 – £8,000, split between legal fees and the sum due to Civica, the electoral firm.
- The board will consider a suggestion to form a branch focused in the United States of America in addition to local groups, to try to tap into that market and utilise the enthusiasm and expertise of the American members who have put themselves forward for recent elections.
- The board stressed the need for greater diversity on the Society board and may utilise the ability to co-opt additional board members to increase representation. A number of members offered to help in this area following the event, including those keen to focus on disabled members, neurodiversity and LGBTQ+.
- There was also a commitment to consider how to encourage participation from lower-income fans.
- Well Society representatives are having fortnightly meetings with the executive board in a strengthening of the relationship with the club. The shareholder’s agreement will provide further clarity around that relationship.