Swindon Town supporters demand change as confidence in owner lost

An open letter has been written to club chairman and owner, Clem Morfuni

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 15th May 2024
Last updated 15th May 2024

A Swindon Town supporters group has declared it's lost all confidence in the club's owner, Clem Morfuni, and is demanding change in an open letter.

The Swindon Town Supporters Trust say the League Two side are doomed to relegation next season without action being taken.

The Robins finished this season 19th, in what was the clubs finish in modern history.

The open letter calls for Mr Morfuni to make the necessary commitments to the club or to sell to someone who will.

Fan advice met with denial and dishonesty

The Trust has carried out a fan survey, in the hope the owner would realise the level of fan feeling and listen to advice to avoid 'another disastrous season'.

But, in the letter, the Trust says their feedback has been met with consistent denial and a 'version of reality which does not relate to the facts'.

They dispute the owners claims of the club being debt-free.

They've accused the chairman of the club of repeated dishonesty, saying:

"You have declined to transfer the shareholder debt into equity, which would fulfil the commitment you made at the last Fans Forum where you said you would ‘wipe the debt’.

"Consistently over your tenure you have repeatedly not been honest. The Club has been found guilty of EFL charges relating to both undisclosed shareholdings and late payments and it is clear that the Club is constantly struggling with cashflow."

The trust helped purchase the County Ground from Swindon Borough Council, with the help of the Eady Trust, in order to ease the financial burden on the club with reduced rental.

But accusations of a 'secret master plan' have been made without the expected collaboration with fan groups, while rent payments have been getting paid later and later.

The Trust has now set a limit of 30 days beyond the due day and say it's 'unsurprising' that rent is being paid exactly 30 days after it's due date, without fail.

Experience and investment desperately needed

The supporters are pleading for an experienced team to be put in charge of the football operation.

The club is still without a full-time manager since Michael Flynn was sacked in January.

"Your persistence in appointing an entire team running the Club (with few exceptions) who have never performed their role before and/ or come from a football background, has meant nobody can be surprised at where the Club finds itself now – and frankly, relegation would not be a surprise to us next season.

"You have had over 100 days to find and appoint a first-team manager and it is indicative of the lack of leadership, overall strategy and ability at the Club, which the fans have recognised and voiced in our survey, that we remain managerless today."

The trust says it believes everyone at the club is working hard but more investment is needed, along with more experience, to give the club a chance to progress on and off the pitch.

Fans demand action

In the letter, which can be read in full here, the Supporters are calling for Mr Morfuni to put up or sell up.

"We, as a Trust led by our recent survey, are today declaring we have lost all confidence and trust in the leadership and ownership of our beloved Swindon Town Football Club. Further, we have no faith that a promised re-development of the County Ground is plausible under your ownership.

"We call today for:

"1. an immediate and significant investment in both money and experienced personnel into the Club;

"2. a clear and credible funding plan for the ground re-development; and

"3. a commitment to complete transparency and honesty in more frequent communication.

"Alternatively, it is time for you to sell the Club and find a new owner who can provide these things as soon as is practically possible.

"We are a proud Club which has cherished our football league status for well over 100 years and we implore you to make the changes now before we lose that status under your tenure."

We have contacted the club for a response to the letter.

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