Update from the Board as chairman stays and election is postponed until NewYear

The Trust Board of Runcorn Linnets met on Monday to discuss the way forward in light of recent developments behind the scenes.

The frank but positive discussions enabled the Board to formulate a strategy to make the club stronger.

The most pleasing outcome is that chairman Peter Cartledge has reconsidered and withdrawn his notice of resignation and will continue beyond the end of this season.

However, there is work to be done to ensure that we have people in place to run the club on behalf of our members and fans.

Vice-chairman/treasurer Jeff Jago still intends to stand down from his official roles at the Board election and will concentrate on delivering the all-important 3G stadium pitch for the 2027-28 campaign.

Three other directors, who are retiring by rotation, have likewise decided not to seek re-election.

The club, therefore, needs to rebuild so we are in the best position to proceed and progress.

In light of recent events, the Trust Board has decided to delay the election, which we were due to launch this week.

It will not be held until after Christmas and New Year to give everybody chance to consider their level of commitment to the club.

This onus to help us succeed is not only on Board members but the full Trust membership, our volunteers, match-going supporters and interested parties from outside the club.

Runcorn Linnets is a major asset to the town, representing and benefitting the whole community.

Two other directors Sam Phillips and Kelly Jones have indicated that they wish to continue their club duties as media manager and Under 21s secretary, respectively from outside the Trust Board.

A third, Trust communications manager Ste Bignall has been finding it increasingly difficult to devote sufficient time to his role - his workng commitments require frequent visits to Scotland.

Ste, therefore, feels it is best that he stands down from the Board to allow someone, who can offer more hours, to come in.

But he will not be walking away from the club.

The Board has decided that there will be SEVEN vacancies in the election to account for the position, which is currently vacant and the fact that four of the five retiring directors will be leaving the Board.

Ian Green isn't due to retire until next year but has announced that he will be stepping down as a director at the end of this season. This was also factored into the decision.

Having considered the situation carefully and at length, the Board agreed to put back the election until the end of January 2027, believing that the two-month postponement is under the circumstances sensible and prudent.

Under our constitution, the Trust Board is elected by members from within the Trust membership and we want to give ourselves every chance of finding the best replacements.

Those Board members not intending to stand for re-election are committed to remaining in place until the election is completed with the exception of Kelly Jones.

Kelly has now resigned from the Board, which places on record its thanks for her service.

At present, we are constrained by a club policy, which states that only those who have been Trust members for 12 months can stand for election to the Board.

At Monday's meeting, it was decided to waive this restriction for the forthcoming election so that our full supporter base and those with a legitimate interest in the club are able to apply for Board places.

The Board felt strongly that this process should not be rushed. We need to give our members, supporters and backers adequate time to consider nominating themselves for the Board so that all vacancies are filled.

This would in the first instance require that they apply to join/re-join the Trust or renew their membership if they haven’t done so, and then put their names forward for the delayed election with the necessary support of two other Trust members.

You can apply to join the Trust here

We are also allowed to annually co-opt up to five directors from outside of the Trust to meet a specific skill set or role and this provides further options. Rob Findlay has this week stepped down from his co-opted position with our thanks.

The club particularly needs to increase its resources in the following areas - either through Board membership or recruiting more volunteers:

IT skills/website support and development

Financial management

Business acumen and connections to potential new partners/sponsors

Commercial knowledge in support of our volunteer commercial director

Fundraising

Community engagement

General administration

If you believe you have the appropriate skills, energy, enthusiasm and most of all time to help, please put yourself forward either by standing in the Trust Board election or stepping up as a club volunteer.

We can only achieve our ambitions together.

The club's Annual General Meeting will take place, as scheduled, on Monday, December 7th.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, would like to discuss and/or need further information on any of the above please ask.

Alternatively if joining the Board is not for you, please think about volunteering your services in any capacity.

Speak to any board member, e-mail trust@runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk or make contact through our website.

Kind regards,

Dave

Dave Bettley

Trust secretary

On behalf of the Trust Board

All Trust members who have provided an e-mail address on joining or renewing for 2026-27 should have received this statement in their inboxes.

If it hasn’t arrived, please check your spam/junk folders and if you still don’t have it, please e-mail trust@runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk