There does seem to be a misconception that Trusts are only formed in a time of crisis, this is not the case. For example clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham, Bristol City and Norwich City all have Trusts and the latter have achieved the status of board ‘representation’.

This is not about ‘takeover’ it is about having a say in how the club is governed for the benefit of the community. It is our belief the relationship between the fans and club has detiorated to such a degree that a vehicle is needed to repair it.

I absolutely agree with you about ‘the management’ of the Trust, It does need to keep people onside whilst at the same time constructively criticising decisions made by the board, if necessary. Our closeness to Notts does us no favours and hard as we try and distance ourselves it is difficult to put across the differences and for people to believe us.

This is why there is an Open Meeting with representatives of other Trusts and Supporters Direct. Come along with an open mind and decide on the night, hopefully we will get a mandate to proceed and be given the chance to try and achieve our aims.

We all support the club and we all want the club to win. Beyond that, we all have different expectations.

For example, whilst I want us to win, I also want to see attacking football played upon the ground in a progressive way. Therefore I wouldn’t want Neil Warnock, Harry Bassett, Billy Davies, Gary Megson and a thousand other hoof merchants in charge. To me, that is more important than anything. However I am aware that other supporters have a differing view. Would we all have a vote on who was Manager, no of course not. Would I be happy if a choice was made that I didn’t agree with, no of course not. Therefore why would I feel any different if it was a decision made by a ‘trust’?

There is no such thing as an equal say - some groups would become more powerful than others and if you are in a minority you will feel disenfranchised, just as you do now.

Nigel Doughty has never given any indication that he is looking to leave his position and seems happy to act as the club’s guardian. Most Forest supporters, myself included, are frustrated with a number of his decisions. However, we have a football club to support, a ground to sit in and a bright young team (if not manager!). Okay we are not in the division we would like but actually when you think back to when JJ was sold, things could have been a lot lot worse.

I still maintain that a Supporters Trust would actually be a step back to the ludicrous shareholders system - which never worked until an autocrat (Cloughie) came in and ran the club from top to bottom. Could you imagine him working with a Supporters Trust? Not a chance.

I agree there is a need to channel and direct our frustrations in a correct forum. If the Supporters Clubs are unable to do this then why not a Trust. However, I still think we are better of trying to use Nigel Doughty and his money rather than try and work against him. Therefore I will continue to oppose any move to be confrontational - which is what talk of takeovers etc is.

We all want the same thing after all! Promotion

Does anyone really believe that a supporters trust would raise more funds than Nigel Doughty currently puts in each season? For all Doughty’s faults, does anyone honestly question his motives - he is a Forest fan like the rest of us after all! I understand the frustrations we feel because we feel powerless to influence decisions and we disagree with so many of the choices he’s made in recent years. But I argue that actually that would continue, trust or no trust.

As an aside, I was intrigued by the Myfootballclub website, paid my £35 for a years subscription some time ago and hoped to have some influence over a number of decisions, the major one being which club to take over. I strongly advocated a variety of clubs in the Midlands (geographically the fairest choice) but was overruled by the glut of southern softies who (not surprisingly!) chose a club right on their doorstep, Ebbsfleet.

Even on a website such as this one, a heirarchy has slowly manifested itself - to the point where you actually feel that all control has been removed. I therefore will not be renewing my subscription.

The point I am making here is this. Even if a trust took over Forest, some people would very quickly become more equal than others. The average supporter would soon feel as disenfranchised as they do now and lose interest. This would leave a void (like they have now at County) where only those interested in the power and prestige would remain.

The four point agenda the trust puts forward is in the main commendable. Like NFFC, I query the need for point four if the other three are being achieved. I feel that points one to three can all be achieved within the current structure if we use the Supporters Club structure more effectively (do they not have the ear of the board?). Again, if the top men in the supporters clubs are not representing you, why are they there? Are they feathering their own nests?

Sorry, I do not wish to seem negative to an idea that I would hope to think was being instigated with the best of intentions. I still think the best policy is to try and work with the current board rather than against them - NG has the money after all! Get involved with your local supporters club, make it much more proactive rather than just a way of getting your match ticket and away travel. Formulate ideas and plans as to what you want from your club and begin to assert some influence on Mark Arthur and Nigel Doughty that way. I have absolutely no doubt that they would respond favourably to thought out and structured reasoning, partucarly about closer links to the community etc.