Statistics
Trust Members: 834
Affiliated Members: 0
Shares Owned: 20000
Quick Calendar
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Supporters' Trust?
A Supporters' Trust is a democratic organisation of supporters. Over 140 clubs now have one. Our aims are to secure the future of the club, keeping the club with the fans where it belongs.
What is The Saints Trust?
The Saints Trust is a democratic, not-for-profit organisation, committed to strengthening the voice of supporters in the decision making processes at Southampton Football Club, and strengthening the links between the Club and the community of Southampton and the surrounding areas.
How many other Supporters' Trusts are there?
At present, there are more than 140 other Supporters’ Trusts in England, Wales and Scotland under the Supporters Direct umbrella. Each has had different circumstances and reasons for being set up and have many different aims, but they have all had the support and guidance of Supporters Direct. The number of Trusts is ever increasing due to this involvement.
What is Supporters Direct, and what is its role?
Supporters Direct is a government-backed scheme aimed at helping fans form Trusts by offering advice on what form it should take and how to get it off the ground. They ensure that as many people get involved as possible. Having worked with fans setting up over 140 trusts since 2000, they advise fans on what works and what doesn't and give examples of good ideas from other Trusts.
As the fans who get involved are volunteers, it's important that they don't get disheartened or feel they wasted time on something that hasn't delivered, and Supporters Direct help them avoid going up blind alleys and instead spend their time on things that will be positive and make a difference. They also take some of the load off their hands having full-time staff dedicated to a group of clubs who are at the end of a phone to advise, if needed. Supporters Direct also pay for all the legal costs of setting up a Trust and provide small grants, to cover things like advertising, printing, room hire etc.
Why Join The Saints Trust?
Every individual member strengthens the voice of the Trust. The Trust will play a more important role in helping communications between the fanbase and the Club if it has the moral support of thousands of supporters combined with the financial muscle of representing a sizeable shareholding in the Club.
With the Club openly supporting the idea of a Supporter Director your membership brings this idea one step closer to reality. This is a significant step in the role of Supporters representation and your membership will play a part in this happening.
In addition, the majority of your membership fees go towards acquiring shares in the Club, and so over a period of years the Trust will begin to build a stake in the Club.
How will The Saints Trust ensure that common sense rather than knee-jerk reactions will rule its policies?
By having a strong Trust Board backed by a democratic mandate from its members. All key decisions will be made on a "one member, one vote" basis among the Trust membership.
Do you have to be a Southampton Leisure Holdings shareholder to join The Saints Trust?
No. The beauty of a Supporters' Trust is that you get the best of both worlds. Fans and Trust Members who own shares can proxy their voting rights to the Trust to enable the Trust to have a larger number of votes at the AGM and consequently a louder voice. Any such shares proxied to the Trust would still belong to their owner. Fans who aren’t shareholders can just become Trust Members, and any shares that the Trust buys are owned collectively by all of the Trust Members.
Is it possible for non-UK residents to become Trust Members?
Absolutely. There are no geographical restrictions as to who can become Trust Members.
Must Trust Members be over 16 to vote in elections or meetings?
As a Trust is a legal entity (under Law, it’s classed as a company, but it's a company that only allows one vote per person and is not-for-profit), minors aren’t allowed to be full, voting members. However, we have a Junior membership for those under the age of 16.
Would a Trust Member with more shares than me in Southampton Leisure Holdings have more of a say when it comes to policy voting?
No. All votes are cast strictly on a "one member, one vote" basis to ensure that every member has an equal say.
How much does it cost to become a Member of The Saints Trust?
Please see the Membership section of this website for all the information about Membership prices, benefits, etc.
