StadiumWatch Activity Report: January 2007

"The singular achievement of the SMC to date has been to provide the impetus for the formation of StadiumWatch. This the SMC managed through staggering ineptitude and stupefying indifference to the needs of its largest customer group" - StadiumWatch January 2007

Meanwhile StadiumWatch has been busy passing on the fans' ire, and digging deep into the structure and management of the SMC.

Below is a summary of the dealings StadiumWatch have had behind the scenes, which has brought the Mayor, the chairman of the SMC, (Ian Spowart), the Chief Executive of the SMC, (Andrew Nicholl), and also the DVLT to correspond with StadiumWatch. They now know who we are and what we aim to achieve.

Mayor Winter:

StadiumWatch wrote to Mayor Winter to express dismay at the failure of the SMC to respond to comments, complaints and enquiries made on fans' behalf. SMC chairman, Ian Spowart (IS) was instructed to respond, which he did within days, (see SMC Chairman below).

SMC Chairman:

Chairman, Ian Spowart (IS) requested a list of StadiumWatch complaints so that they might be addressed by himself as chairman of the SMC.

StadiumWatch forwarded a copy of a VSC forum thread lambasting the SMC's ticket office for repeated failure to answer the phones which led a party of four to abandon their football weekend in Doncaster. IS wrote expressing regret but promised that improvements were on the way.

StadiumWatch sent copies of 13 specimen email complaints by 12 users which the SMC had previously failed to respond to.

StadiumWatch refuted the SMC "spin" that the ticket office had done well to deal with 66,000 visitors in January alone. Allowing for season ticket holders and opposition ticket sales, the SMC ticket office had only dealt with around half that number.

StadiumWatch have called upon IS to instruct Andrew Nicholl to respond to a 2nd January 2007 call for the SMC to admit their abject failures to date, commit themselves to a demonstrable change in their modus operandi, issue a clear and binding declaration via a charter that they will adopt a public service ethos. Also to desist from petty interference in Club matters, offer value for money for goods and services, and do all of the above with exemplary attention to quality of service.

StadiumWatch put the SMC chairman on notice that our further aims will be pursued with unrelenting vigour.

SMC Chief Executive:

CEO Andrew Nicholl (AN) had previously ignored all correspondence from StadiumWatch dating from 2nd January 2007, citing "other priorities", but due to the intervention of the Mayor and the SMC Chairman, he has been forced to apologise to StadiumWatch and has promised a written response.

StadiumWatch requested AN to respond in writing to their 2nd January observations, a request now likely to be reinforced by an instruction from IS (see above).

Doncaster Lakeside Sports Complex LLP (aka SMC):

A number of Freedom of Information Act requests for information enquiring into the structure, organisation and financing of the LLP have been issued.

Further FOI requests have been made for reports on the number of complaints received and their current status, for information on remuneration of the executives, on any bonus schemes, on any loan raising powers granted to the LLP, on any schemes that would facilitate a management buyout or profit shares, for details of any related party transactions involving the directors, details of any disbursements of monies back to the DMBC or the DVLT, and any payments to charities and local groups.

StadiumWatch also called for FOI on the allocation and take up of all complimentary tickets issued through the SMC, and to whom.

StadiumWatch served these requests on the SMC via IS and AN. A response must be received within 20 days.

SMC Finance Director:

StadiumWatch called upon Phillip Gilliat (PG), Finance Director, to institute an independent audit of all ticketing during January 2007, with emphasis on those double sold, the half-price tickets to those queuing at kick-off time against Darlington, and on the recording of actual attendances during January, in response to alleged equipment failures and misreporting of official attendances.

StadiumWatch has received no acknowledgement from PG as yet, but has the option of seeking his censure by his regulatory institute, for failure to reply in a timely manner, provided he is actually professionally qualified.

Dearne Valley Leisure Trust (DVLT):

StadiumWatch has asked for the DVLT to explain how their partnership with the DMBC in running the Lakeside Sports Complex is consistent with their official charitable aims as filed with the Charity Commission, and to explain certain omissions regarding their partnership from their recent statutory accounts.

StadiumWatch has recently received an acknowledgement of these requests, but a formal response from the Trustees is still awaited.

Charity Commission and DVLT Auditors:

The Charity Commission have been called upon to monitor the DVLT with respect to their involvement in the Lakeside Sports Complex, and their charity accounts omissions, with a view to appraising whether their charitable status is sustainable.

The DVLT Auditors have been called upon to consider the omissions from the DVLT accounts. A warning has now been issued by StadiumWatch reminding them of their duty to respond to these enquiries.

Would the above individuals and organisations please note:

StadiumWatch are committed to pressing home their requests for information, remedial action, changes to the SMC structure and its modus operandi, in the interests of all users, of all fans and of all clubs.

StadiumWatch will remain vigilant at all times, and will be relentless in support of its aims.

Notes:

1. StadiumWatch resources are available from http://www.stadiumwatch.co.uk
2. Note 26 to the DVLT 2006 accounts state: "Stadium management fee £5,000 - Received from Lakeside Sports Complex LLP for general purposes".
3. Limited Liability Partnerships are a new form of legal entity created by the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000. Put simply the partners agree in a confidential document their relative shares in contributions to assets in a winding up, and their participation in any profits. The disclosure requirements are less onerous than the more familiar limited company model. LLP's are registered at companies house, and are taxed in the same way as regular partnerships.
4. The DMBC and the DVLT are designated partners in the Lakeside Sports Complex LLP.

SW 200701 AR001 - 31/01/2007 24:00

Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are those of StadiumWatch and in no way are represented to be associated with or by Doncaster Rovers FC, their officers or employees.

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