The Club’s articles of Association require a minimum of 14 days notice prior to an AGM to circulate to the shareholders any nominees to be considered for Board appointments.
It is unlikely however that, even if the nomination had been received within the prescribed period, the Wills family would have supported the proposal. Holt says the Wills family has made it clear to the Board at this stage that they do not wish to add any further nominees for consideration at the AGM.
James Wills, on behalf of his family, told Holt that, because they still remain confused and annoyed by the unfounded accusations of the past. The Trust will have to demonstrate, in no uncertain terms, a positive contribution to the successful recovery of the Club. Additionally until such time that the Trust confirm they represent a substantial proportion of the Club’s fan base Holt also claims the Wills family will not contemplate supporting any nomination.
The Trust appears to have gone about this in a most unfortunate way. It would have been prudent and sensible to let the club know whom they were proposing well in advance. Then, perhaps the Board could have, with the Wills family, met with the nominee to see if they work together and discuss what his or her contribution to the club could be.
‘You just can’t expect the Wills family, the controlling shareholders, to appoint someone they have not even met to the board of a Company in which they have invested considerable sums of money’, concluded Holt