Chesterfield Football Supporters Society members were told of an important proposal concerning the future of the Society and football club at their Annual General Meeting.

The meeting held at the Olde House heard Chairman John Croot give his annual report to members.  John said these were exciting times and it was clear that CFSS was still an integral part of our football club.  That role was important in a time of major change. 

John introduced Andrew Fantom who gave the Treasurer's report that showed that the Society, along with other activities, handed over £13,000 to the Club in the last reporting year.

Membership Secretary David Bowler told the meeting that last year the Society had over a thousand members and that so far 92% had renewed this year.  David said that it was pleasing that members were renewing long after the crisis had passed and when things at the Club were stable.  He personally suggested that the time was close when the Society and other supporters groups might have to consider the way forward to best help the Club and represent the fans.

John Croot announced the unopposed re-election of Vice-Chairman Peter Whiteley and election of Dale Cooper to the Board.  Peter then gave an account of the activities of the Society concerning the Heritage of the Club.  Peter welcomed Dale to his new position and highlighted Dale's work within the Heritage Group particularly around the facsimile 1902 programme and accompanying book.

Peter also announced an important acquisition for the Society of a gold Championship medal from 100 years ago.  Full details of this and Dale's book will be on the site next week.

The Chairman then gave details of a Society Board proposal that would be put to the members in a postal ballot.  This proposal supported by the Club and recommends the selling of the CFSS shareholding in CFC 2001 Ltd to the new investor as part of their buying 4 million shares.  The £230,500 realised by the sale would help to underwrite the community facilities in the East Stand.  Plans for that stand were made available to those present.  John made it clear that this just concerned the shares retained by the Society rather than the half-a-million reallocated to the members.

While the proposal was supported by the Society Board there were many questions from members many of which were appropriate to the football club Board.  The consensus was that a more detailed explanation was needed concerning the aspects of the Community Project and around the identification of the new investor and an indication of his intentions.  The meeting did overwhelmingly indicate that a CFSS representation on the football club Board was still needed and that the security of tenure on the new community facilities was important.