Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust is a member of Supporters Direct Scotland who recently sent us this interesting information about proposed international developments.

Dear Scottish members,

Recently you will have received a message from Brian Burgess.Chair of SD, sent out to all SD members regarding our recent governance review. This follow-up newsletter is to provide more background to the opportunities presented to our members in Scotland.

In terms of moving forward, there was a majority view that the work SD Europe does in over 20 countries on the continent should come under an independent Pan-European Umbrella Body, with a membership network of National Organizations across Europe, which could include our work here in Scotland. This new organization will facilitate further growth and development of the Supporters Trust and fans group movement across member countries throughout the UEFA area. To help prepare a clear vision of what this may look like, a Steering Group has been established which includes the chairman of the SD Scotland Council, Neil Bone.  He will join colleagues from Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Israel and Andy Walker from FC United of Manchester on behalf of the SD Board.  The Group will be working closely with Antonia Hageman, Head of SD Europe, to prepare a plan for the establishment of this new organisation.

The outcomes of the governance review and the board’s decision following that will give us an opportunity in Scotland to incorporate as a separate entity, as and when this is beneficial for SD Scottish member trusts. This could provide SDS with a greater degree of flexibility as to how we address issues within Scotland, and also, how we work with our members.

The intention is to provide a flexible framework; within which our Scottish member trusts and the SD Scottish Council representing you, will have opportunities to benefit from not only the existing close working relationship with SD staff and members in England and Wales but also from developing new relationships with similar European supporters groups and national organisations. Simply put, the experience gained from our work in Scotland can be of value to groups in other European countries, and we can learn just as much from them.

We also received some other very clear messages from the review process, and these messages will be enormously helpful to us, as we look at the way in which we can engage with our members more effectively in the future. We know that members value our work, particularly in times of crisis, but we want to ensure that members feel very much part of the organisation, all the time.

We will continue to keep you updated on the progress and developments following this decision. For further information please look at the FAQs on the website (www.supporters-direct.org/homepage/aboutsupportersdirect/governan/governance-review-faqs-2)

Best wishes,

Neil Bone, Chair

SD Scottish Council

And

Andrew Jenkin

Head of SD Scotland