Making It Up as They Go Along: The Dismantling of Fan Ownership at Lewes FC. By Chris Harris
15/1 Stop Press! At tonight’s ‘consultation meeting where, other than club officials, 8 members attended 0.3% of our membership, it was revealed that the share issue has increased from £1 million to £1.5 million, and the £250,000 investment cap has been removed, allowing larger amounts with board approval. It really does feel like they’re making it up as they go along.
Last Sunday the Supporters Club sent out a survey to gauge opinions on Lewes FC’s proposed investment plans and the creation of Lewes FC Holdings Ltd. Despite weeks of relentless PR campaigns and polished and at times evangelical messaging from the club, the response has been striking: a significant majority of fans remain either opposed to or uncertain about the direction the club is taking.
Only 23% of owners expressed support for the plans, while 50% were unsure and 27% opposed. Among all respondents, including non-owners, just 17.5% supported the proposals, with 22.2% opposed and 60.3% unsure. These figures underscore widespread confusion and dissatisfaction among fans, despite the club’s efforts to win support.
After a month of relentlessly spinning the proposals with no real alternative ideas, to claim the support of 17.5% is abysmal. Look, the numbers that took part were not huge, as it was a snap poll, but the result is significant in that it highlights the woeful and amateur presentation. Lewes FC have still not woken up to the fact that big rhetoric and ideas are meaningless with no proper substance. Oh and don’t forget we were told a week ago there was no opposition to the plans. Wow, really? Just 82.5%!
The comments received apparently highlighted frustration at the lack of clear, detailed information. This is what the club needs to worry about, yes or no is important of course, but that the presentation has been so abysmal that vast swathes questioned simply hadn’t a clue what is going on as the club seemingly make it up as they go along. In that these supporters bothered to answer the questionnaire would suggest they are genuinely interested but like all lay people with a truck load of jargon chucked at them how the hell are they supposed to understand? Oh and before some smart Alec comments about the numbers participating, I see some of these much heralded on line town hall meetings with a paltry 30 people watching and most of them are the leadership and friends and these and decisions reached are deemed permissible and democratic .
The five or so long email correspondence/campaign from the club paints a deeply troubling picture—not just of a club navigating the many challenges left by the previous board, who disgracefully left them to pick up the pieces from the failed Murphy project, without preparing for what we all knew was going to be financial difficulty, but of one undermining its very foundation of fan ownership. There is no doubt the board need to find a plan to bring investors/sponsorship in. But after a year all they have come up with is a half baked anomaly that deviates from a standard response to financial problems and is badly presented and well, just bad. (see links below)
The last 6 emails have swung, tarzan like, from one direction to the other, from the 100% guarantee that fan ownership will not be impugned, to a new board of unelected ‘professionals’ being set up to make policy and direct the club, you couldn’t make up such abysmal presentation and lack of pragmatism.
The board’s decision to establish a new governance structure, emphasizing roles in communications, finance, and marketing, while neglecting critical areas such as football operations, hospitality, entertainment, and catering, FHEC! is perplexing. These are fundamental aspects of running a football club. This oversight is akin to opening a butcher shop without employing a butcher.
The omission of key operational roles in the proposed structure raises concerns about the board’s understanding of the club’s essential functions. Effective management of football operations, hospitality, and related services is crucial to the club’s success, and their absence in the governance plan suggests a disconnect between the board’s strategy and the club’s operational needs.
It’s imperative for the board to reassess the proposed governance structure, ensuring it aligns with the club’s core operations and values. Engaging with supporters and stakeholders to develop a more practical and inclusive plan would be a constructive step forward.
The initial email from Lewes FC’s leadership outlined ambitious goals to “reset, reimagine, and future-proof” the club, emphasizing societal impact, financial stability, and competitive growth. However, it lacked concrete details, leaving supporters with broad priorities like “stabilize financials” and “professionalize governance” without clear plans, leading to confusion among fans.
Subsequent communications shifted focus to financial matters, notably the introduction of Lewes FC Holdings Ltd, a new entity aimed at attracting investment. This move marked a departure from the club’s community values, raising concerns about the dilution of fan control and the transparency of the decision-making process. The creation of an executive board comprising unelected professionals, a clear attempt to move power from members to unelected professionals.
Further emails appealed to fans’ emotional connection to the club, urging investment for the “emotional reward” of being part of something larger. Despite this sentiment, the lack of clarity and perceived contradictions in the proposed changes has left many supporters feeling marginalized and uncertain about the club’s future direction. The overarching narrative transitioned from a vision of fan empowerment to concerns over increased professional control and reduced community influence.
The recent developments have led to a sense of confusion and concern among the fan base, emphasizing the need for the club’s leadership to address these issues properly transparently and collaboratively, not through spammy emails and meetings nobody attends.
This great supposed consultation—where are the figures? How many people have actually engaged? With the club’s history of poor attendance and minimal contributions during consultations—thanks to limited communication via social media and poorly attended meetings—why hasn’t the club made a real effort to spark discussions? Why aren’t we using our numerous social media channels and fans’ forum to actively engage supporters and get their input? This lack of effort is frustrating and shows a failure to connect with the very people who make this club what it is. Well over half of match day attendees are not even members, why are they not represented, why do their views not count?
What This Evolution Reveals
- A Betrayal of Fan Ownership: The creation of Lewes FC Holdings Ltd marks a turning point in the club’s history, sidelining the fan-elected board and concentrating power in unelected professionals. This is not evolution—it’s erosion.
- Contradictory Messaging: The emails are riddled with contradictions, promising community empowerment while systematically dismantling it. Fans are asked to trust a process that simultaneously undermines their role.
- Confusion and Complexity: The introduction of dual boards, share issues, and professional oversight has created a labyrinth type structure that is impenetrable to most fans. This complexity feels less like a necessary evolution and more like a deliberate attempt to exclude and obfuscate.
- Lip Service to Values: While the emails are peppered with references to inclusivity, diversity, and consultation, the reality is that decisions have already been made. The fan base is being asked to endorse a plan they had no real role in shaping. I have written to the FSA today to seek clarity on whether a members vote is required, not on the setting up of Holdings Ltd, but whether a new board structure of unelected representatives is legitimate within our governance structure without a members vote.
- A Reactive, Not Proactive, Strategy: The constant evolution of the plan suggests a leadership team lurching from one idea to the next, reacting to criticism rather than presenting a clear, cohesive vision. This chaos is detrimental to the club and its owners. Notice how that ridiculous valuation has disappeared?
Conclusion: A Betrayal?
The recent emails of the future plans reveal a leadership team that has not only lost its way but is actively dismantling the principles of fan ownership that made Lewes FC a club operated solely by fans. By shifting control to Lewes FC Holdings Ltd and professionalizing governance(ha ha), the club’s leadership has betrayed its fan base, reducing them to passive investors in a new project they barely understand.
What’s worse, this strategy is cloaked in confusing jargon, contradictory messaging, and emotional manipulation. Fans are being asked to sacrifice their influence on running the club for the promise of a brighter future—but that future is one where their voices no longer matter.
We were supposed to be a shining example of “football done differently.” But with this policy, it risks becoming just another club where money and power trump the values of community and transparency. For a fan-owned club, there is no greater betrayal.
The whole situation is a mess. Equality FC, one of our defining principles, hasn’t even been mentioned, are we just waiting for unelected “professionals” with zero real-world football experience to decide its fate? The board needs to stop playing games, scrap this half-baked plan, and start over. Give us a proper proposal that’s fully costed, realistic, and honest. If we’re in financial trouble and need a cash injection to keep the club alive, just say so. Don’t hide behind jargon and pretend there’s some grand strategy when there isn’t. Lay out the facts, the risks, and the options. Stop trying to be clever. Just be upfront. Lewes FC fans and owners deserve the truth, not a sales pitch.
The Rights of Fans. 