Supporters Direct Scotland Statement

In recent months Supporters Direct Scotland’s (SDS) profile has risen dramatically following its well-publicised involvement with three football clubs – Rangers, Hearts and Dunfermline – where it has worked with supporters’ groups and the clubs themselves to explore ways of achieving greater fan involvement and community ownership in the running of these clubs.

SDS’s colleagues south of the border have worked with many clubs in recent times and currently are integrally involved in the high profile supporters’ takeover at Portsmouth. Since 2000 Supporters Direct across the UK has been involved in facilitating discussions between Supporters Trusts and clubs with many progressing to the scenario where the supporters and community have successfully taken over the running of the club.

The current Hearts situation is one that SDS remains closely involved with. This is at the request of the Club’s Board and as such we will continue to help explore ways that supporters can gain a greater say and input into the running of the Club. As is well known, we have had meetings with the Club in recent weeks discussing different ownership models and we will have further meetings with them in future to continue to develop ways of opening the Club up to greater fan involvement and control. We remain engaged in this process and we believe there is a real opportunity to deliver a long term solution for Hearts created by all Hearts supporters for the whole community. We appreciate that each independent situation has its own specific history, however, we are determined that working in partnership with all interested parties, we can together, provide a specific ‘maroon solution’.

However, as we operate as an independent body, SDS does not act as a broker or representative of any party that shows an interest in being part of a community owned club. We will happily facilitate meetings with existing owners and any group that approaches us expressing an interest in fan and community ownership of a club. We are a Community Benefit Society registered with the Financial Services Authority and owned by our member Trusts and Supporters Societies and we can bring many years of relevant experience to the table.

Taking just one example to illustrate the diverse range of support SDS provides, we spent many months working with The Rangers Supporters Trust this year to help them develop its ‘Buy Rangers’ campaign, a vehicle for its fans to buy into their Club. It [the ‘Buy Rangers’ campaign] was launched at the beginning of November with the aim of purchasing a shareholding in Rangers and put a measure of control firmly in the hand of those to whom it means most – the supporters. This initiative allows Rangers fans to invest collectively and at an affordable price in the upcoming Initial Public Offering.

Interest in the fan and community ownership model is growing across the world as a sustainable approach to maintaining sporting clubs’ survival. In some countries fan ownership is a requirement and has shown to be a highly successful model. SDS is committed to facilitating supporter led ownership and involvement across the Scottish football landscape.