I am thrilled to be able to announce a major change in the way in which our great club will be run in future which brings the fans close to the centre of decision making.  During the pandemic, a small group of dedicated staff and supporters including Mark Alcock, Sally-Ann Ashby, Al Gee, Paul Griffiths and John Macmillan under the able leadership of David Montgomery, have worked tirelessly to bring in much needed funds, raise the club’s profile and keep fans informed and have provided much needed support to the board.

The board have therefore decided that, in recognition of their efforts and in the best interests of the football club, the group, under the title of Borough Development Group, will become a formal part of the club’s governance structure.  The detailed way it will work is set out in an organogram which you can access here but, in outline, the board will task the BDG with responsibility for delivering a range of projects which either the board or the BDG will have originated.

The first members of the BDG will be the original pandemic group but, with board approval, they will be inviting new people to join them either permanently or for specific tasks.  You will see from the organogram that one of the major functions of the BDG is to have regular consultations with fans who will have the right to elect one member of the BDG.  The BDG also has the right to nominate up to three people for appointment as directors of the club. I am delighted to say that their first two nominees – John Macmillan, our long-serving Company Secretary and Oz Rowley our Operations Manager who is responsible for all matters relating to stadium safety as well as being the manager of our highly successful development squad – will join the board with immediate effect. 

The third BDG nominated directorship will remain vacant for the time being.  To complete the integration of the BDG into the governance structure, Andy Fearn our Director of Football who is also a successful businessman, will join the BDG wearing his commercial rather than his football hat.

 The next step will be to agree a set of projects for the BDG to get its teeth into, but likely candidates are to help maximise commercial opportunities at the Football Club and Social Club; developing the website and other club media; and communications generally.  And there are also longer term issues requiring longer term solutions such as what will the ground look like in the future and how will improvements be paid for. If you have the skills needed for any of these tasks and would like to get involved, please email either John Macmillan at john.macmillan@staffordrangersfc.co.uk  or David Montgomery  at david.montgomery@ggcltd.com.

This is a very exciting time for the club. I wish the BDG under the continuing chairmanship of David Montgomery and the new directors all the very best for the future and look forward to working with them all for the greater benefit of our beloved Boro’.

John Bromley,

Chairman