Board of Directors Roles and Responsibilities

Stafford Rangers Football Club Announces New Board of Directors Roles and Responsibilities

Stafford Rangers Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of its newly structured Board of Directors, together with clearly defined roles and responsibilities designed to drive the club’s long‑term success both on and off the pitch.

The revised governance demonstrates the club’s commitment to transparency, accountability and sustainable growth, with the interests of supporters, shareholders and the wider community at its heart.

Leadership appointments

The club confirms the following appointments to the Board of Directors and provides a summary of each role:

Chairman — John Macmillan

John is a respected and experienced leader.

He will chair all board meetings, take a leading strategic role and act as the club’s principal public ambassador.

Chief Executive Officer / General Manager – David Smith

David brings extensive grassroots sports development experience.

He will provide day‑to‑day leadership and strategic oversight to all aspects of the club’s development and take board level responsibility for finance.

Commercial Director — David Montgomery

With a strong business background, David will lead initiatives to drive revenue growth and develop commercial partnerships.

Director of Football — Andy Fearn

Responsible for all football operations and administrative support apart from recruitment and team selection, including overseeing the Development Squad and Stafford Rangers Juniors.  Our interface with the FA, Staffs FA and NPL and Board Safeguarding Champion.

Communications Director — Mark Alcock

Mark will lead the communications team to improve efficiency and to grow social media engagement, sponsorship opportunities and website functionality.

Social Club Director — Harry Shaw

Harry will oversee social club operations and focus on enhancing daytime usage for conferences etc, and all hospitality and supporter services.

Ground Operations Director & Safety Officer — Ben Alcock

Ben will lead on ground development and infrastructure improvements and serve as the Club’s Safety Officer.

Head of Fans Engagement & Matchday Experience — Mark Evans

Mark will manage fan relations and coordinate matchday volunteer activities to improve the supporter experience.

Commitment to the future

This strengthened governance structure and leadership team have been appointed to guide Stafford Rangers towards a sustainable and prosperous future.

The Board’s priorities include deepening engagement with supporters and the local community, delivering operational excellence across the club, and ensuring financial sustainability.

The Board would also like to record its gratitude to Gerard Banister, who has resigned as a director.

Gerard’s hard work and dedication during his tenure have been greatly appreciated.

A SHARED VISION, A SHARED FUTURE

Introduction – A United Purpose

Stafford Rangers Football Club (SRFC) stands at a pivotal moment in its 150-year history. Founded on the values of community, loyalty, and resilience, the club has always belonged to its supporters, having over 500 fan shareholders rather than a single owner. Now, with an exciting new opportunity for sustainable investment, we aim to secure SRFC’s long-term future — not just for our loyal fans and shareholders, but for the wider community.

The Challenge – A Proud Club Needing Renewal

For many years, SRFC has operated with limited financial resources. While we have maintained stability and avoided significant debt, tight cash flow has restricted our ability to invest in the team, facilities, and broader community engagement.

As a result, we have struggled to fulfil our potential — both on and off the pitch. The time has come to move beyond mere survival and toward sustainable success.

The Opportunity – Investing in the Next 150 Years

Our 150th anniversary year presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the Rangers’ future and to regain the ground lost over the years. With new strategic investment and modern management, SRFC can:

• Return to National League football and strengthen our sporting competitiveness.
• Install a 3G pitch to maximise community and commercial use year-round.
• Redevelop the Stan Robinson Stadium into a home we can be proud of; and
• Expand the club’s role as a hub for the local community, accessible to schools, Youth organisations, and local businesses.
• For sponsors, these improvements create a larger, more engaged audience and new commercial opportunities built around visibility, participation, and shared community value.

The Vision – Building a Sustainable Club

Together, with incoming investment and a refreshed governance structure, Stafford Rangers aims to become a financially self-sustaining club within three years, generating sufficient revenue to compete effectively while operating at a profit.

Key principles of the Vision:

Reinvestment: All surpluses go directly back into club improvement — on and off the pitch.

Community and commercial engagement: Local and national partners are invited to grow with us, benefiting from expanded exposure and alignment with a trusted regional brand.

Long-term safeguarding: The club’s home at Marston Road will remain protected and dedicated solely to football and community use.

The Commitment – Backed by Dedicated Leadership

Major investment is being led by Nathan Owen, a fan with deeply rooted family ties to the area, now based in the U.S.

Subject to shareholder approval at our AGM on April 2nd Nathan will become majority shareholder through the purchase of at least 1 million new shares (of 1.5 million total issued), pledged primarily for infrastructure and strategic growth.

Supporting Nathan, George Bruneau will purchase 100,000 shares, and they will both support and help oversee implementation of the Vision.

Nathan and George both pledge:

• No personal financial gain.
• No sale or repurposing of Marston Road against shareholders’ wishes.
• Full reinvestment of surplus funds into Stafford Rangers.

These commitments symbolise transparency, sustainability, and a partnership-first ethos — the same principles we offer to all future commercial sponsors.

Governance – Transparent, Accountable, and Active

The club will be managed by an independent, annually elected board accountable for clear performance outcomes across key operational areas: finance, football, infrastructure, and community engagement.

• Each director will volunteer at least 10 hours per week to SRFC.
• All directors, employees, and volunteers will adhere to a shared code of conduct to ensure professionalism and accountability.
• Shareholders will review and vote on board performance at every AGM, ensuring openness and continuous improvement.

The new Chief Executive Officer (David Smith) will lead daily operations full-time.

This structure assures both investors and sponsors that SRFC’s growth will be well-managed, ethically driven, and strategically aligned with its vision.

The Invitation – Join the Journey

We are inviting shareholders, fans, and sponsors alike to be part of the transformation of Stafford Rangers. This is more than an investment in football — it is an investment in community spirit, regional pride, and shared success.

Whether through share ownership, corporate sponsorship, or community partnership, every contribution fuels our mission to bring the Rangers back to prominence and to make the Stan Robinson Stadium a thriving venue open to all.

Together, we can make this future a reality.

Call to Action – Be Part of Our Future

This is your opportunity to play a direct role in the next chapter of Stafford Rangers:

Shareholders: Join us at the Annual General Meeting on April 2nd, 2026, to approve the new share issuance and help shape the club’s future direction

Sponsors and Business Partners: If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or expanding your existing support, please get in touch with David Montgomery to discuss partnership opportunities

Supporters and Community Members: Your enthusiasm, time, and presence are invaluable. If you would like to get involved in any capacity — from volunteering to community initiatives — please reach out to Ben Alcock to explore how you can contribute.

Every bit of support helps move us closer to securing the future we all believe in.

We believe in this vision — the question is, will you join us?

Carol Bailey and John Bromley step down

Carol Bailey and John Bromley have resigned from their positions as board directors with immediate effect.

Carol Bailey

Carol is affectionately known as ‘Miss Stafford Rangers’ and her love of the club goes back many years.

She became a director in 2014 but now feels that the time is right for her to step back.

We will not be losing Carol as she will continue to help in the role of club secretary and the office on a regular basis but has relinquished her role as Vice Chair together with all her board responsibilities.

John Bromley

John Bromley was also appointed a director in 2014 and went onto become one of our longest serving Chairmen before resigning from that position in February 2025.

John admits he is not getting any younger and has resigned in the best interest of the football club and his family to spend more time looking after his wife.

The club is still close to his heart and will continue to help around the ground when he can.

Our thanks

Both have been loyal and resilient stalwarts of the club over many years and have taken their roles as custodians very seriously. Their hearts still beat strongly within the club.

We want to thank both for everything they have done for Stafford Rangers over many years and am sure we will see them both cheering the team on as usual on Saturday.

In recognition of their efforts both will be made Honorary Vice Presidents in perpetuity.

Stafford Rangers Football Club