BCH AGM - a personal view: "Acomb Dave"
Several members of the Friends of Bootham Crescent attended the AGM of Bootham Crescent Holdings held on 30 January 2003. Here one of the members attending gives a personal view of the proceedings.
I did not know what really to expect when I attended the Bootham Crescent Holdings AGM, but the farce was quite unlike anything I have ever experienced!
The meeting was in the smartie room where the kids play on match days. The behaviour of some of the lead characters in this pantomime was very appropriate for the setting.
Before the meeting started Craig announced that he had received a request from John Batchelor to read out a statement. Batchelor weaseled in saying he was close to reaching a deal for both the purchase of the club and BC with a significant injection of cash into YCFC. He also stated there would be cash put into the football club from BCH.
Batchelor went on to say that since the day the club went into administration he has been working hard to seek investors to purchase the club and went on to thank organisations like Persimmons, CoY Council and the Supporters Trust. At this point a Trust member objected "Rubbish" (and more) and walked out with Keith Usher following him out telling him to "grow up". Batchelor was hissed at and jeered with comments like "more promises to break Batchelor" hurled at him as he left the room.
Being in the same room as both Batchelor and Craig was an experience, two people who, in my opinion, have helped to destroy the club I have supported for more than forty years. I don't particularly want to be in that situation again.
The meeting did not start when Batchelor left though, Craig stood up with a statement aimed at the Friends of Bootham Crescent and in particular Ian Savage. Craig accused Ian, stating that after the previous AGM he and other directors of BCH could not get out of the ground because they were barred by a bunch of hooligans and the police had to be called. Craig warned there was a deal close to been signed to save the club but he personally would pull the plug if Mr Savage or any of his supporters molested him, or any other directors within the meeting, outside the meeting or at the gates of BC.
Craig had not done his homework, firstly he described Ian as being the "chairman" of FoBC - in fact there is no hierarchy in FoBC. Secondly, the protest on that farcical night of the 2 minute AGM was actually organised by a student of York University.
Despite objections from Ian and others from FoBC Craig refused to discuss these allegations.
The meeting was then very tame. A situation comedy with the bully telling people to "sit down and shut up" if they made points. Nobody except shareholders were permitted to ask questions. The question re the sale of the property in Grosvenor Terrace to York City and misleading statements in the press associated with this sale, was answered with a comment that it was a paper exercise and no money changed hands.
Peter Brown asked for a poll of names to be taken for all those who refused to accept the accounts. Craig refused. Brown told him he had a legal right to ask that. Craig said he did not have to Brown said he did, Craig said he didn't, at this point we expected the pantomime dame to appear!
Then when a vote was called to elect Swallow as a director 2 or 3 people raised their hands in favour, but an awful lot were against the motion, so a poll of how many votes had been cast was taken. Craig commented that this was an "academic poll" as he owned the majority of shares. Craig then accused Mr Brown of wasting time by insisting on this poll, Brown replied he did not ask for the poll in fact it was Craig who asked for it, "No I didn't" "Yes you did" "No I didn't" "Yes you did" and it was panto season again. Swallow was elected.
"Any Other Business" time. Craig said, no there was not any, because nothing had been put in writing - and the meeting ended at about 10.30.
An interesting example of how democracy should not work.
"AcombDave"