Nottingham Forest supporters have set up a new trust which aims to give fans a louder voice and strengthen links between the club and community.
More than 100 supporters met at the Albert Hall on Thursday evening and listened to a panel of speakers who explained what the aims of the trust were.
The public meeting was organised by supporters Richard Antcliff and Thomas Newton, who created a Go Fund Me page in order to raise enough money to put on the event.
It was followed by a vote, with the assembled fans overwhelmingly backing the foundation of the group.
**It’s a yes vote 105 yes 1 no 2 abstain**
Thank you for all who got involved the hard work starts now. Thank you and good night #NFFC
— NFFC SupportersTrust (@NFFCTrust) April 7, 2016
Mr Antcliff said: “We hope we can look back in time and say we made a significant contribution in this special year (150th anniversary).
“It’s poignant that the trust has begun in such a special year and we hope this will help ensure the club is still here in another 150 years.
“Forest have been a bit late to the party, we want to create a formal dialogue between the club and fans as the modern game doesn’t engage enough with the supporters.
“The evening itself was a real mixture of emotion as the excellent DVD montage reminded us of so many great memories but it was also a reminder of how different times are now.
“We want Forest to be back at the top and the fans will play a pivotal role in achieving this.”
Picture: The trust’s new logo
Ian Bason from the Foxes Trust explained how a similar set-up at Leicester FC helped save the team from administration.
The club are now four wins away from the Premier League title.
Forest fans from around the world were able to watch the event, streamed live on Periscope.
Thomas Newton stressed that the trust was not anti-establishment and would maintain strong links within the club with “100 per cent integrity and credibility”.
He added: “We strongly oppose any in-out movements to drive either the current owner or manager, whoever that may be, out of the club.”
The trust will be non-profit making, independent of Nottingham Forest Football Club and committee roles will be taken on a voluntary basis, with members being democratically elected.
The newly formed Trust now hopes to create a working group through which fans can get actively involved and have their voices heard.
The group also plans to hold talks with the Financial Conduct Authority as the trust will have legal status to potentially own club shares in the future.
For more information see the trust twitter page.
