Memorandum of Understanding Meeting
Thursday 19th August
Present: David Burgess (ASFC Managing Director)
Peter Leatham & Peter Warburton (OASST Chair & Secretary)
The Trust requested that the Market Shop lease was completed and returned to the Market Hall and that a copy of the public liability insurance was available – DB has completed the lease and the insurance copy will be sent to the Trust.
DB advised that there are potential future issues with the large screen in that the continual required maintenance is expensive for the club and it will probably need re-siting when the Whinney Hill away end is developed. The option of a maintenance contract with Scanlite was discussed and also other possible options. They have currently removed a particularly troublesome panel and taken it back to the factory for repair.
It was agreed to carry this forward until the next meeting.
The Trust asked about the Fanzone TVs and they will not be able to show any external footage until the SKY systems are restored in the new bars. Unlikely that this will be this season. We should be able to feed from the gantry match cameras in the near future DB advised.
The return of fans was discussed and generally has gone well with a few minor issues, the late arrival of fans at turnstiles caused some small delays and it would help the club if all could get into the ground a little earlier.
The marquee has been good and the quick fill beer trials have been successful and the club are keen to progress with this. DB asked if the Trust would consider funding the purchase as it certainly meets the primary consideration of improving the match day experience. It was also asked which system did the fans prefer and the Trust was asked to pose the question via the media channels. The commercial benefits of the sponsorship option of the glass bottom magnets would help cover the costs. The unit is “portable” and can be utilised in various parts of the ground and where it will be most useful as well as potentially at venues off site if required.
DB approved some Trust poster sites on the Fanzone providing we can identify suitable areas.
This includes new chaplaincy posters on the home fanzone.
The issue of slow card machines was discussed and DB advised that new GPS card machines and an updated wifisystem will be installed in due course
The issue of fans cash purchasing beer behind the Studio stand and being denied return to the Fanzone was raised and DB will instruct stewards to allow fans back into the fanzone area.
Future OASST events were discussed with the end of season presentation dinner and a possible sportsman’s evening highlighted for the new lounges. Dates to be finalised although 23rd of April is favourite for the end of season event.
Dates were agreed for the matchday foodbank collections on 23/10 and 15/1 which will involve SDA and OASST working with ASFC.
DB suggested that OASST should be working closer with the media team at the club and this was agreed as being sensible and a meeting has been arranged to outline all activities going forwards.