AGM Feedback

[Fawlty Towers]

12 hours ago, Woodstock Jag said:

Could you explain what, specifically, you mean by this?

I genuinely can’t think of anything that TJF has failed to communicate (promptly) to the fans this season.

To the best of my recollection, every time you’ve asked us about when something was going to be published or announced it was answered promptly and/or it was something that was for the Club, not TJF, to answer.

Whilst I have always had a prompt reply when contacting TJF directly I was thinking more in terms of general communication with the membership.

For example, when it became clear to TJF that the responses to the AGM questions were not going to be available for a bit an e-mail to say that would have been, in my opinion, a good idea.

Also, just looking at March and there was not the usual monthly update. I apologise if the impression was given that I was been overly critical and TJF has probably made a rod for its own back by setting a high bar for itself.

Edited April 9 by Fawlty Towers

[Big Col]

Just wondering what experience and expertise the trustees who did the appraisals have? Who are they and what criteria were the directors measured against as being successful or not, and suitable or not?

[Woodstock Jag]

7 hours ago, Fawlty Towers said:

For example, when it became clear to TJF that the responses to the AGM questions were not going to be available for a bit an e-mail to say that would have been, in my opinion, a good idea.

There is a delicate balance to be struck with things like this though. We didn’t know whether the delays Club side would be resolved relatively quickly or if they’d take several weeks to resolve. We risked either raising expectations unduly (in the event any deadline wasn’t met) or appearing to be unduly critical or negative (if the Club in fact ended up turning it around quite quickly).

TJF giving a public running commentary on when something like that will or won’t be published by the Club isn’t (IMO) necessarily helpful communication; it’s a rod for the backs of people already operating under known and challenging capacity constraints to provide complete and accurate information.

I should also say that we received only two emails about the delays to the publication of the Q&A. And you know who sent both of them 😉

Had there been several members chapping at the door asking for an update, the situation might have been different. But when it is isolated correspondence we generally opt to respond directly, rather than to issue a member-wide update.

 

7 hours ago, Fawlty Towers said:

Also, just looking at March and there was not the usual monthly update.

We have been looking at Mailchimp analytics in recent months that showed readership of the (long) newsletter style email updates was lower than average and falling. In March we therefore prioritised (given there were a lot of different projects taking up capacity behind the scenes and other work commitments of volunteers) providing single item updates by email, on things as and when they arose, as they have higher read and click through rates and are much quicker to compile.

This was done to try to encourage key messages to be seen and acted on where time sensitive. For example in March we had two updates on the quarter final ticketing situation, the launch for general sale of the Stanway Pin, and the launch of the Tartan Talismans top. Either side we also had to run the POTY polls, run two auctions and a raffle.

A judgment call was made that a bespoke member email to provide a glorified holding response, which might have been seen as uncollegiate towards those working on preparing the responses, probably wasn’t warranted.

7 hours ago, Fawlty Towers said:

I apologise if the impression was given that I was been overly critical and TJF has probably made a rod for its own back by setting a high bar for itself.

Fair enough 🤣

[Woodstock Jag]

18 hours ago, Big Col said:

Just wondering what experience and expertise the trustees who did the appraisals have? Who are they and what criteria were the directors measured against as being successful or not, and suitable or not?

The appraisals were done as a combined effort by the boards of both trustees. Directors seeking reappointment were asked to provide a summary of achievements in-post and, if requested, to offer themselves for an interview with a panel of three trustee representatives (typically 2 from TJF, one from TJT). Newer directors were asked to provide a CV as to their suitability, rather than a list of achievements.

This approach is set out in the Club-Trust Agreement, and directors were appraised both collectively (looking at things for which they were jointly responsible) as well as on the business areas for which they had taken on specific responsibility. It was also used as an opportunity to appraise the board structure and the Club’s relationship with legally distinct entities like the Youth Academy.

As for relevant experience of trustees, illustratively and non-exhaustively, the boards of the two trustees include (among others):

(a) an HR professional with two decades of experience in performance management in the finance and energy sectors (Lynsey Kane)

(b) a partner in an accountancy firm with decades of experience in company audit and significant expertise and experience in the finances of football clubs (Sandy Fyfe)

(c) someone who (before retiring) worked for the Care Inspectorate for several decades in a monitoring and compliance capacity (Morag McHaffie)

Edited April 10 by Woodstock Jag

[Big Col]

On 4/9/2026 at 7:37 PM, Woodstock Jag said:

The appraisals were done as a combined effort by the boards of both trustees. Directors seeking reappointment were asked to provide a summary of achievements in-post and, if requested, to offer themselves for an interview with a panel of three trustee representatives (typically 2 from TJF, one from TJT). Newer directors were asked to provide a CV as to their suitability, rather than a list of achievements.

This approach is set out in the Club-Trust Agreement, and directors were appraised both collectively (looking at things for which they were jointly responsible) as well as on the business areas for which they had taken on specific responsibility. It was also used as an opportunity to appraise the board structure and the Club’s relationship with legally distinct entities like the Youth Academy.

As for relevant experience of trustees, illustratively and non-exhaustively, the boards of the two trustees include (among others):

(a) an HR professional with two decades of experience in performance management in the finance and energy sectors (Lynsey Kane)

(b) a partner in an accountancy firm with decades of experience in company audit and significant expertise and experience in the finances of football clubs (Sandy Fyfe)

(c) someone who (before retiring) worked for the Care Inspectorate for several decades in a monitoring and compliance capacity (Morag McHaffie)

Thank you.

[elevenone]

message from the GM

https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/general-manager-update-17-april-2026/

[Fawlty Towers]

8 minutes ago, elevenone said:

message from the GM

https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/general-manager-update-17-april-2026/

Good update and hopefully the start of more regular communication from the club.

I had some communication with Grant Russell (director responsible for the strategic vision) recently and we should expect the strategic plan to be published next week.

[partickthedog]

2 hours ago, Fawlty Towers said:

Good update and hopefully the start of more regular communication from the club.

I had some communication with Grant Russell (director responsible for the strategic vision) recently and we should expect the strategic plan to be published next week.

The update mentioned Gus Watson leaving, but did not say what role he performed. No doubt I should know, but could someone enlighten me?

[Albert's Ghost]

43 minutes ago, partickthedog said:

The update mentioned Gus Watson leaving, but did not say what role he performed. No doubt I should know, but could someone enlighten me?

https://ptfc.co.uk/club/whos-who/staff/

[partickthedog]

30 minutes ago, Albert's Ghost said:

https://ptfc.co.uk/club/whos-who/staff/

Many thanks. I went down the “Our People” rather than the “Staff” route!

[Jaggernaut]

1 hour ago, Albert's Ghost said:

https://ptfc.co.uk/club/whos-who/staff/

There are literally a few shady-looking characters there.

Edited April 17 by Jaggernaut

[lady-isobel-barnett]

11 hours ago, Jaggernaut said:

There are literally a few shady-looking characters there.

Shades of the Piranha Brothers?

 

A comprehensive update. More meat in that one communication than we had from the previous fella in his entire time at the Club.

[Fawlty Towers]

On 4/17/2026 at 7:23 PM, Fawlty Towers said:

Good update and hopefully the start of more regular communication from the club.

I had some communication with Grant Russell (director responsible for the strategic vision) recently and we should expect the strategic plan to be published next week.

Just to say that Grant has advised that in order to have full focus on the promotion push the plan will now be published once the play offs are finished.

[sandy]

4 hours ago, Fawlty Towers said:

Just to say that Grant has advised that in order to have full focus on the promotion push the plan will now be published once the play offs are finished.

Is Grant busy playing in midfield, then?

Edited April 23 by sandy

[Thistle_1876]

5 hours ago, Fawlty Towers said:

Just to say that Grant has advised that in order to have full focus on the promotion push the plan will now be published once the play offs are finished.

😂😂😂

[eljaggo]

Presumably promotion via the play-offs will require a new Plan, so the delay seems sensible to me.

[Jordanhill Jag]

9 hours ago, Fawlty Towers said:

Just to say that Grant has advised that in order to have full focus on the promotion push the plan will now be published once the play offs are finished.

"there's a man ~ with a Plan ~ got a Counterfeit Dollar in his hand "  

[Albert's Ghost]

9 minutes ago, Jordanhill Jag said:

"there's a man ~ with a Plan ~ got a Counterfeit Dollar in his hand "  

You're Misstra Know it all, aren't you!

[Lambies Lost Doo]

I had a search for Grant and found this podcast interview with him interesting 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bcUjlodNzyGEkqOB7Zcna?si=ncrMkgjCTOWwX3wiZQ--Qg

[Jordanhill Jag]

On 4/1/2026 at 7:37 AM, Lenziejag said:

I have thought for a while that there should be a financial stake of some kind to be a director. 

Its not uncommon in Europe to put up a Bond when you join the Board of a Football Club - which you get back when your replaced

Pre Colin Weir Takeover Directors paid either a £5K or £10K non refundable annual Fee to be on the Board

The Argument  being that any Competent Business Person should be able to afford the Fee  

It also meant it was the Boards money that was being spent so it brought focus to the finances 

 

Edited April 25 by Jordanhill Jag

[Lenziejag]

7 hours ago, Jordanhill Jag said:

Its not uncommon in Europe to put up a Bond when you join the Board of a Football Club - which you get back when your replaced

Pre Colin Weir Takeover Directors paid either a £5K or £10K non refundable annual Fee to be on the Board

The Argument  being that any Competent Business Person should be able to afford the Fee  

It also meant it was the Boards money that was being spent so it brought focus to the finances 

 

Something like this should be reconsidered, although it probably needs to be modified somehow for fans voted on to the board.

[Norgethistle]

2 hours ago, Lenziejag said:

Something like this should be reconsidered, although it probably needs to be modified somehow for fans voted on to the board.

TJF putting around £150k a year in probably covers this

[Lenziejag]

3 hours ago, Norgethistle said:

TJF putting around £150k a year in probably covers this

I don’t think it does. It needs a personal stake from people on the board. A bit more substantial than £120.

[Jordanhill Jag]

7 hours ago, Lenziejag said:

Something like this should be reconsidered, although it probably needs to be modified somehow for fans voted on to the board.

ThatsTwo Directors only - and you would have an inbuilt majority of Directors who have put in there own cash and not Running up Debts with other peoples money 

Our Finances are nothing more than a Monopoly Game - losses are not real to those running them up - nor is there accountability for losses Year in Year out

The only thing propping us up this Season is the Cup Runs ~ the Monies from them should have gone on strengthening the Squad in January -rather than propping up Finances 

Its very obvious we cannot afford the Model of Club that we have 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jordanhill Jag]

5 hours ago, Norgethistle said:

TJF putting around £150k a year in probably covers this

Not even close