Our Aims
The Gas Independent Fans Trust has been launched as a response to calls from many supporters for an effective voice to air their views and as a vehicle to address key issues that affect the future of the football club. Whilst the initial momentum for the organisation came against the backdrop of the disappointing news of the stadium delay over the summer of 2008, it is intended that the focus of the Trust will be to have a positive influence on both the decision making within the football club and the relationship between the fans and the Board.
The overwhelming feedback received from supporters during the course of the summer was that the main aim in the near term should be to establish an organisation that acts as “a voice from the fans, for the fans”. This organisation would firstly seek to gather fans’ views on key issues and communicate these to the Board. Secondly it would assess the performance of the Board in relation to these.
A strong bond between the Board and the fans is a key ingredient for any successful football club. In order to achieve this, there needs to be effective communication from the Boardroom on all key matters affecting the club and an effective mechanism whereby the fans – the lifeblood of the club - have a major input into the club’s key decision making processes.
This will deliver benefits for all sides and hopefully help restore the relationship between the Board and the fans. The Board will benefit by receiving detailed feedback on what the fans are thinking at any one time, and they will be able to use this when making key decisions. It will also provide them with an effective channel through which they can put out feelers on specific projects and ideas that they are considering.
The fans, meanwhile, will have confidence that their views have been taken into account on key issues
- Establish a framework whereby fans are effectively informed on all key matters affecting the club and have a major input into the club’s key decision making processes.
- Campaign for improvements in the marketing of the club and offer to provide practical assistance to the club in order to deliver them.
- Campaign to ensure that youth development and scouting remains a top priority at the football club and help Rovers to develop a programme that aids the long term success of our football club based on a blend of youth and experience, local and non-local.
- Raise the profile and reputation of the club in the local community, thereby helping it to attract the next generation of supporters and find future talent for the Rovers first team.
- Celebrate the club’s traditions and key events in its history, using them to promote the club in the local area and in doing so attract new and lapsed supporters to matches.
To get a fuller picture of the objectives and aims of the organisation and how we plan to achieve them, please download our Season Plan. We welcome feedback and would be delighted to hear from anyone who has ideas that could add to those already contained within the document. GIFT is primarily driven by everyday fans and we would like to hear from you if you have something you would like to contribute.
affecting the club. In addition, an effective communication process will be in place such that the reasons for certain decisions being made at board level can be widely understood.
The key will be the establishment of a highly visible two-way communication channel whereby fans (i) receive regular and effective communications from the club on key issues, (ii) are regularly asked for their views on club policy and consulted with on key issues. A series of proposals for achieving this are outlined below and are discussed in detail in the Season Plan which can be downloaded using the link in the menu bar to the left.
