On Wednesday, seven board members at Partick Thistle resigned. This followed pressure from the supporters who let their feelings know at games by chanting and by boycotting last month’s Scottish Cup game against Kelty Hearts. Anger rifted through the Thistle support at the board after their decision of what to do with the late Peter Reid’s 55% of shares. Reid had won the EuroMillions and with his winnings decided to buy the football club he supports with the hopes of transforming the club into a fan-ownership model. Therefore, it was hoped by fans that the stake would be transferred to the Jags Foundation who are an association comprising of over 900 fans. However, the stake was giving to the PTFC Trust. The Trust are another supporters group however The Jags Foundation describe them as “unelected, unaccountable, and unengaged with the Thistle Support.”
In the statement released on Wednesday, the seven board members who resigned stated “a section of the fanbase, encouraged by a false narrative about fan ownership and ongoing negative commentary, has not moved on.” This particular line angered a lot of the fans, given that the board appeared to be blaming the fans. Thistle fan Kieran Ashton found that statement “shocking.”
“My initial reaction to it was shock, I didn’t expect it to happen as quick as it did” Kieran went on to add. “After that I was happy and excited for what the future holds for us.” One day after the resignations were announced, two representatives of the PTFC Trust and one representative from The Jags Foundation were appointed. This also coincided with a joint statement from both that stated they will be working alongside each other as part of a collective effort as well as the Trust confirming they will hear from TJF on their thoughts on how to improve the fan ownership model.
Kieran has been a member of TFJ since October and has been vocal in his support for other Jags fans to do so. “When they first announced the names involved with the group, I knew it was good people involved who I see regularly at games home and away. They’ve always been willing to talk to people and I’ve had a good few times talking to themselves all throughout the process and it’s been very positive.”
Fan/community owned clubs are on the rise in Scotland with many in being at least partially fan owned. Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell in the Premiership are fan owned and in the championship Morton and now Partick Thistle and fan owned. This is the best way for a club to ensure that they are putting their fans first, as ownership of a club can change often and there is no guarantee an owner will put the fans interests at heart.
While it has been a rollercoaster for Partick Thistle off the pitch, it has also been inconsistent for them on the pitch. In the last league outing, the Jags managed to secure a point away in Aberdeen against Cove in dramatic fashion through a last-minute corner which met goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon. After all of the celebrations, the fans still let their views known to the board which were directed at then chairman Jacqui Low. Now that Low has resigned alongside other board members, the Firhill team will be hoping that fans will be united behind the team and can push ahead for the rest of the season with no distractions.
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