Brian Lomax, the founding Father of the Trust Movement and co-founder of Supporters Direct (SD), is to rejoin the organisation as its Chair.
The new appointment won the unanimous backing of the SD Board and will be welcomed throughout the Trust movement. Brian, who was responsible for setting up the first supporters’ trust at Northampton Town in 1992, was SD’s first Chair and then Managing Director. He also gave a presentation about the Supporters Trust movement at LOFT's inaugural meeting in 2001.
Brian is taking over the role from Andy Burnham MP, who has had to resign as Chair of SD due to becoming a Minister of State at the Home Office following the General Election. The Lomax and Burnham partnership oversaw the extraordinary success of SD and the enormous growth of the supporters trust movement now boasting over 120 members.
Speaking about Andy Burnham, Chief Executive Phil French said, “As Supporters Direct’s co-founder Andy was a natural choice to take over from Brian as Chair of the organisation in 2002, and should take enormous credit for keeping it in existence during its funding crisis. His commitment and leadership played a vital part in helping supporters to play a responsible part in the running of their clubs and showing how community control can deliver much needed financial control and better corporate governance.
“As for Brian, his achievements speak for themselves and the legacy he has already created is something to be richly admired; from what he did at Northampton Town to save his own club, to his leadership of Supporters Direct, giving hope to many supporters across the country and overseeing the enormous growth and success of the trust movement. I am excited to be welcoming Brian back at such a pivotal time for Supporters Direct and I am very much looking forward to again working closely with Brian on helping many more trusts to realise their aspirations to own their own football clubs.”
Commenting on his appointment, Brian Lomax said, “I am delighted to be invited by the Board to return to Supporters Direct as Chair, at a very exciting time in the organisation's life. My health has steadily improved over the last two years, since having to step down as Managing Director, and I feel ready for the challenges that this voluntary post will bring.”
LOFT extends its congratulations to Brian on his return to the Supporters Direct Board.
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