Developing MCT/GMFC Board Situation

[Hej]

What was the previous annual figure contributed by Dalrada? Am I right in saying that is a reduced fee, and they're wanting MCT to dilute their shareholding and control if the club for it? 

[Jamie_M]

7 minutes ago, Hej said:

What was the previous annual figure contributed by Dalrada? Am I right in saying that is a reduced fee, and they're wanting MCT to dilute their shareholding and control if the club for it? 

Without looking, most reports say they have given close to £1m over 3 years.

[irnbru]

18 minutes ago, TRVMP said:

I agree that 'fan owned, not fan run' is the best idea, given what's happened so far, but at the same time the majority shareholders need to have as much if not more oversight than a sponsor who can, at any time, simply opt to leave. As owners of the club we don't have that chance; the corporate existence of Morton is in our hands.

The board don't necessarily run things anyway, just provide direction so I think they are stretching that statement. 

[bob_the_builder]

On the whole I’m happy that no shares will pass from MCT to Dalrada but how exactly are Dalrada going to improve the governance by sticking an extra body on the board?  Will this be an existing Dalrada employee or do they plan to acquire an individual with experience on a football club board?

Also as Hej above asked id like to know exactly how much of an improved figure this is before handing them more power. 

[Cappiecat 1.2]

10 minutes ago, Hej said:

they're wanting MCT to dilute their shareholding and control if the club for it? 

MCT will retain their 90% shareholding in GMFC and the property company that owns Cappielow.

Apparently for the new deal to go thriugh they want a  bigger presence on the club board and a say jn the day to day running of the club

[GIBBYTON]

13 minutes ago, Hej said:

What was the previous annual figure contributed by Dalrada? Am I right in saying that is a reduced fee, and they're wanting MCT to dilute their shareholding and control if the club for it? 

Not sure there has been a published figure, but I remember the number for this year was higher than last year, and around 500k.

That would mean a small increase in sponsorship, plus the incentive for MCT to increase their monthly contributions and they match it.

There is no dilution of shares, they are not asking for shares

[TRVMP]

Why are they so eager to put back on the board the guys who allowed to happen and then hid the transfer embargo from the MCT membership? That's the part I don't get. If they want good governance and a better board why are these guys considered the top candidates? 

[Jamie_M]

1 hour ago, port-ton said:

Barr and Robinson

So what side of the fence on the proposed new board structure do they sit on? They've demonstrated they aren't on the MCT/fans side, are they to be the 2 Dalrada reps? Surely not one of the 'based on their skills' board members.

Or will toys fly again when the fans rightfully vote they should be removed?

[irnbru]

6 minutes ago, Jamie_M said:

So what side of the fence on the proposed new board structure do they sit on? They've demonstrated they aren't on the MCT/fans side, are they to be the 2 Dalrada reps? Surely not one of the 'based on their skills' board members.

Or will toys fly again when the fans rightfully vote they should be removed?

Feels like it's being set up so it doesn't matter who's on the board anyway. Not much more we can do. 

What I would like to see is a clause that if Dalrada step away then it reverts back. They could basically be in control of the club and not put anything in next season. 

[Greacen2000]

There’s a lot of information in there to digest, but my initial reaction is

It is better than expected insofar as it doesn’t involve any change in the shares of the club or the property, but also a bit ridiculous to demand 2 seats on the board while marginalising MCT so that they get less than 30% representation in exchange for their 90% ownership.

If this deal is to be accepted then I would certainly like there to be something added to the articles which prevents the board from deciding to issue new shares without MCT membership approval.  Otherwise, once dalrada have effective control of the boardroom (i.e. 2 of their nominees plus at least another 2 who are clearly aligned to their agenda), would there be anything to stop the new look GMFC board from having a future share issue which would effectively dilute the current 90% MCT control without the need for any of the current shares to change hands?  Eg if current shares in circulation are 100 and we own 90 of them, dalrada wouldn’t need to have any of the 90 transferred to them if the board can decide to issue another 100 new shares and sell them to Dalrada (thus giving them majority shareholding without MCT having any say in the matter)
 

I am far from an expert on this subject so would be delighted if someone better informed tells me this isn’t possible etc but if it is then we need to put some guardrails in place before giving up control of the boardroom 

Edited May 17, 2025 by Greacen2000

[GiGi]

It's not terrible if the intention behind more board representation is purely to ensure the club is ran more professionally and not anything more nefarious.

Regardless of what the interim MCT board are happy with though, I think it would be inappropriate for Barr and Robinson to continue in their roles, given the damage they've done to trust in MCT in the first place by sitting on the FIFA ban. A clean break would be best. 

[dunning1874]

I'm on the way home from Bonnyrigg v East Kilbride (worst pyramid playoff ever btw) so in no position to digest the finer points, but my initial gut reaction is that I don't in principle necessarily object to MCT reps not having a majority on the GMFC board.

I absolutely object to MCT's control of the board being diluted and the MCT reps continuing to be Sam Robinson and Graham Barr. Events have proven that they are in reality Dalrada reps; if we allow a situation where we have 2 Dalrada reps, 2 MCT reps and 3 reps appointed by those 4, then if Robinson and Barr are the supposed MCT board members what we'll actually have is 7 Dalrada representatives. At the very minimum this needs to involve real MCT reps rather than those two, who have proven they can't be trusted.

Edited May 17, 2025 by dunning1874

[Rossco1874]

Surely if sam and graham have anything about them they will not take up the offer of being on the board. I'm not so sure they will resign though.

 

The statement did have a point how many elected mct board members have chucked it after only few months. I understand that sometimes life takes over I have been in that position recently where I have quit a 2nd job to focus on personal matters but there seems to be higher than average people stepping down after short time.

 

I'm not against this proposal and given it is for 12 months would like to think that a) mct explore every investment opportunity in that time

if dalriada do plan to take more control that it is transparent the value of this and it.is in the best interests of the club

[Mr Toon]

I am much more concerned with good governance and efficiency than with anything else. We want a football club that is well run and successful.on the park and the latter doesn't happen without the former. So long as the ultimate control/ownership of the club remains with those of us who contribute on a monthly basis and  that cannot be changed without our agreement  I have no issue.

One small point:

If it was a condition of the agreement that the Chair of the GMFC board also requires to be a member of MCT, then John Laird, if he is not already a ember of MCT would require to join and contribute the princely sum of no less than £10 per month.

Would that be too much to ask?

If not, problem solved.

[IanClinging]

A sponsor having two seats on the board? That's a bit unorthodox, no? Does any other club have sponsors as board members?

And did the FIFA player registration ban get lifted yet?

[irnbru]

45 minutes ago, GiGi said:

It's not terrible if the intention behind more board representation is purely to ensure the club is ran more professionally and not anything more nefarious.

Regardless of what the interim MCT board are happy with though, I think it would be inappropriate for Barr and Robinson to continue in their roles, given the damage they've done to trust in MCT in the first place by sitting on the FIFA ban. A clean break would be best. 

Thats a very good point. It's obviously a two way street with comms between MCT and the Morton board. If the MCT reps have failed on that though then they need to go regardless of what a sponsor thinks. 

[TRVMP]

50 minutes ago, GiGi said:

It's not terrible if the intention behind more board representation is purely to ensure the club is ran more professionally and not anything more nefarious.

Regardless of what the interim MCT board are happy with though, I think it would be inappropriate for Barr and Robinson to continue in their roles, given the damage they've done to trust in MCT in the first place by sitting on the FIFA ban. A clean break would be best. 

And since it's not a condition asked for by Dalrada they presumably won't be bothered and won't revoke their offer. Seems like a no-lose situation, then, for the fee-paying MCT membership to vote as they see fit and not according to the wishes of the interim board. 

[El gofer]

So my understanding is that Dalrada were previously contributing £45k a month. They failed to make payments for 4 months. 

Laird goes to meet Dalrada and on return, the fifa embargo is publicised. 

Barr and Robinson punted as MCT reps. 

Dalrada and GMFC board press nuclear option of threatening to pull the plug on a supposed agreed £700k a year cash injection if Barr and Robinson arent reinstated. 

GMFC and Dalrada united front. Interim MCT directors installed, both who had been previous directors, one with VERY close links to one of the sacked directors. 

 

MCT and GMFC joint statement pretty soon after the new directors in. Presenting a united front saying that there was unanimous agreement that the 2 directors should be reinstalled. 

 

And then soon after there is this statement. 

2 Dalrada directors. 

2 MCT directors that Dalrada and GMFC have given  condition should be Barr and Robinson. 

Laird as Chairman. Link to B Bonar?..... 

And the 3 "independent" board members have to be approved by Dalrada MCT and GMFC. When Dalrada have already approved all the directors as a condition of the continuing cash input. 

Dalrada ask for improved governance. But have asked for previous directors who presided over such poor governance that FIFA embargoed the club. 

 

Forgive me for having severe reservations over the direction that the club is heading in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jamie_M]

50 minutes ago, Mr Toon said:

If it was a condition of the agreement that the Chair of the GMFC board also requires to be a member of MCT, then John Laird, if he is not already a ember of MCT would require to join and contribute the princely sum of no less than £10 per month.

Would that be too much to ask?

If not, problem solved.

Every single person, staff member, board member, player etc should be.

[Tubes]

Struggling to come round to any notion of having Barr, Robinson and Laird involved at any level. Just feels completely wrong having them involved going forward now.