Trust open day this Saturday

Pompey academy manager Andy Awford is supporting an open day for fans to find out more about the Pompey Supporters' Trust bid to buy the club on Saturday.

The event runs between 12.30pm and 6pm in the Victory Lounge behind the Fratton End on December 1 and will include a question and answer session for fans at 2.30pm involving Ashley Brown, chairman of the trust and other members of the bid team.

Awford, who is currently helping caretaker boss Guy Whittingham, will be making an appearance to speak to fans at 1.00pm and it is hoped a couple of players will be there during the afternoon as well.

As well as finding out information about the bid, fans can also convert their pledges or buy a share on the day. Share prospectuses will be available and trust board members on hand to answer questions. In addition there will also be representatives from DotComUnity to explain how the credit option to buy shares will work.

If fans are planning to buy a £1,000 share at the event, trust spokesperson Colin Farmery asked fans to bring photocopies of required documentation (eg passport or drivers licence and a utility bill) with them to save time.

'We have some limited copying facilities, but it would really help if people planning to buy could come prepared,' he said.

'The response from fans so far has been very encouraging and we are on target to achieve our goals, but fans cannot be complacent. The danger of the club being liquidated remains very real if our share issue is not successful.

'If Pompey is going to thrive as Britain's biggest community club, we need as many as fans as possible to get involved. So far we have had around 2,000 pledge £1,000 and at least another 1000 get involved via syndicate schemes.

'However, Pompey are averaging around 13,000 this season and we are convinced there are many fans sitting on the fence waiting to see what happens. This event and another planned for before the Preston game on December 15 is their opportunity to find out more about our exciting plans,' he added.

More information about the bid and how people can convert their pledge or buy a share online can be found at www.communitypompey.co.uk.



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