Cambridge Fans United - Fans Elected Director
 

1. Eligibility

 To be eligible for nomination for CFU Fans Elected Director (FED) the candidate must:

• have been a member of the CFU Trust Board for at least 1 (one) year. 

or

• have been a member of CFU for at least one year and his/her nomination be approved by a minimum of 75% of the CFU Trust Board in a closed ballot. If elected, the candidate will become a member of the CFU Trust Board.
• agree to carry out the responsibilities and activities outlined in the CFU FED Remit.
• not have been disqualified by a court from acting as a Company Director (unless he or she has been given leave (permission) to act by a court for a particular company.
• not be an undischarged bankrupt (except with leave of the court).
• supply a statement (of between 300 and 600 words) of why they believe they should be elected as CFU FED. 
• The Nomination form and Candidate statement are to be completed and signed by two CFU members and returned to the CFU Secretary by the date shown on the nomination form. 
• The CFU Trust Board will discuss the nominations at their next meeting; Candidates will be allowed the opportunity to amend their Statement at the request of the CFU Trust Board in the week following the Board meeting.
  

 
It is desirable for candidates to have the following Personal Qualities:

• Integrity and trustworthiness
• Diplomacy
• Confidentiality
• Be articulate
• Media skills
  

 

• When first elected the CFU FED will serve for a period of 2 (two) years. After this period the FED will be entitled to stand for re-election annually.
  
•  The maximum continuous period the CFU FED can serve is 6 (six) years. 
  

Legal Duties and Implications
 

• The CFU FED has the same legal responsibilities to the company (Cambridge United Football Club (CUFC)) and shareholders as all the other Directors, and must act at all times in the best interest of the company (CUFC) as a whole.  However, the unique terms of the reference of the FED mean that their view of what is in the company’s (CUFC’s) best interests will be informed and influenced by the views of the customers, ie the supporters.
  

 

• Normally a Director would be expected to work in co-operation and agreement with the rest of the CUFC Board. The Board works on a consensus basis whereby, once a decision has been reached, even by majority vote, then it will be supported by all Directors.  However, if at any time the FED feels that the action the Board is taking is not in the best interests of the company (CUFC) as a whole then they are legally required to oppose that action.
  

 
 FED Obligations to CFU Trust Board
 

• Acknowledging and fully accepting the legal duties and implications as above, the CFU Trust Board  expects the FED to carry out the ‘Duties and Responsibilities’ as laid out in the ‘FED Remit’. 
  
• Failure to do this will, in the first instance, be brought to the attention of the FED by the Chairman, Secretary and two other Trust Board members.  Ideally this group will work with the FED to improve the situation. 
• Ongoing failure to comply by the FED will lead to a vote of no confidence in the FED. 
• A vote of no confidence will be put to CFU members together with a report on the non compliance leading to the vote of no confidence. 
• The CFU Trust Board may, in the event of the FED being unable to continue in office, appoint a person to undertake the duties of FED, for a period, until it determines that an election shall be held. This period shall normally not extend beyond the next Annual General Meeting of the Trust Board. 

 
FED Remit

Mission/Objectives:

• The main aims of the Fans’ Elected Director are to represent CFU and all supporters interests,
• Acting as a ‘bridge’ and a pro-active communication channel between the supporters, CFU and the CFU Trust Board,
• Having responsibility to act in the best interests of CUFC at all times; promoting best practice found in other clubs.

 
Responsibilities and Activities:

• Attending and participating in all CUFC Board meetings, AGMs, EGMs etc. unless impossible. 
• Formulating the direction and strategy of the Club, developing policy.
• Managing effective communication between CUFC Board and CFU.
• Having a duty of care for employees and customers and corporate responsibilities including health and safety plus fiduciary care.
• Managing CUFC to carry out the decisions from the above points.
• Attending as many as possible home and away matches, using the opportunity to interact with CUFC directors, opposition directors, club staff and supporters, visiting supporters’ trusts or representatives.
• Attending Fans Forums and being available for questions
• Attending and participating in CFU Trust Board monthly meetings giving regular reports and updates on appropriate information, and on matters requiring discussion and/or input from the Trust, either in person or by providing a written report to the Trust Secretary in advance of the meeting; Attending CFU AGM and be available for questions.
• Pro-actively seeking the views and concerns of supporters, communicating any significant issues raised to the relevant parts of the club and attempting to secure the best outcome for the supporters, bearing in mind the director’s ultimate legal responsibilities. 
• Being easily available for supporters to contact via various media (email, telephone, post etc.) and providing a prompt acknowledgement and response to communications.
• Promoting the integration of volunteers into the workings at CUFC, maintaining close communication with paid CUFC staff and volunteers to promote understanding and co-operation.
• Liaising with the media, especially with regard to promoting CUFC and CUFC’s community activities.
• Attending SAG meetings as appropriate.
• Maintaining regular contact with all supporter’s groups (VP Club, Supporters Club, Supporters Direct, Football Supporters Federation, CUFC regional groups) and attend meetings wherever possible.
• Being an Ambassador for the Club, hosting visiting officials
• Liaising with local officials, Council officials, sponsors, etc. 
• The FED should nominate 1 or more Assistant / Deputy, ideally CFU Trust Board members.
  

 
Notes:
A person who is voted to the CFU Trust Board at an AGM is deemed to have served for the minimum time to be eligible to be nominated as FED at the following year’s AGM.