Cardiff City fans will vote on plans to establish a supporters' trust at an open meeting on Saturday 29th March 2008.
The meeting is open to all and takes place at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, starting at 11 am, before the club's game against Southampton at Ninian Park.
Former Cardiff City players including David Giles, Jason Perry and Phil Dwyer are expected to attend. All supporters of the club are encouraged to come along to learn more about the supporters' trust movement and the plans for a trust at Cardiff City.
Kevin Rye from the Government backed Supporters Direct organisation will speak at the meeting. Supporters Direct have been providing practical support to help establish a supporters' trust for Cardiff City fans. Nick Illingsworth, chairman of the Saints Trust will talk about fans' experience at Southampton. Cardiff supporters will have an opportunity to ask questions about the proposals before voting to either proceed with the plans or abandon the idea.
If fans at the meeting approve the plans, the trust will be established as an independent, democratic and not for profit supporters' organisation and will be launched formally later in the year.
The trusts' long term aim will be to raise enough money to buy a significant shareholding in the club and get a fans' representative on the board of directors. Short term aims include strengthening the voice of supporters in the decision making process at the club and strengthening the links between the club and the community in south Wales.
Paul Corkrey, chair of the steering committee set up to work towards setting up the trust, said "Cardiff City Supporters' Trust will offer an opportunity to strengthen the bonds between the club and supporters and is a real chance for supporters' interests to be represented in the running of the club"
The CCFC Trust website www.ccfctrust.org contains minutes of the steering group meetings that have taken place to make the Open Meeting a reality.
Over 150 Supporters' Trusts have been set up already covering teams in all Leagues. From Man Utd and Arsenal in Premier League down through the divisions to teams like Merthyr Tydfil. For more information visit www.supporters-direct.org