AFC Liverpool Supporters Society Limited Model Rules for Society Board Elections

Election Rules Policy

Elections – 2010

(These are the initial rules to be used by the AFC Liverpool Supporters Society Limited)

Introduction

This document constituted the Election Rules, Regulations and Procedures and is drafted in accordance with the existing constitution of the AFC Liverpool Supporters Society Limited.

The purpose of the Election Rules Policy is t o ensure that the elections for Society Board members are conducted in a democratic and unbiased manner and in accordance with the clubs Constitution.

The Proposed Board Membership and election timetable is published separately.

2. Definitions:

AGM – Annual General Meeting

AFCL – AFC Liverpool Supporters Society Limited

ESB – Elected Society Board

3. Prior to the AGM of AFCL, an election will be held of select board members of no more than 15 people in total.

4. Thereafter all future election results will be announced at an AFCL Annual General Meeting. The Procedure for election to the board at an AGM shall be as follows:

Election Control

5. During the election period the ESB will ensure that the election is run in accordance with the Election Rules Policy on behalf of AFCL Members.

6. The Elected Society Board will ideally comprise an odd number of members and any decisions taken will be by majority vote and recorded.

7. Members serving on the ESB shall be eligible to nominate candidates, vote and stand in the elections if they are co-opted members.

8. Any ESB member standing as a candidate will not be:

• Involved in the collation and publication of nominated candidate manifestos
• Eligible to vote on matters pertaining to candidate disqualification
• Or eligible to vote on any other matter which may influence the outcome of the Election

9. The election timetable will be published separately and shown on the AFCL website, www.afcliverpool.org.uk

10. Election details shall also be posted on the AFCL Website, www.afcliverpool.org.uk

11.The results will be announced at the AGM by a returning officer.

12. The ESB will verify that nominations are from members and check for ‘multiple nominations.’ If multiple nominations are found then the candidate that submitted their nomination form first shall be accepted. Thereafter a nomination form containing a further Candidate nomination by the same member will be rejected.

Eligibility and nomination

13. Candidates must comply with eligibility and nomination procedure as set out in the election rules.

14. Any member (as defined in the constitution) may be nominated to stand for election to the board. Nomination notifications will include a signed declaration by the nominees that he/she complies with and will continue to comply with the constitution, this document and the Board Membership Policy.

15. Nominations will be effective if signed by 2 different Members; and acknowledged by the member who is being nominated. All such members must include on their nomination their full name, full address and signature (and for these purposes a faxed signature will suffice.) Email nominations will be accepted provided a clear email trail is evidenced. These will be checked to ensure validity.

16. It is the Candidate’s responsibility to ensure their nominations are valid and submitted in accordance with the timetable. In the event of uncertainty, the decision of the ESB will be final.

17. In signing the form, candidates are bound by the terms and conditions of the election rules and regulations.

18. A signed letter of nomination from a member is an acceptable substitute for manuscript signature on a candidate’s nomination form.

19. Specifically candidates are also self-certifying that they comply with the following rules of the Constitution;

20. No person can be a member of the Elected Society board who;

A) Is the subject to a bankruptcy order or has in place a composition with their creditors

B) Is subject to a disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act

C) Has a conviction for an indictable offence (other than a spent conviction as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974)

D) Is or may on the basis of medical evidence be suffering from a mental disorder

E) Fails to abide by any rules for the conduct of elections made by the Society Board

21. During the election the ESB members cannot provide advice to voting members as to the suitability or otherwise of any candidates on behalf of AFCL. Any opinion or advice provided should be taken as provided in a personal capacity.

22. Candidates/complaints have the right to appeal to the ESB prior to the outcome of the election and then through the ESB following completion of the election.

23. Complaints after voting has closed shall be made in writing to the ESB no later than 5 working days after the close of the poll.

24. All communication regarding Election Rules Policy should be addressed to the ESB via email at info@afcliverpool.org.uk or by letter addressed to the ESB at the AFCL registered office.

25. Should any candidates contravene the election rules the ESB shall judge whether a disqualification shall apply. Notification of disqualification will be prior to announcement of election results and subsequently to the ESB.

26. The ESB will decide what action, if appropriate, may be taken should disqualification occur.

27. Should the election not produce the required number of ESB members, the rules as per the AFCL Constitution rule (57) shall apply.

28. All candidates shall leave their contact details with the ESB.

Manifestos and Campaigning

29. The ESB shall publish a Manifesto document based on supplied Candidates’ Manifestos submitted with the nomination.

30. The ESB will be responsible for circulation of the manifesto document (with ballot papers or equivalent if the number of nominations exceeds the number of positions) to the members of AFCL and publication on the AFCL website www.afcliverpool.org.uk

31. On a membership wide basis, campaigning will be restricted to this publication. No further Election campaigning material will be circulated to all members. Other than this personal campaigning is allowable, however personal membership email addresses will not be distributed for the purposes of personal campaigning.

32. Nominations must be accompanied by a biography/manifesto with a maximum of 500 words. The candidates name need not appear in the 500 words. Acronyms, Pseudonyms and slang will be at the discretion of the ESB.

33. All the candidates’ manifestos are to be received in written form, typed and proof-read before issue. The number of words counted shall be decided using Microsoft word.

34. If a candidates’ manifesto has more than the permitted 500 words it will be truncated at 500 words and text will be inserted below stating ‘The Candidates Manifesto has exceeded the permitted 500 words and has therefore been truncated.’ (This is purely to allow for ease of publication on the website)

35. Candidates’ manifestos written in the third person shall be accepted.

36. Candidates and Nominees can only put their real names on nomination documentation. No nicknames or forum names will be accepted.

37. A candidates’ manifesto shall not contain the name of any of their nominators or any other candidate.

38. Candidates must not in their manifestos; make threats, insults, derogatory, abusive, racist, sexist, or homophobic statements or references towards other candidates.

To view the minutes of the meeting please click the link below. 

AFC Liverpool fans meeting pdf

Chairman’s Statement re:Club Independence & Hillsborough Commemoration
“AFC Liverpool is a completely independent football club, set up by Liverpool FC fans to offer fans who have been priced out of premier league football, the opportunity to enjoy community based, grassroots football, in the kind of environment enjoyed by Liverpool fans down the generations.
There is not, has not and never will be any official link up with any other football club. Like any new business we have sought the cheapest and most cost effective ways of delivering our message, to potential supporters.
To be clear, we all love Liverpool FC and will continue to be supporters of Liverpool FC on the pitch. We hope that our model of a fan owned football club can also be achieved at other football clubs and to that end we recognise the aims of ShareLiverpool and Spirit of Shankly, the Liverpool supporters union.
Today I am also proud to announce that for the remainder of season 2008 / 09, a season which encompasses the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, AFC Liverpool will no longer seek a shirt sponsor for our Home shirts, but rather the club wishes to wear a message of support, unity & grief with the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and those who continue to campaign on thier behalf.
There are however strict guidelines issued by the Vodkat League relative to shirt sponsorship, so we have to seek League approval initially. Dependant upon their approval, the club will move to incorporate the Hillsborough message on the Home shirts as soon as possible.
As an independent football club created for Liverpool fans on Merseyside who have been priced out of professional football, we welcome Liverpool fans from across Merseyside and beyond to support YOUR team.

Go to our website www.afcliverpool.org.uk for upcoming fixtures

Paul McCombs, Chairman, AFC Liverpool

Gary was recently sounded out regarding a possibility of returning to the club structure by club founder Alun Parry and subsequently re-offered his services having been part of the senior game for nearly ten years North and South of the border.

With Gary having left the club on good terms, the AFC Liverpool board were keen to progress Alun’s original discussions, resulting in the arranged meeting.  

The club are in the process of re-assessing their strategies for the remainder of this season and are also making early plans for the 09-10 campaign. Having another experienced man in the AFC fold will help us with these key plans.

An AFC Liverpool Spokesman said today, “We held a very positive meeting with Gary Langley and, despite his commitments in Scotland with Stranraer F.C. and other groups, we found that Gary was still very much a fan of AFC and his assistance at this time is certainly appreciated.

Initial talks between Gary and Alun went well and we are happy that with Gary’s help we can concentrate on ensuring the clubs future remains bright and healthy. Before Alun left the club, he and Gary were already working on an initial draft of a sponsors’ package for next season, which is progressing well. Gary will be assisting the board within the role of Strategic Adviser.”

AFC Liverpool are currently a third of the way through the season and find themselves top of the Vodkat League Division One table following an exceptional start to their campaign. The AFC Liverpool board would like to congratulate manager Derek Goulding, the coaching staff and players for their fantastic efforts so far.