In our newsletter to Trust members on Friday 13th January the Trust, as a responsible organisation, stated that it could not condone protests which break the law. 

By and large the pitch protest was peaceful; however we were concerned that fellow supporters could receive banning orders affecting their future employment and foreign travel. The Iron Trust supports peaceful protest over the plight of our club, but we do not wish to see fellow supporters incur fines and/or banning orders. Their vocal support and loyalty are to be applauded given the on and off field problems of our beloved club.  

At this, the lowest point in the entire history of Scunthorpe United FC, we are also concerned about potential point deductions or fines, the latter further impacting on loyal staff (many of whom are fans) regarding payment of wages and their long-term employment security.  SUFC staff are not the enemy. 

The fact that Mr Swann has been able to drive the club to the point of ruin is not the fault of the supporter groups or fans, but the lack of effective legislation.  This could happen to any club and indeed has.   

When the Trust met with Lee Turnbull on Tuesday the Iron Trust was quite clear on the issues concerning fans which centred on a total lack of communication over the reasons the proposed takeover announced in December fell through, the appointment of Begbies Traynor, the winding up order by HMRC and the failure of the club owner to sell the club.  Previously we have challenged the owner over the stopping of annual shareholder meetings, the lack of fan forums, the transfer of assets from SUFC to Coolsilk, the renaming of the ground without consultation and we have persuaded the Council to register the ground as an asset of community value.  We have raised the way the club has been run with the Football Supporters Association, Parliamentary groups, the local MP and former MP and fan Nic Dakin as well as various media outlets. 

And now we are at the most crucial stage in the Iron’s history, not because fan groups or fans have failed, but for the fact that one man can use a community football club as his toy, to do with what he wants.  What mustn’t happen now, at this moment, is for fans to be turning against each other when the real enemy is the man ruining our club. 

We need to be united; we need to support and help our club and we must be together.  UTI