A: Your shareholding will remain your own but you will become a member of the Trust and have a say in how the Trust goes about its business and a stake in the block of shares that the Trust will build over time. The result of supporters and shareholders joining together in this way will be to create a body of significant power, which will be able to help the Football Club and influence it for the good of the community. The only thing that the Trust will ask from your shareholding is that you assign your Proxy to the Trust for voting in the event of any poll that may be held at the Club's AGMs or EGMs.

A: Yes. The Trust is not asking you to hand over your shares. However, should a member wish to donate their shareholding to the Trust for the benefit of the community then this can be arranged?

A: The initial membership fee is £10 per year. If members wish to donate more this can be arranged and will be most helpful in building a community stake in AFC. Also, it is hoped that members will participate in any fundraising activities that the Trust undertakes. Current members of AFCSA have no need to pay a joining fee.

A: No. You control your own shares exactly as before. All that the Trust asks is that you assign it your Proxy. See 3 above.

A: You are not going to entrust your shares to the Aberdeen FC Supporters Trust, these remain your own to manage as you see fit. The shares brought into the ownership of the Trust will belong to the membership and to the community and will be managed accordingly. The Trust will be watched over by a board of Patronss and the accounts will be subject to annual audit to ensure that the constitution and Rules are being followed and that the objects of the Trust are being achieved.

A: Yes, anyone can join. An application form can be obtained by writing to the Aberdeen FC Supporters Trust, P. O. Box 1903, Aberdeen AB24 4YX or from this website. Additionally, just after the Trust is launched events will be held where individuals will be able to join the Trust.

A: The Trust aims to bring a greater proportion of the ownership of the Club into the community and to increase supporter involvement with the Club. In addition, the Trust will seek ways of improving and strengthening the Club for the future and represent the interests of Trust members in all aspects of the management of AFC.

A: Football has a history of failing to take into account the interests of supporters and the community; a Trust can put that failing right. By building up a large enough block of shares, it is possible for a Trust to prevent hostile takeover attempts such as almost happened with Manchester United. Equally importantly a Trust can provide a vehicle whereby the community can help the Club financially and facilitate communication between the Club and the community.

A: Anyone can join the Trust. A supporter with no shares can join the Trust. If you have shares in AFC but are not currently a member of the Shareholders Association you can join the Trust. In short, anyone can join the Aberdeen FC Supporters Trust. Members of AFCSA automatically become members of the Trust.

A: All benefits accruing to your personal shareholding will continue to accrue to you directly. How you dispose of your dividend would be a matter for your discretion although naturally the Trust would welcome any donation that you might choose to make whether by passing on your dividend or by any other means.

A: Yes.

A: The Trust is an independent body, representing the views of its membership. However, it is hoped that a strong and positive relationship will develop with the Board. Early discussions with Board members and the Chief Executive at Pittodrie indicate that the Board sees the launch of the Trust as a welcome development. They have also given their support to the formation of a Supporters Trust.

A: The current committee of the Shareholders Association will run the trust. This will be supplemented by a group of five Patronss who will ensure that the Committee acts in accordance with the Trust's constitution. At each Annual General Meeting members will have the chance to change the lineup of the committee.

A: A group of five Patronss is drawn from various walks of public life and these Patronss will act as the ‘conscience' of the Trust, ensuring that the management committee, who carry out the day to day activities of the Trust, abide by the constitution and rules and remain true to the objects of the Trust.

A: The Westminster Government supports the movement in England to bring the ownership of football into the community. In Scotland, the Scottish Executive has recently given the go ahead for the launch of Scottish Supporters Direct in april 2002. Several prominent MSPs have voiced support for the movement but it is unlikely that there would be any legislation to force club's to recognise Trusts. The problem is unlikely to arise in the case of Aberdeen FC.

A: Yes. The timetable for AGMs will pick up from that followed by the Shareholders Association - the first AGM will be held in April 2002.

A: This is something that has not yet been determined but it will be in the interests of the Trust to keep operating costs to a minimum. The management committee will be expected to ensure that costs are kept low and that it does not indulge in expensive frills such as colour printing of newsletters. Constructive suggestions from members on ways of keeping costs down will always be welcomed.

A: The Trust need not restrict itself to putting funds into AFC by means of share purchase and indeed it may at times be preferable to follow other arrangements. All donations to the Club will be targeted for specific purposes such as youth development.

A: If AFC does not wish or is unable to issue new shares then the Trust will seek to purchase them on the Alternative Investment Market. However this would not directly benefit AFC in any way therefore it is in the Club's interests to issue new shares for the Trust to buy.