The new Luton Town Supporters’ Trust chairman has outlined plans to “build a positive, honest but also challenging relationship” with the football club amid their current relegation struggles, plus future plans for a new stadium and improved academy.
Paul Stephens has taken over from former incumbent Tony Murray who resigned last month after two decades in the post across two separate spells, of which he spoke about on the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Podcast.
The new chair has been on the board of the fan group since he was elected in November 2019 and has recently filled roles such as their Football Supporters’ Association liaison and vice-chair.
With the Hatters currently bottom of the Championship, five points from safety and facing a second successive relegation, Stephens said in a statement to members that he is, “determined to build a positive, honest but also challenging relationship with the club, not only to support it during what are currently difficult times on the pitch, but also really exciting times ahead for the club with the new ground on its way and an enhanced academy status on the horizon.
“To highlight this, I have reached out to Gary Sweet to arrange a meeting with him and 2020 as soon as possible and look forward to informing you of progress once we have a date for that to take place.”
It was Sweet who headed up the formation of the Trust in 2003 which forced unpopular former owner John Gurney out of the club. After he’d then headed up a consortium of supporters – now the 2020 board – to save the club from administration in 2008, the football club’s image rights were transferred to the fans’ group to ensure that no future owner could change the club’s colours or crest without their consent.
“I am keen for the good work that has taken place before I became chair to continue and look forward to building on that,” said Stephens, who also revealed he is “delighted and honoured” to have been named the chairman to try to “fill the incredibly big shoes of Tony.”
Off the pitch, the Hatters last year gaining detailed planning consent for the construction of a new 25,000-seat stadium at Power Court, plus they have ongoing plans to develop the club’s academy into a category 2 outfit that will provide an elite development environment for young players.
“I am a passionate supporter of our club, travelling home and away come rain or shine to follow the team, and not just the first team but also academy matches as well,” Stephens said, as head of the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust who brought the Supporters of Luton Town Youth Development (SOLYD) under their umbrella in 2019, a decade after the volunteer group formed to raise funds for the club’s academy when relegation to the non-league halved their funding by £90,000.
Stephens added: “I have the long-term goal of providing even more protection so that supporters can feel comfortable that the history and traditions of our wonderful, unique club will remain in place for generations to come.
“These are exciting times for our club but also for the Trust and I look forward to navigating LTST on a journey to become even stronger than we already are and with the support of you, our members, and the fantastic board members we have, I am confident that we can achieve that aim.
“In the meantime, please continue to give the players your magnificent support week in and week out and hopefully our fortunes on the pitch will turn around to allow us to retain our Championship status.”
Supporters’ Trust members have also been invited to a face-to-face strategy meeting in the Eric Morecambe Lounge at Kenilworth Road on March 27, where the fan group will showcase their plans and offer a chance for followers to provide feedback to incorporate into their strategy.
Members can book a free ticket at: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/78860?
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