Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust has launched a corporate membership scheme targeted at businesses across South Wales.
And Caerphilly-based Draig Business Services Group has become the first to sign up for membership of the Trust.
Ross Porter, managing director of Draig, said: “I’m proud to be associated with the Supporters’ Trust and the first business to join the Trust’s new corporate membership scheme. I hope other businesses in the community will get behind the Trust and its sterling work representing the fans of Cardiff City.”
As with individual membership, there are three categories – Andy Legg, Jason Perry and Phil Dwyer – with fees of £250, £500 and £1,000 a year respectively.
All membership comes with a variety of benefits. The full package for the £1,000 membership offers listing on the Trust’s website, priority sponsorship options at Trust events, free adverts in every Trust magazine and a pledge that 50 per cent of the annual fee will be used to buy shares in the club. In addition, corporate members get a framed membership certificate and are also entitled to a vote in any organised ballots.
Board member Anthony Wedlake, who has developed the corporate membership scheme, said: “We have recognised as a Trust the importance of being an inclusive organisation and are now able to open our membership to businesses as well as individuals.
“We believe the membership benefits will prove attractive to businesses across South Wales. And the more members the Trust has, the more impact it can have on behalf of supporters.
“In the short-term we will continue to represent the views of fans while our long term objective remains greater participation for fans in the football club we all love.”
Trust membership has grown rapidly in recent weeks – rising from 675 to 870 – as supporters have recognised the role that the Trust has been playing in raising concerns over the club’s financial problems.