Club Statement - New Board and business structure

Cowdenbeath Football Club and the Cowden Action Group are delighted to announce the appointment of a new Board of directors and the implementation of new management and operational structure. The innovative business model represents a progressive way forward and secures the immediate and medium term existence of Cowdenbeath Football Club.

The business model will see the club run on a sustainable budget involving the talents, experience and commitment of the club’s supporters and the local and wider business communities, in partnership with majority shareholders Alex and David Brewster.  The aim is to build a team of people with experience in the day-to-day running of a football club, in preparation for the eventual community ownership of Cowdenbeath FC.

There is still much work to be done to secure the long term future of Cowdenbeath FC but this marks the first step towards establishing the football club as an organisation run by the community for the benefit of the community. The medium-to-longer term vision is to see the club re-taking its place at the heart of the local community and relocated at a new, fit-for-purpose, low-maintenance community sports facility, while seeing Central Park re-developed as part of the regeneration of Cowdenbeath town centre.

The new Board consists of ten directors, including five supporters’ representatives. The Board’s chairman will be Cowdenbeath-born Donald Findlay QC. Donald, who has given up valuable time to support and advise the Action group  over the last few months, will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience of football administration. Vice chairman will be prominent Edinburgh businessman John Lints, who has been a significant club sponsor over the past decade. Managing Director will be accountant Scott Brewster. The supporters' representatives on the Board include a senior partner in a local solicitors firm, a senior banking figure and a retired solicitor.

Five of the directors will have responsibility for overseeing key business areas, including governance, operations, finance and strategy, and commercial activity. As well as having responsibility for running the club, Board members will also work with key stakeholders to pursue a new stadium for the club in the longer-term.

The Board will be supported by a management and operational structure which will be staffed by a combination of employees and volunteers. More than fifty volunteers have already signed up to help with a range of tasks from commercial management to acting as lottery agents. Over the next few weeks, volunteers will be working to bring the Central Park facilities up to standard for the new season.

The longer term future of Cowdenbeath Football Club will rely on the continued and increased support of the fans and the local community. We require more people coming through the gates and more volunteers helping out. We also need to generate more income streams.

It is your club. Your support is needed now and in the future if the town is to retain a football club in the longer term. Significant progress has been made to stabilise the club but, make no mistake, the hard work starts now. Your Club needs you - stand up and be counted.

Next season in the Irn Bru First Division will be a challenging one for the new manager and players, but with directors, manager, players and supporters all pulling together, we can face the future with confidence.

Cowdenbeath FC Board of directors:
Donald Findlay (Chairman), John Lints (Vice Chairman), Scott Brewster (Managing Director), John Cameron (Operations Director), David Allan (Finance & Strategy Director), Malcolm Slora (Commercial Director), Margaret Graham (Governance Director), Alex Brewster (Director), David Brewster (Director) and Sandy Ferguson (Director).