The Role of Associate Director and the Work of Roger Owen

@wetherbywhaler gave me permission yesterday to share a post about his position and work at Bradford City. On reflection, I thought it probably could use it's own spotlight rather than getting lost in the tumult.

I upset Roger by saying I wanted Stefan Rupp, Ryan Sparks and himself out of the club. Roger explained that while the club is in a mess, little if any of the blame can be placed at his feet. Here is his explanation of his role as Associate Director and the work he has done for the club:

As an Associate Director, like the others, I make myself available to help if needed or required on a voluntary basis and this was the same between 2009 and 2016 when I was a Main Board Director but not a shareholder. In both instances the positions included (still do), a fee to be paid to the Club, instigated by Mark Lawn in 2008. Currently, including my Wife who is an Associate my financial commitment to the Club is over £11k plus a parking fee for the current season, in addition we both pay for and occupy our Season Ticket seats in the Main Stand. I don't have a business so I am liable for VAT in those figures.
As I say I try to help out in areas where I am qualified and supposedly have some expertise, general admin, prpoerty and construction related subjects and legal issues generally and with EFL / FA. I have done quite a bit and just to really bore you here is a summary.
Joined Main Board in June 2009 after retirement, left Main Board June 2016 after takeover, later discovering Rahic didn't want anyone knowing what he was up to.
In my time on the Board I was responsible for negotiating the National Business Rates revaluation (twice), negotiating the sale with Dept. for Education for One in a Million school, organising and project managing the Dressing Room project demanded by EFL,, heading up the Club's representation on the F.A.Commission hearing into Steve Evans, representing the Club at the F.A. Commission hearing into the Millwall fracas during the Cup replay which lead us to Chelsea and getting a result which JR and ML doubted possible, several red card submissions with 80% success, achieving the Carbon Trust Standard for energy management across the club (only Man U and Burnley had it then), resolving a major water leak the bills for which were killing us. In addition during that period I made a Director's loan to pay off Tommy Doherty, interest free and funded the pre season 2012/13 training visit to Ireland which PP always said set the foundation for that season.
Since the takeover I have done or in process of further Business Rate revaluations, negotiated a new agreement for extended use of the training facilities, negotiated the Lease of the Club Shop in Valley Parade and its subsequent assignment to the Foundation, further red card submissions, assisted with construction work to the scoreboard and several other minor works including the new dugouts
Ryan has put in place a management team who are very good and my part has dropped off. We have an excellent Club Secretary in Mark Harrison who knows I'm there but doesn't need me, superb Commercial section with massively increased income and others who I think I will be assisting during the close season coming.
I believe my input has been valuable to the Club and I have been proud to have helped but to suggest my influence spreads elsewhere is unreasonable and untrue, hence my post on BT.
Roger Owen

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I think fair's fair, Roger should be heard. @Bronco said recently we really need to try to avoid being at each other's throats right now: I echo that sentiment.

There have been barbs every which way, I've done it, I've had it done to me, I'm sure at one point or another someone has given us a little needle and it's got to us.

We move on. Full credit to Roger for wanting to be heard, wanting to share his experiences and efforts, and not wanting to hide idly behind a wall of silence and/or fear and/or whatever other motivation others at the club may have for not entertaining open and honest dialogue. I'm sure we all hope for change in the future. I know we all hope for better. Let's try to achieve it without completely falling apart as a fan base, even if what we are each intending to do in order to play our part in a bid to make a positive impact differs going forward.