A Voice From The Terraces

Justin Tomlinson hopes a passion for football, marketing skills and his decision to reject Oxford United in favour of Swindon Town will see him elected to the County Ground board on Boxing Day.

The 26-year-old's name is being added to the list of candidates being put forward for election and re-election at the club's annual general meeting.

With a marketing background, and experience of trying to generate revenue for a relatively small club, the Conservative councillor for the Swindon ward of Abbey Meads believes he has a lot to offer.

He said: "I was delighted when TrustSTFC, of which I am a member, asked me to stand. In fact, I snapped their hands off.

"There is great potential at Swindon Town and I want the club to help realise that potential.

"I think there is so much as yet untapped support out there.

"I am sure there are others like me, who are not originally from Swindon but love football.

"Getting those football fans on board could make a huge difference."

One national newspaper has already placed a bet on the Blackburn-born chairman of Conservative Future (formerly the Young Conservatives) to become Prime Minister within 40 years.

His more immediate ambition is to help structure a successful future for the club.

He said: "I am a `doer' rather than a talker.

"As for the club, I have no grudges to hold against anyone nor any axe to grind."

On the `doing' front, Tomlinson is an active force on the committee at Bracknell Town Football Club, helping to promote a profitable club, both through marketing ideas and manning the turnstiles when required.

But from a supporters' point of view, the would-be director said: "I studied at Oxford Brookes University but never chose to support Oxford United. Hopefully that counts for something."

Andy Ratcliffe, vice-chairman of TrustSTFC, is delighted that Tomlinson has agreed to take up the challenge.

He said: "The current board have always said that if a fans' representative as such was to be added to the board, it would preferably be someone who brought relevant skills to the role."

With his background, Justin certainly has those in abundance.

"As we have been at pains to stress, this move is not a question of getting someone in the board room in order to have secrets passed on to the fans. It doesn't work like that. Any director of a business has to respect the need for commercial confidence in the board room.

"We feel Justin will bring fresh new ideas to the role and he has shown at Bracknell that he is someone who can make a positive difference."

TrustSTFC treasurer Leigh Collett said: "We're hoping that majority shareholder Sir Seton Wills will be able to meet up with Justin sometime before the actual day of the AGM.

"In an ideal world, it would be nice to see unilateral support from shareholders of the football club on this issue."

But whether the new man succeeds or fails in his bid to be elected is down to the club's major shareholder.

Director Bob Holt, who will himself be seeking re-election to the board at the Boxing Day AGM, said: "Clearly it is a question for Sir Seton Wills as the majority shareholder.

"I have spoken to him and his view is that he will look at the credentials of the person putting himself forward before deciding how to vote."

For further information on the Swindon Trust, please visit their website...

Swindon Trust