PST Elections 2014: DAVID MAPLES

Many thanks to David Maples for providing the following answers to my questions. 

Are you a shareholder? Yes, I was in the fortunate position to be able to afford share ownership.
 
How do you think the PST and its Board can most effectively support and influence the future growth and development of Portsmouth Community Football Club?  The Board should encourage an informed debate amongst the Trust membership about how we want the club to develop and what it would entail. We have to recognise that the Club has been left behind and our ground is now a generation out of date. Long term development of the Club will require a rebuilt ground. I am opposed to further dilution of the Trust’s shareholding.

As a PST Board member what would be your top priority for the next 12 months? The major success of the last year was that the club was run successfully within prudent budgets. This needs to be as high a priority for this year. If I am elected to the Trust Board I would want the key agreements with other shareholders and the football authorities shared with the membership so the membership can understand the constraints the Trust Board and Club Board are working within.

What role do you think borrowing should play in Pompey's long-term financial strategy?  I would support planned borrowing from reputable sources for capital projects such as redevelopment of the ground. I would oppose it for day to day expenditure.

How would you like to see the Trust improve how it communicates with members and prospective members?  See Q3. I would also like prompt updates published from Board meetings. I would like to see a wider layer involved in running the Trust. This could be through Board members convening working parties for their areas of responsibility.

What do you think should be done to increase PST membership?  Barcelona and Real Madrid have over 100,000 members. Could we have 10,000? I would like us to reach a situation where at least the majority of season ticket holders and other regular supporters are Trust members. A debate about the development of the club could enthuse more supporters to join. Although the Club has been saved much more needs to be done to reach its’ full potential.

How do you think the Club can, once it has paid off its debts, give something back to the local charities and firms let down so badly by previous regimes? The Club already does a lot to work with the local community but I would like to see the small creditors, such as youth players landladies, fully re-imbursed.

Pompey have drawn local rivals at home in the quarter finals of the FA Cup. History tells us it will be a glorious 4-1 victory. Everybody on the PCFC database wants to be there. On what basis do you think PCFC should allocate tickets?  We should recognise that the Ticket Office staff do an excellent job in difficult circumstances. Some fans will be disappointed, but I would base eligibility on season ticket holders and then fans ticket purchase record.

How often do you think a community football club should be changing its kits? Buying replica kit is not compulsory. The Club has to develop its’ commercial income. This is a legitimate source of revenue but three new kits a season is excessive.

Do you have any commercial relationships with PCFC or any of its sponsors?  No, not beyond being a season ticket holder.

David is one of 6 candidates competing for 5 places. Votes have to be cast by September 5th. More details about the election, including the election statements of each candidate, can be viewed at http://www.pompeytrust.com/pages/pst-election.