PRESS RELEASE FROM TRUSTSTFC
APRIL 9TH 2021
EMBARGOED UNTIL Tuesday 13th April 8am
CLEM MORFUNI OUTLINES VISION FOR STFC, REITERATES COMMITMENT AT TRUST BOARD MEETING
Clem Morfuni attended the monthly board meeting of TrustSTFC on Thursday, April 8th to answer further questions with regard to his response to the Trust’s open letter issued in February.
Mr Morfuni issued a full response to the open letter in March, outlining his ambitions and vision for Swindon Town, and continued to show huge transparency and openness by accepting an invitation to address the Trust’s, dialling in at 4am from Australia.
When questioned on his timeline and commitment to purchasing the club, Mr Morfuni stated that his interest is very much a long-term project fuelled by his passion for football in the UK and the instant connection with Swindon Town dating back to his initial involvement as a sponsor six years ago.
“I’m not in a rush and it will take as long as it takes – I’m not going anywhere.
“My interest in taking full ownership of the club has zero financial motivation. My businesses support my lifestyle, and there is no financial pressure on me completing the purchase.”
Mr Morfuni took unvetted questions from every member of the Trust’s board and continues to provide a yardstick in terms of the vision, transparency and openness the Trust have been calling for.
And when pushed on what motivates his bid for full control of Swindon Town, Mr Morfuni was quick to again point out that his driver is to create a sustainable football club for the people of Swindon.
“I’m not interested in purchasing any other football club in the UK. My commitment is to the town and the people of Swindon.
“I’m a huge football fan, play regularly and sponsor a number of clubs in Australia. I’ve fallen in love with Swindon Town, the town and fans, and am 100% committed to seeing this through, no matter how hard it is.
“This club can be sustainable. I have built a multi-national corporation by hiring the right people at the right times and by constantly reinvesting money back into the business, not taking money out. My vision is to run the club in the same way.
“Swindon Town can absolutely be a sustainable, healthy, community-oriented football club and the people of Swindon deserve that. They have suffered enough.
“If we do manage to complete the purchase of the club, members of the affiliated supporters’ groups will be appointed to the board. Fans will have access to financial and accounts information, and we’ll provide board meeting minutes too.
“This is how I have run and grown Axis, and how we would run and grow Swindon Town”.
The purchase and redevelopment of the County Ground was also a hot topic of discussion.
Mr Morfuni was keen to point out that as much as his company does have a track record in infrastructure, including stadiums, the ground wouldn’t necessarily be a project that Axis would be a part of.
“It’s not why I’m doing this. As and when the development of the stadium comes into focus, we would go to tender, and we’d try to involve the fans in as much of that decision making process as we could.”
Mr Morfuni was happy to provide open and detailed answers to all questions asked by the board, including heavy scrutiny regarding the financial performance of businesses within the Axis group.
TrustSTFC have, again, invited Lee Power and Swindon Town CEO Steve Anderson to attend a board meeting, giving them further opportunities to communicate with the Trust, the fans and the community regarding their own commitment and vision for the club.
Press Release Ends