Diehard St Mirren fans who saved the club from financial crisis in the 1990s are being urged to come forward as part of efforts to ensure their voices are heard at the highest level.
Almost 1,000 people collectively hold a 21 per cent stake in the Premiership football club.
Now one of those shareholders, Ian McLauchlan, is calling on his fellow investors to come together in a bid to elect their own representative to sit on the Paisley outfit’s board of directors.
Explaining hundreds of fans invested in two separate share issues in the 90s, Ian said those willing to plough their own cash into the club should have fair representation.
He told the Paisley Daily Express: “I believe, given the 21 per cent stake in the club that original shareholders have, they should have a representative on the board.
“SMiSA have a 51 per cent share and has four members on the board and Kibble, with a 27 per cent share has two.
“On that basis, I think it is only fair that the other shareholders should get a seat at the table.”
In order to make that ambition a reality, Ian would need the backing of a significant number of independent shareholders.
To date, he has raised his idea with attendees of the most recent Annual General Meeting and has, with the support of the club, sent an email to approximately 100 shareholders who are on the club’s mailing list. This has seen 120 shareholders sign up to the initiative.
Ian, who has been a familiar face at the Love Street and SMiSA stadiums for over 50 years, added: “I went to Companies House which provides a list of shareholders’ names and the number of shares they hold.
“I would imagine that most of the people involved are 60 and over, some may have passed away or handed their shares over to family members.
“My aim is to raise as much awareness as possible so that those who maybe bought shares years ago know of this potential plan and will get in touch.
“I would hope to then have an election, in the same way SMiSA does, to follow their template, to elect our representative to the board.
“We have St Mirren’s best interests at heart and given we are all lifelong fans, it would be nice to have a voice and be involved in the big decisions.”
Ian’s efforts come at a time of unprecedented success for the club, having reached the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, their first foray into European football for 37 years.
For more about the shareholder proposal, email [email protected]
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