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195:. This proposed destruction of the club's history and culture led to a group of supporters establishing Trust in Luton to protect the future of Luton Town and provide a unified voice to protest against Gurney's involvement. The Trust successfully convinced many supporters and local sponsors to vote with their feet and refuse to buy season tickets or invest in the club for the
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into irregular payments made by the club's parent company, Jayten
Stadium Limited, and confirmed that illegal payments had been made to incoming players' agents. The Trust's board representative remained unaware of any illegal payments, leading to other board members at the club to apologise to Trust
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Trust in Luton formalised the ownership of its 50,000 shares in
October 2012 during a meeting with the club's officials. The same meeting led the Trust to begin stepping up its involvement with the club, including an agreement to hold quarterly meetings with Luton directors and for the establishment
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followed a week later. In
October 2007, the Trust had its seat on the board withdrawn and, a few weeks later, the club was docked ten points after entering administration. The administrators ultimately sold the club in February 2008 to the fan-backed Luton Town Football Club 2020 consortium – headed
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In March 2014, it was confirmed that Trust in Luton had been given the legal right to veto any future changes to Luton's identity, no matter who owns the club, including its name, nickname, colours, club crest and mascot. This step to empower Luton fans led to the Trust's membership tripling in one
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Trust in Luton was established in June 2003 by a group of supporters following the highly controversial takeover of Luton Town by John Gurney. Luton's current
Managing Director, Gary Sweet, was a founding member and former director of the Trust, and was part of the movement that successfully forced
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The Trust owns 50,000 shares in the club's holding company, Luton Town
Football Club 2020 Limited, and currently holds the right of veto over any changes to the club's identity – the only such organisation that has this right in English professional football. The Trust is also a member of
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up by former Trust in Luton director Gary Sweet. The consortium had agreed a deal with the Trust for them to buy, when in a position to, 50,000 shares to ensure the club would have a greater level of fan ownership and involvement. Luton were relegated to
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campaign, with the money (totalling almost £300,000) instead pledged towards the Trust. The club was later revealed to be losing £500,000 a month and, by July 2003, the players and staff had not been paid for two months. Combined with
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of a scheme where shares could be sold to fans via the Trust. This also saw Trust in Luton start campaigning for answers from the footballing authorities for why other clubs, such as
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withholding television and league sponsorship money due to the ongoing uncertainty, there was a very real threat that the club would be declared bankrupt within a matter of weeks.
242:. The match was called off, with the "franchise" nature of MK Dons, which went against much of what the Trust stands for, cited as the primary reason for supporter disaffection.
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in
December 2003, with the sale completed in May 2004. The Trust was provided with a place on Luton's board and initial success followed, as the club won promotion to the
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in Luton, stating that they had misled them as to the serious nature of the investigation and the club's financial situation. The Trust, having since sold its share in
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As a shareholder in the club's major creditor, the Trust was part of the group of creditors who agreed to sell the club to a consortium headed by
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and make it more accessible to "customers" living outside of Luton. Gurney also raised the possibility of Luton merging with
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season. In June 2005, the Trust led calls for the cancellation of a planned friendly match between Luton and
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167:– both popular figures with Luton's supporters. Gurney outlined his vision to, among other things, build a
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at the end of the season and then, following a 30-point deduction for financial irregularities, to the
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for just £4 from owner Mike Watson-Challis. One of Gurney's first acts was to sack Luton manager
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In
November 2014, Trust in Luton merged with the long-established Luton Town Supporters' Club.
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510:"Luton served as a warning to all would-be football profiteers: never underestimate the fans"
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on 14 July 2003 to successfully force out John Gurney after a turbulent 55 days in charge.
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Like similar societies and organisations, Trust in Luton have a president and patrons:
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In April 2007, Tomlins resigned his position as chairman following an investigation by
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The Trust devised a strategy and began to acquire shares in the club's major creditor,
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was confirmed as new chairman two days after
Tomlins' resignation. Relegation to
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862:"Pompey start with a clean slate next season – we got slammed for 20 points"
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track around a 70,000-capacity stadium, share the ground with
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Board
Members: Chris Lavey, Terry Hopper, Alisdair MacLean
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Trust in Luton official
Twitter account. 14 March 2014
594:"Luton directors quit as far-fetched merger is mooted"
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908:. Trust in Luton. 17 November 2014. Archived from
772:. Clubs in Crisis. 19 October 2007. Archived from
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329:Luton Town Supporters Liaison Officer: John Miller
215:that was owed several million pounds by the club.
131:Gurney out by deliberately placing the club into
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179:franchises, and to change the club's name to
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648:. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 5 December 2003
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770:"Club Withdraw Trust's Seat on the Board"
574:. When Saturday Comes. 10 September 2003
431:. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 1 August 2003
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728:. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 31 May 2007
394:"Trouble at the Top: Luton Kicks Off"
143:, a government-led trust initiative.
7:
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425:"How Gurney lost control of Hatters"
367:Joan Bartholomew (widow of comedian
702:. BBC Three Counties. 11 April 2007
1125:Milton Keynes relocation proposals
748:"Pinkney named new Luton chairman"
539:"Kinnear parts company with Luton"
25:
884:"Trust membership has TRIPLED..."
820:. Trust in Luton. 20 October 2012
796:"Luton suffer 10-point deduction"
680:. London: Guardian News and Media
670:Heller, Ivor (1 September 2002).
537:Harrison, Lindsay (24 May 2003).
1187:
1175:
1164:
1163:
460:. Luton Town F.C. Archived from
323:Membership Secretary: Allan Kirk
234:under the new owners during the
109:industrial and provident society
46:industrial and provident society
864:. Trust in Luton. 26 April 2013
842:. Trust in Luton. 24 March 2013
620:"Gurney loses control of Luton"
518:. Telegraph Media Group Limited
489:. Luton Town F.C. 13 March 2014
547:. Independent News & Media
508:White, Jim (30 October 2004).
487:"Exclusive: Trusting in Luton"
1:
798:. BBC Sport. 22 November 2007
1141:Luton Town Supporters' Trust
840:"FDC findings on Watford FC"
105:Luton Town Supporters' Trust
44:Football Supporters' Trust,
28:Luton Town Supporters' Trust
818:"Update from the Committee"
642:"Hatters takeover go-ahead"
221:administrative receivership
133:administrative receivership
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750:. BBC Sport. 13 April 2007
672:"Wombles are on their way"
254:, was powerless to act as
181:London-Luton Football Club
155:and his consortium bought
119:, for fans of the English
1159:
1084:1985 Kenilworth Road riot
1040:League record by opponent
1006:
622:. BBC Sport. 14 July 2003
317:Secretary: Steve Townsend
151:In May 2003, businessman
999:Luton Town Football Club
247:the Football Association
906:"Town fans get united!"
58:, Bedfordshire, England
97:Trust in Luton website
334:President and patrons
320:Treasurer: Les Miller
314:Chairman: Tony Murray
1091:Player of the Season
776:on 22 December 2013
515:The Daily Telegraph
285:Queens Park Rangers
202:The Football League
183:to tie in with the
163:and his assistant,
29:
1221:Supporters' trusts
398:BBC Three Counties
340:As of 14 May 2015.
308:As of 14 May 2015.
269:Conference Premier
240:Milton Keynes Dons
111:which acts as the
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700:"Tomlins Resigns"
464:on 15 August 2012
400:. 29 October 2004
141:Supporters Direct
113:supporters' trust
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77:Supporters Direct
16:(Redirected from
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217:Hatters Holdings
213:offshore company
209:Hatters Holdings
193:the league above
107:is a registered
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942:. Retrieved
917:. Retrieved
910:the original
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866:. Retrieved
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844:. Retrieved
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800:. Retrieved
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774:the original
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704:. Retrieved
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682:. Retrieved
677:The Guardian
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598:The Guardian
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466:. Retrieved
462:the original
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232:Championship
228:Bill Tomlins
225:
216:
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165:Mick Harford
150:
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104:
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84:Volunteers
73:Affiliations
52:Headquarters
1115:(1897–1905)
1109:(1885–1897)
1107:Dallow Lane
271:during the
161:Joe Kinnear
153:John Gurney
117:cooperative
68:Tony Murray
1210:Categories
1134:Supporters
938:"About us"
726:Luton News
646:Luton News
429:Luton News
376:References
355:John Moore
289:Portsmouth
265:League Two
260:League One
157:Luton Town
125:Luton Town
1074:1885–1970
349:President
189:Wimbledon
169:Formula 1
33:Formation
1170:Category
1151:The MIGs
1064:The club
1057:The club
1019:Managers
944:17 March
890:17 March
868:17 March
846:17 March
824:17 March
802:17 March
780:17 March
754:17 March
732:17 March
706:17 March
684:17 March
652:17 March
626:17 March
604:17 March
578:17 March
551:17 March
522:17 March
493:17 March
468:17 March
435:17 March
404:17 March
275:season.
121:football
64:Chairman
1182:Commons
1100:Grounds
1069:History
1033:Records
1026:Seasons
1012:Players
281:Watford
273:2008–09
236:2004–05
197:2003–04
147:History
93:Website
56:Bedford
1047:Ladies
919:14 May
362:Patron
913:(PDF)
295:day.
211:, an
123:club
946:2014
921:2015
892:2014
870:2014
848:2014
826:2014
804:2014
782:2014
756:2014
734:2014
708:2014
686:2014
654:2014
628:2014
606:2014
580:2014
553:2014
524:2014
495:2014
470:2014
437:2014
406:2014
287:and
175:and
41:Type
36:2003
177:NBA
173:NFL
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88:7
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