Sunderland Stadium
Charlie Methven, former executive director of Sunderland, has recently expressed his views on the role of supporters’ trusts during a podcast appearance on “Where’s The Money Gone?”. Methven, who was part of the ownership group that took over Sunderland in 2018, shared insights from his experiences at Sunderland, Oxford United, and Charlton Athletic, while taking a critical stance on a specific Sunderland supporters’ group.
Charlie Methven said: “I’m a big supporter of the Supporters’ Trust movement. You know, we spoke about Brighton just about not going out of the Football League; Oxford did go out of the Football League. I think the first clubs to have won a major trophy since the Second World War to go out of the Football League. And so I’ve been through this whole thing, and I’m a great supporter of the idea that supporters themselves organise and get themselves together and demonstrate that they are, and this is what we had to do, demonstrate that they are worthy of playing an active part in the running of the club. Now, whether that be through buying it or through being an influence on ownership. Obviously, in Oxford, there were people who I knew very well because there were people who I’d previously been on the Trust with, and they were, you know, very much, as you say, a constructive and candid friend.”
Methven’s tenure at Sunderland was marked by significant events, including the club’s feature in the Netflix documentary “Sunderland ’Til I Die”. His time at the club was not without controversy, as he often found himself at odds with the fan base. During the podcast, Methven highlighted his support for the concept of supporters’ trusts but criticized the approach taken by the Sunderland group.
Charlie Methven continued: “At Sunderland, it acted more like a sort of pressure group to just spend more money, which I don’t think is a useful or helpful exercise. How does that affect us? Is there anything we can do to help? Which they do. So, I think when a supporters’ trust is done right, I think it can be a really great thing for a club. I think that is a supporter group or a supporter club, and a distinction should be drawn; I would like to see the Football Supporters’ Association be a lot more dogmatic about what it means to be a trust.”
Methven’s comments reflect a broader debate about the role and influence of supporters’ trusts in football clubs. He emphasized the importance of these groups acting as constructive partners rather than pressure groups. His remarks have sparked discussions among fans and stakeholders about the balance between fan influence and club management.
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