Present: Firoz Kassam, Nilu Kanani, Chris Davis, Trevor Lambert, Neil Carter, Jon Moore, Graham Hilsdon.

The meeting took place in the hotel meeting room. It ran for approximately 90 minutes and was held in a cordial and constructive spirit.

Minutes of last meeting (20 January 2003): These were approved.

Stadium sign and TVs: OxVox thanked Mr Kassam for completion of the stadium sign (which was now illuminated) and the installation of TVs in the Exhibition Bar.

Coaches to home matches: OxVox reported that the Witney coach initiative for the Carlisle match had been unsuccessful, with only a small number of bookings, and had been cancelled. OxVox volunteered to talk to the local bus company about running a service from Abingdon (though we believe that this is ultimately the club’s responsibility under the section 106 agreement).

Templars Square shopping centre: OxVox encouraged the club to look again at a trial sales outlet in Templars Square and suggested they do so in the summer once the new shirts are in stock.

Concourse improvements - Shelving, cleaning, catering: Mr Kassam confirmed that installation of shelving and cleaning of the floors would be done in the East Stand this summer. There will also, he said, be a maintenance review of the whole stadium.

Promotional days - Colours day, Ladies Day: OxVox will suggest ideas for promotional days to Alistair Wathey.

Oxford Learning United: OxVox thanked the club for supporting OLU which was now fully operational. Mr Kassam was unaware of any date for a formal launch. Discussions in the OLU steering group suggested that the local education authority and/or the Department for Education and Skills would probably approach the club about a launch.

Work of art (at the Kassam stadium): OxVox suggested two outline ideas for the work of art: 1) a bronze ox (perhaps with one of its front hooves resting on a football), set in a water feature to symbolise Oxford or 2) a decorative arch at the main entrance to the whole development. Mr Kassam asked whether we knew of potential suppliers; Graham Hilsdon undertook to seek contacts.

Club shop sale: Not discussed.

Fans' forum: At OxVox’s request Mr Kassam agreed to hold a forum in June, with a provisional date of Thursday June 26^th (when Ian Atkins would be back from holiday). We suggested a panel of Mr Kassam, Ian Atkins, Mick Brown, and Alistair Wathey would enable all issues to be covered.

Stadium branding: Mr Kassam agreed to our request to rename the red bar (as it had become informally known) to our suggested new name of the Headington Bar, with immediate effect. He also agreed to allow name plaques commemorating famous names associated with OUFC to be placed on the doors of the 28 boxes (30 plaques are needed as there are two with double doors). OxVox would submit a list of names, and a design for the plaques, which would be funded by OxVox.

OxVox events: The quiz at the Priory had been a success; Mr Kassam agreed that OxVox could use the Priory by arrangement for other social events.

Season 2003-4 and beyond

We raised the question of the effect of the 60% player wage cap, in view of Mr Kassam’s reported comments about the need to reduce the wage bill to comply. Some confusion about the club’s turnover figure was resolved when we produced a copy of the accounts showing it to be £2.9m for the last completed accounting year (to June 2002). It is currently unclear to which year’s turnover the cap will relate, and there may be some doubt about precisely what is included in the turnover figure (though the figure in the club accounts should be definitive). Mr Kassam believed that the turnover figure for the club accounting year 2003/04 would be used as a basis for calculating the 60% player salary limit for the same year and we all agreed this would require a very accurate forecast of income and could prove difficult to manage. If the current year is used as the basis for determining the salary budget, then the club's turnover will be considerably less than £2.9m due mainly to the loss of TV revenue. The working of the cap is to be discussed in detail at a chairmen's conference later this month.

This led to an extended discussion. While acknowledging all of these issues, we put the counter view that the youth setup is vital to the club in the long term. The factors quoted might all be short term in their effect. We felt a decision to cut the youth system now, which would have long-term implications, should not be taken on what were mainly short-term financial considerations.

We agreed to do two things to try to help.

First, we will contact Andrew Smith MP both to ask him to approach government on our behalf about the funding situation, and to seek his help in approaching local businesses to support the youth setup.

Second, we will consider plans for fundraising via either or both of a) assistance with a matchday raffle b) a regular money pledge scheme. We will need to discuss this and move fast with proposals. We emphasised that money we raised would be ring-fenced for spending on youth. There was in our opinion a good chance that supporters would contribute to a clearly predicated youth fund.

Mr Kassam promised to give us advance notice of any impending decision to cut back the youth system. He confirmed that while a decision in principle could be taken quite soon, the system would take one to two years to wind down.

Mr Kassam reported the prices were set and renewal forms were going out shortly. Details were not discussed because of lack of time, but essentially season ticket prices would be held, but the first home cuptie would be excluded. We said we supported the removal of the first cuptie from the package because of the confusion it caused last year.

Ticket allocation for high-demand matches

This important issue was not discussed owing to lack of time and would be held over to the next meeting.

We enquired about the status of the outstanding OUFC debt to Firoka. Mr Kassam confirmed that this was a loan and he is looking to not increase it.

Not discussed; this item was on our original agenda which was drawn up at the time of the departure of Peter Davis.

This was discussed briefly. Following the relegation of Bristol Mr Kassam confirmed that he has no plans at present to bring a rugby club to the stadium, though he would think again if another appropriate opportunity arose. He felt anything less than Premier Division rugby would not be cost effective. His survey that showed that sufficient support existed for viability. Mr Kassam stated that his preferred intention was to be a landlord and not an owner.

We confirmed that we were concerned about the prospects for a successful move and were worried about the franchising principle, though we recognised that as a football trust neither issue was our primary concern. Equally, we recognised the desire to hold more events at the stadium. We enquired about other ways of using the stadium, for example to hold concerts, but these would require council approval.

Mr Kassam told us in confidence that he had that morning banned Jon Murray of the Oxford Mail from the ground and from contact with players and other club staff with immediate effect, and he had instructed all staff and players not to talk to the press.

None.

Date of next meeting

To be arranged.