Tranmere Rovers Official Supporters Club Constitution

February 2025

1. NAME

1.1 The club shall be known as the Tranmere Rovers Official Supporters Club, hereinafter referred to as the “TROSC”.

2. OBJECTIVES

2.1 To promote and support good and effective relations between Tranmere Rovers Football Club (“The Football Club”) and its supporters, and to create an environment of loyalty and goodwill where the football club can be successful both on and off the field of play.

2.2 To help preserve the history and heritage of The Football Club

2.3 To maintain an effective communication pathway between supporters and the owners and management of The Football Club.

2.4 Represent and campaign on behalf of The Football Club’s supporters, on issues decided by the AGM and/or the committee of the TROSC.

2.5 To encourage supporters to join and actively use the TROSC as a vehicle for two way communication and helping The Football Club achieve it’s aims

2.6 To provide benefits for members, in association with The Football Club.

2.7 Affiliate with other football supporters’ associations where appropriate.

2.8 To support The Football Club financially as appropriate or otherwise to further the aims of The Football Club its supporters and the members of TROSC.

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Membership is gained by application and payment of an annual fee, renewable on the 1^st July each year. Membership fees are decided annually prior to The Football Club’s season ticket price announcement. Membership shall fall into four categories:

a) Full membership is available to all those aged 18 and over at the beginning of the membership year.

b) Junior membership is available to all those under the age of 18 at the beginning of the membership year.

c) Honorary membership. 

3.2 All TROSC members are entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

3.3 The Management Committee may expel from the TROSC any member who by their conduct has damaged the character or reputation of the TROSC and or The Football Club.

3.4 Before any member is expelled the Management Committee will enquire into their conduct and give the member the opportunity to account for their conduct. If a majority of the Management Committee are of the opinion that the member is in breach of Clause 3.3, the Management Committee will call on the member to resign. In the event that they do not resign the member will be expelled from membership.

3.5 Members subject to expulsion forfeit all rights and benefits associated with being a member of the TROSC and will not be entitled to any refund of their membership fee. They will also not be able to reapply to join the TROSC for a minimum of 12 months from the date of expulsion.

4. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

4.1 The Management Committee shall be made up of no less than six and no more than thirteen members.

4.2 On an annual basis, and at the AGM, either two or one quarter (whichever is the lower) of the thirteen committee seats will, as a minimum, become available for re-election.

4.3 All TROSC members are entitled to stand for election to serve on the Management Committee, providing they give 14 days’ notice ahead of the date of the AGM of their intention to stand. Notice of intention to stand should be made to the committee in writing by post or via e-mail. (See Appendix 1 for contact details)

4.4 If there are more applicants than positions vacant, the current Management Committee will vote to select the best candidates to fill the positions based on their potential contribution to the Objectives of the TROSC.

4.5 Candidates for the officer roles must be TROSC Management Committee members, with a minimum of twelve months’ continuous service, a satisfactory attendance record (at least 50%), and not subject to any TROSC restrictions, at the time the election is called. The candidate must follow the election procedure; meet the laid down criteria for the role; and be supported by a proposer and seconder, both of whom must be TROSC members and at least one being a serving Management Committee member at that time.

4.6 Re-election of existing Management Committee members will initially depend on their attendance at the previous year’s meetings. Should this be equal between candidates, then attendance at meetings two years prior will be considered.

4.7 Candidates for the role of TROSC chairman must be TROSC Management Committee members, with a minimum of twelve months’ continuous service, a satisfactory attendance record (at least 50%), and not subject to any TROSC restrictions. The chairman will be elected by the Management Committee at the first committee meeting after the AGM but must also be acceptable to the majority of those that served on the Management Committee in the preceding year. If there are no Management Committee members that served in the preceding year, then the chairman is elected by the members of the Management Committee. In the event of a tied vote involving the previous year’s chairman, the previous year’s chairman will prevail and serve for the next year subject to them having been an officer of the TROSC for the previous 12 months.

4.8 Where more than one candidate contests the role of chairman, with none having served in that role before, and a tied vote occurs, then the chairmanship for the coming year will be decided by the casting vote of the outgoing chairman, should they still hold a position. Should this not be the case, the casting vote will be made by one of the other existing senior positions, in order of precedence:

vice chairman, secretary, treasurer. Should the election still be unresolved, the chairman will be elected by the drawing of lots.

4.9 The Management Committee will also elect other officers, namely a vice chairman, secretary and treasurer using the same voting procedure as that for chairman. Should there be insufficient Management Committee members of twelve months’ satisfactory standing for each role, this criterion of twelve months’ standing will be set aside.

4.10  Any serving Management Committee member whose conduct is considered detrimental to the TROSC or its reputation, or who conducts themselves in a manner considered unacceptable by the majority of the Management Committee, may be forced to relinquish their position if voted by the majority of the Management Committee. In the event of an equal vote, the chairman shall have the casting vote. Should Management Committee members be unable to attend any meeting, they must give their apologies in advance to the secretary. In the event of a member failing to attend three consecutive meetings, without satisfactory reason, they shall be deemed to have forfeited their place on the Management Committee and their position shall become vacant. 

4.11 Should the post of any officer fall vacant during a term, the Management Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy, subject to a majority vote, prior to the next AGM.

4.12 The Management Committee shall have the power to co-opt members to serve on the Management Committee for specific purposes or to fill vacancies if that need arises. Co-opted members do not have voting rights until the point in time that they are formally appointed.

4.13 A position on the Management Committee will be allocated to a representative of the SouthernSWA who will have the same rights as other members of the Management Committee. Other supporter groups may also be represented from time to time subject to the approval of a majority of the Management Committee.

4.14 The Management Committee will normally meet on a quarterly basis either in person or online. The Management Committee may also meet by electronic means on an ad hoc basis should there be a need to do so.

4.15    Each meeting of the Management Committee will be subject to a quorum of a minimum of 50% of the appointed Management Committee members.

4.16    The Management Committee shall appoint the following officers (members may take on more than one role if required):

(a) Chair and Vice-Chair

• The Chair shall chair all Management Committee meetings at which they are present.

• In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall take the chair. In the absence of both the Chair and Vice-Chair the meeting shall appoint a chair from amongst its number.

• It is the duty of the Chair of the Management Committee meetings to ensure all views of those present are heard at the meeting.

• In the event of a voting tie on any matter arising, the chair of all meetings shall have an additional casting vote.

(b) Secretary

• The Secretary shall be responsible for circulating an agenda and any relevant papers at least two days prior to the meeting.

• The Secretary shall produce draft minutes of the meetings, to be agreed as an accurate representation of the meeting, subject to any amendments, as notified by the members present.

• The Secretary shall convene the AGM on a date agreed by the Management Committee, and will make all the arrangements for the meeting, including arranging an appropriate venue and providing an agenda and any papers for the meeting.

• The Secretary shall arrange to make available all Management Committee meetings minutes to all TROSC members.

(c) Treasurer

• The Treasurer shall ensure that adequate financial records are kept and shall be responsible for the proper administration of the TROSC’s funds and financial affairs.

• The Treasurer will be responsible for ensuring that TROSC’s funds are maintained in an TROSC account as decided from time to time by the Management Committee. Withdrawals from the account shall be by authorised signature of at least two officers.

• The Treasurer shall prepare a budget for expenditure for each season, which shall be presented to the Management Committee for approval.

• The Treasurer shall submit a statement of balances, and an income and expenditure account, to the AGM in the year following that to which the accounts relate.

• The Treasurer shall supply full records of the TROSC’s financial transactions and a statement of balances and an income and expenditure accounts to two elected auditors at the end of the financial year. The financial year of TROSC shall be 1 July to 30 June.

• TROSC’s accounts shall be maintained by the Treasurer, on behalf of the Committee.

• Unbudgeted expenditure in excess of £500 must be authorised by a majority of the Management Committee.

(d) Communication

·   The Communication officer  shall be responsible for maintaining and updating the TROSC website and providing TROSC updates and information via digital and other channels to the members.

(e) Membership Secretary

• The Membership Secretary shall arrange for TROSC application forms to be available on request, and will circulate forms as widely as possible to The Football Club’s supporters.

• The Membership Secretary shall maintain TROSC’s membership database, together with all the membership records including the payment of any membership fees in conjunction with the Treasurer.

• The Membership Secretary in collaboration with the Digital Communications officer shall develop and deliver membership recruitment campaigns, with the aim of increasing the TROSC membership.

5. GENERAL MEETINGS

5.1 The TROSC AGM, which will normally be held within three months of the commencement of the EFL football season, will consider the accounts, elect officers and carry out such other business as the Management Committee may decide.  At least 21 days’ notice shall be given of the date and location of the AGM.

5.2 The AGM will receive a set of audited accounts and an annual report from the Treasurer.

5.3 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by the Management Committee or upon the request of 25% of the members.  Notice of the intention to hold an EGM and the reason should be served on the secretary in writing.  The EGM must be held no later than 21 days following receipt of this notice.

5.4 The chairman of the TROSC shall hold both a deliberative and a casting vote at any TROSC meeting.

5.5 Any change to the TROSC constitution shall require a majority acceptance vote of those members who respond. 5.6 Any proposal to change the constitution must be submitted in writing to the secretary within seven days of the announcement of the AGM. The secretary must then publicise the proposal(s) in the remaining fourteen day period, allowing these to be submitted for discussion and vote at the AGM.

6.  SPECIAL SHARE PROVISION

6.1 The TROSC is the holder of a Special Share in the capital of Tranmere Rovers Football Club Limited which gives certain veto rights (in conjunction with the holder of the second Special Share) to prevent the owners of TRFC from taking action which may damage the history or heritage of the Club. 

6.2 The TROSC as holder of a Special Share shall have the ability to serve on The Football Club in conjunction with the holder of the second Special Share a “Veto Notice”.

6.3 The veto rights under the Special Share shall only be exercised following a consultation with the TROSC Members and a vote approving the exercise of a veto.

6.4 The Management Committee may also consult with other supporter groups or the wider fanbase to inform any decision to exercise a veto.

7. DISSOLUTION

7.1 The TROSC is a non-profit making organisation. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on a winding-up or dissolution of the TROSC.

Appendix 1

Postal Address

Tranmere Rovers Official Supporters Club
Prenton Park
Prenton Park Road West
Birkenhead
Merseyside
CH42 9PN

Email Address

supportersclub@tranmererovers.co.uk

Appendix 2

The committee

To join the committee need to either (a) Apply at least 14 days prior to AGM or (b) be co-opted onto the committee by being nominated by two committee members and receive the majority approval of the committee.